Chapter 16 Diana Job Hunting
I was sitting in the café, my hair a mess and my eyes heavy with exhaustion and sadness. I was absentmindedly stirring my coffee, my mind all over the place.
"Diana, I can't believe Edward would do something like that! Forcing himself on you? He could go to jail for that!" Lila slammed her hand on the table, making my coffee cup shake.
Her short, sharp hair and delicate features showed just how worried she was about me.
"Haven't you already started the divorce process? Just wait, Edward's gonna get what's coming to him."
I shook my head. "The papers are with Edward, but he doesn't care at all."
I hesitated before adding, "Mom even threatened to cut ties with me if I go through with the divorce."
Lila grabbed my hand. "Diana, come work with me. If he won't let you go easily, we'll sue him for everything he's got!"
She picked up her phone and started texting. After a moment, she smiled at me. "I've set up an interview for you with Nolan from our firm, tomorrow at 2 PM outside the office!"
So, I had half a day to get ready.
Even though I had great grades in school and handled some good cases during my internship, I hadn't worked in the field for four years. I was nervous.
Nolan was a polished international student, looking sharp in his suit and tie. His gold-rimmed glasses gave him a wise look, reminding me of Edward. But where Edward's eyes were cold and calculating, Nolan's held a spark of warmth and genuine interest.
Despite my nerves, I tried to stay calm.
The interview started well enough, but I soon realized that Nolan envisioned me in a role I wasn't sure I was ready for. He saw me as a courtroom warrior, a litigator, while I gravitated towards the more collaborative world of corporate law.
I got why he made that call. Non-litigation work is all about team effort, while litigation is about whether you can win cases on your own.
Even though I had a solid internship record and Lila vouched for me, Nolan still needed to see what I could really do.
Nolan asked, "Don't you crave the thrill of the courtroom, the adrenaline rush of a winning argument, Mrs. Howard?"
"Mrs. Howard" felt like a stab to the heart. Still, I was grateful to Nolan for giving me a shot.
He pulled out a box of business cards and handed me one with a smile. "Welcome, the colleague who's four years late!"
As I left the law firm, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Looking up at the sky, I silently told myself, "Dad, I'm starting over."
Out of nowhere, I bumped into Edward's secretary, Albert Sanchez.
"Mrs. Howard, Mr. Howard asked me to wait for you here. He wanted me to give you this."
Albert handed me an envelope.
"What's this?" I asked, confused.
Albert gave a professional smile. "Mr. Howard said it's a return gift. Please take a look."
A return gift?
Albert continued, "He wants you to come back to the Howard Mansion tonight at 9 PM. Your mother will be there too, so please plan accordingly."
I had no clue what Edward was up to; I could never figure him out.
My gut told me Edward was keeping tabs on me. How else would Albert know I had an interview at the law firm this afternoon?
Watching Albert walk away, I felt really uneasy.
This feeling of being watched was awful. No way was it a coincidence.
I opened the envelope and found a stack of detailed bills. They showed the financial support Edward had given to the Cooper Group over the past four years. I didn't know much about company operations, and many of the projects were only mentioned by Mia in passing. It wasn't until I got to the last page that I realized the mess I was in. Over the past four years, Edward had invested a total of $80 million in the Cooper Group!
I suddenly got what Albert meant by a "return gift." If I wanted a divorce, I'd have to cough up $80 million to Edward. Even if I sold myself to a casino, I wouldn't come close to that amount.
Blood rushed to my head, and I dialed Mia's number, trying to keep my anger in check. "Mom, tell me the truth, how much does our company owe Edward?"
"Nothing, the Cooper Group has always been doing well. How could we owe money? Diana, just focus on living a good life with Edward, don't worry about anything else."
"Mom, I know everything. We owe $80 million!"
"What? Edward told you? He promised me that as long as you don't divorce him, this debt would be written off, and he would continue to support us." Mia's voice gradually lowered; she probably didn't expect Edward to pull this kind of stunt.
Realizing she couldn't hide it anymore, Mia spilled the beans. Over the past four years, Edward had supported the Cooper Group in various ways, from talent acquisition to project negotiations, with the Howard Group involved in every event.
"Your father's passing was too sudden. How could I, a woman, manage such a big company alone? Everyone outside is eyeing the chairman's position. How could I let your father's hard work go to them? Only by joining forces with the Howard Family could we survive." Mia's explanation sounded more like a confession of the grievances she had endured over the years.
"Mom, this isn't joining forces; you sold me out." My voice choked with emotion.
"I thought it through. You liked Edward since you were young. Marrying him would give you the best life. I did it all for you!"
"Mom, I understand." I hung up the phone and sat by the flower bed outside the law firm for a while.
Given the current size of the Cooper Group, the only way to repay Edward's $80 million debt would be to sell all our shares, which I knew Mia wouldn't want to do.
Besides that, I could only hustle for money like crazy. Litigation was too slow to make money; I didn't have the time to build a foundation. Non-litigation income was more stable. I decided to fight for myself again.
When I walked back, I was still in a daze.
Nolan was surprised to see me return.
I forced a calm smile at Nolan. "Sorry, I still want to do non-litigation."
"What's wrong? You don't look well." Nolan was very concerned.
"I think I can give non-litigation a try." Nolan leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"With Ms. Cooper's past resume, if you were a fresh graduate, I would be very willing." Nolan took a sip of coffee.
"But you haven't been involved in legal work for four years. This industry relies heavily on experience. No matter how impressive your resume is, it's hard to convince others without experience."
I nodded.
"Lila should have told you about our firm, right? We built Stellar Legal Advisors from nothing to a significant player in this industry, not just by talking." Nolan began to recount the achievements of Stellar Legal Advisors from its founding to the present. I realized they were looking to hire a seasoned lawyer, not a newcomer like me.
When Nolan mentioned a recent merger and acquisition project completed by Stellar Legal Advisors, I found an opportunity that suited me.
"It seems I am a perfect fit for Stellar Legal Advisors." I smiled. "My strengths can provide comprehensive legal services to our clients."
Nolan became interested.
"You know, my husband is in business. So, I have access to many business elites and government officials," I said confidently.
Nolan nodded. He must have done a background check on me, so I talked to him about the capital market, equity investment, asset allocation, and the critical role lawyers play in related businesses.
I said firmly, "A firm as large as Stellar Legal Advisors must have a lot of related business. I believe I can contribute to the firm."
I watched Nolan's expression change, and when I saw him relax, I thought I had it in the bag. But to my surprise, he still rejected me.
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