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I check the date on the report and realize that days later, a ceramic mug warmer appeared on my desk.
“You sent this to your grandfather?” I ask incredulously.
“Yes, and Cassandra. Generally, my grandfather just listened to my reports, didn’t read them. However, Cassandra dissected them. At least, the ones on you. I didn’t realize that until later though. By the time I understood what she was doing, she wasn’t reading those reports because she was interested in your work.” His jaw tightens. “She was reading them because I had handed her a map.”
He moves around the peninsula and kneels in front of me, gently taking my hands in his.
“Phoenix …” His thumb brushes once across my knuckles. “Before I explain anything else, I need to say something I should’ve said weeks ago.”
He takes a slow breath, holding my gaze.
“I’m sorry. I chose my role at Morrison Rose over my responsibility to you. I’m sorry that because of my choices—and the ones I failed to make—a career you worked your entire life to build was brought down by me.”
His jaw tightens.
“You were exceptional long before I met you. I knew that every single day I watched you work. You should’ve been deciding which promotion to accept, not which life to rebuild. I never wanted you to go through this. The outcome of the investigation, all the reports … it was never my intention for anything to come of it involving you.” He chuckles to himself without humor. “But we all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I get that now.”
Silence stretches between us before he looks down at the papers.
I flip the page to the next report.
Weekly Summary — Week 14
Billable hours across departments remain consistent with prior weeks. No material changes to report on the financial irregularities identified in weeks 9-11. Cassandra Pierce continues to position herself as primary point of contact for acquisition proceedings. Recommend continued monitoring of her representations to external parties.
Family Law — P. Lane
Won the Hargrove motion Tuesday, shrewd intellect and a right hook. Dickson’s on temporary suspension because of her findings. Watch for retaliation.
Thursday, still at her desk at 10 p.m. Brought her coffee she didn’t ask for — black, one sugar packet she pretends she doesn’t want, set it on the mug warmer. Grateful look. Shoes off under the desk by afternoon now.
Still getting headaches. Claimed “fine” today while staring down a deposition transcript. Had maintenance swap her office lightbulbs. Second bottle of peppermint oil this month.
Recommendation: someone should send her home before she falls asleep at her desk.
Secondary recommendation: buy her a coffee maker that isn’t a crime against humanity.
Disregard. Not relevant to the acquisition.
Potentially relevant: she laughs more talking about her friends than about any professional win.
Evening of the 14th — overheard a phone call, partial, through a closed door, unintentional. Location undisclosed.
Lane was advising a client — I believe L. Castellanos — about an account under the client’s name, tied to Yarrow Holdings. Client seemed unaware the account existed until the bank flagged it. Lane’s response was measured: no panic, notes taken, client told to get more information. Standard practice.
Including this because Cascadia/Morrison Rose due diligence requires disclosure of any flagged-account exposure, Yarrow included. I know this implicates a conversation Lane almost certainly considered privileged. I’m including it so her name is on record as clear, if it ever comes up.
Nothing in that call suggested impropriety. Neither Lane nor her client knew about the account beforehand. What I overheard was a lawyer doing her job for someone who needed her.
I set the report down, my mind jumbled. The recount of his overheard conversation seems generic, bland. Unimportant and frankly, what I would have filed myself if I had slightly more information to go on. Which still begs the question of why he even included it.
“You included my conversation with Lena in the report as what, a cautionary footnote to protect you in case something came out?”
“No, God, no. Phoenix, I convinced myself I was protecting you. And if we are being honest, as the grandson of the managing partner of the biggest firm in the Northwest, I didn’t need the protection.”
True, the most he would get is a slap on the wrist, if that. “I still don’t understand how this led to my suspension.”
“That took me a minute to get too.” He gathers his thoughts. “After I found out they were suspending you, I knew it was because you were getting too close for Cassandra’s comfort. Not that you were investigating her, but between my interest in you and now a client who is against Yarrow, you could become a liability to her. I know she was looking to fire you, but Rhodes pushed for a temporary suspension.”
