Chapter 28
Marcel
Marcel and Sharla spent the entire weekend together, a significant part of it in bed. They did take a breather long enough to catch a movie, go for a walk along the Redondo Beach pier, and prepare Sunday dinner together at Marcel’s place.
Marcel had never experienced anyone like Sharla before. She was the first woman he enjoyed out of bed as much as he did in bed. Their relationship was something he wanted to continue well beyond just a weekend. She might even turn out to be worthy of him giving up his bachelor card.
Over the weekend, they spent hours sharing their secrets and dreams. Marcel had never been so comfortable sharing his feelings. The truth—not the bullshit he told most women. Things like despising many of the partners at his law firm and finding litigation boring. Sometimes he felt as insecure as a first-year associate. Junior partners were relegated to the bottom of the partner barrel, feeding off the crumbs of the senior partners. Marcel didn’t have the skills or the desire to be a rainmaker and hated wining and dining clients. Most of the younger partners were content being workhorses—performing the day-to-day casework—in exchange for a fat paycheck. But money alone wasn’t enough to make him happy.
By Monday morning, Marcel didn’t want to leave Sharla’s side. They made love yet again before he headed to the office.
It was close to ten when he arrived at work. As soon as he got off the elevator, his assistant ran up to him.
“Something’s up,” Marie told him. “Stein’s been calling me every fifteen minutes asking if you’re in yet.”
Only then did Marcel remember the strategy memo for Goodwin Securities. He was supposed to get it to the managing partner by eight that morning. After hooking up with Sharla this weekend, he forgot all about work.
“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll handle it.”
He’d already completed most of the research and would only need a couple of hours to get it in final form.
As he sat down in front of his computer, his phone rang. He could see from the caller ID that it was Sol Stein, so he picked up.
“Mr. Stein would like to see you at one o’clock,” his assistant said.
Marcel breathed a sigh of relief. That was more than enough time to finish the memo.
Three hours later, Marcel read the document for a third time and was rather impressed with himself. At his level, Marcel ran the case while Stein provided occasional strategic advice and attended important client meetings. Of course, the managing partner would take the lead if the case actually went to trial, with Marcel serving as second chair.
Marcel printed out two copies of the memo and walked the short distance to Stein’s corner office. As soon as he entered, he sensed that he’d been blindsided. He knew instantly what this meeting was all about and it had nothing to with the memo he spent the morning fine-tuning.
Stein wasn’t alone. David Cook and the head of Human Resources were seated on a couch near Stein’s desk.
“Have a seat.” Stein motioned him toward a chair opposite the couch. Stein got up from behind his desk and took a chair adjacent to Marcel.
He tried to make eye contact with the Human Resources director, a woman he knew well. She refused to meet his eyes.
“I don’t believe in pussy footing around,” Stein began, “so I’ll cut to the chase. Are you screwing Judge Sharla Ratliff?”
When Marcel first learned that Sharla had presided over the Kress case, he knew there’d be trouble, but he didn’t expect it to go down like this. If he had, he would’ve been better prepared. He needed some time to gather his thoughts. Too late for that now.
“I guess your silence answers the damn question,” Cook fumed. “Not only did you fuck the judge, you just fucked me as well as this firm. Kress Pharmaceuticals is outraged over this. The plaintiff’s counsel is using your relationship with the judge as the basis to overturn our motion.”
Cook and Marcel both finished law school the same year. He didn’t appreciate Cook talking to him like he was some flunky junior associate.
Marcel still hadn’t figured out how he was going to play this. He advised his clients to always tell the truth. But if the truth would only hurt you, just keep your mouth shut.
Stein eyed him with a mix of irritation and disappointment. The man had mentored him since his days as a young associate. Marcel was only the third African-American to make partner at the firm. This screw up wouldn’t just affect him, they’d use it as an excuse not to hire other African-Americans. Of course, when a white boy screwed up, they didn’t apply the same rules.
“Yes, I’ve been seeing the judge,” Marcel reluctantly admitted. “But only for a short period of time.” He thought about explaining that Sharla wasn’t aware of the firm’s connection to the case, but then they would realize that he and Sharla had discussed it.
If the truth would only hurt you, just keep your mouth shut.
“When we were celebrating the verdict on Friday, you specifically asked me who the judge was.” Cook’s accusatory words flew out of his mouth like poisonous darts. “Why didn’t you say something then?”
“I was too stunned,” Marcel said, before he could stop himself.
“That was three days ago. Plenty of time for you to become un-stunned.”
Marcel wanted to know how his relationship with Sharla had come to their attention but figured he would find out soon enough.
“But no,” Cook went on, “I had to get ambushed by a judicial misconduct allegation filed by my opponent.” He pointed at a document on the coffee table separating them. “According to his declaration, some anonymous woman called and told him a partner at this law firm was screwing the judge and that’s why she decided the case in our favor.”
That bitch Camille. Marcel’s face grew hot.
“Do you know how many millions you’ve cost this firm? Not to mention the damage to our reputation if this situation becomes public,” Cook continued to rant. “Even if a different court upholds the ruling, Kress Pharmaceuticals has already notified me that they’re firing us. Said they don’t want to be associated with an unethical law firm. There’s no telling how many clients this could cost us.”
Stein leaned forward, clasping his hands. “The Management Committee will be discussing your status shortly. This also has to be reported to the Bar. In the meantime, continue working on the cases you have, but you’re prohibited from making any court appearances or attending any client meetings until further notice.”
Marcel stood, anxious to leave. When he stepped back into the hallway, the series of averted eyes told him the firm’s rumor mill was already on high alert over his predicament.
There is no such thing as having it all, he thought to himself. He’d finally found his dream woman but totally destroyed his career in the process.