Chapter 2

"Sarah, why are you blowing things out of proportion?" Colin said.

I let out a cold laugh.

I said, "Aileen broke down crying in court, totally unprofessional, and all you guys can do is make excuses for her?

"If I hadn't stepped in, do you really think our client would've gotten a fair trial today?

"But instead of blaming Aileen, you're blaming me?

"Is it only when an innocent person gets convicted that you'll finally feel guilty?"

Colin stepped forward. "Sarah—"

I cut him off and dragged him to stand right in front of the court's crest.

"Take a good look at this crest. Did your oath to uphold the law mean nothing to you?" I demanded. "Can you honestly keep covering for Aileen and still sleep at night?"

Colin and George looked hesitant, but they still continued to defend Aileen.

I retorted, "Stop with the 'it was her first time' excuse. She says she's so gifted, but how does a genius screw up like that? Geniuses don't make rookie mistakes, do they?

"Seriously, have you all lost your mind? Have you forgotten your respect for the law, and your duty and mission to uphold justice?"

I shot a cold glare at Aileen, who was clinging to George, looking all pitiful.

I continued, "This isn't something we can just brush off. If you keep sticking up for her, don't blame me if I turn my back on you."

I was so pissed, one could practically see the sparks flying off me.

Seeing me like that, George and Colin instantly clammed up, not daring to say a word.

I fixed Aileen with a cold stare and added, "For the next three months, I'm pulling you off all cases.

"You'll be assisting the other lawyers with preparing materials, so you can see how they fight for their clients.

"And at next week's case review meeting, I expect to hear your reflection on what happened."

With that, I turned and walked away, not wanting to get involved with them three any further.

"Wait!" George called out, his face serious. "Aileen was part of the team for this trial. We won, so her name should go on the record too."

I shot a cold look at Aileen, her face streaked with tears, looking all pitiful.

"A defense lawyer who breaks down in court? The client must be so grateful to you," I said sarcastically.

"Sarah, Aileen needs a win to get her name out there," George tried to argue.

I shot back, "Did she have anything to do with winning this case? She couldn't even present the most basic evidence in court, let alone handle cross-examination or make a proper argument.

"If she loves begging so much, she can go to the streets. She's asking the wrong people."

George was left speechless, glaring at me with fury.

Aileen started sobbing even harder, practically collapsing against George, looking completely drained.

"Sarah, how could you say this about me? You're being way too harsh," she whimpered.

I let out a snort. "If I hadn't stepped in today, the client's family would've skinned you alive.

"And now you want to take credit for someone else's work just to land big cases. If your credentials don't match your capability, you'll have trouble soon.

"If you don't step up your game, you can forget about ever getting another case at this firm."

Back at the law firm, I'd just sat down in my office when my assistant burst in anxiously, knocking on the door.

"Sarah, Mr. Mason wants you in his office," she said.

I frowned and asked, "Isn't Mr. Mason supposed to be at a legal education seminar today?"

"I heard Mr. Miller and Mr. Lotimer called him back," my assistant replied. "Mr. Mason looks pretty upset."

Hugo Mason was the founder of the firm and a big name in the legal world.

He was the lawyer who showed me the ropes when I first started out, and he'd helped me out a lot over the years.

Even though I was now a senior partner to the firm, I always looked up to him.

With a head full of questions, I walked into the conference room.

Colin, George and Aileen were already seated, glaring at me furiously.

"Sarah, come in. Have a seat," Hugo said warmly, his face showing no sign of displeasure.

He got straight to the point.

He said, "Today was Aileen's first time in court. Yeah, she cried, but that doesn't mean there's something wrong with her.

"If you hadn't jumped in, she might've gotten it together. The case might've turned out fine anyway.

"Sarah, you were a bit too hasty with how you handled things. Of course, I'm not blaming you. But I really don't think the suspension and the review are necessary."

Hugo kept a warm smile on his face, but with just a few words, he managed to shift all the blame onto me.

I dropped my smile and got straight to the point. "Hugo, do you really think I mishandled this?" I asked.

Colin jumped in. "Mr. Mason is right. Although it was Aileen's first time in court, she had put in a ton of work and did loads of prep before the trial."