Page 2 of Pride & Precedents

Sure, Vanessa never complained when I asked her to work through lunch or stay late to prep for a mediation between a celebrity chef and his young, sexy, ambitious, soon-to-be ex-sous chef/wife, but she also never asked any questions about the clients that weren'tabsolutely necessary, never surprised me with potentially game-changing research on new alimony payment structures or prenup clauses, and barely used any of the professional development resources provided by the firm.

While no one in their right mind would describe my management style as "warm and cuddly", she also never even tried to connect with me as aperson, offering to pick up coffee when she made a Starbucks run, or bringing in cupcakes for the breakroom on my birthday. Those things aren't technically a paralegal's job, but plenty of them do it.

Basically, she was the complete opposite of Camila in all the wrong ways.

All of that was fine—notgreat, butfine—when I was an associate and junior partner, paying my dues with annulments, then summary divorces and uncontested filings, and then playing second fiddle on some of the more complex cases. But when I was promoted to partner seven years ago, I knew I needed someone as high-performing as I was. Someone trying to make a name for themselves, even if they aren't gunning for the partner track.

I'm basically a shark around here, which earned me the nickname "Sub Zero", though no one has been stupid enough to call me that to my face. When I first overheard the moniker,it felt borderline racist to be the only Asian partner in the firm and named after an Asian character in Mortal Kombat, but honestly, the name fits. Top billable hours six years running means if you cheated on your pregnant wife who had the forethought to demand an ironclad prenup with a fidelity clause, seeing me across the conference room table or courtroom aisle is your worst nightmare. Overflowing with satisfaction but still maintaining my ever present composure, I've seen seasoned veterans break out in a sweat at my arrival.

Unfortunately, it also means less than forty hours of sleep (total) most weeks, lots of missed dates and appointments, and a truly dismal social life.Can a social life be dismal if it's nonexistent?I barely manage to make time for weekly dinners with my family in Brooklyn, especially since I moved out to Westchester four years ago, but Mom and Dad would have my hide if I even thought about bailing. Luckily, the commute means I can make up the time on the drive in when I don't opt for the Metro North.

But that's not the only reason they call me "Sub Zero". Around the firm, I've got a reputation for being ice cold and a stickler for the rules—in law and in the workplace.

Tardiness is unacceptable.

Proper titles and formal greetings are a sign of respect.

Wrinkles, stains, and messiness of any kind have no place in the office.

No personal calls at the office.

One month's notice is required for any time off from work.

No romance in the workplace, whether with clients or colleagues.

No heating seafood up in the office microwave.

That last one is just common sense, but it doesn't stop the office manager from having to send an e-blast to all staff (at my request) almost every month because someone just had to bring their leftover crab cakes to work.I'm sure they're delicious, Jennifer, but no client appreciates smelling day old fish when they're getting billed upwards of $1000 an hour.

When Vanessa got back from her honeymoon—which she took with onlythree weeks'notice—I'd already gotten used to Camila's stellar attention to detail, frequent and incisive questions about clients and legal precedents, and constant willingness to go above and beyond. Her work ethic put even some of the junior associates to shame. I hardly knew anything about her,—which I loved, considering I prefer not to get too personal in the office—but I knew she was the kind of paralegal a full partner would need by his side. Luckily for me, I had (andstill have) seniority over Jonathan and was not afraid to pull rank. Camila stayed with me and Vanessa went back to the firm'ssecond bestdivorce attorney instead. I'm not even sure if she's still with the firm, but Jonathan and I have been in a bitter rivalry ever since. A rivalry he has no hope of winning.

I look up at my right-hand woman, tapping her pen and awaiting the latest assignment that will likely have her tied up in paperwork for another two hours, minimum.

"I'm waiting with bated breath, Henry."

My gaze hardens slightly. Occasional attitude is one thing, but she knows how I feel about proper titles. She shifts on herfeet and lets out a disconcerted puff of air before squaring her shoulders and making direct eye contact.

"My apologies,Mr. Park. How may I help you?"

Decorum once again restored, I stand up from my chair and feel a soft pop in my lumbar vertebrae; it may be the first time I've come up for air since my three o'clock meeting. I pace a few steps, then settle against the edge of my desk with my arms folded.

"At lunch today, Mr. Bannister," one of the firm's two founding partners, "gave me a heads up that they're bringing in a potential VIP client that I have to woo at a 9:00am 'meet and greet' tomorrow. That gives us less than twelve hours to create full dossiers on the couple, though Bannister's office already ran a full background check. The wife is apparently a lawyer too and just relocated from San Francisco for a job in the city, so we have to ensure all of our work can pass white glove inspection. There can't be any shortcuts with this one."

As if either of us wouldevertake shortcuts. The whole time I've been speaking, Camila's been taking detailed notes, giving me her full attention.

"If she's a lawyer, I'm assuming she has a colleague who could handle this rather than take us up on retainer?"

A very common practice. Once again, she proves to be the perfect paralegal. I barely control the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Apparently her counsel is close with the husband and she didn't trust that he would be impartial. Then, with the job offer and relocation, she needed counsel based in New York." Camila pauses writing and raises a perfectly manicured eyebrow.

"You've said twice thatsherelocated. Did the husband stay behind?" My mouth gives up and lifts into a tiny smirk.

"Apparently, he's months away from an IPO, which means he's tied to his company and San Francisco until those shares drop." Camila stops writing abruptly and her mouth drops open.

"She's filing for divorce during the run-up to an IPO? That is cold-blooded."

Cold-blooded and a potential handicap in whatever settlement we can reach, but we'll know more when we learn how he contributed to the petition to divorce.

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