Page 16 of After Everything
My first instinct was to say no. I'd been avoiding everything David-related for ten days. Blocked his number. Unfollowed him on every social media platform. Told Rachel to handle all the divorce communications so I wouldn't have to hear his voice.
But something in Jess's expression, something that was equal parts vindicated and furious, made me curious.
"What is it?"
She handed me her phone. LinkedIn was open, showing a post from someone named Elliot Webb.
Excited to announce that Webb & Associates will be partnering with Olson, Chen & Lowe on the Henderson class action suit. Looking forward to working with such a talented team on this important case.
I stared at the screen. "I don't understand. Who's Elliot Webb?"
"He's a partner atsome firm downtown. But that's not the important part." Jess swiped to another tab. "Look at this."
It was David's firm's website. The "Our Team" page. I recognized David's headshot immediately, even though I tried not to look at it. But Jess wasn't showing me David's profile. She was pointing to a news section at the bottom.
Oakley & Barnes has withdrawn from the Henderson case due to unforeseen conflicts of interest. We wish them continued success.
My heart started beating faster. "Sarah's firm pulled out."
"Sarah's firm pulled out," Jess confirmed. "And look at the date. It was announced three days ago. Radio silence from David's firm about it until this Elliot Webb guy posted about replacing them."
I handed the phone back, my hand shaking slightly. "Why would they pull out?"
Jess gave me a look. "Come on, Emma. You're smarter than that."
I was. I knew exactly why they'd pulled out.
Because someone found out about the affair. Because Sarah's father—the managing partner, the one David had told me about, the conservative one who ran his firm like it was 1950—found out his daughter was sleeping with a married co-counsel.
"David's firm is going to know," I said quietly. "If Sarah's firm pulled out because of the affair, his bosses are going to figure it out."
"Oh, they already know." Jess's expression was grim. "They have to. Sarah's firm is pretty big, isn’t it? They wouldn't just pull out of a massive case for no reason. And the timing? Right after you kicked him out, right after you filed for divorce? David's bosses aren't stupid."
I stared at the phone in my hand, at the firm's announcement about the withdrawal. Three days ago. This had been public knowledge for three days, and I hadn't known.
"Partnership review is supposed to be soon, right?" Jess asked. "Like, next month?"
"October," I said automatically. Davidhad been talking about it for a year. The Henderson case was supposed to seal the deal. Partnership by thirty-three. That was the plan.
"Yeah, well." Jess took her phone back. "I'm guessing that's not going to go well."
I sat down in one of the plastic break room chairs. Sarah's firm had pulled out. Publicly. Citing "conflicts of interest," which in the legal world might as well be a flashing neon sign that something had gone wrong.
David's firm would know why. They'd have to. And if they knew, David's career—everything he'd worked for, everything I'd sacrificed for—was about to implode.
"He's going to lose everything," I said quietly.
"Good." Jess's voice was sharp. "He deserves it."
Did he? I didn't know anymore. Ten days ago, I would have said yes without hesitation. But now, sitting in this break room with its flickering fluorescent lights and stale donut smell, I didn't feel the satisfaction I'd expected.
"I've been checking Sarah's social mediatoo," Jess continued. "She hasn't posted anything in over a week. Usually she's all over LinkedIn with case updates and professional humble-brags. Radio silence now. I think she's laying low."
"Smart," I muttered.
"Or she's protecting herself while David takes the fall." Jess leaned against the counter. "Her firm pulled out. Her reputation might take a hit, but she's still got her father protecting her. David doesn't have that."
I thought about that. Sarah, insulated by her father's firm, by her family name. She’d be okay. As for David… alone in some hotel room, watching everything crumble.
