Chapter 31: The Test of Principles
Day 120, and Mrs. Chen was in the Pearson Hardman reception area.
I was heading to a client meeting when I spotted her—smaller than I remembered, exhausted in a way that went beyond physical tiredness.
She stood when she saw me.
"Mr. Roden. I'm sorry to come 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 documents from her bag with shaking hands.
"The building management. They're saying there are safety violations. That we have to evacuate immediately. But Mr. Roden, we've been there for decades. Nothing's changed except—"
"Except the settlement agreement is approaching its anniversary."
Her eyes widened.
"You think they're doing this on purpose?"
I took the documents, 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 came last week. Three times in five days. Always finding something new."
[ARGUMENT CRUSHER: ANALYZING PATTERN]
[OPPONENT STRATEGY: ADMINISTRATIVE HARASSMENT]
[GOAL: CIRCUMVENT SETTLEMENT PROTECTIONS THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS]
[WEAKNESS: SUSPICIOUS TIMING, MANUFACTURED VIOLATIONS]
"Mrs. Chen, this is the same thing they tried before. Different tactic, same goal—force you out by making staying impossible."
"Can you help?"
[WIN RATE CALCULATOR: OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENT]
[PRO BONO CASE: ZERO BILLABLE HOURS]
[TIME INVESTMENT: 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 me handle this."
Relief flooded her expression, and she started crying.
Nine months ago, I took this case because Louis dumped it on me. Now I'm choosing it despite the cost.
That means something.
Day 121, I knocked on Louis's office door.
"Come in."
He was reviewing documents, 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 Development is trying to circumvent the settlement agreement."
"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 statement hit harder than intended.
"It should be worth more than a contract."
Louis stared at me for a long moment.
"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 me.
"Thank you, Louis."
"Don't thank me. Just win quickly and get back to cases that actually matter for partnership."
I left his office understanding what he'd just done—protected me from firm politics while accommodating my principles.
That's what good mentors do.
Days 122 and 123 blurred into research and analysis.
Castellano had hired the same law firm as before—Marcus Webb as lead counsel. The violations were documented extensively, but the documentation itself was suspicious.
Every inspection request came from "anonymous complaints."
Every violation appeared within six weeks of the settlement anniversary.
Every issue was characterized as critical despite the building passing inspection four months prior.
[ARGUMENT CRUSHER: OPPONENT ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
[MARCUS WEBB STRATEGY: PROCEDURAL WARFARE]
[GOAL: OVERWHELM WITH BUREAUCRACY, AVOID DIRECT LEGAL CHALLENGE]
[WEAKNESS: BAD FAITH DEALING - SETTLEMENT INCLUDED GOOD FAITH PROVISIONS]
I drafted an injunction motion—forty-three pages, every argument supported by three layers of precedent.
The original settlement agreement 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 emergency 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 me. Just get some 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 me time 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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