Part 3The Partner's Clause

As if to punish me for ruining Chloe’s party, Mark and Leo didn’t come home that night. Chloe’s Instagram, however, was active all evening.

“Talented people always attract jealousy. But it’s okay if I’m sad, my amazing mentor and a little prince are here to cheer me up!”

“I told them I was just a tiny, insignificant star in the vast universe, but they told me I was their one and only moon!”

The accompanying photo was a selfie of Chloe making a peace sign, and behind her, silhouetted against a starry sky on a mountaintop, were two figures, one large and one small.

I shut my phone off, my face a blank mask.

A young girl might think this was a devastating blow.

At my age, I’ve learned not to waste energy on people and feelings you can no longer hold onto.

The next morning, I ate breakfast at my usual time and drove to the office.

But when I swiped my key card, the lock didn’t click open. Access denied.

I pulled out my phone and called HR. “What’s going on? My key card isn’t working.”

The HR manager hurried down, his eyes darting nervously around. “Ava… It was Mark. He told me to temporarily revoke your access.”

He mumbled, “He said you were in a bad mood after the loss and that you should take some time off to rest…”

I took a deep, steadying breath. “He’s your boss, so you do what he says. Am I not your boss, too?”

“I’m on ‘rest’? Who’s handling my active cases?”

“Mark said… he said to transfer them all to Chloe.”

The manager’s voice shrank to a whisper, his gaze fixed on the floor.

It’s true what they say. When you reach a certain point of fury, you don’t scream. You laugh.

To clear a path for Chloe, Mark was willing to grind me into the dirt.

My voice was dangerously low. “I don’t care who gave you the order. You will reinstate my access right now.”

“Don’t forget that I am still a partner at this firm. Mark can fire you, but so can I.”

“Now open this door.”

“Ava, what is all this commotion?”

I turned. Mark was standing there, frowning at me.

And holding his hands were Chloe and Leo, looking like a picture-perfect family on a morning stroll.

“You’re a partner, making a scene at the entrance to the firm? Do you have any idea what a bad look this is?”

I ignored him, my eyes fixed on my son. “Why aren’t you in school?”

Leo’s lips tightened. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Chloe jumped in with a sweet smile. “Ava, you’re so strict with him. Leo gets straight A’s, what’s the harm in missing one day?”

Hearing her defend him, Leo seemed to find his courage.

“Auntie Chloe is right. Dad said so, too.”

My son has never been a genius. He gets good grades because I am strict and because he works hard. But now, he thinks skipping school is no big deal.

I shook my head, a wave of disappointment washing over me. I turned my attention back to Mark.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

He rubbed his temples, his voice laced with annoyance. “Ava, you have to understand. You lost to Chloe. Clients are starting to question your record. To manage the fallout, isn’t it better for you to take a break?”

“Besides,” he continued, “Chloe’s star is rising. Moving your cases to her is what’s best for everyone.”

He was always the master orator, capable of dressing up the most shameless propositions in robes of reason.

I let out a cold laugh. “Let me get this straight. Today, you want me to hand over my cases. What’s next? You want me to give her my partnership, too?”

Mark fell silent for a moment.

“If it’s what’s best for the firm, you should support it.”

The lobby was now full of employees, all watching the drama unfold.

I looked past him, my gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Is that what all of you think?”

“Someone wins one case against me through deceitful means, and I should just hand over my entire caseload? And my partnership?”

They all looked down, avoiding my eyes.

I had thought that even if my marriage and my family were failing, at least I had my career. But now I saw that to these people, the colleagues I worked with day in and day out, I was completely disposable.

Chloe stared at me, her expression a mask of wounded pride. “Ava, I demand an apology! I won that case because of my own skill!”

I scoffed. “Mark, your intern here says she beat me on her own merits. What do you think?”

A flash of guilt crossed his face. He turned away without a word.

Richard, the other partner, stepped forward to play peacemaker. “Ava, listen, I think Mark has a point. You haven’t taken a real vacation in years. This could be a good opportunity to recharge.”

He added quickly, “As for the partnership, that’s not changing. Everyone in this industry knows that Ava Caldwell is the gold standard of this firm!”

But Mark cut him off. “No. I think changing the partnership is essential.”

His eyes were cold. “Ava lost to Chloe. If we keep her on as a named partner, it makes clients doubt our expertise. Chloe’s name is buzzing right now. For the future of the firm, I propose we amend the partnership. We remove Ava Caldwell and add Chloe Reed.”

A flash of pure ecstasy lit up Chloe’s eyes. “A partner? Me? Really?”

She feigned humility. “Ava worked for so many years to become a partner. For me to replace her, at my age… wouldn’t that be wrong?”

Every word was a poorly veiled jab, her ambition radiating off her like heat.

Leo, who had been quiet, suddenly tugged on Chloe’s hand. “Auntie Chloe, my teacher says the capable rise and the incompetent fall.”

He looked at me. “Mom lost to you. That proves she’s not as good as you. If she can be a partner, you can too!”

He then turned his earnest little face to me. “Mommy, Daddy can make enough money to take care of you. You should just stay home and look after me and Dad!”

Even though my heart was already fractured, his words sent a fresh spiderweb of cracks through it.