Chapter 5 - The Firm Finds Out
Daniel worked as a senior associate at Sterling & Cole, one of the most prestigious commercial litigation firms in the state. The managing partner, Arthur Sterling, was a seventy-year-old traditionalist who prided himself on the firm’s unimpeachable public reputation. Arthur attended the same country club as Marcus Vance, and more importantly, Arthur had been a regular customer of my custom cake business for three consecutive holiday seasons.
At two o'clock that afternoon, Marcus and I walked into the mahogany-paneled lobby of Sterling & Cole. Daniel was currently in a client deposition on the fourth floor, entirely unaware that his world was about to collapse around his ears.
Arthur Sterling greeted Marcus with a warm handshake, then looked at me with genuine surprise. "Claire, what a pleasure. Don't tell me you brought samples of those lemon lavender tarts today?"
"I wish I had, Arthur," I said quietly, adjusting my scarf to cover the sterile gauze bandage on my throat. "Unfortunately, we are here on serious legal business concerning one of your senior associates. And your lead paralegal."
Arthur’s friendly smile vanished. He led us into his corner office, closed the heavy double doors, and gestured for us to sit.
Marcus laid out the evidence without emotion: the Cabo San Lucas booking confirmation showing Daniel Bennett and Vanessa Croft listed as co-travelers, the audit log showing the reservation was billed using a credit card account Daniel had opened using Sterling & Cole's corporate discount code, and the emergency protection order signed by the county judge barely an hour earlier.
Arthur picked up the booking confirmation, his eyes narrowing behind his reading glasses as he read the name Vanessa Croft.
"Vanessa?" Arthur murmured, his voice laced with profound disappointment. "Vanessa was assigned to Daniel's caseload six months ago to assist with the Anderson litigation. Are you telling me they've been using firm travel discounts for an extramarital affair?"
"Not just firm discounts, Arthur," Marcus said, sliding another document across the desk. "Daniel attempted to coerce Claire into funding the eighteen-thousand-dollar balance by using physical intimidation and emotional abuse. When she refused, he scalded her with hot tea, locked her out of the house, and threatened to destroy her business savings. The sheriff is currently downstairs in your lobby, waiting to serve Daniel with a restraining order the moment his deposition concludes."
Arthur leaned back in his leather executive chair, rubbing his temples in utter disbelief. He looked at the medical report, then looked at me, his eyes full of sorrow and fury.
"Claire, I am profoundly sorry," Arthur said. "Daniel was on the short track for junior partner this December. He stood in this very office two weeks ago, asking for an advance on his year-end bonus, claiming his mother had medical expenses that required immediate attention."
"He told my mother-in-law the money was for a tour of Europe," I said bitterly. "He told me the money was for his mother's lifelong dream. The only person he was spending it on was Vanessa."
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Arthur pressed the intercom button on his desk phone. "Evelyn, call security up to the fourth floor. When Mr. Bennett exits Conference Room B, escort him directly to his office. Tell him to pack his desk under supervision. His employment with Sterling & Cole is terminated effective immediately. And have human resources suspend Vanessa Croft's badge access with immediate effect."
Arthur released the button and looked across the desk at me. "He won't use this firm to shield himself from the law, Claire. You have my word."
