It's late afternoon when she first enters the office, the bell on the door jingling only slightly to establish her presence and Margaret looks up from her computer. She rolls her eyes in annoyance when there isn't a greeting from their overpaid receptionist.
"Katy!"
Still nothing yet she knows someone is there. Meanwhile, her partner is on a conference call with Judge Wixted so she'll have to attend to it herself. She sighs in exasperation wondering what on earth her staff does all day aside from wasting time on the internet. She smoothes her skirt, squares her shoulders and makes her way to the front of the suite.
"Hello," she smiles politely at the young woman before her. "Welcome to Rohan and Ianotti."
Here Katy sheepishly reappeared from the break room. Apparently it was time for her afternoon latte and she shrugged innocently at her superior by way of apology. Margaret groaned inwardly and reminded herself that it was Angela's decision to hire her. She raised a single eyebrow at her in reproach before turning her attentions back to the girl.
"As I was saying before we were interrupted…I'm Margaret Rohan. How can I help you today?"
The other woman shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She cast her eyes down to her hands—which were clasped together—and took a deep breath. There were tears in her eyes when she looked up again and she gulped.
Margaret smiled encouragingly in an effort to put her at ease. Theirs could sometimes be an ugly business.
"Let's start with your name, shall we?"
"Julia," she replied shyly. "Julia Sagorsky."
Margaret tucked an arm over her shoulder maternally as they made their way into her private office. She shut the door and handed her potential client a tissue.
"Is there anything particular that brings you in today?"
This was met by a nod while Julia blew her nose. It was pink, revealing this wasn't her first round of tears that day.
"This is a family law practice?" she sniffled.
"Yes."
"I need your help."