23 Little Patterson and Gravelle 3

"What did you say?!" Jason stood and slammed his palm against the table, sending papers flying in his anger.

Isabella's face didn't look good either, but as the first daughter of a relatively well-off family, she was taught to reserve her emotions from a very early age. Despite it being so far into the future, the double standards between men and women seemed to still be running rampant.

"Every single one of the methods you've mentioned are illegal. Didn't you go to school to learn the law? Why is it that you've taken it upon yourself to break it? What was the point of your schooling?"

Ci-ci knew the hypocrisy of his own words quite well. After all, his own license to practice was created through fraud and could put him behind bars for decades. In fact, it could also void every case he'd won in his career as well. But, that wasn't a point he chose to harp on.

As unfair as it might sound to Jason and Isabella, Ci-ci had proper justification for breaking the law that involved not only the legacy of his family, but also the wellbeing of the citizens of West Continent. As for Jason and Isabella? They were breaking the law simply because they couldn't think of anything better.

Isabella's frown deepened. "The methods we've mentioned are underhanded, but are still very much in line with the law. That's why we've labeled them as trojan horse methods. They're perfectly legal."

"Also, where do you get off interrupting our meeting." Jason cut in. "First, you're an entire day late, then you want to cut down all of the effort we've put in? A firm is supposed to be a team, a family, who would want a family member like you?!"

Ci-ci smiled and clapped, his eyes sharpening. "I like that!"

In that moment, Isabella and Jason were stunned. The felt like the average young man had suddenly become an insurmountable mountain. But, the feeling disappeared almost as soon as it appeared, causing them to blink and wonder if they were seeing things.

"A firm is a family, however you've confused our roles. Although all three of us are senior associates, we are not brothers and sisters. It's more accurate for you to see me as your elder, wizened Uncle."

Jason and Isabella shook with anger. They had never dealt with such disrespect in their entire lives.

From youth, they had been brought up to one day take over the firm. Although there were other sons and daughters of past Managing Partners in line before them, they new it would be their turn eventually.

This gave them a sense of superiority and confidence only possible from the young masters of high-level clans.

Now, a no name member of their firm that came from a family they had never heard of was treating them like this?

Isabella inwardly sneered. "Do you believe that we won't fire Mr. Grant? You dare treat us like this?"

Ci-ci's eyes slightly narrowed, slight sparks of anger flying that made Isabella involuntarily choke on her next words. But, after she realized that this was an office building and not some lawless area, she continued with confidence.

"I don't know how he managed to do it, but he weaseled a barely talented member of his no-name family into our esteemed firm." Isabella shook her head in disappointment.

"We've done our due research on you. Your billable hours are ranked at the very bottom of even Junior Associates, let alone Senior Associates. You rarely show up to work. You're way behind on your pro-bono quotas. Yet, somehow, you still haven't been fired yet." Jason didn't hide his sneer. "Now, you've suddenly been thrust into a high-profile case you have no business taking a part in. It's clear there are some underhanded means being executed here."

"I wonder if it's a coincidence or not that you and Junior Partner Grant share a last name." Isabella beamed as though she had suddenly cracked an impossible to solve puzzle. "A mentor covering the tracks of his illegitimate son… What a scandal that would be."

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"A pathetic old man who's still a mere Junior Partner after more than 70 years, yet still has the audacity to so blatantly implement nepotism. We might be the heirs of our Managing Partners, but we still earned our place here." Jason continued with clear disgust written over his face.

Ci-ci didn't respond for a while, instead he looked from Isabella to Jason, and back again. His rage had disappeared, replaced by an eerie calmness. Then, he spoke.

"First, first, third, sixth, first, second, first, first, second." Seeing the confusion on their faces, Ci-ci continued unperturbed. "There are nine provinces on West Continent. Those numbers? Those are the ranks for the prevalence of Grant as a surname among them."

Before they could refute, Ci-ci swiped the face of his watch twice, sending files to each of their computers respectively. He didn't bother with their stunned faces when they saw he wasn't lying.

"Secondly, there is no minimum requirement for billable hours. If you want to label me as a lazy employee, you can do so, but that won't be grounds firing.

"Thirdly, pro-bono quotas are assigned by the year. In addition, they allow carry over from previous years. If my pro-bono from my first year here are accounted, I'm still ahead by more than 5 years.

"Fourthly, since when did a Junior Partner have the right to assign tasks involving a Prime Client?" When Ci-ci said this, the two childhood friends couldn't help but freeze, because they could already tell that Ci-ci's next words would be heavy.

"Since you two have such a problem with a decision made by The Counsel, I wonder if you know what our firm's bylaws state in regard to mere Senior Associates questioning our esteemed retired Managing Partners?"

The two suddenly felt like a cold sweat was permeating their backs. If their fathers new about this, even they couldn't protect them.

Suddenly the pressure Ci-ci gave them vanished as he smiled. "Do you see the difference between using the facts vs grasping at straws and fabricating your points of debate, now?"