Chapter 71 Adeline
Adeline's POV
Percy stared at me as if I had just started speaking Russian. "Reconsider? Adeline, she tried to ruin you."
"And she failed," I said firmly. "I beat her. The entire firm knows I beat her, but if you fire her with cause and report her to the bar, it’s going to put you and the company in a spotlight you don't want. Vanguard will panic. TechStar will ask questions. It will drag Royal and Associates through the mud for months, and Richard Sterling will have to answer for his niece's actions in front of the board."
Percy crossed his arms and huffed. He knew I was right, and he didn't like hearing that one bit. He wasn't going to be satisfied until someone got punished for this. "So what? I just let her walk away scot-free? I won't allow someone who threatened you to stay in this building."
"She doesn't stay in this building, fine, but she doesn't get fired either. You transfer her."
"Transfer her?"
"To the London branch," I said, the strategy fully forming in my mind. "She just spent six months there. She knows the Vanguard executives. You transfer her permanently as the managing associate of the UK office. She keeps her job, Vanguard keeps their point of contact, and what could be a massive scandal is avoided."
Percy looked at me. "You want to reward her stupidity with a transfer to London?"
"It’s not a reward. It’s an exile," I corrected softly. "She said it herself that even though she enjoyed working in London, this is still her home. You would be sending her away from home."
Percy stared at me in silence before he pushed off the window, walked slowly around the desk, and stopped right in front of me. He reached out, his hands gripping my waist to pull me flush against him.
"You," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine, "are the most ruthlessly diplomatic woman I have ever met."
"I learned from the very best in New York," I smiled, resting my hands on his chest. "If we destroy her, it’s personal. If we use her to run the UK branch, it’s just good business. Either way, it's a win for us."
Percy let out a breath, resting his forehead against mine. "London. Effective immediately. She boards a plane by Friday, and she never steps foot in this office again."
"Deal," I whispered.
He kissed me then, and for the first time since I stepped into Royal and Associates, I truly felt like a partner.
When we finally broke apart, Percy pulled his phone from his pocket. "I will call her uncle to give him the terms. He will be relieved he doesn't have to face a board hearing."
He put the phone on speaker and set it on the desk. It rang twice before the man picked up.
"Percy," Richard Sterling said jovially, too jovial.
"Richard, Adeline and I have discussed the situation regarding Vanessa, and we will not be filing a formal complaint with the ethics board. There will be no hearing."
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "Percy, I don't know what to say. The firm's reputation..."
"Remains untouched because Vanessa is transferring to the London branch permanently. She will act as managing associate for the Vanguard case, and in exchange, she gets to keep her license and her job, but if she ever sets foot in the New York office again, the deal is off."
"That is... incredibly generous," Richard finally rasped, the relief evident in his shaking voice. "More generous than she deserves. Percy, I cannot thank you enough for handling this internally."
"Thanks to Adeline, left to me, she'd never be able to practice law again."
"I will," Richard said quickly. "In fact, I insist on doing it in person. Both of you. Come to my townhouse tonight for dinner. Vanessa will be there. She needs to look you both in the eye and formally accept these terms. As a family, we owe you a proper apology."
Percy looked at me in question, and I gave him a definitive nod.
"We'll be there at eight," Percy said and ended the call.
Later that evening, Richard greeted us at the door himself. He shook Percy’s hand with respect and offered me a deferential nod.
"Thank you for coming," Richard said quietly, leading us into the formal dining room.
The long mahogany dining table was set for four. Vanessa was already standing by her chair. She wore a simple black dress that reflected her somber mood. We greeted each other curtly before having our seats.
For a while, we all just ate in a sort of uncomfortable silence before Richard finally set his napkin down and looked at his niece.
Vanessa took a slow deep breath before she looked directly at me.
"Adeline, my uncle told me about the terms of my transfer. I know exactly whose idea it was to send me to London instead of throwing me to the ethics board."
I met her eyes across the table with a perfectly neutral expression. "It was the most logical solution for the firm."
"It was mercy, and I don't deserve it. I let my ego and my elitism completely blind me. I thought you were a liability because of where you came from, but I was the one who ended up putting the firm at risk. I acted recklessly, unprofessionally, and maliciously, and for that, I apologize for trying to sabotage you." She paused a bit. "You are a brilliant lawyer, Adeline."
"Thank you for saying that, Vanessa."
"You caught a mistake I assumed you were too inexperienced to find, and you protected the client when I didn't. I will take the London post, and I swear to you, I will never cross your path again."
The room was silent. Richard looked down at his plate in shame while Percy watched me, his hand resting warmly on my thigh beneath the table as he let me take the lead.
I let the silence hang for a few seconds, letting her feel the full weight of her surrender.
"I accept your apology, Vanessa," I said clearly. "London is a massive opportunity for Royal and Associates. Vanguard would be lucky to have you." I leaned forward slightly and let her see how serious I was with my eyes. "But let me be perfectly clear. You have this second chance because I decided you were more useful to us working in the UK than you were unemployed in New York. If I ever hear a whisper of you undermining this firm, or me, ever again, I won't just fire you. I will make your impact in the legal world disappear."
Vanessa nodded. "Thank you, Adeline."
The rest of the dinner passed in quiet, polite murmurs about European market trends and the logistics of her Friday flight.
An hour later, Percy and I stepped back out to our car into the cool night air. Tiny opened the door to the SUV, and I slid into the leather seat, letting out a long exhale when I was finally in a safe space.
Percy reached over, lacing his fingers through mine. "You handled that perfectly," he murmured, lifting my knuckles to his lips.
"I'm just glad it's over."