WILL BRIDGES: The Salvation Case

Ivan Wadsworth

L&J LAW FIRM

The elevator dinged again, signaling that someone was coming up from the first floor. The doors opened, and Bridges emerged, heading back toward his office.

As he approached, he noticed his secretary's office, which was located just outside his own, and heard laughter coming from within. He could hear her giggling with two other people, and he wondered why she wasn't working.

His eyes narrowed as he reached the door to his office. He pushed it open, his expression flat and unreadable.

"Ivan, I need to know what's so funny," he said, looking pointedly at his assistant, who was standing with his secretary and another person, all of whom looked mortified. "Aren't you supposed to be working?" he asked, his tone brusque.

Ivan stammered, "I-I'm sorry, Attorney Bridges. I just..." He trailed off, glancing nervously at the other two people in the room.

Bridges' gaze shifted to the other man who was with his secretary. "And who are you?" he asked, his voice stern.

"I'm Molly," the young man replied, bowing his head.

Bridges scoffed and turned his gaze to his secretary, Laurie, who was beaming. She rolled her eyes at Molly and Ivan, who were both looking sheepish. Then to Molly, she said, “He wasn't asking about your name.”

"Ivan, come with me," Bridges said, his tone firm. He turned and walked into his office, closing the door behind him.

Ivan's eyes went wide, and he looked at Lori like he'd seen a ghost. "If he kills me in there, please bury my body behind the building and tell my best friend Kate that I always wanted her to be happy," he said, his voice trembling with fear.

Laurie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You do know he hates waiting, right?”

Ivan swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and entered the office. As he entered, he saw that Bridges was sitting behind his desk, his eyes fixed on Ivan. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Have a seat, Mr. Ivan," Bridges said, his voice cool and controlled. Ivan quickly sat down, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor.

"So, Mr. Ivan, I must ask: what do you think you were doing, wasting time when you should be working?" Bridges asked, his tone sharp.

Ivan swallowed again, his throat dry. "I-I'm sorry, sir," he stammered. "I know I shouldn't have been chatting with Laurie and Molly. It won't happen again." He tried to sound contrite, but his voice was shaking.

Bridges leaned forward in his chair, his gaze fixed on Ivan. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "You realize that your time-wasting could cost this firm money, don't you?"

Ivan's face was pale. "Y-yes, sir," he said. "I understand. I'll make sure to be more productive from now on." He hoped.

Ivan stood there in silence for a few minutes, waiting for Bridges to speak. Bridges remained silent, his face impassive. Ivan grew increasingly nervous, wondering what the older man was thinking.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Bridges looked up at Ivan. His frown deepened, and he said, "Do you realize you've been staring at me for a while?"

Ivan nodded quickly. "Yes, sir," he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I was just waiting for you to speak."

"Well, from now on, when I ask you a question, you will speak immediately," Bridges said sternly. "I don't appreciate being kept waiting. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Ivan replied, his voice quiet. He felt a knot forming in his stomach, but he knew he had to do better. He couldn't afford to get on Bridges' bad side.

Gazing at him intently for about 30 seconds, Bridges finally posed the question that had been on his mind. "Do you realize, Mr. Wadsworth, that you have been working under me, and for me, for a month?" he asked.

Ivan gulped, his saliva sticking in his throat. He knew that the question held a lot of weight, and that his answer could have serious consequences. He had to tread carefully.

Ivan nodded his head desperately, afraid to utter a word to the almighty ace of L&J, Bridges.

But then, looking away from Ivan, Bridges frowned and said furiously, "Do you know that I hate it when someone responds to my question with a gesture rather than with words?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Ivan apologized. "I do know that I have been working with you for a month," Ivan replied.

Bridges only shook his head. He knew he couldn't take or give his all to this young man standing in front of him. He was just too lazy and blunt for him to handle and teach.

"Do you even know why you're here?" Bridges said, his voice calm, but his words cutting like a knife. "This is one of the best law firms in all of Wales, and you don't even know why you're here."

His words stung Ivan, who felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. But Bridges wasn't finished yet.

"I never wanted to accept you here in the first place, even if you wanted to come," he continued. "I never wanted to accept you as a junior attorney and assistant under me. Why me? If it weren't for Mr. Lambert, you would have been working under Attorney Benedict or Attorney Linda. So what makes you so special?"

Ivan felt his cheeks redden. He wanted to protest, to argue, but his mind was blank. He couldn't think of anything to say. It was as if all the words had been sucked out of him, leaving him empty and speechless.

Who was he to speak to? He was just a 25 years old kid who knew nothing, according to Attorney Malcolm.

Bridges let out a mocking laugh. "In a month, I've gone over five cases, and in a month, you've been under me and I've given you one assignment - just one - to bring the law firm a case, and what have you done? Nothing. All you do is giggle around with Laurie, my secretary."

He fixed his eyes on Ivan, waiting for a response. But Ivan couldn't think of anything to say. It was as if the words had been sucked out of him, leaving him mute.

With him spending four weeks with the perfectionist before him, Ivan knew that whenever Bridges was silent after speaking, he was waiting for the next person to speak. So, he decided to speak up.

"One week, sir. Give me one week, and I'll get you a case," he said. He hadn't spoken from his brain - he'd spoken from his heart. He just wanted to prove himself. And that was that.

Bridges sighed with relief. "Alright then, Ivan. You're dismissed."

With that, Ivan turned and walked out of the office. As he made his way down the hall, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was disappointed that he hadn't been able to convince Bridges of his worth. But on the other hand, he was also relieved that the meeting was over.

He just hoped that he would be given another chance to prove himself to his idol.

"You're dismissed," said Bridges with a sigh.

Then, he loosened his tie and hung it on a rack. Just as expected, within a few minutes, he heard a knock and the door opened. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was - it was Laurie, his secretary.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, a bit sheepishly. "He hasn't been the best assistant to you."

Bridges was not the kind of person who laughed, smiled, or had small talk with just anyone and everyone. But Laurie was different.

She had been with him for eight years, and she had never left his side. Wherever he went, she went too. She was such a supportive, faithful, and loyal friend. How could he not give her his time? He gave her his time all the time.

"Laurie, you know I don't like blunt people," Bridges said. "How could Lambert possibly think that Mr. Wadsworth would be a good fit for me? He's so tactless!"

Laurie was the only person he felt comfortable confiding in, the only one who tried to understand him.

"Fine. You're right," said Laurie. "But Ivan is a lot younger than you, and he might not have the experience or maturity that you're looking for." She paused, and then added, "But you have to give him a chance. You never know, he might surprise you!"

Seeing that he wasn't saying anything to that, she continued. "I understand your skepticism, Bridges," said Laurie. "But you never know - Ivan might just turn out to be a valuable asset to us and L&J Laws. And even if he doesn't, at least you'll have given him a chance. After all, that's what being a good leader is all about, right?"

Bridges sighed. "You're right, of course. I'll do my best to give him a fair shot." He paused, and then added, "Just because you asked me to."

"Well, aside from you and Attorney Malcolm, I'm sure Ivan will get along just fine with the other attorneys," Laurie said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I know how charming he can be!"

Changing the subject, she asked, "By the way, how's William? I haven't seen him around lately." She smiled, her eyes full of warmth and affection.

“He's good,” Bridges answered curtly, grabbing a pile of paperwork to indulge himself in.