Jessica Pearson didn't summon people unless she already knew the outcome she wanted.
Julian recognized that the moment he stepped into her office.
"Sit," she said, calm as ever.
He did.
She slid a thin folder across the desk. "Ravenport Energy Group."
Julian didn't open it yet. "Environmental."
"Yes."
"Pre-litigation."
"Yes."
"And political," he added.
Jessica's mouth curved slightly. "You've done your homework."
"I helped write the rules they're about to lean on," Julian said.
Jessica folded her hands. "Exactly why I want you on it."
Ravenport Energy wasn't under criminal investigation—not officially. Civil complaints were forming. Environmental groups were circling. Regulators were watching to see who blinked first.
Ravenport wanted Pearson Specter to manage the gap.
Delay disclosures. Stagger compliance. Force settlements before the full picture surfaced.
All of it was legal.
None of it was clean.
"This is a big client," Jessica said evenly. "They protect the firm. They protect you."
Julian opened the folder now, scanning quickly. "They're asking for time."
"They're asking for strategy," Jessica corrected. "Nothing illegal. Nothing sanctionable."
Julian looked up. "But harmful."
Jessica didn't argue. "Harm is relative."
Julian closed the folder. "Not in this case."
She studied him. "This isn't a challenge."
"I know."
"It's an opportunity," she continued. "To prove you can operate within the realities of this firm."
Julian stood. "Then I should talk to the client."
Harvey caught him before he reached his office.
"You're thinking of saying no," Harvey said.
"I'm thinking," Julian replied.
Harvey leaned against the wall. "This is how it works. You don't have to like it. You just have to live with it."
Julian met his eyes. "Can you?"
Harvey hesitated. "Most days."
"That's not an answer."
Dana found Julian later, sitting on the couch in his office, folder untouched beside him.
"Ravenport," she said.
"Yes."
She sat beside him. Didn't reach for the folder. Didn't tell him what to do.
"If you take this," she asked quietly, "what happens next?"
"We win," Julian said. "Quietly."
"And after?"
He exhaled. "Regulators tighten the rules. Future cases get harder. Someone else pays."
She nodded once. "And you?"
"I compromise something I don't want to lose."
Dana rested her hand against his knee. "Then don't."
The meeting with Raventport happened the next morning.
Their legal team was polished. Confident. Smiling too easily.
"We appreciate your firm's discretion," their lead counsel said.
Julian nodded. "Transparency is also part of our reputation."
The smile thinned.
They walked through the documents. Emissions data. Internal memos. Compliance timelines.
Julian asked questions.
Why this delay?
Why staggered disclosure?
Why mitigation after litigation threats?
Finally, the lead counsel leaned back. "This is standard practice."
"Standard doesn't mean required," Julian replied.
"We're asking for time," the man said patiently. "So this doesn't turn adversarial."
Julian folded his hands. "Then release the data. Accelerate compliance. Control the narrative."
The room went quiet.
"That exposes us," the counsel said.
"It protects you long-term," Julian replied. "Delays only escalate scrutiny."
The man studied him. "People who say no don't last long in firms like yours."
Julian met his gaze. "Then you misunderstand what kind of lawyer I am."
The client stayed.
Barely.
Afterward, Donna intercepted Julian in the hall. "You just made waves."
"Yes."
"Big ones."
"I know."
Jessica watched him through the glass later that day, unreadable.
"You chose," she said when he entered.
"I did."
She nodded slowly. "Now we see what that choice costs."
That night, Julian and Dana ate dinner quietly, no files between them.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "Are you?"
She smiled. "Always."
Julian believed her.
But as the city hummed outside, he knew something had shifted.
He had drawn a line.
Now the firm would decide whether it wanted to cross it—or stand with him.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's Comment:
Chapter 7 is the first real fork in the road. The conflict isn't illegal acts or villains—it's systems, incentives, and the cost of consistency. Julian doesn't reject the firm; he challenges how it wins. From here, the consequences won't be loud at first—but they will be unavoidable.