Chapter 6

Elena

Lila didn't seem the least bit moved by our tales of past internships; she still thought we hadn't earned the right to sit in this room.

I steeled myself against the pressure of her presence, straightened my back, and met her gaze with defiance.

Her brow arched, and she let out a scornful little laugh.

"Big Law doesn't keep useless pretty faces around. For your sakes, I hope that's not what you are."

"Get them the case files. Let's see what brilliant insights they've got."

Those words sent my heart soaring.

After two long years, I finally had the chance to sit in this office and put my expertise to work—to help a client win a case.

I glanced up at Elias, only to find his eyes already on mine. He gave me a slight nod, and the trust and expectation in his gaze filled me with confidence.

I sat down calmly, took Miss Megan's file, and began studying it closely.

The basic facts were almost identical to the gossip I'd overheard earlier.

Megan Aston had become Beekett's personal secretary eight years ago. In those eight years, the two were rarely apart—more like a couple than a boss and his subordinate. But last year they parted ways, and Miss Megan filed suit, accusing Beekett of eight years of sexual harassment and violent abuse.

Five lawsuits in a single year, every one of them dropped after she lost. Not a single firm in the country would take her case.

Devastated, Megan had come to Big Law, hoping we could win this fight for her.

Lila's "undefeated" team had already concluded the case was hopeless—and that taking it would only shatter the firm's winning streak.

The firm had originally accepted Lila's recommendation to decline. But once Elias arrived, he insisted on taking Megan's case.

Lila held firm to her position.

"The other side has a complete chain of evidence, and it holds up under judicial scrutiny. Miss Megan, on the other hand, has nothing but her own testimony—no proof whatsoever that Beekett harassed her."

"We can hardly find a single crack in Beekett's story. On top of that, Miss Megan has a serious psychological condition, which gives us reason to suspect this is all a delusion of hers. This is an unwinnable case."

"If we lose, Big Law won't just make an enemy of the Beekett family—we'll also make every other client doubt our judgment."

Just as Lila said, the chain of evidence was airtight. It seemed to document the entire arc of Beekett and Megan's story—from first meeting to romance to breakup. Every photograph, every news report, every witness statement stood on Beekett's side, without a single flaw.

And yet, something felt off to me.

My fingers tapped absently against the file—a habit of mine when I'm thinking. The office air-conditioning hummed through the vents, and my mind circled endlessly through the evidence, those images gradually blurring into the clock on the wall...

Then, all at once, it struck me. My head snapped up toward Elias.

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Elena, have you thought of something?"

Everyone turned to stare at me, astonishment on their faces, as though they couldn't believe a rookie like me could come up with anything worthwhile.

I didn't know quite how to put into words the wrongness I sensed, so I simply said, "I just think the evidence Beekett provided is too perfect."

Lila gave a soft laugh and turned to the others, mocking. "Well, obviously!"

The others joined in the ridicule. "Even Miss Elena admits their evidence is flawless—so I say our firm should drop Miss Megan's case."

"Exactly! We're already at nearly a one-hundred-percent win rate. We can't ruin the firm's reputation over this one case. Besides, Miss Megan has already lost five lawsuits. There isn't a soul in America who'll take her case now."

...

"Perhaps..." Elias murmured, frowning at the file. "Elena's right. Behind perfection there may be a flaw no one else has noticed. Go on, Elena."

At that, everyone fell silent.

He nodded at me, guiding me on in a gentle voice, encouraging me.

I let out a slow breath, steadied myself, and stated my thoughts without hesitation.

"Beekett's evidence is too comprehensive. The first date, the first kiss, checking into a hotel room—every last detail is there, as if someone had a camera trained on them the whole time, broadcasting it live."

Lila cut in. "That's perfectly normal. Mr. Beekett is a public figure. His romantic life has always been under scrutiny."

I frowned and countered, "Then in these past eight years, was his relationship with Megan ever exposed?"

Lila froze, sinking into thought.

Elias considered it for a moment, and something seemed to dawn on him. "If I remember correctly, during his relationship with Miss Megan, Beekett was still legally married to his ex-wife. And yet no scandal about his infidelity ever came to light back then."

Hearing this, my nerves settled. My hunch had a logical foundation after all.

"Which means all this evidence of Beekett and Miss Megan being in love never surfaced before—it appeared suddenly, the moment Megan filed suit, presented as proof of their relationship. There are only two ways to explain that."

I paused. The others were watching me gravely now, every trace of their earlier mockery gone.

"First: the relationship was real. Beekett, fearing his wife's influence and afraid of being exposed, paid off the media to keep it quiet."

"Second: this was Beekett's design from the very beginning. He coerced Miss Megan by some means, while at the same time manufacturing the illusion of a romance and leaving behind evidence—perhaps precisely because he feared she might come after him one day."

"But these are only my guesses. We'd have to ask the client herself to get any solid information."

It was just a feeling. The photos, the videos, the reports—there was nothing wrong with any of them, and the timeline lined up. What struck me as strange was that this was supposed to be a genuine romance between two people, not a reality show. If it truly had all been captured like that, then it must have been deliberate.

The thought sent a chill through me. Beekett was a terrifying man. He seemed all too skilled at this sort of thing—perhaps...

I didn't dare let my mind go any further.

I pressed on. "If it's possible, I'd like to be Miss Megan's attorney."

The room was stunned.

"Elena, you're still an intern. You may be top of your class, but your courtroom experience is zero."

"And everything you've said is speculation. If we lose, it'll drag down the firm's win rate."

...

Listening to their doubts, I couldn't help but shrink back. After all, I'd never truly stood in a courtroom to defend anyone. I had to admit that my rashness just now stemmed from my personal hatred of Beekett—and if I actually took the case, I might not even know where to begin.

Elias broke the deadlock. "I second Elena's proposal."

I looked at him in shock. Of the entire firm, he was the only one willing to believe in me.

But...

Elias seemed to see through my false bravado. His voice was careful, steady.

"Elena, I'll help you. And if in the end you can't defend Megan, I'll take the stand in your place."

"Are you willing?"