I had made up my mind to leave and join Leo's firm.
I was coming in as a partner. Even though he had my back, I still needed to prove myself.
I set up meetings with a few key clients—I wanted to keep a handle on the relationships I'd worked so hard to build.
That day, I was meeting my biggest client, a fifty-million-dollar account. I told my assistant to hold all my calls.
But as soon as I sat down, Amber showed up at my door, eyes full of tears.
"Sue, this is all my fault. Please, you have to forgive me!"
Then she noticed my client and put on this fake surprised look.
"Oh… am I interrupting something?"
"Get out."
I didn't hold back.
Amber saw the look on my face and whimpered, "Sue, I'm so sorry. Please don't make me leave."
Her act was weak. Really weak.
I shot my client an apologetic smile. "Sorry about this."
Then I stood up, grabbed Amber by the arm, and shoved her against the wall.
She yelped. I turned back to my client like nothing happened.
The noise caught people's attention. I could hear whispers starting up around the office.
"Sue said no interruptions today. Amber's really pushing it."
"She's not here to get yelled at—she's here to ruin Sue's deal."
With a sharp twist, I pinned her arm and dragged her out of the office. I kicked the door shut behind her and locked it.
I took a deep breath, smoothed my suit, and turned back to my client with a calm smile.
"Now, where were we?"
The meeting went better than expected. My client, who'd been on the fence, ended up changing his mind.
Before he left, he shook my hand firmly.
"I had no idea you were that tough both in and out of the courtroom, Sue."
I gave an embarrassed laugh. "Lawyers deal with a lot of upset people. Sometimes things get physical."
"It was a pleasure," he said.
I sat back down at my desk, tapping my fingers across the keyboard, wrapping up the last of my work.