Private Agendas: A Victoria Rodessa Legal Thriller

by Katherine Smith Dedrick

  “If you say so,” Kat responded. “In any event, I’m glad Armond had you pick out new clothes. The Asian elite are very judgmental on appearances. Where’s Armond?”

  “He went back into the terminal to make some calls before we leave and to give me privacy for this final fitting. He should be back any minute.”

  “Okay then, before he gets back, spill it. How’s the plane?” Kat asked.

  “Not to sound too pedestrian, but it’s amazing!” Victoria whispered excitedly so the crew couldn’t hear. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. I mean the private jet that took me back and forth to Bermuda when I worked at the firm was nice, of course, but it was nothing like this. There are two full bedrooms on board, and each has its own shower. As I speak, champagne—the good kind—is being opened, and they’ve put out cheese and nuts to hold us over until dinner.”

  “I swear you are the consummate creature of habit. If I never hear you order another cheese and nut board, it will be too soon. Don’t you ever eat anything else? You do know, don’t you, that cheese is not a staple in Asia? You’ll have to learn to lean on something else, like chicken feet.”

  “Okay. Stop. I know you’re just trying to make me nervous.”

  “I’m not. When I was in Singapore, one of the snack delicacies was fish eyes. They sit in a bowl in front of you and just kind of stare at you. Once in your mouth, they kind of pop and then slither down your throat. They’re actually quite good.”

  Victoria grimaced. “If all I can eat is feet, eyes, and other oddities, I’ll never survive the trip. Armond promised—”

  “What did I promise?” Armond ducked his head as he came through the cabin door, looking perfectly cool and unfazed, even though it was blazingly hot on the tarmac.

  “Give the phone to Armond,” Kat ordered.

  “Here,” Victoria said, handing the phone to Armond, “it’s Kat.” Victoria gratefully accepted a glass of champagne and watched while Armond laughed at whatever nonsense Kat was spewing. Kat and Armond had become close friends years ago after meeting at Victoria’s first Acker, Smith & McGowen summer cocktail party, where she and the other new associates had to introduce themselves to hundreds of attorneys. Victoria had taken Kat as her date. While a few hostile sparks had initially flown between them, once Kat and Armond realized they were really mirror images of one another, their mutual admiration club was launched. Now they were almost sickening to watch.

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Victoria said as she grabbed the phone out of Armond’s hand. “Good God. I can only stand the love fest between you two for so long,” Victoria snarled, looking at Armond. “How’s my firm? Is everything okay? I haven’t gotten one call since I left.”

  Kat smiled at the anxious note in her best friend’s voice. As VP of development at her family’s company, she understood perfectly what goes through your head when you think you’re being left out of decisions. “I worked out of your office all day. Mary told me Jenny handled a few calls from clients, as expected, and that things are just fine. You do know you’ve only been gone two days?”

  “Yes, I know, but I haven’t heard boo from Jenny. I thought she would at least call to update me on matters.”

  “Hmm. Well, did you ask her to do that?” Kat asked, knowing the answer.

  “No.”

  “Then, why would Jenny call to bother you with the mundane? Seems to me she would assume she’s doing you a favor by not calling without a reason.”

  “Okay, you can cram that psychology 101 crap where the sun don’t shine,” Victoria said, watching Armond signal to the pilots they were ready for takeoff.

  “Hey—” Victoria yelped as Armond grabbed the phone out of her hand.

  “Kat, my love, we’re about to take off. I’m afraid I’ll have to interrupt your tête-à-tête, as immensely intellectual as it sounded.”

  “Armond, take good care of her. You know as well as I do how naïve she is,” Kat warned.

  “Indeed. No worries, my queen. All will be well. I will guard her with my life,” Armond said, ending the call.

  “What the hell?” Victoria protested with a slight slur. “I wanted to say goodbye.”

  “V, my love. You are one of only a handful of people I know who can get tipsy from imbibing one glass of champers. You can call Kat when we arrive. Now, I suggest we sit for dinner. It’s likely the last time you’ll have access to food you can eat until our return. Fish head soup will be the order of the day,” Armond said, riffing off the conversation Kat had told him she’d had with Victoria.

  “Armond?”

  “Yes, V?”

  “Fuck off!” And with that, they had lift off.

  * * *

  A few hours later, Armond carried V into one of the plane’s bedrooms. She’d fallen asleep almost mid-sentence as soon as she’d finished eating. It had been a tad annoying, as it had been his mid-sentence, but he couldn’t blame her. She was still on Chicago time and had only about six hours of sleep the night before, and she had confessed to relatively little sleep the night before that, worrying about leaving her practice. He took off her shoes and pulled a blanket over her. Bending down, he kissed her forehead.

  * * *

  “What the hell?” Victoria moaned, the smell of coffee bringing her out of a deep sleep.

  “Good morning, madam. Mr. Renoir asked that I wake you so you have time to shower and dress for the day. You have a meeting at ten, and we land at half past eight. Shall I lay out the clothes Mr. Renoir requested you wear?”

  “Mr. Renoir requested I wear certain clothes?” Victoria felt her temper jump as she tried to get her bearings.

  “Indeed. He suggested you allow him to guide you since you haven’t been to Hong Kong before.”

  Victoria realized the truth in that statement and capitulated. “Fine. Thank you.”

  “You are welcome, madam. I will also help with your makeup.”

  “No. You won’t help with my makeup. I am not a total bumbling idiot,” Victoria snapped. “Of course not, madam.”

  Victoria watched in horror, and with a significant dose of guilt, as the young woman bowed her head and retreated to the corner. “Please don’t pay attention to me. I apologize. Of course I want your help with my makeup. I really don’t wear more than lip gloss, eyeliner, and mascara, so if you have some magic you can work on me, I’m all yours.”

  A huge smile broke out on the young woman’s face. “Of course, madam. I would be pleased to help.”

  “But on two conditions. First, you must call me Victoria, or V, as my friends do, and drop the madam. Second, while I’m in the shower, would you mind bringing me another cup of hot, black coffee and one of those amazing-looking scones I saw last night?” Victoria smiled.

  “Yes mad—”—Victoria raised her eyebrow—“I mean, yes, Ms. V.”

  “We’ll have to work on that until we get you to just V.

  But for now, I’ll take it. By the way, what’s your name?”

  “I’m Chen.”

  “Chen. What a lovely name. How long have you worked for this airline?”

  “Oh, I don’t work for the airline. I work for Renoir Productions.”

  “Of course,” Victoria said, beginning to understand the breadth of Armond’s family company. “What is it you do for Renoir?”

  “I’m an assistant to Armond. I provide advice on Asian customs and culture and translate when necessary,” Chen answered. “The Renoirs are like my family. I am forever grateful and indebted to them,” she said, a serious look running across her face for the briefest of moments.

  “Where’s your family, Chen?” Victoria asked, wondering why Chen felt such affinity to Armond’s family.

  “Ms. V”—Chen forced a smile and a cheery tone— “I do not wish to be rude, but we are running out of time. I will get your coffee and biscuit while you take your shower. Then we’ll get you ready for the day. While we are doing your hair and makeup, I will discuss with you
a few of the traditions you will be expected to follow.” Chen bent her head slightly and left Victoria alone in her cabin.

  “Well, great start, Victoria. You’ll do a bang-up job with the people you’re going to meet today. Not even off the plane and you’ve already insulted one of them not once, but twice,” Victoria mumbled to herself as she stepped into the steaming shower.

  * * *

  “Good morning, V. You look fabulous.” Armond smiled and nodded. “Chen, as always, you’ve worked miracles.”

  “Thank you, Armond, I think,” Victoria answered. “Although somehow I feel like there was an implication in there that I’m in need of miracles. And, while Chen is amazing with a makeup brush, it’s not like I’m totally inept at getting myself ready in the morning,” Victoria raised her chin, challenging Armond to respond.

  “I think there’s a difference of opinion on that. Knowing how to paint between the lines to put on lip gloss is a far cry from understanding the subtlety and craftsmanship that someone truly talented with makeup can bring to the facial palate.” Armond nodded at Chen.

  “Facial palate? What the hell are you talking about?”

  Ignoring Victoria, Armond looked over at Chen. “Did you have the opportunity to discuss the importance of women not using vulgarities?”

  Not wanting to betray Victoria, Chen peeked at her and tried to stall for time. “I’m sorry, Armond, can you repeat the question?”

  “Oh my God,” Victoria jumped in. “Stop putting her on the spot. She explained it all very clearly while she painted my ‘facial palate,’” Victoria said, using Armond’s ridiculous phrase. “I understand but I am who I am, and it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, particularly when it comes to the things that come out of my mouth.”

  “Perhaps the old dog would do good to remember the amount of money she is being paid to handle and learn a whole new legal service she can tout in the future. If she scares off the investors by being vulgar and crass, Renoir Productions will not take kindly to that.”

  Victoria considered responding with an even more vulgar comment but thought she may as well try to control herself sooner rather than later. “You’re right. This is about business, not me. I will be the most submissive, quiet, and doting counsel you’ve ever worked with. You just watch and see.” Victoria winked at Armond and pulled her seatbelt a bit tighter as the plane descended toward Hong Kong.

  CHAPTER

  27

  ROBERT AND KAT had been at it for hours. Kat stood and pushed down on her lower back while she leaned forward to stretch her aching spine, then walked over to pick up another pile of documents. “How long have we been in this room?

  Robert looked at his watch. “Over six hours. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving and in serious need of caffeine. Let’s take a walk, grab some food, and discuss where we are.”

  “Fine with me.” Kat let the documents she had cradled in her arms hit the table with a loud thud. “This has completely refreshed my memory as to why I never wanted to litigate.” She grabbed her coat and headed for the elevator. “Mary, we’re taking a break. Do you want anything?”

  “No thanks. I’m good, but I expect Victoria will be calling soon. Is there anything either of you want me to tell her?”

  Kat pushed the elevator button and cocked her head. “Tell her Robert and I have been working our asses off on her lawsuit and that everything at the firm is fine. Tell her I expect to be treated to an amazing dinner and that I’m picking the restaurant. I want real food—not her healthy, rabbit-shit food.”

  “Wow! Glad I asked. Anything else?”

  “Hmm. Well, knowing how anal she is, she’ll probably want some details about her firm. In case she hasn’t already called Jenny, let her know I spoke with her this morning and went through the to-do list, and just as we thought, Jenny has everything under control and is doing an impeccable job.”

  “Will do.” Mary nodded, jotting down Kat’s comments.

  * * *

  A few minutes later, Robert and Kat were enjoying the late afternoon sun-soaked streets of Chicago. The leaves had just started to turn color when Kat had landed a few days ago. Now, almost every tree displayed an all-out riot of color, and the air was deliciously warm, clean, and crisp—all at the same time. Smiling in appreciation, Kat raised her face to the sun to absorb its warmth. “Even though I love Houston, we have nothing like this. It brings back so many memories of returning for the start of each year of law school and living with V.”

  Robert smiled. “I knew you two were close, but I didn’t realize how strong your bond was until we started working together on the case.”

  “V is one of the best benefits I got from law school. I consider her part of my family and a sister in the truest sense of the word.” Shaking her head and laughing, Kat said, “I never could have predicted our first meeting would turn into such a great friendship. She was so naïve, and I had always made it a habit to stay away from people who were as Pollyanna as V.”

  “How did you meet?”

  “We met on the first day of class. She sat next to me in criminal law and did her best to commit hari-kari by shooting her hand up in the air to answer a question from the most blood-thirsty professor ever to grace a law school’s halls.”

  Robert smiled. “That sounds like her. Did you save her?”

  Kat shook her head. “Nope. Tried. But she’s persistent. V wants what V wants, and no one can stop her. Anyway, while everyone else was trying to appear smaller than they were to avoid being called on, her hand was going back and forth in the air. The whole exchange took no more than ten minutes, and by the end, he’d neatly ripped her a new one. It was horrific. Thinking back, I must have felt sorry for her because I can’t come up with any other reason why I hung around and waited for her after class. After that, we were inseparable.”

  “She and her mother have a way about them, that’s for sure,” Robert responded. “I remember the first time we met. It was, I think, the day after Victoria was fired. Sophia decided Victoria needed to hire a lawyer to represent her against the firm. Apparently, Sophia chose me and one other firm. At our first meeting, Victoria barely spoke, but her mother was all over me. I considered turning down the case because I was worried about having to deal with an overbearing mother. As it turns out, Sophia treats me like family.”

  “Which would explain why we’re obsessed with making sure we win this case against that shithole of a law firm,” Kat offered.

  Robert opened the restaurant door and nodded toward the patio. “Why don’t you find a table outside? I’ll grab us something to eat. What do you want?”

  “I want a steak, now that I’m thinking about it. But for now, I’ll take a glass of cab.”

  “You sure you don’t want anything else? I don’t want you keeling over in the middle of our conversation from all the hard work you’re not used to doing.” Robert ducked inside just as Kat tried to smack him with the lip gloss she was about to apply.

  Finding the perfect spot in the sun, surrounded by trees that were rustling in the fall breeze, Kat pulled out the trial map they’d worked on all day. It still had too many holes. On the plaintiff’s side, they had Victoria, Armond and Mary listed as witnesses. But Armond had a question mark after his name, as Robert predicted the firm would claim privilege and try to prevent him from testifying about certain conversations he had with his former partners before the firm fired V.

  “What BS,” Kat said out loud. She knew she needed to let her mind relax. She always had the best ideas when she relaxed and sat in silence. “Well, that’s not happening now,” Kat continued to talk out loud as she dug into her bag and pulled out the rest of her notes. “We need more evidence.” Kat looked up as a shadow fell across the table.

  “You do know everyone can see you talking to yourself from inside, right? I mean, it’s not like you’re invisible out here,” Robert said, setting their wine on the table.

  “You know, Rober
t, I had no idea you were such a comedian. However, as I’m sure you’re aware by now”—Kat paused as she tapped her pen against her notes—“I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks.” She took a sip of her wine. “Not bad. Now, I’ll be able to think much clearer. As I was saying to myself, the trial map is too bare.”

  Robert shifted his chair closer to Kat to share her view of the map. “No question. We need to shore up our case with documents and witnesses. The documents we’ve received from the firm don’t give us much. Victoria’s employee file says she was headstrong, opinionated, and consistently chose not to follow instructions. We’ll counter that with Armond’s testimony. He at least should be able to give his opinion about the quality of her work, and it should carry more weight than anyone they put on the stand. After all, he was the partner the firm assigned to bring her along in the firm, and she worked almost exclusively for him.”

  “I thought you said the firm would try to prevent him from testifying?” Kat asked.

  “They will, but they’ll lose any attempt they may make to prevent his testimony about her capability as a lawyer. Anything else they want to keep out they’ll have to prove was for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or in anticipation of litigation with Victoria and, therefore, privileged. I expect them to argue they were anticipating litigation for many months before she was fired, making all their conversations with Armond about Victoria privileged.”

  “I assume we’re going to object.”

  “We are. Plus, Armond is on our side, so it’s unlikely he’ll agree with them when they argue what was discussed somehow fits into a privilege.”

  “That’s all good news, but we need witnesses: corroboration. So far, we’ve got zip. What do we do about that?”

  “Keep digging. We already have some facts that will help. Only one woman has been voted into partnership since the firm began, and that happened only recently. I actually like that fact. In addition, more than forty women have left the firm over the past five years. What we need is evidence and expert testimony to demonstrate this is not the norm and is way below what would be expected in a typical firm.”