Day 120, and Mrs. Chen was in the Pearson Hardman reception area.
I was heading to a client eting when I spotted her—smaller than I rembered, exhausted in a way that went beyond physical tiredness.
She stood when she saw .
"Mr. Roden. I'm sorry to co without calling, but I didn't know what else to do."
I guided her to a conference room, closed the door.
"What happened?"
She pulled docunts from her bag with shaking hands.
"The building managent. They're saying there are safety violations. That we have to evacuate imdiately. But Mr. Roden, we've been there for decades. Nothing's changed except—"
"Except the settlent agreent is approaching its anniversary."
Her eyes widened.
"You think they're doing this on purpose?"
I took the docunts, started reading.
Thirty-seven code violations. Everything from "inadequate fire suppression" to "structural concerns in load-bearing walls."
None of this appeared in the routine inspection four months ago.
"When did they discover these violations?"
"The inspector ca last week. Three tis in five days. Always finding sothing new."
[ARGUNT CRUSHER: ANALYZING PATTERN]
[OPPONENT STRATEGY: ADMINISTRATIVE HARASSNT]
[GOAL: CIRCUMVENT SETTLENT PROTECTIONS THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS]
[WEAKNESS: SUSPICIOUS TIMING, MANUFACTURED VIOLATIONS]
"Mrs. Chen, this is the sa thing they tried before. Different tactic, sa goal—force you out by making staying impossible."
"Can you help?"
[WIN RATE CALCULATOR: OPPORTUNITY ASSESSNT]
[PRO BONO CASE: ZERO BILLABLE HOURS]
[TI INVESTNT: SIGNIFICANT - 20-30 HOURS MINIMUM]
[PARTNER APPROVAL: REQUIRED]
[PARTNERSHIP TRACK IMPACT: NEGATIVE]
[BUT: EXISTING CLIENT RELATIONSHIP, ETHICAL OBLIGATION, VALUES TEST]
I didn't hesitate.
"Yes. I'll look at everything and file an injunction if needed."
"I can't pay—"
"I didn't ask you to. Let handle this."
Relief flooded her expression, and she started crying.
Nine months ago, I took this case because Louis dumped it on . Now I'm choosing it despite the cost.
That ans sothing.
Day 121, I knocked on Louis's office door.
"Co in."
He was reviewing docunts, looked up when I entered.
"I need to take a pro bono case."
Louis set down his pen.
"You're on partnership track now, Scott. Pro bono doesn't help that."
"It's Mrs. Chen. The housing case from when I first started. Castellano Developnt is trying to circumvent the settlent agreent."
"And you want to fight them again."
"These are my clients. I gave them my word the protection deal would hold."
Louis leaned back, expression conflicted.
"Your word isn't a contract."
The statent hit harder than intended.
"It should be worth more than a contract."
Louis stared at for a long mont.
"You're going to do this whether I approve or not, aren't you?"
Yes.
"I'd prefer your support."
He sighed, pulled up his calendar.
"Fine. Twenty hours maximum. And if partners complain about your billable hours, this was my decision. You were following orders."
Relief washed over .
"Thank you, Louis."
"Don't thank . Just win quickly and get back to cases that actually matter for partnership."
I left his office understanding what he'd just done—protected from firm politics while accommodating my principles.
That's what good ntors do.
Days 122 and 123 blurred into research and analysis.
Castellano had hired the sa law firm as before—Marcus Webb as lead counsel. The violations were docunted extensively, but the docuntation itself was suspicious.
Every inspection request ca from "anonymous complaints."
Every violation appeared within six weeks of the settlent anniversary.
Every issue was characterized as critical despite the building passing inspection four months prior.
[ARGUNT CRUSHER: OPPONENT ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
[MARCUS WEBB STRATEGY: PROCEDURAL WARFARE]
[GOAL: OVERWHELM WITH BUREAUCRACY, AVOID DIRECT LEGAL CHALLENGE]
[WEAKNESS: BAD FAITH DEALING - SETTLENT INCLUDED GOOD FAITH PROVISIONS]
I drafted an injunction motion—forty-three pages, every argunt supported by three layers of precedent.
The original settlent agreent explicitly prohibited using manufactured violations to circumvent tenant protections.
Castellano's inspection timing was too convenient to be coincidental.
The building's safety record contradicted the sudden flood of violations.
This isn't about code compliance. This is about proving they're manipulating the system.
I filed electronically at 8:47 PM on Day 123, marked it for ergency hearing.
My phone rang thirty seconds later.
"Mr. Roden, thank you. I don't know how to—"
Mrs. Chen's voice was trembling.
"You don't need to thank . Just get so rest. The hearing is in two days."
After the call ended, I sat alone in the empty associate bullpen.
Partnership track. Dating Donna. Building reputation. And I'm still taking pro bono cases that cost ti and political capital.
Have I changed? Or am I still the person who started here nine months ago?
Donna appeared in the doorway.
"Working late on the billable stuff?"
"Pro bono. Helping Mrs. Chen again."
Her smile was genuine and warm.
"Good. Don't lose that part of yourself."
"What part?"
"The part that fights for people even when it doesn't benefit you."
She kissed my cheek and left.
I sat alone with her words echoing.
The part that fights for people.
Maybe that's the part worth keeping.
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