“The way Mr.
Thorne treated me when he believed I was serving drinks matters.
The way his daughter treated Sophia matters.
But neither becomes acceptable merely because I am a judge.”
Sophia lowered her eyes.
I continued before Sterling could mistake restraint for hesitation.
“The pending Meridian matter is different.
I have now received information outside the judicial record concerning possible discovery misconduct.
I will document this encounter, disclose it to all parties, and take no further action in the case except what is required to protect the integrity of the proceedings.
Another judge will determine what follows.”
Sterling seized on the word immediately.
“So you’re recusing yourself.”
“I did not say that yet.”
“But you cannot remain on the case after this.”
“My ethical obligations will be addressed through the proper process,” I said.
“They are not bargaining chips for you to use in a kitchen.”
His jaw tightened.
I closed the credentials case.
“The alleged concealment will also be referred to the appropriate court officers and investigative authorities.
Senator Reynolds and the others present will be asked to provide independent accounts of what they heard.”
Sterling looked around and seemed to realize how many witnesses had gathered.
The floor manager.
Two servers.
The senior partner.
David.
Ethan.
Madison.
Guests standing near the open door.
For most of the evening, their silence had protected Sterling.
Now it trapped him.
“This was a private conversation,” he said.
“You held it beside an orchestra while staff circulated with open trays,” David replied.
“Your confidence was private.
Your voice was not.”
Sterling turned toward Ethan.
“Tell your mother to stop this before she embarrasses everyone.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You called her a cleaning lady.”
“I had never met her.”
“That is your defense?”
Madison stepped between them.
“Ethan, Daddy didn’t know who she was.
Obviously, he would never have spoken that way if he knew.”
The corridor became silent.
Sophia looked up from her LSAT book.
Ethan’s face changed slowly, as if something he had resisted seeing was now impossible to ignore.
“He shouldn’t have spoken that way to anyone,” he said.
Madison rolled her eyes.
“Please don’t become dramatic because a waitress spilled champagne.”
“I didn’t spill it on you,” Sophia said.
Madison turned sharply.
“Nobody asked you.”
“I’m asking her,” I said.
Sophia hesitated.
I moved closer, but I did not touch her.
She had spent the evening being ordered, grabbed, dismissed, and spoken over.
