CHAPTER 1
After working for Becker Law since graduating from Law School, Andy Clough (29) signed up at Anderson-Dillon Law in an attempt to advance in his career.
He'd tired of death and injury law and appearing in court to represent mostly born criminals who believed their own lies and he'd contacted Barney Anderson, a friend of his father's, about a position.
"Yes young Andy. We have an opening in Family Law we can't fill.
"Christ Barney, that's the roosting place for female attorneys. You would have turned your nose up at that offer in my situation at my age."
"I guess you are right. Let me talk this over with Des Dillon.
Barney called Andy next afternoon.
"The only other gaps we have right now are Taxation Law and a position in Business Law specializing in assisting small outfits to set up business. Do well and you could be placed in mainstream business law. You state in your CV you have an interest in Business Law and worked in that field during breaks when you were at Law School."
"Yes that would be fine."
"We'll lift your present salary by ten grand on presentation of present salary details."
"Barney thanks. You are responsible for putting me back on course with my career aspirations."
"All I ask is that you do well for us. I won't tell your dad you screwed my arm for a position with us. You may lie and say you applied formerly for a position and I'll confirm that.
Jason is a city of 87,500 people and Becker Law at Number 1 in terms of size and billings, was a couple of spots ahead Anderson-Dillon in the pecking order. Like most women think, Andy wasn't too concerned about size. He was pleased to have secured a foothold in Business Law.
Andy had found on the Anderson-Dillon website that Des Dillon's wife Tayler Dillon, who judging by her picture was much too young for Des, was the partner in charge of Business Law and in fact she managed the department. She was forty and the site stated she and Des had two children, a son Gavin aged thirty in the military and daughter Gail aged twenty-six who worked in hospital admin.
Andy thought a mother, aged only ten years older that her son and fourteen years older than her daughter? Des had obviously married a second time so why attempt to gloss over that on the website?
He was about to find the step-mom was no pussy cat.
"Well Andy, you have been dumped on me. I want you to be aware of that."
"I hear you loud and clear ma'am."
"Tayler is quite acceptable thank you and that's Tayler with an 'e'.
"Is that 'e' immediately after the 't' or the 'l'?"
"Are you intent on getting us off to a difficult start Andy?"
He had a quick rethink. "That was a stupid joke Tayler."
"Well I recognized it as stupid. My concern was you might not be as astute."
Jesus, how could such a sexy looking woman be such a jerk? He decided to say nothing and thought the word jerk was asexual wasn't it?
"I'm looking forward to pulling my weight in your department and perhaps easing some of the pressure on you."
"Those are mere words Andy. If you are so keen to work in business law, why weren't you working in it at Becker Law?"
"Too many of us were seeking to transfer to that department."
"Is that true?"
"Until proven otherwise, yes."
"Spoken like an attorney," she smiled.
Jesus she smiled.
"Well go down to HR on Level 1 and present your credentials and get on our payroll. Barney Anderson will have given them the basics. I'll place a file on your desk for when you return. Please action it, effectively."
Andy went down to HR thinking he'd like to screw Mrs Dillon, screw her fucking neck the acid-tongued bitch.
He smiled, feeling a lot better having mentally dealt with Mrs Dillon and thought it really was a little early to request a transfer to another department.
The mousy woman in HR was polite and efficient and gave Andy an interesting chart she printed out showing the company structure.
Barney Anderson and Des Dillon (God what a loopy name) headed the list of names and were called principal partners. Then there were eight partners below them and then a line was ruled across and the twelve departments, some of which provided a number of specialist services were set out below that with the name of each HoD (head of department) colored in red. Andy was impressed that his name already showed alphabetically as an associate on the list under Tayler Dillon's name in Business Law.
He counted the names. There were forty-one attorneys including partners and twenty-two support staff.
Andy returned to the cubicle that placed him, he was sure, where Tayler could come out of her office and eye him. A young woman came over and said she was Chelsea and he shared her with two other attorneys and she did nothing more than flinch when Andy said, "A groupie, wow."
"Um please excuse me out-of-control humor Chelsea, it's lovely to meet you and being the new guy I really will appreciate your support. I've come to really appreciate the value of secretarial support."
"Thank you."
Chelsea then sat and explained the department's office systems and displayed the irritating habit of running a hand down her stocking and the top of the leg cross-over and Andy felt himself turning almost cross-eyed attempting to look anywhere but at that wandering hand and to avoid looking down her dress top because she sat leaning forward.
No way did he wish Chelsea to trumpet to the support staff the new guy was an absolute lecher.
"Are you okay?" she finally asked. "You are twitching and your head is jerking."
"Um new environment and Mrs Dillon didn't make me feel welcome."
"Oh her," Chelsea said, lowering her voice. "This is confidential. She's married to one of the principal partners, his second wife, and he's the worst lecher in the office. During the end-of-week drinks last Friday she went into the women's bathroom and found her husband fisting Mrs Monks the office manager. There was a huge scene and Mrs Monks fled the room and wrote out her resignation and we understand Mr Dillon is at present living in a hotel. So Mrs Dillon is in a lousy mood and you probably caught it in the neck."
Phew, Andy sighed. Perhaps Mrs Dillon might not be a vindictive witch.
"Unfortunately I'm newly married so I cannot play around if you are that way inclined. But if you are try Mrs Benny, one of the paralegals available for you to use."
Chelsea left the room and left Andy regretting she was newly married. But perhaps he was skilled enough to persuade her to change her mind.
He opened the folder. In essence, the brief stated Julie and Charles Long, brother and sister, required legal advice about setting up a small bicycle sales and servicing center in their neighborhood. They had no business experience and capital was limited.
Andy sighed and wondered if Mrs Dillon had dug into the 'too hard' basket to set him up to fail with this one. He called the number and Julie Long replied. She sounded pleasant enough.
"Do you know Tayler Dillon?"
"No why?"
"She has handed me your request for legal advice to set up a cycle sales and service business. Julie you and Charles can come and see me but you'll have to pay for the legal advice. If you want free advice try the Chamber of Commerce and you might refer you to someone.
"When can we come and see you?"
"I can see you any time I'm free during office hours."
"We are an hour away from the city after visiting our uncle's attorney. Uncle Jack has left me brother and I $150,000 each. We didn't even know he'd died."
They met a little over an hour later and left thirty minutes later. They were very happy with Andy's advice to buy a half share of an existing bicycle business on the understanding both could work in the business so they could learn the ropes. They could then attempt to acquire full ownership. Andy said they should consult a business broker over the value and viability of the business they targeted and when they decided to proceed, he'd draw up a partnership contract for them or could assess the contract the cycle business owner came up with.
Andy went in to ask Tayler for more work.
"What do you want?"
Jesus.
"The cycle brother and sister have departed happily and I have a 30-minute billing from that with more to come."