Bennie raised a hand to silence them. “Counsel for the defense is Roger Vitez, and he isn’t here because we could handle it ourselves. And no, this is not a vendetta, not on our part. If anything, we’re on the receiving end of the vendetta, and if it was anybody but us, I would say we were victims. But anybody who knows this firm knows that we’re no victims.”
A few of the reporters chuckled, and a woman nodded in approval. Somebody from the back yelled out, “Bennie, any comment about the statement that John Foxman allegedly made to one of the plaintiffs?”
Bennie held up a hand again. “Yes, that’s an excellent question and needs to be addressed. So I’ll turn it over to my associate John Foxman, because he can speak for himself.” She gestured to John. “John, would you like to take that question?”
Mary held her breath, knowing that it was risky, even thoughthey had discussed verbatim what he would say. She felt Judy nudge her under the table with her clog, which was kind of scratchy.
John cleared his throat, facing the reporter. “Yes, I can answer that succinctly. First, I do not believe that this firm or any of its partners discriminate against men. I do not believe they ever discriminated against me and I do not believe that they discriminated against the individual plaintiffs, as the Complaint alleges. I agree completely with Bennie that this lawsuit is a vendetta brought for personal reasons by opposing counsel Nick Machiavelli. I myself have personal knowledge of the facts that support our position, but I am not going to discuss that today.”
John spoke firmly and confidently, his tone ringing true, and Mary could see the reporters reacting positively. She began to feel a glimmer of hope that this press conference had paid off, in addition to getting her a free dress and shoes. Getting out in front of the allegations was the right move, but she knew it was only the beginning of a long, difficult battle.
John continued, “That said, I did interview the plaintiff in question and I did make the statement that he alleged. However, in the Complaint, the statement is taken completely out of context. As you can see, I’m the only male lawyer at this firm. And occasionally, yes, I do feel out of place. In fact, this morning we held a baby shower in this very room, and I felt out of place.Wayout of place.”
The reporters laughed, taking notes and snapping pictures of John, who forced a smile, and Mary gave him a lot of credit. This couldn’t have been easy, but he was hitting a home run, just by being honest. She felt a sudden swell of pride for truth, justice, and the American way. Or maybe it was the hormones.
John heaved a final sigh. “So I think that’s all I should say at the present time. As a trial lawyer, I hate to give the other sidefree discovery. But like Bennie, I felt compelled to respond to these allegations and explain them. Before I finish, I’d like to take a moment to apologize to my colleagues at the firm, whom I like and respect so very much. I’m sorry I spoke so imprudently, and I’m sorry I gave Nick Machiavelli ammunition to use against us.”
Mary looked over in surprise and so did Bennie and Judy. They hadn’t rehearsed any of this before the conference, and John was clearly speaking from the heart.
Bennie didn’t hesitate. “John, thank you very much.” She returned her attention to the reporters. “Any last questions before we get back to work?”
“Just one!” a female reporter yelled from the back. “John, if you like it so much here, why are you looking for a new job?”
“Wait, uh, well—” John didn’t finish the sentence, turning red under his fair skin. Mary had no idea that John was looking for a job and she was pretty sure that nobody else knew either. John seemed completely flustered, so it must have been true.
Bennie rallied. “Thank you for your question,” she called to the reporter, without missing a beat. “John’s future employment isn’t relevant to the allegations in this lawsuit, nor is it anyone’s business but his.”
“But did you know he had his resume out, Bennie?”
Bennie kept her smile firmly in place. “As you know, Rosato & DiNunzio was founded not as an all-female firm, but as a firm that represented those seeking justice and vindication for individual civil liberties. As such, we have no problems with anyone who seeks to change or even better their lot in life. And equally, we value the privacy of those that do so, as I assume you will too.”
“John, why are you telling people that ‘you’ll never make partner at Rosato because you’re not a woman’?” The questioncame from the same reporter, a scruffy woman with spiky gelled hair, in the back. “Doesn’t that support the Complaint? Or is that bad faith, too?”
John recoiled as if absorbing a blow. Mary froze, in stunned disbelief. Judy couldn’t hide her frown, and Anne’s eyes rounded with shock.
“That’s enough for now.” Bennie rose quickly, despite her new high heels. “We’re not going to examine every single statement John may or may not have made, nor are we going to try the lawsuit in my conference room.”
“John, answer the question!” the scruffy reporter called out, and the others joined in, making a minor uproar. “Mr. Foxman, any comment?” “Is that true?” “Who’d you say that to?” “Mr. Foxman, look over here!”
Bennie ignored them all. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for coming. We appreciate your attention and we look forward to never seeing you again.”
The reporters burst into laughter, closing their notebooks, pocketing their cell phones, shutting down the cameras, picking up their messenger bags, and getting ready to go. Mary, Judy, Anne, and John remained seated while Bennie did some glad-handing, then stopped the woman with the gelled spiky hair, who had asked the last question.
“Excuse me,” Bennie said, touching the woman’s arm. “What’s your name? Who are you with?”
“I freelance,” the reporter answered, hurrying ahead, bolting out of the conference room ahead of the others, then they left, and Bennie closed the door behind them. They were finally alone in the conference room, but nobody said anything. Mary sensed that partly they were waiting for the hubbub to die down on the other side of the door—and partly there was nothing to say. The press conference had been a resounding success until it turned into a disaster. Mary was still processingwhat she had just heard, and Judy looked as stunned as she was, now that they had let their game faces slip.
Bennie leaned against the back of the closed door. “Foxman!” she said, her blue eyes flashing with cold fury. “What thehell!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The conference room went dead quiet, and Mary hadn’t known she could feel worse, but she did. She was dumbfounded that John wanted to leave the firm and would bad-mouth them that way. Judy and Anne looked equally astonished. They had been utterly blindsided, and now reporters would run with the story that was new evidence against them, damaging their case. There could be no doubt that John had done it, because he looked guilt-stricken to Mary, and she should know because she was a guilt expert.
Bennie didn’t rant and rave, but merely folded her arms, still leaning against the door. “You need to explain this to us, right now,” she said, with controlled anger.
“I’m sorry.” John rose hastily, as if about to address the court, which in a way, he was, and Judge Rosato wasn’t having any.
“So that reporter’s question was true? You did make a statement that you ‘would never make partner here because you’re not a woman’?”
