by Andrew Grey
“We need to bring in new clients,” Gary said, defending his idea.
“This is not the way to do it,” Lyndon insisted. “My clients want discretion. They do not pick their lawyer from a television ad. They’re buying our reputation and stature when they come to us. If they wanted that type of lawyer, they’d call one of those 888 numbers. There are better ways of getting new clients. We have a table at the benefit this weekend. We’re all going, and it’s our job to talk to as many people in the room as possible. They are our potential clients.”
“I still say that advertising the right way can be beneficial,” Carolyn said.
“How would we do that?” Lyndon asked. “As far as I’ve seen, there isn’t a way. Clients need to be cultivated through contacts, satisfaction, and word of mouth. I’m not opposed to marketing ourselves, just not with a television commercial… or radio, for that matter. Firms like that have their place, and some of them are very successful, almost enough to make me jealous, but that isn’t the kind of firm I want to be associated with,” he added firmly to Gary. “And quite frankly, I don’t have to be.”
“Lyndon, there isn’t any need for that,” Malcolm said calmly. “This is an idea that needs to be discussed, and Gary was right to bring it up. I do happen to think that this isn’t for us, and if it comes up for a vote, it seems it will fail. But I also agree that we need to make a larger effort in marketing. There are other charity events that we can attend, and the money we would have spent on a commercial could be invested in professional marketing if that’s the way we want to go.” He looked at the other four people around the table. “Carolyn, would your clients be happy if part of your staff decamped?” He knew that was a possibility. They took as much pride in the firm as anyone.
“True,” she said softly. “My staff is damned good, and I don’t want to lose them.”
It looked as though Gary’s idea wasn’t going to fly. “New clients are what we all need,” Gary pressed.
“Let’s get down to it. We’ve always built relationships with our clients. Some of them we’ve had for years. Turning our office into a production line isn’t who we are, and that’s what this will do. We all have contacts, and we need to use them.” Malcolm looked right at Gary. That was the reason he’d been elected as senior partner.
“That’s the old way of doing things,” Gary countered.
“But it’s the way we want to move forward,” Lyndon said and stood up. “I have an appointment, and I won’t go along with this.” He turned and left the conference room. It looked to Malcolm as though the meeting was over. Gary seemed shell-shocked, and he left next, with Carolyn behind him.
“We have to do something,” Howard said. “He isn’t going to cut it, and I think we all see that now.”
“But he was only elected three months ago.”
Howard leaned forward. “The only reason he was elected to anything is because you weren’t interested in running. You’re more than qualified for the job, and you understand how to lead a firm. He’s more interested in petty rules and control than he is in leading, and we need a leader.” Howard stood. “I didn’t want to think this, but the only reason he’s here is because his father was here. Otherwise he’d never have made the grade, and now he’s the one who’s supposed to lead the ship. If he stays, there’s an iceberg ahead with our name on it.” Howard left the conference room, and Malcolm left as well and went to his office.
“You could have backed me,” Gary said a few minutes later when he hurried inside and closed the door.
“I told you it wasn’t a good idea. You need to lead, and that means bringing people along to your way of thinking as well as soliciting their ideas. Get consensus. That’s what Harlan always did and what made him so good.”
“I’m not Harlan,” Gary said.
“No, you’re not, and while you should put your spin on the job, you also need to have the skills he had.” Malcolm sat down. “I have to get back to work, and I’m sure you have clients that require your attention.” He knew he was dismissing Gary, but he couldn’t do his job and Gary’s as well. Gary wasn’t happy, but he left his office and Malcolm got back to work.
THE REST of his week didn’t go much better. He kept seeing impromptu meetings between the other partners, and at one time or another, each of them spoke to him about Gary. It seemed most of the firm’s partners were losing faith in Gary quickly, and they were looking to him for leadership. Malcolm didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize the firm, and he still wasn’t interested in serving as the senior partner. But the handwriting was quickly becoming visible on the wall, and he was going to have to make a decision.
For now Malcolm pushed that aside. It was Friday and he was headed home, a little nervous and excited. When he got home, he jumped into the shower and then dressed in his tuxedo, trying to decide on the tie he wanted to wear. When he and David had gone on their cruises, they’d dressed up, so he had a number of bow ties in various colors, but for tonight he decided on basic black because it always worked. Once he was dressed, he put on his black overcoat and left the house, following his GPS to Hans’s address in Shorewood.
When Malcolm arrived, he parked and checked himself in the mirror, then took a deep breath to steady his nerves. He got out of the car, approached the house, and rang the bell.
The door opened, and Hans stood in the doorway, looking stunning in his tuxedo with a deep azure tie and cummerbund that set off his eyes in an amazing way.
“Wow,” Malcolm mumbled. “You look great.”
“Come on in. I need to get my coat and we can go.” Malcolm stepped inside. “Do you need anything?” Hans asked as he got his things together.
“I’m good, thanks.” Malcolm took the chance to look at Hans’s house. The furniture was modern—clean, with a Scandinavian feel. In a way it was what Malcolm might have expected, but the overall effect with the use of color was warm and inviting. Solid furnishings that weren’t fussy.
“I’m ready when you are,” Hans said.
“Your home looks very comfortable.”
“It is. I need warmth and comfort in order to work. Most of the time I sit in that chair right there and work for hours. It cradles me, and I can sit there and get lost in my stories.” Hans smiled warmly and then turned away. “Ready?”
They left the house, and Malcolm opened the passenger door for Hans before heading around to his side and sliding into the seat. “How was your week?” he asked as he started the engine.
“Interesting. I was approached to write another adventure, and my agent was approached to see if I was interested in doing a series of science-fiction stories. I’ve always wanted to write them, but up until now I haven’t had the chance. When you’re starting out, making a bunch of unexpected changes can throw off readers, but my fan base is established enough that I can try some new things. How about you?”
“I’m getting a lot of pressure to step into the role of senior partner.”
“That’s great. Isn’t that a good move for you?”
“It is, but it isn’t something I think I want to do.” The last time, he’d been able to use David’s passing as an excuse to step aside, but this time, with the pressure the others were putting on him, he didn’t have an easy way out. As much as Malcolm was propping Gary up, it didn’t seem like it was going to work. “It’s a lot of responsibility, and it’s….”
“Well, whatever you decide to do, I’m sure you’ll be amazing at it.”
“I don’t know.” Malcolm had tried giving the idea some thought, but all he came back to was the pressure and responsibility and not being sure it was what he wanted.
“That doesn’t seem like you. At least not the work you. When I was in your office, you were knowledgeable, confident, and seemed like you owned the place. If your peers think you can do it, why don’t you?”
“Before David died I wanted to be senior partner, but afterward….” Malcolm took the on-ramp to the freeway and headed downtown. “I spe
nt a lot of my life working. David and I had made a life, and then he was diagnosed and everything changed overnight. Instead of work and cases, it was chemotherapy and appointments. David became so much more important than anything in the office. I thought we had time, but it turned out we didn’t. After he died and when I had nothing but time on my hands, I wasn’t sure what I wanted, so I stepped aside when the previous senior partner retired, and I got behind Gary.”
“How is that working out?”
“Not so well.” Malcolm figured the internal politics of the office wasn’t something Hans would be too interested in, so he tried to think of a way to change the subject. “I have to make a decision, and pretty soon. It’s going to devastate Gary, but I have to think he can see it coming. Is your current manuscript coming along?”
“Yeah. It’s really moving forward. The president is in peril, and I’m just about to put the entire world order in jeopardy.” Hans wrung his hands. “I love it when I can do that.”
He sounded like a supervillain, and Malcolm chuckled.
“I get to blow things up, flatten Beijing, and even have a new continent rise out of the Pacific, sending catastrophic waves in every direction, and when I’m done, I go to bed and sleep like a baby.”
“You really do like your job.”
“I do.”
Hans turned toward him, flashing a million-watt smile, and Malcolm almost missed the turn off the freeway. He managed to get over and took the spur downtown and got off at the exit closest to the art museum. Malcolm parked in the structure across the street and escorted Hans out and up to the plaza level. They crossed the bridge that led to the museum entrance. It was cold, and snow covered the museum landscaping, but the wind was low, and the stars filled the sky.
“Have you been here before?” Malcolm asked when he saw Hans taking in everything.
“No. I knew about it, and I’ve seen the building as I’ve driven by, but I haven’t been in. The place is stunning, and the way they have it and the sail lit is amazing.”
The building was reminiscent of a ship in form, with a solar shade that opened and closed. When it was open, it made the building look like it was under sail. The effect was stunning under the lights.
He couldn’t have agreed more. He stayed close to Hans as they crossed the rest of the way and stepped down the stairs to enter the museum lobby. The open space glittered with crystal centerpieces and light that seemed to come from everywhere. The actual museum was closed, but that didn’t matter. The evening held an excitement that Malcolm couldn’t help feeling. Malcolm took their coats to the check and then returned to where Hans waited and escorted him over to the table the firm had arranged.
“Carolyn, Howard, Gary, Lyndon, this is my guest for the evening, Hans.” He greeted each person and waited while Carolyn introduced her husband—number three if Malcolm wasn’t mistaken. It amazed Malcolm that three men had been willing to risk a marriage to ball-busting Carolyn, but she and Brent seemed happy enough.
“This is my date, Jennifer,” Gary said as they went around the table.
Malcolm and Hans greeted both of them before saying hello to Lyndon’s wife, Maxine, and Howard’s girlfriend, Wendy. They took their seats and chatted a few minutes. Howard excused himself to get something from the bar, and Malcolm did the same, quietly asking Hans what he’d like.
“A martini would be perfect,” Hans said with a smile.
Malcolm followed Howard as he threaded through the tables. “Didn’t I see your date at the office?” Howard asked. “You aren’t dating a client, are you? Gary will have a conniption if you are.” He looked back at Gary, and Malcolm got the feeling Howard would sell tickets if that happened.
“Hans was a client. Our business was concluded, and we met again while my brother was here. He seemed nice, and we had a lot to talk about.” Malcolm shifted to see how long the line was. They were going to be a while, and Howard didn’t seem convinced. “I was out to dinner with my brother, and Hans had been stood up by a blind date. Peter asked him to join us, and he and I hit it off. Hans gave his phone number to my brother.” He smiled at how ridiculous it sounded.
“Very tenth grade,” Howard teased.
“Exactly. Peter said he’d never stop pestering me until I asked Hans out, and since this was a public place, I thought it would be a good idea.” Besides, it seemed Hans had captured the attention of half the room, especially the women.
“What does he do?”
“Hans Erickson, the author.”
Howard stopped, his mouth hanging open. “That’s him?” Howard had given Malcolm the first of Hans’s books for his birthday a few years earlier. “You aren’t bullshitting me.”
“Of course not. That’s really him. He lives in Shorewood now.”
From the way Howard was grinning, Malcolm expected him to go full-on rock-star-worthy fanboy any second. “Do you think he’d sign something for me? I could put it in one of my books. That would be so awesome.”
“You can ask him,” Malcolm said. He turned toward where Hans was sitting at the table talking to the others. They all seemed enthralled, and when Malcolm and Howard finally got to the front of the line, they got their drinks and made their way back to the table.
“Hans is the author of those books you like,” Wendy said to Howard. “He’s been entertaining us with stories of some of his adventures. He went on a hunting safari in Africa.” She looked hopefully at Howard, who sighed.
“We need to get you a passport first,” he told her softly.
“I know. But that sounds so cool. And he’s a diver. You could take me diving somewhere. We could learn together.”
Wendy leaned close, and Malcolm wasn’t sure what she whispered to Howard, but he turned beet red and nodded once. Obviously she had given him some incentive.
The servers fanned out through the room, placing salads at each plate. “This looks nice,” Hans said. The salad wasn’t anything particularly special, but Malcolm was happy Hans was willing to make the most of the evening.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Malcolm told Hans and felt Hans squeeze his hand under the table.
“I really am. Your colleagues are quite nice,” he said as he looked across the table. “What’s with the girl with Gary?” he whispered without moving his lips.
Malcolm shrugged and kept the smile on his face.
“How did you meet?” Carolyn asked.
“I met Malcolm the first time at the office. I was there on business, and it would have stayed that way if we hadn’t met again last weekend. He and his brother took pity on me after a blind date stood me up, and Malcolm and I hit it off.”
Dang, there was that smile again, and the dancing blue eyes.
“Malcolm and I have quite a bit in common, and I think we understand some important things about each other.”
Hans took a bite of his salad, and Malcolm let go of some of his nerves. Gary and the others didn’t seem fazed by Hans at all. They’d all liked David, so having someone new in his life might have caused problems. Once the dishes were being cleared and before the next course was served, Lyndon and his wife excused themselves and wound between the tables to one a few over, where they talked to the CFO of a local microbrewery. The business was small but growing.
“Is there someone you need to talk to?” Hans asked.
Malcolm nodded with a smile. “Come with me. You’ll make his day.” Malcolm stood and took Hans’s hand without really thinking about it. They made their way to one of the very front tables.
“Mal,” Claudette Gilbert said as she stood. “How are you?” They exchanged cheek kisses.
“I’m wonderful.”
Her gaze shifted to Hans, revealing joy mixed with curiosity.
“This is Hans Erickson,” Malcolm said. “He’s here with me this evening, and I thought that he and Zephyr might have something in common.”
Claudette’s grandson stood from the seat next to his grandmother. “You’re the Hans Erickson? I
have one of your books with me.” He beamed and pulled a book out of his backpack. “Would you sign it?”
Claudette had been one of the first clients to take a chance on Malcolm, and they had been friends ever since. Malcolm had met Zephyr many times, and he’d never seen the fifteen-year-old without a book.
“Certainly,” Hans said and stepped away to sign the book.
“How is Zephyr doing?” Malcolm asked Claudette.
“He’s in remission, and we’re hoping it stays that way.” She followed Zephyr with her gaze. His hair was growing back, and he’d lost some of the haunted expression he’d had during treatment. It even looked like he’d started putting on weight.
“We all do.”
“How are you?” Claudette looked at Hans. “Are you dating?”
“Hans and I are exploring a friendship.” God, he hoped that was what was happening. “It’s too early for me to take things too seriously, but Hans is….” He wasn’t sure how to put it, but the smile on Zephyr’s face said it all as he and Hans talked.
“Honey, I know that look.”
“He’s a new friend. I’m not a kid any longer.”
“Hon, neither of us is. But that doesn’t need to stop us. I know you’re still hurting. It took me a long time to get over Larry’s passing. And I still love him. He’s been gone eight years, and there isn’t a day that I don’t still miss him. But I’ve been out with other men, and I even fell in love once.”
“But it didn’t work out?”
“There were extenuating circumstances.”
Malcolm guessed that was her way of saying that his intentions weren’t entirely honorable—in other words, he was after her money.
“That hurt too, but not as much as losing Larry. The thing is, it’s okay to fall in love again. I did it with the wrong man, but I still had fun.” She bumped his arm. “Let yourself be happy.” She turned away. “Zephyr, sweetheart, let Mr. Erickson go. We need to return to our places. They’re serving the next course.”