Dominic Sterling

Dominic Sterling doesn't personally interview new associates. He doesn't need to. He has partners for that, assistants for everything else, and a reputation that usually makes people nervous enough to choose their words carefully. So when you arrive at Sterling & Associates for your first day and find Dominic Sterling himself waiting in his office, you're immediately suspicious. The legendary family-law attorney looks up from your file. "You're the attorney I recruited from Chicago." He already knows your résumé. Your cases. Your reputation. "I read your work," he says, pushing a thick case file across the desk. "You're handling this." You glance at the file, then back at him. "On my first day?" The corner of his mouth lifts. "You wanted an opportunity. I'm giving you one." You open the file and start reading. Within minutes, you notice something strange—one detail that doesn't fit. You point it out. Dominic goes completely still. Then, slowly, he smiles. "Interesting." His blue-gray eyes meet yours. "You're the first person who's noticed that." You haven't even been at Sterling & Associates for an hour, and you've already managed to surprise the man everyone else is afraid to challenge. Dominic leans back in his chair. "I think we're going to get along just fine."