Power of Attorney: A Novel (A Greenburg Family Book 1)

by Lang, Alice

  Her resume crumbles under the pressure of her twisting hands, becoming a rumpled mess within her grasp. She wants to throw it onto the floor, stomp on it, and tear it to pieces just as a toddler would in the middle of a fit.

  With every ounce of self-possession she could muster; she calmly tucks the paper back into her case.

  I can do this, she thinks. I’m a professional. I’m good at my job. I won’t allow anyone or anything to get in my way.

  With this internal pep-talk still swirling in her mind, she steps forward and sits in a chair on the opposite side of his desk. When she is settled and looks back up, she noticed that Patrick has finally sat down his paper and is reaching for his keyboard, his eyes looking at her.

  “First rule working with me, don’t even try to argue with me. I always win.”

  Sarah blamed her law school for this. They never prepared her for this. She wasn’t prepared to work with a total jerk.

  CHAPTER TWO

  If someone asked for his name and he said Henry Greenburg, the first thing that followed would be, “Are you somehow related to Patrick Greenburg?” Henry had been living under the shadow of his older brother since his graduation from Law School. Hell, Henry had barely made it. If it weren't for Patrick’s attempt in tutoring him, he would have flunked out for sure.

  The fact was; Henry wasn’t a prodigy like Patrick. He didn’t have the passion as a lawyer like Patrick. His records on cases weren’t as impressive either. Cutting out the “Greenburg” in his name, Henry was just a normal lawyer anyone could find in the law firm. Nothing really significant. However, he was getting better. He wasn’t as good as Patrick, but he had something his brother didn’t have. Charm.

  Henry was the Yang to his brother’s Yin (or so some Chinese palm reader said to him once). If his brother was good at using his brain and logic to solve the case, Henry was good at using his charm to manipulate and convince people. He was good at catching people’s weakness and exposing them. When things in the court weren’t going well, Henry would eventually find something that would make the opponent drop the charge or surrender. No one dared to ask him how, and no one wanted to know. But the word “Blackmail” seemed to paint all over it. Although his fame wasn’t as rich as Patrick, people relied on him for either his skill or his surname.

  In another life, Henry would be a successful stockbroker or some kind of dealer. There was a reason Henry stuck with this career, his own personal reason. If you asked him, he would just brush it off.

  Henry loved to talk about anything and everything that didn’t involve his family. The Greenburg family history was full of cuts and cracks that were loosely taped together by small Band-Aids. Some parts fell out. Some part stayed together… but barely. Henry relationship with his brother was an example.

  No one could accuse the brothers of being… brotherly. They didn’t see each other socially despite staying in the same town. He only saw his brother in the firm. Although their bond was thin at best, Henry couldn’t imagine leaving his brother alone.

  Henry and Patrick grew up together. Just the two of them. There used to be three… actually there were five. Until one day, number one and two no longer loved each other. Number two took number three with him and just left. The divorce hit them hard. But there was one thing Henry remembered. Patrick never left his side.

  Patrick wasn’t the only shadow looming over him. The other member of the Greenburg siblings was his sister Jane Greenburg, although she went by Jane Hunt professionally, the oldest of the three. Jane didn’t pursue law. Instead she continued their father’s trading business, the EverTop Trading Co.

  Jane and Patrick did not get along. Henry wasn’t close to her either. Partially because she was closer to their father, partially because she was ridiculously rich. Jane Hunt may not have her name on Forbes magazine yet, but in Henry’s opinion she should have.

  The three siblings live in the same town too but unlike Patrick, they barely saw each other. This was why Henry was surprised she suddenly visited him at his workplace.

  “Well hello, dear sister, what a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Henry’s eyebrow rose up in a conspicuous manner as he watched Jane lean against his desk. Her dark mascara gave her an intimidating look that can rival Patrick on his bad days.

  “Not going to greet me like a good little brother?” her voice was as scary as he remembered. Unlike Patrick, who was born to criticize others; Jane was born to lead. Leadership ran through her veins instead of blood. She was a good leader and a strict one too. No one dared question her decision because they all knew that whatever she decided to do, she was right. If there were anyone who would question her decision, it would be Patrick, another reason these two couldn’t stand to be in the same room.

  “Nah, I’m just curious why you would visit the office all of sudden?” Jane tossed the file in her hand on his desk with a large ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ stamped in huge bold red on the front. A logo of EverTop could be seen at the corner of the paper.

  “I am a client, you know. I can march into a law firm for service. Isn’t that what you do?” Oh, how he hated her way of stating the obvious. He picked up the file and peaked at the contents inside. She had to be desperate to come to him for help.

  “Let me guess. Some idiot withheld your cargo?” He took the silence as her answer and sighed, “Never thought there would be a day you asked for my help.”

  “If you think I’m desperate for your help, think again. You’re just the one I don’t have to spend half of my working hours explaining the whole situation. Now take it or leave it,” her words scorched his ears like hot steam. Scratch that thought, she wasn’t desperate for his help. She just wanted to save herself time. Henry silently put the file on the side of his desk. No way can he say no; he had no urgent cases anyway.

  “By the way, I was thinking of visiting Pat,” she said and Henry’s chin nearly hit the desk. What was she thinking?

  “You want his floor to die from his anger management?”

  “I think I’m saving his floor from his anger management. Nothing makes him stay silent more than making him focusing on his work with a little insult.”

  If Henry was good at spotting people’s weakness and Patrick was good at pushing people’s buttons, Jane was exceptionally good in both. Henry was sure that if she, too, were a lawyer, she would have outshone Patrick easily.

  “You have a death wish,” he told her but stood to follow her as she turned to walk out the door.

  This is going to be good, he thought. He couldn’t help but wonder if Jane knew about the new policy that had been implemented at the firm recently. Henry’s partner was still in Richmond sorting through some kind of moving problem, but Patrick’s partner had arrived today.

  Because of that, Henry hadn’t planned to see Patrick today, not when he knew what happened every time someone was assigned as his partner. Still, he followed Jane out of morbid curiosity, and he was looking forward to meeting Patrick’s new partner. What kind of person did his brother have to deal with this time?

  “I saw the new sign on the lobby so I asked the secretary downstairs,” Jane mused as they were waiting for the elevator to reach their floor. “Heard he was getting a new partner. We both know how that goes. I’m saving him from further embarrassment.”

  Henry said nothing. If there were anything hereditary that Patrick and Jane shared, it would be the lone wolf persona. The lone leader and the lone advocator.

  As they walked onto the floor, Henry could hear someone gasp. Hunt-Greenburg Reunions seemed to be a huge gossip topic; it would probably be water cooler fodder for the next three days or so.

  He ruffled his dark ginger hair in annoyance. This wasn’t how he planned his day. As they approached Patrick’s door, Henry could hear muffled sounds coming from the room. He seemed to be explaining something to his new partner. Henry was about to say “knock first” but saved his breath. Jane wouldn’t bother to do it. Jane pushed the door open with one s
mooth swing which interrupted the one-sided conversation between Patrick, and the young lady who he could only assume was his new partner

  “Knock first,” Patrick growled as he turned his head to Jane and Henry standing at his door. His face grew even harder as he recognized who had come striding through the door.

  Henry swore he could feel some killing intend in the air. Today just wasn’t Patrick’s day, and his frustration was palatable. The new female partner looked dumbfounded, and a little surprised as the two of them burst into the room. Henry wondered if she recognized Jane. He doubled she recognized him.

  Jane knocked on the door twice. “Just did,” she mocked. “Now, I heard you are having a crisis.”

  “Why are you here, I’m working,” Patrick’s voice was just as dangerous. Jane could tick him of with just simple actions.

  “I’m a client. This is a law firm. You think I’m on some middle school career field trip? Anyway-”

  “Jane, I’m not in the mood and I’m working.” He gestured towards the lady sitting at the desk opposite of him. Henry saw something flickering in Jane’s eyes when she looked at the other woman. But Henry had a flicker of his own. In fact, Henry had a spark expanding in his chest. Henry wasn’t a womanizer, but he appreciated good looking women like any other man. And of course, he was a social person by nature (unlike someone).

  Jane turned her head to greet her. What’s your name, dear?”

  “Sarah Blake.” Sarah stood up from her chair. “Are you Jane Hunt?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. I see my brother is going to make your life a mess.” She extended her hand in greeting and Sarah accepted it even though her face only portrayed the confusion.

  “Wait…brother?”

  “Henry, please make her leave.” Patrick’s hand was rubbing his temples that continued to throb as more and more problems visited him since morning.

  “Hey, Sarah! Just FYI, if you can’t handle this douche here, I’m open for a new partner.” Henry strode with one smooth move and pointed his thumb at the fuming Patrick. “By the way, I’m Henry Greenburg, this idiot’s brother.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard of you,” Sarah replied softly, still looking stunned.

  “Y-you heard of me? Hear that Pat? I’m famous!”

  “I said get Jane out of here, NOT Ms. Blake!” If anyone listened carefully, they could probably hear a shrilling sound of hot steam coming out of the boiling kettle called Patrick’s mental capability. He appeared to be boiling with rage and Henry could almost see the steam coming from his ears.

  “Dude, chill out, man. I bet she couldn’t stand you for that long. I give it three months at most, isn’t that your average record? So why not just be gone and done with, she won’t like you for long anyway.”

  “You are wasting my time, Henry,” Patrick said between gritted teeth. “I would appreciate you stop bothering me so Ms. Blake can start to work.” He paused, glaring down at Sarah and continued to rage. “Considering she has done nothing but be a blabbering mess the moment she entered my room.”

  Henry watched Sarah’s face sag and then harden under the blunt insult of his brother. He watched her stiffen and then straighten, fury in her voice.

  “Excuse me for attempting to be civil, to be an actual nice person who introduce herself to someone she has to work with. You know this life enhancing skill called politeness?”

  Henry looked from Sarah, to Patrick and then to Jane, who had a small smile on her face. It wasn’t a happy kind of smile he could tell. No, it was this smile that meant, ‘I know what’s going to happen next.' Henry had dealt with Patrick’s bad attitude when he was assigned a new partner before, but never had he seen him pissed of like this. Yes, Jane being here was another factor, but there was something about Sarah that seemed to tick Patrick off.

  The room was silent for a moment as Henry watched Sarah continue to glare at his brother. He liked her; she had spunk. Was that why Patrick seemed so annoyed?. It wasn’t because she was a woman. Patrick wasn’t a sexist, and he had worked with women before. What made Sarah so special that she frustrated Patrick so much? Henry may be clueless, but Jane seemed to already figure it out. Damn her and her sharp mind.

  “Who knows? Maybe this is the first time someone can tame the great Patrick Greenburg. ” Jane waved her hand gracefully and walked from the room. But of course, Patrick was not done with her insult.

  “I’m not some rabid dog!”

  Jane turns, just a little, and replies over her shoulder. “Then stop acting like one. Show that you are an adult who can do things he hates with passion. If you are going to bitch about having to work with someone, you may as well not be a lawyer. Hell, don’t even bother to get a job if you love isolation so much. Working means interaction. I’m sure others would have told you the same if they had the chance.”

  Henry made a sound like a yapping seal. Jane just dropped a bomb into the room and walked out of the place like nothing happened. He felt like buying her a bouquet and some wine for that gracious speech.

  In those few moments, he saw his sister with new eyes. She was clearly still a cold-hearted witch but perhaps it was time to talk with her more often.

  Sarah looked as if she was trying desperately to hide a smile that kept creeping onto her face. She was failing miserably; her lips pressed together to suppress a chuckle.

  And Patrick, oh dear Patrick looked angry enough to tear down the whole building. He brought his hand to his head and smoothed down some stray strands before sitting down and projecting a loud sigh of resentment. He looked back at his desktop’s screen, trying to find some semblance of control. He still looked angry, but he was focusing now which meant he would not bother anyone until break. Wow, insults did well on him to Henry’s surprise.

  “Now about moving-”

  “Henry. LEAVE.” Oh yeah, Henry forgot about the ‘still angry but focused part’ with an emphasis on the ‘angry.'

  “Okay okay,” Henry turned his head to Sarah once more and gave her one last smile. “He’s really grumpy isn’t he?”

  And with that Henry dashed to the door as Patrick grabbed the nearest book and had his arm drawn back in an arc, ready to launch the great pitch. Henry remembered thinking the book, A Civil Action by Johnathan Herr, was a strange choice for someone like Patrick.

  Of course, the shot was never made. Henry made it out in time and was impressed with his brother’s self-control. He stopped in the hallway and waited to see what happened next. He heard the heavy book thump back onto the desk and then his brother’s voice asking, “What?”

  He was clearly addressing his question to Sarah, who responded, “I thought you said you always won arguments?”

  Patrick: 0. Sarah: 1

  CHAPTER THREE

  There was one thing Sarah understood the moment she read the file Patrick had prepared for her on the desk. She could not fail this case.

  There were two main reasons really. One was because she wanted to prove herself, and gain the respect from her idol Patrick Greenburg. Yes, he was a jerk but he was a jerk with a brain. Sarah wanted to prove to him that he was wrong to overlook her, dismissing her the moment she entered this room.

  Her life revolved around proving and justifying herself the moment she told her parents she wanted to attend Law School. They thought it was impossible because no one could imagine her as a lawyer. She proved them wrong.

  Her professors had told her she wouldn’t make it on her first year in Law School. She also proved them wrong.

  Her first client thought she could not win his case, and she proved him wrong as well. Thinking back, she was a rebel of a kind. Patrick was simply the next person on her list. She had no doubt she could snap him into reality.

  The second reason was that this case could cause her problems in the future if she lost. Patrick wasn’t kidding when he mentioned their case was a high profile one. He was right; the case would garner a great deal of media attention. It irked her when he was right.

  The
epicenter of this case revolved around a small two-story house that used to belong to a couple. The house was such a big deal because it was the setting of the famous love story of Kanade and Aiden Terres, a couple who had fallen in love in the middle of a conflict between two countries. The story about this case can be traced back into the past.

  During the time of World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Japanese who lived in the West Coast of America were subjected to concentration camps. Those who had nothing to do with the attack were taking the brunt of the blame for carrying the same blood their attackers did. Any evidence that could trace them to Japanese ancestry would force them to move from their home. One in particular was Kanade Tsukimori, a young student who just came to America to study Western literature. “Aliens” they called her. She was of legal age, so she traveled alone. In the year of 1942, Kanade had never felt so lonely in all her life. Others around her had their family with them. She didn’t.

  They said the camp was partially for their safety, but Kanade knew why they were keeping them there. They believed some of the Japanese were still loyal to the Emperor of Japan. They wanted to see who was loyal and who wasn’t.

  Although they said it was for safety, the fence did not protect them from the anger of those who hated them. In the midst of the camp, racist slurs and cursing were thrown at the people being held prisoner there. The other prisoners had family to hold on to, but Kanade. Kanade was alone. The isolation ate her up slowly like termites on old driftwood. Then, she found someone who brushed them all away.

  A ray of hope shone through the dark tunnels of desperation. One officer noticed she was the only one in the camp who did not have a relative with her. He was different from the others. Aiden Terres was among the few good soldiers who did not treat them differently for being Japanese. It wasn’t hard to like him. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with him either. Kanade and Aiden grew close to each other during her time in the camp.