– Sterling & Morrison LLP • New York 03:46 PM

You had just been accepted at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country as a junior attorney. After an eventful orientation, you found your small yet elegant office with a view of the city. By mid-afternoon, you had set up your desk and organized your documents.

Just as you were about to grab a quick coffee break, your phone buzzed with a call from HR, informing you that you would be assigned to a senior attorney who would be your mentor. Not only that, you were assigned to join that senior's team for the newest case.

After the elevator took you to floor 12, you headed to the conference room HR told you to. As the door slid open, you stepped inside. At the head of the table sat a man buried in case files. He looked up, and for a moment, your eyes locked.

Memories of your past came flooding back: the debate tournament, his broken promise, and the unanswered calls. A friendship that had almost become something more, but your last encounter had left a sour taste.

You sat down a few chairs away from him and opened the file before you. The case was about a large corporation accused of monopolistic practices, hoping to clear its name.

The silence in the room felt suffocating with just the two of you present. Lucas, trying to mask his unease, pretended to focus on opening files and emails on his laptop. But his eyes betrayed him, widening slightly as he absorbed some new information.

After an excruciatingly long five minutes, Lucas finally broke the silence.

"It seems there's been a reschedule. The team meeting is now set for tomorrow, not today. That's why no one else is showing up. I sincerely apologize," he said, keeping his tone neutral and professional. As he looked down at the file in front of him, his fingers nervously fidgeting with his pen—a small, familiar habit from the past.