IV

• Author: Lindsay Cameron
• Profession: Corporate attorney
• Pages: 39-44

39

4

I    pad of paper and nervously entered confer-

ence room 23A—the largest one in the oce, usually reserved for

impressing clients. e last time I was here was for the “coee taste

test party” when I was a summer associate. e events coordinator

had lined up ten types of coee from around the world, including

a rare bean own in from the Coee Expo that retailed for $80 a

cup. A coee sommelier walked us through the dierent types as

we sipped samples and munched on pastries from Payard. But the

only oerings today were thermoses of Starbucks and pastries from

the cafeteria.

Anxiously tugging at the hem of my skirt, I took a deep breath

as my body ooded with adrenaline. When Ben told me to attend

the kick-o meeting I’d nodded dutifully, hoping he wouldn’t notice

the ush creeping across my neck. Normally only partners or senior

associates attend kick-o meetings, so for Ben to bestow the honor

on a mid-level associate was unusual. It felt like an invitation to the

inner circle of F&D royalty, sending my heart rate sky high.

Senior associates from all practice groups buzzed anxiously

around the overgrown mahogany table running the length of the

room with leather chairs tucked neatly under it. Knowing there

wouldn’t be enough seats for everyone, I perched on a credenza o

to the side—it was career suicide to do otherwise. e most senior

lawyers get the seats. Always. I’ve seen women so pregnant they look

ready to pop standing, not wanting to break this unspoken code of

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