“Big brother?” Alessia called Ethan’s name again when she noticed he’d drifted off.


    “Hm?” Ethan snapped back to attention and ruffled her hair.


    “How did it go?”


    “It’s pretty much taken care of. Let’s head home.”


    “Alright. Sorry, though–I was right there and still couldn’t help at all.” Ethan felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t exactly been a great older brothertely. Alessia had been back for a while, and he’d barely checked in on her. Now she’d been harassed at his own workce, and he hadn’t done a thing to help.


    “You’re such a good person, you know that?” Alessia teased. Ethan blinked, unsure what she meant.


    “You saw how I just stood there and watched Max punch Quentin, right? Most people would think I’m cold as ice. Yet here you are, ming yourself. Besides, wasn’t it you who told me to go get someone?”


    Alessia wasn’t one to let things fester–if something bothered her, she’d say it right


    away.


    Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it again, not sure what to say.


    “Oh, by the way, Mom and Dad mentioned the shop. How’s thating along?”


    “Justin’s handling it. Mom and Dad have been following up too. If all goes well, we’ll have it sorted by next weekend.”


    “Good,” Alessia nodded. Ethan, though, still seemed preupied.


    “Is something wrong at the firm?”


    “Huh? Oh, not exactly…” Ethan sighed and finally let out the frustration he’d been


    carrying.


    Alessia always seemed more mature than her age, so Ethan found himself talking to her almost like an equal, not just a kid sister.


    “So let me get this straight,” Alessia said, “You were supposed to get promoted after wrapping up that case, but then some new hire swooped in and took over right at the end, stole the credit, and snagged the only permanent spot for interns. That about right?”


    “Exactly.” Ethan’s face was a mix of resignation and defeat.


    14:45


    If this had happened a few years ago, he might have fought back. But after everything their family had been through, betrayals and setbacks just didn’t sting the way they used to.


    “I was supposed to get a pretty decent bonus once the case was done…”


    Alessia stopped walking and frowned. “They didn’t pay you?”


    “No, no, it’s not that.” Ethan hurried to exin, worried she’d storm over to the office


    to make a scene. “I got my regr sry. It’s just–the bonus went to the other intern, since he finished the case.”


    “Hmm…” Alessia was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Whichw firm is this again?”


    “Zenith.”


    “Zenith…” Alessia looked honestly puzzled, which Ethan found kind of endearing.


    “It’s just a small firm,” he said. “I always nned to use it as a stepping stone, get some experience, then move on to a bigger ce.” For the first time that evening, a spark returned to his eyes.


    “Have you heard of Libra & Associates? They used to be Y Group’s in–house legal team–top–notchwyers. A couple years ago, they split off and started their own firm. They still mostly handle Y Group’s cases, but now they take on all sorts. Supposedly, they win over ny percent of theirwsuits.”


    “You want to work there?”


    “Pretty much everywyer does. Problem is, they haven’t hired anyone new in ages.” “The way they do things is, each partner takes on just one protégé. It’s all internal referrals, no public recruitment. That way, they only bring in people they really trust–skills and character, the whole package.”


    ???