Titan

The building in front of him was very tall. In a quick calculation, he could assume that it had about fifteen floors. It was incredibly elegant on the outside, all following the monochrome. On the inside, it was even more beautiful. As soon as he entered the lobby, he could see a white marble countertop where some receptionists were sitting assisting those who approached. There were also turnstiles both to the right and to the left. Just by seeing that, he imagined how organized and expensive that place must be. Having a space in that building should not be cheap at all. He would then straighten his clothes and open a friendly smile. In the email, he had been told that he had to stop by this reception to get a card. He presented his identity and a copy of said email printed with his authorization. He would then receive the card. She already had her name, Titan identification, and a chip in which she activated the elevator to her floor. That kind of technology made her feel like one of the most important people in the world. It wasn't just anyone who had an access card, at least in her mind, since everyone who worked in the building was obliged to have one of these. According to the receptionist's instructions, she would take the elevator on the right. That was the elevator for employees and the unloading and loading of the floors. The other elevator was destined for clients, thus allowing her to take the elevator without being surprised by an unwanted client.

With the access card in hand, Catherine passed through the turnstile and headed to the eighth floor. There were two elevator doors, each with a small queue: one for even-numbered floors and the other for odd-numbered floors, optimizing travel time. Catherine joined the queue for the even-numbered elevator, and noted the sign indicating a maximum capacity of ten people inside. She could only imagine the size of the building.

As she waited, Catherine observed other people swiping their cards on the elevator panel. A light would come on as soon as they passed, a technology she had only ever seen in movies until that moment. When Catherine swiped her card, the light for the eighth floor came on, indicating that she was the first to select that floor, and would apparently be the only one going there.

As she stepped out of the elevator, Catherine found herself in a beautiful reception area with light brown sofas and fashion and car magazines on a glass coffee table. A large wooden counter with four chairs stood ahead, but only two were occupied. One of the secretaries was clearly younger than Catherine, with straight dark hair, impeccable makeup, and a brown suit adorned with the Titan Lawyers team symbol, making her look incredibly elegant. The other secretary appeared to be in her sixties, with brown hair that was clearly dyed and very light makeup, also wearing the Titan Lawyers uniform. If the elevator hadn't closed behind her, making a noise, they might not have noticed Catherine at all, but as she arrived, both secretaries smiled warmly.

— Good morning, my dear. Welcome to Advocacia Titã. Judging by your face and the elevator you just went up, I believe you must be the new lawyer I was told would be coming today. I must say that you are prettier than your picture on the e-mail – said the lady going around the counter where she was before and giving Catherine a hug, who seemed incredibly nervous. – I was the one who dealt with everything with you by e-mail. I hope you didn't get lost. I'm Victoria.

— Nice to meet you. I'm Catherine. Incredible as it may be, I didn't get lost. I chose to live in a building nearby. I know how to get to work, and yesterday I found out where the bakery is. Knowing where the bakery is and where work is, I can live happily.

— If your coffee and bread are guaranteed, everything is great. But don't worry, here on the third floor there's a cafeteria. It's everyone's meeting point. You'll get used to it quickly. But we have a private cafeteria. It's behind the meeting room. Later, I can show you the internal facilities better. But come here, and I'll introduce you to one of the most important people for you. That woman was so polite and communicative. She was having luck at the moment. I didn't find anyone in a bad mood since your move.

— Nice to meet you, Tatiane. — As they approached the counter, the other young woman stood up, stretching out her hand.

— I'm Catherine. The pleasure is all mine – she said, greeting her.

— You see, Tatiane is the secretary responsible for her team's schedule. No matter how well everyone can handle cases, there is always someone who is better at one thing or another. Among themselves, they decide who can handle the clients best for the lawyer that suits them the most. There are four secretaries, each responsible for a team. Each secretary will receive a client. The one who does not have a specific request for a lawyer is in their hands, so they send for those who think it's fairer or with a more empty schedule. It may seem like a competition when we talk like that, but it's not. All the secretaries have the first focus on providing the best possible experience for the client. Since if you have to look for a lawyer many times, you have a huge problem. Each department has a secretariat precisely to have someone control the schedules. So Tatiane will have full access to her schedule. If she needs a few minutes alone or has a quick personal appointment, she can fit it into her schedule. Victoria spoke the last part very softly, as if there was someone else there besides them, along with a wink to show that it wasn't unusual for them to do this kind of thing.

— I found this wonderful, very different from what they tell us in college about the job market," commented Catherine, leaning on the counter. "But just out of curiosity, how do you know the qualities of each lawyer? I imagine you spend a lot of time working here and dealing with cases, but knowing exactly where to guide a client is amazing. It has to be someone with immense tact."

— To tell you the truth, yes, but we also receive a recommendation from the department heads. Each manager provides a brief overview of what each person in their team is best at, and we all have access to that. For example, you're great at cases involving trafficking, and you know how to handle pressure situations with very wealthy people. We have that written down here, so when a wealthy person with trafficking problems comes up, for example, we automatically put it in your schedule, unless they request someone else," explained Tatiane with a smile. "When I started here, I also found it amazing."

— Here we try to do everything right and avoid additional headaches for the lawyers. The secretarial functions are resolved here. Now, from the glass door onwards, it's up to each person to explore," Victoria commented, making a face that showed she knew more than she appeared to. "Catherine, you'll be working with Miguel, a truly lovely man when he gets intimate, but he's super reserved with those he doesn't need to have real contact with. Don't be surprised if he's a bit rough at first. His heart is good, but his shell is like a crab's.

— He already came to our college once to give a lecture with one of his former assistants, at the time I thought he was incredibly smart and polite, and starting to work here I could see that he is all that and sometimes even makes a joke or two, but he really is a closed-off guy, his former assistant now also works in the team, Diego, incredibly funny and inappropriate, but a really nice person," commented Tatiane. "I don't know if I mentioned it, but I study law, I'm still in my third year.

— How many members are in my team?" Catherine asked.

— Well, each team can only have four lawyers, as you both must know, we are one of the best in the city, we have the largest number of lawyers in various cases with enormous competence, which makes people come to us, they come here looking to solve an inheritance division issue and in the middle of the conversation we end up discovering a labor abuse and end up taking more than one case per client, our reputation is to solve all problems, even the problems that people think they don't have or think are not problems," she paused, pointing to a frosted black glass door with the classic figure of Têmis and the scales of justice engraved in white on one side of the door and the name Titã on the other. "There is the entrance to your offices, each lawyer here has a private office that they decorate as they please, I'll warn you that the rooms are not big and are standardized with furniture, it will fit you, your desk, a bookshelf in the corner, and two clients, but if you need a bigger room, we have three conciliation rooms, they can fit up to ten people.

— You're giving me such a wonderful summary that I already feel at home, I'm already thinking about the color of the picture frame on the desk," commented Catherine, opening a broad smile and taking a sip of her coffee that had been in her hands since she left home. "I live in a small 'Apertamento', a small room is the least of my worries."

— I've been working here for a little over forty years, my dear. I've seen this place go from a small commercial office to a company of this size, but I'm in the process of being forced to retire due to my health. It may not seem like it, but I'm already quite old. Tatiane has been working here for a little over two months. I'm training her to be Miguel's secretary since I used to handle his and the owner's schedule. The owner is also retiring, so it's my cue to finally have my well-deserved rest. I think my farewell should be by the end of the month."

— Well, I feel so guilty about it," Tatiane commented, taking Victoria's hand, who kindly smiled and also took Catherine's hand.

— You're not to blame. You're doing me a favor. Knowing that you'll take good care of the boys makes me happy. Sometimes, I even feel like their mother, but my time to travel to Mexico is coming. I always wanted to visit my grandfather's homeland. Retired, I can go with a lot of money to spend. Don't worry, when I come back, I'll bring a gift for both of you."

— If you go and don't come back with my sombrero and a bottle of very spicy pepper, you know we'll have a huge problem. I'll make you work for another fifty years with me," a male voice appeared in the lobby. Coming out of the employee elevator, a man in an unbuttoned suit, a backpack on his shoulder, and a wonderful woody perfume that could be smelled from a distance, his calm tone of voice sounded like thunder, and he was completely different from what Catherine could expect from someone working there. He was tall, probably about six feet tall, strong, his hair was tied up in a bun on top of his head, a lumberjack-style beard incredibly well-groomed, and dark sunglasses that gave him an incredibly serious look. Maybe that was all the difference, that serious look conveyed an unparalleled sensuality. As that man approached, it seemed like an electric current ran through Catherine's entire body, leaving her immobile, admiring him.

— What a shame, Miguel. I want to rest too, enough of cleaning up after others. - The man greeted her with a kiss on the forehead and received a kiss on the shoulder, where the woman could reach. - It's good that you always come early, my dear. This is Catherine, your new lawyer."

— Fresh meat, how wonderful. The sharks are hungry. - He finished the sentence with a sigh while taking off his sunglasses and looking Catherine up and down as if he was really looking at a piece of meat. He then put the glasses in his pocket and walked towards the glass door that made a clicking sound. Being on the side of the table where the secretaries were, Catherine could see that Victoria had probably moved to press a button. She then looked back at the door and noticed that Miguel was holding it open. - Shall we go?"