That’s it? That’s all Asher wanted me to come to his office for? To give me these files?
I’m at home, with the files spread across my kitchen table, and I can’t stop wondering why he seems so mysterious. He felt cold, distant. Like he was punishing me for something.
My dog is lying at my feet, and I reach down and pet her head while I ponder the situation. Sure, Asher was professional enough, but something was obviously lurking beneath the surface, with many telltale signs.
The way he instructed me to lock the door— this time and every time I entered his office. The way he told me to call him “Boss.” The way he made me walk to the side of his desk and pick up the files. I know he was watching me, even if he doesn’t know that I know.
I remove a folder from the accordion file and look at the clock above the kitchen stove. Jimmy is usually home by now. I don’t want to get too engrossed with work before we have the chance to talk, but I also don’t want to stall too much, just waiting for him.
I’d come home earlier than I’d planned, since this morning I’d promised him we’d talk after work. I want to make sure we’re on the same page this time, so that he stops blowing up my phone when I’m at the office.
I’d wanted to rehearse a nice but firm speech in which I explained to him once again that we’re over and that it’s for the best. But I’ve been so busy thinking about Asher that I just haven’t had the time.
Now I’m wondering if Jimmy actually took my advice and is spending the night at his brother’s. It doesn’t appear that he took any of his stuff. But maybe he just decided to leave with the clothes on his back.
I open the folder and I’m immediately impressed at the caliber of the first case that Asher wants me to work on. It’s a commercial litigation case between the owner of a technology firm and some of its disgruntled former partners and shareholders. It’s definitely not a typical first year associate type of garden variety automobile accident or landlord/ tenant dispute case.
There’s a note in the back of the file, written in the same neat, purposeful handwriting as the note that Asher had dropped in front of me earlier and it’s on the same folded piece of expensive, personalized stationery.
Madilyn –
Please review and type up a brief summary of the case proceedings to date, based on the docketing statement. Tomorrow we will go over your understanding of the case, and I will provide further instructions and specific assignments.
– Asher
That’s pretty short, sweet and to the point. And it’s something I can easily do.
So why do I feel disappointed?
I guess I was expecting more of a challenge.
Write a twenty five page motion by 8 a.m., maybe.
Or maybe something less professional and more personal?
Stop it, I will myself.
It’s good that he’s keeping things professional. Good for both my professional and my personal life.
I open the firm billing software on my laptop to enter 1/6th of an hour for reviewing the “memorandum” from Asher. I know that a top priority at the firm is billing, and I want to impress the partners with my billable hour entries on my first day.
I notice that Asher has already added six files into the billing system and approved me to bill to each one. I’m glad that I already have so much work, although I feel a little nervous and overwhelmed at keeping up with six cases from Asher, let alone whatever cases other partners choose to give me to work on.
I open the other files. Each are equally impressive cases. And each has a very similar, handwritten note on the same stationery with the same instructions.
I enter .1 in each case to bill my time.
All right. So five cases to review and summarize by tomorrow.
I’m not sure what time tomorrow, so I’ll have to assume he means first thing in the morning. Then once we discuss my thoughts, I’ll presumably have time to start working on new assignments for the rest of the day in my office— I mean, my cubicle.
That’s quite a bit of work to do tonight, but not an impossible amount. I knew what to expect when accepting a job offer at a large firm, with a correspondingly large salary as compensation for all those anticipated hours. And I’m glad that Asher is helping me hit the ground running by assigning me good cases and instructing me to get up to date on them right away.
I take a moment to reflect on things. The cases were purposefully chosen, as if to impress me. The instructions were written up with advanced care, as was the note he’d put in front of me earlier. He’d obviously chosen me as his mentee some time ago and put a lot of thought into it.
So why me? What exactly does he want from me? And what is the sixth case?
Each case was entered by its client name and matter number, but the sixth case is only marked with a “P.” It’s empty except for that.
I look at the manila envelope, the last item in the file for me to open.
A chill runs down my spine. I have an idea that things are about to get interesting.