Page 57 of Behind Frenemy Lines

“Yes,” I lied, and fled.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Charles

Kriya was gonelong enough, talking to Arthur, that I started to worry. Maybe I should go looking for her. Check she was all right.

Kriya was well able to handle Arthur, I told myself.

But was she? Couldn’t say there was equality of arms. Not only that he was a partner and she his associate. He seemed to have some sort of mental hold on her, maybe because they’d worked together for so long. And the circumstances were all in his favour. Presumably she was still on probation, so didn’t have the full set of protections under employment law.

Needed to focus on the advice note I was drafting for Shaw—had to allow time for the Reputation Management team to look over the draft. But I started looking up employment law rights instead. Was reading the Practical Law note on constructive dismissal when Kriya came back.

Had already told myself I wouldn’t probe. Kriya might not want to talk about it. But when I saw her face, I said:

“What happened?”

Kriya: “Nothing.” Sank into her chair. “It’s not a big deal. I mean, it’s OK.”

Waited.

Kriya: “Arthur told Rosalind I was on a new case and didn’t have time for Sanson work anymore. He put Milo Deacon on it instead.”

CG: “Milo? His whole team is flat out on the NAB trial.”

Kriya, grimly: “I know. That’s why I went to speak to Arthur.”

CG: “Didn’t go well?”

Kriya shook her head. “It was OK. He apologised.” Paused. “He’d like me to scale it down with Rosalind, push more work down to junior fee earners. I can see what he means, to be fair. The work I do for Rosalind doesn’t always need a senior associate.”

CG: “Has the client complained about fees?”

Kriya: “No, Rosalind’s said she’s happy to pay for my time. And I view it as an investment in the relationship, you know. But Arthur’s always been a bit funny about Sanson. They’re our only client where I’m the main point of contact, because Rosalind doesn’t get along with Arthur. But it’s almost like Arthur’s jealous of the relationship I have with her…” Her voice trailed off. Then, in a tone of dawning realisation: “Heisjealous.”

CG: “Did he say anything… inappropriate?”

Kriya: “No, no. I mean, yes. But not like that. He wasn’t hitting on me. He was just being weird.” She was frowning, working through a thought. “There was something else that pinged me as weird. When I got to his office he was talking to Emily. And this business with getting Milo to cover Sanson… it’s very out of character for Arthur.”

CG: “How so?”

Kriya: “I could never get him to talk to other associates at our old firm. He made me relay his instructions to them. I was like the Mouth of Sauron.”

She pulled a face. I decided it wasn’t the time to get her to explain the reference.

Kriya went on: “The junior fee earners didn’t mind, but it caused some ill feeling with other senior associates. Peoplesaid I was gatekeeping Arthur. When that was the last thing I wanted to do! Who wants their boss on their case all the time? It would have been a relief if he’d talked to somebody else, once in a while.”

She leaned back in her chair, covering her face. “I wish he’d go back to normal. I guess I need to give him more time.”

Didn’t think time was going to improve matters. It didn’t sound like Arthur had ever been normal.

The longer I knew Kriya, the more strongly I felt the best thing for her would be to take on work without reference to Arthur. Would help her build connections with other partners and clients. He sounded like a controlling headcase to work with, even leaving out his recent conduct.

CG: “Have you got capacity?”

Kriya raised her head.

CG: “There’s this new matter that’s come in, for Blackmount. They’re an existing client of the firm, we’ve done M&A work for them, but this is a potential defamation case. A blogger’s been making politically motivated allegations against an individual connected to the client. They’re now threatening to publish the allegations in the press. The client has asked for advice on their options.”

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