"But I see no need for this suspension or self-criticism report," Mr. Ziegler declared. His tone was mild, yet with just a few words, he shifted all blame squarely onto me.
The smile drained from my face, and I addressed him directly. "Mr. Ziegler, are you suggesting that my handling of the situation was improper?"
Hugo jumped in before Mr. Ziegler could reply. "Mr. Ziegler is right. Xenia had done extensive preparatory work despite it being her first time in court. It was just nerves that got the better of her. Yet you stepped in and erased all her efforts."
Zayne quickly piled on. "A junior surely won't handle things with your level of polish. But you once stood where she stands now. Stealing her credit was bad enough, but forcing her to write a self-criticism report is too much."
After abandoning their earlier blind defense of Xenia, the two of them now echoed Mr. Ziegler's stance. They were trying to claim the moral high ground to condemn me.
My tone turned icy. "I've never once broken down crying on the stand. I've never once wailed for help. Don't you dare compare me to that level of incompetence. Xenia is under my supervision, so keep your hands out of matters that aren't yours. Her punishment is non-negotiable."
"Enough!" Mr. Ziegler's face darkened as he cut me off.
"Samantha, you may be a senior partner, but don't think you can run this firm like a tyrant. I am the founder of this firm, and while I'm alive, my word is final. I say Xenia is not at fault, and that's the end of it.
"I think you'd better cool off for a few days. The 200-million-dollar case you're leading will be temporarily handed over to Zayne and Hugo."
That case was the core of my current work. My entire team and I had poured ourselves into it. To hand it over meant they would continue working on it, while I was left stripped of authority, reduced to a commander without an army.
With that, Mr. Ziegler turned to leave.
…
The suddenness of it left me reeling.
Mr. Ziegler's inexplicable favoritism toward Xenia was baffling. To protect her, he was willing to smear me with false accusations and effectively suspend me.
Setting aside our years of mentorship, the value I brought to the firm far exceeded what ten Xenias could offer. Yet the mentor I respected most was now brazenly lying to my face.
"Mr. Ziegler!" I chased after him, desperate to defend myself.
Zayne, however, blocked my path. "Samantha, Mr. Ziegler has guided you for years. His mentorship has been a profound kindness. Are you really going to turn against him over something so trivial?
"He's pointing out your impulsiveness as a seasoned attorney should. Why can't you just admit it? You've grown too arrogant!"
I could handle the betrayal from Zayne and Hugo. But Mr. Ziegler was the cornerstone of my legal career. He was the one who had repeatedly encouraged me to stay true to myself and to fight for justice during my moments of doubt. And now, he was trampling on those very principles he had instilled in me.
Trembling with rage, I forced my voice to remain steady. "Mr. Ziegler, I cannot accept this. I reject your assessment of the responsibility for what happened in court. I stand by how I handled the case."
Mr. Ziegler's pleasant mask fell away, revealing a steely expression beneath.
"I've always known you were ambitious, but I never realized you could be this petty. Xenia has talent. Why must you hoard the spotlight and refuse to let her shine? If your jealousy runs so deep you can't tolerate others' success, perhaps you should consider resigning."
Our colleagues, who were unaware of the details from the court, were swayed by Mr. Ziegler's skewed accusations. Whispers rippled through the office.
As a seasoned attorney, Mr. Ziegler had masterfully painted me as the villain in a few sentences.
I clenched my jaw, ready to explain, when a voice, laced with a hint of amusement, suddenly cut through the tension.
"Instead of trading accusations, why not look at the objective evidence? After all, isn’t ‘evidence over testimony’ the principle every competent attorney claims to follow?"
