Please take me back to The Firm - my own law firm. (pencil skirt version)

It's not like you swore an oath or anything, but you are an employee of The Firm, and you feel a responsibility as their employee to fulfill the assignment they gave you.

So you provide the address of your law firm to Marty and he drives you there.

"Excuse me, Miss? May I help you?" The receptionist stops you as you are about to walk to your office.

"Janet, it's me... uh..." you stop, realizing the problem. After all, you present as Jennifer, and you don't want to go into the details of your real identify with Janet, because she's a notorious gossip and everyone on the office will know in like, 10 seconds.

"I'm sorry," you say instead. "I'm here to see James Johnson. I'm Jennifer and this is in reference to the Hewitt estate. Could you tell him I'm here?"

"Of course, if you'll just sit over there," she pointedly nods to the waiting area.

You are kept waiting for almost an hour!

What the fuck is keeping everyone? You thought mentioning the Hewitt estate would bring people running, but it's been crickets. Finally, a secretary appears and takes you to Samuel Cambridge, the head partner. As you enter his office, you see him there with James Johnson, your direct supervisor.

"Paul. Or should I call you Jennifer now?"

His attitude is not nice. You are worried.

"Thank you. Jennifer is fine," you answer, acutely aware of how you're presenting. You take a seat and fidget, nervously.

"It seems we have a problem, Jennifer. The executors of the Hewitt Estate, specifically the law firm of Howard, Johnston, and Blakely, are accusing you, and this law firm, of breaking and entering and felony theft."

"WHAT?" you cry. You feel a deep pit open up in your stomach. "What theft?"

"Specifically, your clothing, and that necklace you're wearing."

"This?" Your hand leaps up to finger the pink diamond pendant that's hanging at the top of your cleavage. "But... I'm sure it's just fake, right? I mean, this isn't real diamond, is it?"

"I hope it's not. But if it is, then you've easily exceeded the felony theft threshold."

"But this wasn't breaking and entering, right? Didn't the state ask us to find his papers?"

"That's not how they see it. They claim the state never had that authority. Apparently the court clerk may have been over-eager to get the process started."

"But that's not our problem, right? If the state made a mistake?"

"Listen, Jennifer, we can debate litigation strategy all day long, but let's be crystal clear: You and The Firm are in deep shit, okay? Howard, Johnston, and Blakely is a big, wealthy firm with a ton of financial resources, thanks to their friend, Jack Hewitt. Best case? The Firm goes bankrupt and you are financially ruined for life. Worst case? Jail time. 10 years minimum."

You sit there, back straight, legs crossed at your ankles, hands twisting together in your lap, in shock as this new reality sinks in.

Ruined? You think to yourself. You are on the edge of tears. Jail? The horror of the possibilities are almost too much to consider.

"But... I was given this necklace to wear," you say.

"By who?" James Johnson asks.

"By..." your heart sinks. "By the house computer," you say, finally, realizing that it's ridiculous.

"I don't think that line of defense would hold up in the courtroom," Mr. Cambrdidge says, snorting derisively. "I'm sure that you realize that computer programs do not have the authority to enable you to carry expensive jewelry off the premises."

"So... what do we do?" you ask in a small, meek voice.

"Well, I'm glad you asked that. The Hewitt Estate has sent us a settlement proposal which is, I must say, quite unusual."

You feel goosebumps on your arms, and a strange, frightening tingling sensation go up your spine.

"Settlement?"

"Yes. The terms are unusual. I can only presume that they are somehow related to the time you were missing over the last few days?"

"I... I don't know."