“Knock knock,” I say, knocking on Madilyn Marks’ open office door. She smiles and waves me in. “Would you like a doggy treat?”

I hold some dog biscuits out, to sweeten her up before trying to find out the dirt. Madilyn sat next to me on her very first day of orientation when she was brand new to the firm, and we bonded over our love of dogs.

I sometimes bring mine to the office when I work on the weekends, so I keep a stash of treats, bones and water bowls in a desk drawer. I know that Madilyn, a hard working lawyer despite also being a wife and mom, does the same.

“Awww thanks,” she says, taking the treats. “I’ll bring these home with me and will be very loved.”

“Make sure Asher thanks you for the treats while he’s loving on you,” I tell her.

We both crack up laughing. I have always thought Madilyn was a loving, charming woman— very different from the fake, plastic-like associates who have come in and out of this firm. In fact, after we became closer friends she confided in me that she called some of those new associates the “Barbies,” but, she said, it was only because she overheard them talking about her “cankles.”

Leave it to Madilyn to feel the need to justify a very appropriate nickname. Most other people I know would do something way worst than give the offenders nicknames. But Madilyn has never let what anyone says about her hold her back.

She was the talk of the office when she married the founding partner Asher Marks. But she soon started a trend, and there have been so many office romances around here that Madilyn and her friends Ruby and Katie lovingly refer to the firm as “Sugar Daddy Central.”

“Speaking of Asher,” I say, finding my opening and figuratively running with it. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah, why?” she asks, looking a bit concerned at first. Then she arches an eyebrow at me and tsks her tongue. “Monique. I knew you didn’t just come here to give me dog treats. You’re trying to get the scoop on something, aren’t you? You’re always the revered office sleuth.”

“That’s not true,” I tell her, laughing, even though it is kind of true. I knew about all the secret romances long before anyone else did. What can I say? People just trust in me and confide in me. Plus, I have a nose for these things. Not to mention, a lot of time on my hands since work is my life and I’m here a lot. “But, I saw a meeting on the calendar and it isn’t like Asher to hold information back from me so I couldn’t help but wonder…”

My voice trails off as Madilyn narrows her eyes at me. I realize that I may have said too much. It appears that she may not know much about this mysterious meeting, either. Or if she does, she certainly doesn’t seem to want me to go too far down this line of questioning.

“Never mind,” I tell her, smiling brightly. “I’m sure it’s nothing. He probably just forgot to put a note with what it was about. Asher can be forgetful sometimes.”

“You’re telling me,” she says, laughing. “Sometimes he pours a mug of coffee and then forgets where he put it, so he pours another one after that, and loses that one too.”

I nod my head at her, knowingly. I can imagine Asher doing that because he’s forever coming into my office asking if I know where he left this file or that briefcase. It’s because he is always trying to do too many things at once. He started this firm and he is the partner who brings in the most money, even after all the mergers it’s gone through with important lawyers the firm successfully wooed.

“Well, at least he doesn’t forget the big things,” I tell her. “Anniversaries. Birthdays.”

“You’re right,” Madilyn says, looking wistfully out the window, as if feeling grateful for her husband. “He is really good at recalling fine details and that’s what makes him the best lawyer ever.”

“Maybe he’s close to the best lawyer,” I tell her. “I think that title might belong to you.”

“Oh, please,” she says. “Maybe in another twenty years.”

She’s mentioning their age difference, which is quite substantial.

“Not you’re just flattering me,” she says. “And I’m still not going to give you any information.” After hesitating a second, she adds, “Because I don’t even have any to give.”

Hmmm, I can’t help but think. Is that true or not? Either way, it’s clear she’s not going to help my cause.

“Tell your dogs I say thanks for nothing,” I tell her.

She laughs as I wave and head out the door. Madilyn was my best bet for trying to figure out who Asher is meeting with, but since she can’t or won’t help me, there has to be someone who will.