Chapter 5

Nora White POV

Before the appeal email received a response from the management committee, I received even worse news.

Simon Yale came to find me personally.

"Nora, come to the conference room for a moment."

His expression was much more serious than usual, and as he walked ahead, he didn't say a single unnecessary word.

I followed him into the large conference room.

Three senior partners sat at the other end of the long table. One of them was the management committee chairman, Vincent Pearson, the person who truly called the shots at Kingsley. A stack of documents lay in front of him, his gaze sharp.

Vivian was also there, sitting in the corner with slightly red eyes, looking like she'd been wronged but was trying hard to hold it in.

"Nora White, sit."

Vincent spoke, his tone flat but without pleasantries.

"Yesterday, DuRay Corporation's legal representatives formally sent us a letter stating that someone inside Kingsley leaked core evidentiary materials from the DuRay case to the opposing party. This case involves over eight hundred million dollars."

He pushed up his glasses.

"We retrieved the backend records from the document management system. The last two people to access the DuRay case electronic files were you and Vivian Whitlock."

I sat up straight.

The DuRay case was my most important project over the past six months. Most of the work, from filing to evidence collection to drafting the brief, was done by me.

Vivian was brought in midway to assist, nominally responsible for client liaison.

"Mr. Pearson, the last time I opened the case files was last Thursday. Simon assigned me to organize the data for the closing statement."

My speaking pace was measured.

"That day my work records, email correspondence, and system logs can all prove that after I finished organizing, I logged out of the system. If needed, Simon can confirm this."

Simon nodded.

"I can confirm that I assigned her that work that day."

Vincent's gaze slowly moved to Vivian.

"Miss Whitlock, what about you? Last Friday afternoon between three and five o'clock, you accessed all of the DuRay case electronic files. Please explain why."

Vivian's lips trembled slightly, and she was about to speak.

The conference room door was pushed open.

Liam walked in.

His expression was cold, as if attending an unimportant routine meeting.

"Mr. Pearson, there's no need to investigate further."

He walked to Vivian's side, facing Vincent, and placed a USB drive on the table.

"I found this USB drive in Nora White's drawer yesterday. It contains the exact files that were leaked from the DuRay case."

What!

My drawer?! There had never been any USB drive in my drawer.

"Also."

Liam took out the creased check from his pocket and gently placed it next to the USB drive.

"This is the five million dollar check Nora White received the day before yesterday. Everyone in the firm saw it."

He tilted his head slightly to glance at me, his gaze as calm as if looking at a stranger.

"A lawyer whose representation authority has been suspended suddenly receives a large sum of money from an unknown source. Mr. Pearson, do you think this is a coincidence?"

I stood up.

"That USB drive isn't mine, and that money wasn't payment for any transaction."

"Miss White."

Vivian spoke softly, her voice carrying a trace of grievance and reluctance.

"I don't want to wrongly accuse you, but... when I accessed the system that day, I was only recording client follow-up notes. I didn't copy anything. If it wasn't me, then it could only be..."

She didn't finish, lowering her head.

But the meaning was clear enough.

Several voices came from the doorway. At some point, people had gathered outside the conference room.

"I saw it. Miss White did bring a USB drive back last week. I thought it was strange at the time. Isn't all the DuRay case material in the system?"

"Plus her financial situation hasn't been great lately, right? Her representation authority was suspended, her performance went to zero, and I heard her family still has loans to repay..."

"She accepted a five million dollar check. What wouldn't she do?"

Vincent was silent for a few seconds.

Then he closed the file in front of him, his voice heavy.

"Nora, until the matter is investigated, the firm has decided to suspend our internal recommendation for your professional certification. This incident will be recorded in your practice file."

My heart skipped a beat.

A lawyer's practice file was my lifeline.

Once I was marked with suspected leaking of client confidential information, I'd never be able to establish myself at any legitimate law firm for the rest of my life!

"Mr. Pearson, I request a full review of the system operation logs and surveillance footage."

"The investigation will proceed according to protocol."

Vincent interrupted me.

"In the meantime, go back and wait for notification."

His tone no longer held the neutrality from the beginning.

I looked at Vincent, then at Vivian sitting in the corner with downcast eyes, and finally at Liam.

He didn't avoid my gaze.

There was even an extremely faint curve at the corner of his mouth.