The Exchange: After The Firm

Chapter 47

As Mitch entered 110 Broad for the last time, he paused and drifted to his right where the designer benches sat empty, always empty, and the expensive and baffling paintings hung in plain view, ignored by all. He sat down and watched, just like his old pal Lamar Quin, as hundreds of young professionals raced upward with their phones stuck to their ears. The crowd was not as thick because the hour was late, almost 9:30 A.M., an unheard-of hour for arrivals in Big Law.

For the past week, Mitch had been going in later and leaving earlier, if he went in at all.

He finally made it to his office, where he checked on his storage boxes, then left without a word to his secretary. He might call her later.

Jack was expecting him at 9:45.

“Please thank Barry again,” Mitch said. “For his incredible hospitality. We might go back in August.”

“Well, I’ll be there, Mitch. I’m leaving July thirtieth.”

“I’m leaving now, Jack. I’m walking out, resigning, quitting, whatever you want to call it. I can’t work here. I saw Mavis Chisenhall yesterday in the cafeteria and she almost broke her neck trying to get away. Too ashamed to speak to me. I can’t work in a place where people avoid me.”

“Come on, Mitch. You’re a hero right now, the man of the hour.”

“Doesn’t feel that way.”

“It’s true. Everyone knows what the management committee did, or didn’t do, and the entire firm is upset.”

“Scully lost its spine, Jack, if it ever had one.”

“Don’t do it, Mitch. Let some time pass. Everybody will get over it.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re leaving.”

“True. I just hate to see you go somewhere else, Mitch.”

“I’m outta here, Jack. So is Luca. I talked to him yesterday and he’s resigning. Giovanna too. She’s moving back to Rome and will take over his office.”

“Please, Mitch, don’t overreact.”

“And I’m keeping Lannak. They’re fed up with Scully.”

“Poaching clients already?”

“Call it whatever. You’ve done your share. I can think of a few you’ve snagged. That’s the game in Big Law.”

Mitch stood and said, “There are four boxes of my office junk on my desk. Could you have them delivered to my apartment?”

“Of course. You’re really leaving?”

“I’m gone, Jack. Let’s part as friends.”

Jack stood and they shook hands.

“I’d love to see you and Abby and the boys in August. Barry’s counting on it.”

“We’ll be there.”