1995
It's their first 'touting party' at chambers. Shoe Lane is still a fairly new chambers; with just Alan and the two pupils, there are more clerks than barristers. Billy has impressed upon Martha and Clive the importance of making a good impression today.
The clerks' room is filled with solicitors and probably some criminals too; Martha has never seen it this busy. After half an hour of schmoozing, her face hurts from fake smiling and she retreats to the room that she and Clive share with Alan. She's still quite shy in social situations, although she can't wait to stand up in court for real, and needs five minutes to herself. Clive is better at this sort of thing than she is, anyway.
A man with greying temples enters the room after her. "What are you doing, hiding in here?" he asks, his voice a bit slurred.
"Just taking a moment," she smiles at him, hoping he'll go away.
"You're one of the pupils?" he approaches her, blocking her in.
"Yeah." She tries to sound less Northern. "Martha Costello."
"Stevie Webb. Solicitor." He smiles and moves in closer to her. "Billy will tell you how important I am."
She nods politely.
"I've always hated these types of events," he adds and she softens slightly. "Clerks fawning over solicitors to get them to hire their talent. It's embarrassing."
"It's part of the job." She shrugs.
"Maybe I'll stay out here with you." He takes hold of her arms, holding her by the wrists. His eyes are bloodshot. "We can get to know each other this way."
Martha twists in his grip, mumbling something about how she should really get back to the party. She wants to shout, kick him in the balls, do something, but she's frozen and he's impossibly strong.
"Everything alright?"
Clive is standing in the doorway, looking warily at them. Stevie lets go of Martha's wrists.
"All fine," he says.
"I think Alan's looking for you." Clive gestures at the clerks' room. Stevie leaves without a backwards glance at Martha.
"Are you alright?" Clive approaches Martha, handing her a glass of champagne.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Martha takes a deep breath.
"Want me to get Billy to have a word?"
"No, it's fine, really."
"Are you coming back to the party?"
"Just give me a minute."
Clive squeezes her arm briefly and returns to the clerks' room.