Page 76 of Partner Pursuit
“I will.” Hunter stood.
“I’d appreciatethat.”
He nodded and said, “I’ll review both your memos again and come to a decision as to approach. Remember that it’s crucial to the firm that we win this case. We can’t afford to lose this client. I’ll tell Colette that she’ll sharestrategy.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
After Hunter left, Audrey closed her office door and locked it—to digest this in private. She slumped down into her chair and looked out the window at the New York City skyline, buildings crowding against each other, each trying to be taller than the next one. She should’ve been less conciliatory when she’d suspected Colette was challengingher.
She read Colette’s memo and thought about the points raised. She had to address Colette’s memo with Colette directly. They needed to work together as a team. But she didn’t relish confronting Colette. She rubbed her eyes. She liked fighting for a client or a friend. She had to think of herself as the client.She stood.
She slowly descended the internal staircase and walked down the hallway to Colette’s office. Colette’s door was open, and she was typing. Audrey straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked into Colette’s office.
“Colette, do you havea moment?”
“Sure, just let me save this,” Colette said. Colette wore a white silk blouse that had no wrinkles despite the lateness of the day. Audrey had already been through the wringer and looked it—after that tense meeting with Hunter. She probably should’ve waited until tomorrow, but no, she wouldn’t have slept for worrying about this confrontation.
Audrey looked around Colette’s office. It was neat, with no piles of paper. Fresh iris flowers in a white vase added a touch of elegance. A framed photograph of Colette and an older woman who looked like her mother stood prominently on her credenza by the window. A blooming orchid filled the office with a sweet flowery smell.
“Maybe I should close the door,” Audreysaid.
Colette raised her eyebrows. “If it is going to be that kind of discussion.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She stared at Audrey impassively.
“Well, yes,” Audrey said, closing the door and turning to face Colette. “Hunter gave me a copy of your strategy memo. And I have to say that I was a bit shocked given that that area was assigned to me. I feel like you are trying to undermine me.” There, she’d said it. Her face flushed.
“I’m your level. We’re both up for partner. Why do you get to determine our entire approach to the case and I just do defensive discovery? That puts me in a junior position. I should be able to give my opinion,” Colette shot back. It seemed as if she had prepared for this meeting. Her eyes and voice were hard, and her body seemed coiled and alert in her chair. “Maybe I should’ve approached it differently, but it seemed to me that my best tactic was to show my ideas as to how to win thiscase.”
Audrey stepped forward. “You have another case that you direct as the senior associate.”
“I’m asking to share strategy, not to take it over,” she said. “That’s an important distinction. You have to be able to see these nuances.” She straightened the paper clips on a stainless steelbird-shapedAlessi magnetic paper clip holder. “I doubt anything could hurt your standing with Hunter. It’s awkward for me—Hunter favors you, and the team loves you. It would’ve been much better for me if I had my own case with Hunter rather than joining your case as a second toyou.”
“Yes, it’s not ideal.” Audrey nodded, but made direct eye contact with Colette. “But I don’t think the solution is to try to backstab me.”
Colette flushed then. “It’s not as if you are my best friend. I barelyknowyou.”
“We’re supposed to be a team,” Audrey said, walking towards Colette to stand by her desk. Colette stood up, towering over Audrey.
“Hunter gave me a similar lecture about being a team player. But unfortunately, in this circumstance, it is not as if the whole team is going to the championship and will win a trophy ring. There’s a good chance only one of us will get picked for partnership, and it won’t be me if I’m the junior player and you’re the star. I have to do what’s best for me and show Hunter that he’s not treating me fairly by relegating me to some juniorposition.”
“You should do what’s best for the client,” Audreysaid.
“That’s what I did,” Colette snapped. “We should lead with Rothman. It’s ridiculous to lead with your worstcase.”
“It’s not. Prosecutors in white collar cases start at the bottom and work their way up so that they have the best case against the main target. In this case, we are building up ourdefenses.”
“Unless this approach works better for opposing counsel because they’re the plaintiff. That’s more akin to a prosecutor.”
“We don’t have a strong case for Rothman right now, so I don’t see the advantage of starting with him. Even the points that you cite in your memo—I don’t find them compelling,” Audreysaid.
“Well, Hunter did, and that’s what counts, isn’t it?” Colettesaid.
Audrey was silent. She was still shaken that Hunter had been so persuaded by Colette’s memo. She’d read it, and there’d been some good points, but nothingearth-shattering.
Maybe she should try a more conciliatory approach. She perched on the chair in front of Colette’s desk. “I agree with Hunter that you should be sharing strategy because you now know everything about our defensive case. I can see that. But I don’t think it helps either of us if we’re discrediting each other. There’s a better chance both of us will make it if we support each other.”
“That seems naively idealistic to me,” Colette said. “It’s highly unlikely that they’ll make two women partners given the current financial situation.”
“They need more women partners. I asked Hunter, and he saidthat.”
