Exposed (Rosato & DiNunzio #5)(15)
“I say that we call Nate together, tell him about the complaint, and even that we disagree on the representation. Let’s put the cards on the table and see if we can settle this case, informally, because all of our interests are aligned.”
“How are Dumbarton’s interests aligned with somebody suing its subsidiary? And if anybody calls Nate, I will. Alone.”
“Because when this complaint becomes public record, or if it came to light in a newspaper, it would be terrible publicity—”
“Is that a threat?” Bennie recoiled.
“No, it’s a fact,” Mary answered, though it was a threat, kind of. And Bennie was the one who had taught her to use the media to her advantage in a case. “It’s a case that they’re going to want to settle, if they have any sense at all. I have no doubt that when you read this complaint, with their interests in mind, you’ll feel the same way, and I’m willing to be reasonable in my settlement demand.”
Bennie didn’t say anything.
“Tell Nate you’re doing him a favor, in a way.”
“How am I doing him a favor, when my firm is suing his sub?”
“Because you got him in at the ground floor. If the plaintiff had gone to anyone else, you wouldn’t have known about it. We’re giving him a chance to make this go away before it gets bigger, and I’m not charging any fee. That saves him thirty percent, right there.”
“You’re doing it for no fee?”
“Of course. I told you, they’re family. I love this little girl. Her father, and her grandfather. I love them all.”
Bennie rubbed her face, leaving a reddish mark on her fair skin. “Mary, I’m trying to compromise, but you’re not understanding this from a business point of view. Our business. Nate has his pick of law firms in the city, but he’s been loyal to me, even as he’s outgrown—”
“I know but—”
“Wait, hold on. Don’t disregard that. I will tell you, as someone who’s been running a law firm longer than you have, that no business prospers by ignoring its client base.”
“You’re right, but I have the same problem. This is a case that comes to me out of the neighborhood. It’s very high-profile in South Philly, and everybody knows Rachel. The school, the synagogue, and the church have held bake sales and fundraisers for her since the day she got sick. I even organized one at my old high school.”
Bennie fell suddenly silent, so Mary kept going.
“I have a client base too, and even if my heart weren’t on the side of taking this case, then my client base is. Everybody in South Philly will know if I turn them away, everybody. It could hurt my reputation, even ruin it. And frankly I could never live with myself. I’m begging you. Please call Nate, OpenSpace, or whoever, and try to settle it informally.”
“I couldn’t go forward without investigating it myself, you know.”
“Then please, investigate. Do whatever you have to do. It’s all in the complaint.”
“Okay, enough.” Bennie picked up the complaint. “Tell you what. I’ll read this and decide.”
“Great, thanks!” Mary’s hopes soared.
“I’m doing this for you, partner to partner. I’m compromising.”
“I appreciate that,” Mary said, meaning it. “When will you let me know your decision?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Tonight?”
Bennie shot her a warning glance. “We’ll see.”
“Okay, thanks.” Mary started edging backwards toward the door. Every lawyer knew that when you win, get out of the courtroom. She opened the door and fled before Bennie changed her mind.
CHAPTER SIX
Bennie entered the restaurant, relieved to step into air-conditioning after the walk from the office. She’d emailed Nate to talk to him about Mary’s case, but he was in the city and suggested they do it over drinks. She’d agreed, only because she could pitch it better in person, so she hadn’t sent him the complaint. She could only hope he wouldn’t throw a fit, but Vetri’s was one of the city’s best restaurants. The air smelled like fresh basil and expense accounts.
The ma?tre d’ wasn’t at the front, but she spotted Nate waving to her from the right, so she threaded her way through the tables, which were filled. The dining room was small but had a cozy Italian country vibe with sunflower-yellow walls and rustic tables. She had no idea how Nate had gotten the reservation so quickly, but that was a perk of being the CEO of a company that owned twenty-six subs that occasionally made bad decisions.
Bennie organized her thoughts as she approached the table. She had read Mary’s complaint, and the case was a loser with considerable exposure, which was why she had agreed to this folly. It was hardly the way she would have done business, but she was also thinking about what Sam had said, that she had to try and get along with her new partner. Still, compromising didn’t come naturally to her and she had no idea how people did it. But then again, that’s probably why she had few friends and never married. She used to think of herself as undefeated, but lately she was less sure.
“Hey, Nate,” Bennie said, sitting down opposite him. Nate was tall and handsome in a rich-guy way, with a costly layered haircut that minimized the length of his face, regular grooming that kept his eyebrows separate, and an unshaven look intended to make him look rugged when he was anything but. His best feature was his intense green-blue eyes, and he usually wore either green or blue to set them off. Like tonight, he had on a light blue linen jacket with a cream colored T-shirt and jeans. He never had problems getting women, just keeping them.