Jessica Zane/Rachel Pearson
Today was it. The day where 26-year-old Rachel Zane would take the next big chapter in her life, to get to go to Harvard and get her degree to become a lawyer. At least that's what she thought.
Rachel Zane was a paralegal at the biggest and most successful law firm in all of NYC, Pearson Hardman. She had been there for three years now and had become the best paralegal at the firm by far. She always was the quickest to get the job done and able to take in more work than any other paralegal, while never making a mistake.
Her father, Robert Zane, was a lawyer, who also had great success, like the firm Rachel worked at. Though, not as big. Robert wanted his daughter to come work as a paralegal at his firm and pay for Harvard, but Rachel refused. She didn't want to be in the shadow of her father. She wanted for people when they heard her name, not to think of her as the daughter of Robert Zane, but just as Rachel Zane. After Robert asked many times for her to come work for his firm, he finally gave up, when she got the paralegal job at Pearson Hardman.
The day prior to today, she had asked her boss and managing partner of Pearson Hardman, Jessica Pearson, when they could meet and talk about her future. Jessica said they could discuss tomorrow about it at 1 PM. Now it was that time.
Rachel knocked at Jessica's door with Jessica signaling her in.
"Have a seat, Ms. Zane." Jessica Pearson told Rachel.
"So what is it you wanted to discuss?" Jessica questioned.
"Well as you know, Ms. Pearson, I've been working at your firm for over three years now. I've always strived to be the best at my job, to be the best paralegal at your firm. I've looked over more cases than any other paralegal here, getting through them in the quickest amount of time, while never making a mistake. None of the associates or partners have ever complained about my work. I truly love working here. I want to continue being an asset to your firm, in a bigger way. I would like to ask for Pearson Hardman to pay for me to go to Harvard. I've already taken the entrance exam and passed with flying colors. It would mean the world to me for you to grant me this opportunity and come back to work for you again. I'd promise I'd be one of your best lawyers, if not the best." Rachel purposed.
Jessica already had an answer when she knew what Rachel was going on to say.
"No." Jessica said flat out in a blunt way.
Rachel was surprised to hear this. She couldn't even bring words out of her mouth for a response.
"Listen Rachel, I think you deserve to go to Harvard and everything you've said about your work here I believe. You are our best paralegal here. But I have a work connection with your father, so I know that he'll gladly pay for you to go to Harvard. I would have loved to have had the privilege for my parents to pay for me to go to Harvard, but I had to work up the hard way. I get not wanting to be associated with your father, not wanting to work for him. I gladly gave you a job here. But I'm not going to spend my own money, when you have money for Harvard right in front of you. Please just take it from your father and when you graduate, I'd no doubt hire you back here as a lawyer." Jessica explained.
Rachel was still dumbfounded, even after Jessica's response.
"Thanks for your time, Ms. Pearson." Rachel was only able to say, then leaving in a little hurry from Jessica's office.
Jessica just shook her head and went back to work.