Read Online Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland - Free Book Online
Authors: Elyssa Friedland
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breakup with Jack, and they were exchanging those last awkward e-mails—coordinating picking things up from each other’s apartmentsand debating whether it was practical to remain friends (it wasn’t).
“Well, Evie, it took some time for us to investigate the server problems, and then you got so entrenched running the Calico-Anson merger. It wasn’t the right time. You’re such a good associate—we just didn’t want to part with you any earlier than necessary.”
This was like Tracy telling her that she was too good for Luke. If everyone loved her so damn much, why the hell were they putting her out to pasture?
“I do have some good news for you though. The compensation committee has agreed to a six-month severance package for you. Three months is standard but we are extending it in light of your service to the firm.”
That was a relief. In her state of shock, she hadn’t yet given thought to how she’d manage without her monthly paycheck.
“Thank you,” Evie responded awkwardly.
“The truth is, I was holding out hope you would announce you were leaving and this wouldn’t have had to happen.” He paused and looked at her squarely. “A lot of female associates around your age tend to leave at this point. Even younger.”
So you were counting on losing me to attrition by marriage and kids, Evie thought bitterly. Sorry to disappoint.
“Obviously, that didn’t happen,” Mitchell went on. “And in this case, well we don’t really have a choice about giving you a second chance. You know, with the website.” His voice trailed off.
“In this case what? What happened?”
Mitchell rotated his computer screen toward Evie. “Oh—I guess you haven’t seen this yet. They posted the article a few minutes before we met with you.”
Evie rose from her seat and looked at the familiar homepage of BigLawSux, the wildly popular legal blog where disgruntled attorneyscame to gripe and gossip about their jobs. It was started by two former attorneys and had a massive following. The headline read: BAKER SMITH DUMPS E-MAIL–ADDICTED ASSOCIATE—EIGHTH-YEAR EVIE ROSEN SAID TO HAVE CAUSED SERVER BREAKDOWN . To the right of the text was the picture of her from the firm’s directory—that damn photo she couldn’t escape, with the greasy hair and the day-old makeup.
Evie knew then, for certain, what it would feel like to have a boxer land an uppercut to her cheek. She struggled to keep her knees from buckling.
“Evie,” Mitchell said, biting his lower lip and looking toward the corner of the room before refocusing his gaze on her. “I’m afraid with this kind of publicity there’s nothing we can do. I know it all seems rather Draconian, and for that I’m sorry. I just wish for your sake the comments hadn’t gotten so nasty.”
Evie leaned in closer to see the smaller font beneath the headline, which was only one paragraph long. The article stated pretty much what she’d been told at the partners meeting and cited the source as an unnamed associate “close” to someone on the management committee. What the hell did “close” mean? Sleeping together? That associate should get fired, not her! The comments below, three times as long as the article, sent her gasping for air.
The first comment, the one that set off the maelstrom, read: “I’m not surprised Evie Rosen didn’t make partner. Every time I walked into her office she was playing online Scrabble or shopping on OneKingsLane. I heard she padded her billable hours too.” It was signed by the rather unheroic “Anonymous.”
“That’s not true,” Evie exclaimed, searching Mitchell’s face for signs that he believed her.
“Evie, maybe you’ve read enough,” he said and gently patted her arm, almost like he was guiding her away from the screen.
“No, I need to see this.”
Next came: “Evie Rosen thought she was better than everyone. She pawned off the tough work on the junior associates but took all the credit.” That vitriol came
“Well, Evie, it took some time for us to investigate the server problems, and then you got so entrenched running the Calico-Anson merger. It wasn’t the right time. You’re such a good associate—we just didn’t want to part with you any earlier than necessary.”
This was like Tracy telling her that she was too good for Luke. If everyone loved her so damn much, why the hell were they putting her out to pasture?
“I do have some good news for you though. The compensation committee has agreed to a six-month severance package for you. Three months is standard but we are extending it in light of your service to the firm.”
That was a relief. In her state of shock, she hadn’t yet given thought to how she’d manage without her monthly paycheck.
“Thank you,” Evie responded awkwardly.
“The truth is, I was holding out hope you would announce you were leaving and this wouldn’t have had to happen.” He paused and looked at her squarely. “A lot of female associates around your age tend to leave at this point. Even younger.”
So you were counting on losing me to attrition by marriage and kids, Evie thought bitterly. Sorry to disappoint.
“Obviously, that didn’t happen,” Mitchell went on. “And in this case, well we don’t really have a choice about giving you a second chance. You know, with the website.” His voice trailed off.
“In this case what? What happened?”
Mitchell rotated his computer screen toward Evie. “Oh—I guess you haven’t seen this yet. They posted the article a few minutes before we met with you.”
Evie rose from her seat and looked at the familiar homepage of BigLawSux, the wildly popular legal blog where disgruntled attorneyscame to gripe and gossip about their jobs. It was started by two former attorneys and had a massive following. The headline read: BAKER SMITH DUMPS E-MAIL–ADDICTED ASSOCIATE—EIGHTH-YEAR EVIE ROSEN SAID TO HAVE CAUSED SERVER BREAKDOWN . To the right of the text was the picture of her from the firm’s directory—that damn photo she couldn’t escape, with the greasy hair and the day-old makeup.
Evie knew then, for certain, what it would feel like to have a boxer land an uppercut to her cheek. She struggled to keep her knees from buckling.
“Evie,” Mitchell said, biting his lower lip and looking toward the corner of the room before refocusing his gaze on her. “I’m afraid with this kind of publicity there’s nothing we can do. I know it all seems rather Draconian, and for that I’m sorry. I just wish for your sake the comments hadn’t gotten so nasty.”
Evie leaned in closer to see the smaller font beneath the headline, which was only one paragraph long. The article stated pretty much what she’d been told at the partners meeting and cited the source as an unnamed associate “close” to someone on the management committee. What the hell did “close” mean? Sleeping together? That associate should get fired, not her! The comments below, three times as long as the article, sent her gasping for air.
The first comment, the one that set off the maelstrom, read: “I’m not surprised Evie Rosen didn’t make partner. Every time I walked into her office she was playing online Scrabble or shopping on OneKingsLane. I heard she padded her billable hours too.” It was signed by the rather unheroic “Anonymous.”
“That’s not true,” Evie exclaimed, searching Mitchell’s face for signs that he believed her.
“Evie, maybe you’ve read enough,” he said and gently patted her arm, almost like he was guiding her away from the screen.
“No, I need to see this.”
Next came: “Evie Rosen thought she was better than everyone. She pawned off the tough work on the junior associates but took all the credit.” That vitriol came
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