Chapter 66
Lena's POV
I stood before the mirror, smoothing down the deep navy gown I'd chosen for tonight. Simple, elegant, professional. The kind of dress that said lawyer before it said anything else.
My phone buzzed.
Diana: I'm downstairs. Ready when you are.
I grabbed my clutch and headed out.
Diana's car idled at the curb, her black pantsuit as sharp as ever. I slid into the passenger seat.
"You look great," she said, pulling into traffic. "Those old-timers won't know what hit them."
"I just want them to see a professional lawyer."
Diana glanced at me. "You sound nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"Lena." Her hand briefly squeezed mine. "You're the founding partner of Grant & Clarke. You don't owe anyone proof of anything. Tonight's just about showing them that leaving a big firm doesn't mean disappearing."
I took a breath. "You're right."
"Besides, the quality of your cases speaks for itself. Eleanor's case? Most big firms wouldn't have touched it. You won."
"We won."
Diana smiled. "Fair enough. So here's the plan: keep it low-key, listen more than we talk, look for potential clients, and—most importantly—don't get dragged into gossip."
"Agreed."
The Grandview Hotel's ballroom glittered under crystal chandeliers. Champagne towers lined the room, waiters circulating with trays of hors d'oeuvres. The air hummed with conversation—the kind of polished small talk that masked ruthless networking.
Diana and I stepped inside.
Heads turned.
I felt the weight of their stares, heard the whispers threading through the crowd:
"That's Lena Grant. Used to be at Madison."
"Never saw her at these things before. Heard she keeps to herself."
"She opened her own firm? Bold move."
"Didn't she leave Madison in a blaze of glory? Exposed some internal mess."
"Small firms don't last long in Silverton."
I kept my spine straight, my smile polite. They're staring because I did what they were too afraid to do.
"Ten o'clock," Diana murmured. "Richard Madison's watching you."
I glanced over. My former boss stood near the bar, expression unreadable. He took a step forward, hesitated, then stopped.
I looked away. "That's in the past."
"He's probably regretting letting you go."
"That's his problem."
We moved through the room, champagne flutes in hand.
A few former colleagues approached, smiles tight and assessing.
"Lena! Heard you started your own firm. That takes guts."
"Thank you. We've got a great team. Things are going well."
Diana jumped in. "We just closed Eleanor Park's case. Investment fraud allegations—complex evidence chain. We had the opposing side withdraw in three weeks."
The colleague's smile flickered. "Oh. Congratulations."
They drifted away.
I watched them go. "Guess the 'renegade' label is harder to shake than I thought."
Diana raised an eyebrow. "Renegade? I prefer 'uncompromising.' And honestly, do you think they actually care about labels? They're just jealous you had the nerve to do what they couldn't."
"Maybe. But in this world, reputation is everything. I'm just starting out. I can't afford too much controversy."
"Which is why we're here tonight—to show them your case quality outweighs any controversy."
A man in a tailored suit approached, commanding presence, silver hair perfectly styled.
"Lena Grant?"
I turned.
"Victor Hargrove. CEO of Hargrove Industries."
Recognition clicked. Manufacturing magnate, company worth billions. Reputation for being ruthless.
I shook his hand. "Mr. Hargrove. Nice to meet you."
"I've been following your recent work. Eleanor Park's case—impressive. Getting that legal team to withdraw wasn't easy. You've got skill."
"The evidence was strong. We just did what needed to be done."
His eyes gleamed. "Modest. I like that. I've got a project that might interest someone with your... tenacity."
"I'd be happy to hear about it."
He glanced at Diana. "Diana, mind if I borrow Lena for a moment? Some business details aren't suited for open discussion."
Diana's gaze sharpened, but I nodded slightly.
"Of course," Diana said, stepping back but keeping us in her line of sight.
Victor guided me toward a quieter corner—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, far from the crowd.
He handed me a fresh glass of champagne. "Better here. Too many unnecessary ears out there."
I accepted the glass but didn't drink. "You mentioned a project?"
"I appreciate independent lawyers with principles. What you did at Madison—exposing internal corruption—that takes courage. Rare in our circles."
"I did what I thought was right."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "That's exactly the attitude I need. My company's facing a complicated merger. The opposing legal team is aggressive, and they're using... less than clean tactics. I need someone who can 'clear obstacles.'"
"Clear obstacles?"
He smiled. "Within legal boundaries, of course. But sometimes lawyers need to be... flexible. You understand. Some things can't be solved by contracts alone. They require private communication, coordination, even..." He paused. "Networking."
Warning bells rang in my head. I kept my expression neutral. "Mergers often involve complex stakeholder management. I'd need to review the specifics before committing."
Satisfaction flickered across his face. He stepped closer.
"Naturally. I'll have my assistant send over the materials. But tonight..." His gaze traveled over me, appraising. "We could get better acquainted. Maybe continue this conversation somewhere quieter? I've got a suite upstairs. More private. Some things..." His voice dropped. "Aren't appropriate for public discussion."
I stepped back, my smile freezing in place. "Mr. Hargrove, if it's case details you want to discuss, I'd prefer a formal meeting at my office. Tonight's a social event. Not the right setting for in-depth business."
His expression darkened briefly before the smile returned. "Lena, you're smart. In our world, collaboration isn't just about legal documents. Connections, relationships, trust—they all take time and sincerity to build. I'm just offering you an opportunity. To understand each other better."
Disgust curled in my stomach. I forced calm into my voice. "I understand. But I prefer to build trust through professional competence. If you have concerns about my work, I'm happy to provide references from past cases."
His face hardened slightly. "You're very principled. But sometimes, Lena, being too rigid makes you miss opportunities."