Harley
Ms. Harley! Ms. Harley, wait up!"
The voice echoed behind me, a shrill, desperate, like a mosquito I couldn't swat away. How utterly predictable.
I kept my gaze fixed ahead, my steps deliberate and unwavering, refusing to acknowledge her.
There were three things I couldn't stand at all at work, lazy coworkers, backstabbers, and gossip.
The kind of gossip that could ruin a lawyer's career faster than a slip of the tongue. The kind that spread like wildfire, fueled by ambition, jealousy, and personal agendas. And here I was, doing my best to avoid it.
Was she still following? I couldn't risk turning around to check. Instead, I marched toward the elevator, eager to reach the management office before my next case briefing.
They'd summoned me early this morning, and I just wanted to get it over with.
As luck would have it, the moment the elevator doors opened, there she was. Ms. Dorothy. Her shiny, too-bright smile was the first thing that hit me.
"Good morning, Ms. Harley," she greeted, breathless. "How are you?"
I forced a smile and replied coolly, "Good morning, Ms. Dorothy. I'm doing well, thank you. How about you?"
She was still panting, like she'd run a marathon.
"I'm fine. Just, uh… trying to catch up with you," she explained, looking like she had just been through a wind tunnel.
I raised an eyebrow. "Catch up with me? You look a bit out of breath. What's the rush?"
She gave a soft chuckle, but her flushed face betrayed a hint of nervousness. "Oh, nothing! Just... trying to speak to you before you went upstairs. I thought the elevator would be quicker."
Rule one of law school: too many details almost always means one thing—you're lying.
I studied her carefully. "Really? Because you look like you just ran from the lobby, not someone who used the elevator from the first floor."
She froze.
She was drenched in sweat. There was no way she'd used the elevator. No. Way.
Then i sighed dramatically, my voice laced with sympathy.
"We should probably call maintenance. The AC must be broken in that thing. I mean, how can top-tier lawyers go through mini heatwaves just to avoid stairs?" I said
Her face froze for a split second. Gotcha. She had definitely used the stairs, and the lie was as transparent as glass. Ms. Dorothy was nothing if not a relentless gossip.
I smiled sweetly. "Anyway, what can I do for you?"
Ms. Dorothy wasted no time getting to the point. "Oh, yes, I wanted to congratulate you." She pulled out the latest issue of the New York Times Lawyers Edition with a flourish, as if it were a trophy. "Your name made it to the list. And look—there's even a cover photo of you!"
She pointed proudly at the glossy page, which showcased a perfectly posed photo from our lawyers' edition photoshoot.
I kept my smile, but my patience was starting to wear thin. "That's great, but you didn't have to run all the way up here—through the elevator—to tell me that. But thank you anyway."
Her face lit up with a blush that screamed "Look at me, I'm so thoughtful!"
"It's nothing," she said, her voice a little too chipper. "We're all women here. Thriving in a male-dominated field can be so tough, don't you think?"
She trailed off, staring dreamily into the distance, no doubt imagining herself as the star of some soap opera where she's the underdog.
"You're right, but I really need to go now." I made a move toward the office door.
"Wait!" she shrieked, grabbing my arm.
I stopped, my expression stiffening. "Yes?"
"Well..." She gave a little dramatic pause, clearly building up to something. "Since you're probably going to be promoted today, I thought we could... help each other out." She flashed a grin so wide it could have made a Cheshire cat jealous.
Here it comes.
"Help? How?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"You see, when you get that chief lawyer position for our stellar department, I just wanted to... make sure you're careful," she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "There are people who are jealous of you."
Of course there were. Ms. Dorothy wasn't known for subtlety, and this was clearly another round of her "Look at me, I'm helpful!" routine.
"Oh really?" I said, my voice as neutral as possible.
"Yeah. Take Fiona and Ruby, for example. They don't like you. I mean, come on, you're young, beautiful, and a successful lawyer. The CEO practically adores you." She threw in a laugh, clearly trying to downplay the jealousy simmering underneath. "Meanwhile, they're older... and let's be honest, a little haggard. It's obvious they're jealous of you."
I could already feel the small knot of dread in my stomach. This was the thing I always dreaded when summoned to the higher-ups. You knew it was coming—someone, usually a colleague, would butter you up with praise, making it clear they had their own agenda.
"Really?" I said, feigning surprise. "I'll keep that in mind."
I turned to leave, but of course, Ms. Dorothy wasn't done.
"Wait!" She clung to my arm with surprising strength, her fingers digging into my sleeve.
I stopped again, barely containing my irritation. "I thought we were finished."
She hesitated, then quickly dropped her hand. "Oh, yes. And... about that Dominic case," she continued, her eyes practically sparkling with interest. "I was wondering if you could, you know, share some insider information? Just for interest's sake. Since you'll be promoted soon, you shouldn't have to deal with these small cases anymore."
She had me. I couldn't help but mentally groan. This was the moment. She thought she could exploit my supposed success, and ask me sentitive information for a case.
I flashed her a smile, the sweetest one I could muster for such a moment, though it left a bitter taste in my mouth. "Sorry, Ms. Dorothy, I don't have anything like that at the moment. But, if I do happen to hear something useful—or get any word on my supposed promotion—you'll be the first to know. After all, you're at the top of my call list, above my parents even."
Her smile faltered just the slightest, her eyes narrowing in realization. She knew exactly what I was implying: You're being too nosy.
And I was glad she got the message loud and clear.
With a final glance and a surge of satisfaction, I turned on my heel and walked away.
Time to face whatever awaited me in that office so I can start my day.