Cody and Grant

Chapter 3

Grant pulled some files from a box next to his desk and transferred them into the cabinet on the other side. He’d been told that most of the attorneys at this form chose a universal file cabinet and filing system, where all of the files were stored together, but he’d opted for his own cabinet, preferring to keep all of his case notes handy. The senior partners hadn’t seemed to mind when he’d requested the extra piece of furniture.

As he was loading some electronic notes into his new work computer a knock rapped on the door and he looked up.

“Grant Henshaw?” asked the aged man who walked into the narrow office. “Ernest Johanson.” He held out a weathered hand for Grant to shake, which he did.

Ernest Johanson was the firm’s co-founder as well as its managing partner. Though Grant had only interviewed with the head of the litigation team, he knew that whatever transpired, Johanson was the one who had devised the actual offer. He was likely the one who had sent the firm’s headhunter out to recruit Grant, too. Grant had been flattered by the offer, which had come at a timely point in his life, and he was honored to meet the man who’d built the firm.

“A pleasure, Mr. Johanson.”

“Pssh!” the old man grinned. “Call me Ernie. And the pleasure is mine, son. I was happy to hear you’d decided to join us.”

“This is one of the top firms on either side of the country,” Grant shrugged. “To be recruited was an honor.”

“Still … never thought we’d be able to convince you to move coasts. Your wife doesn’t mind, does she?”

“My wife and I are separated,” Grant replied honestly. Keeping that fact a secret would only cause trouble in the end.

“I’m sorry,” the old man frowned.

“Don’t be,” Grant waved it off. “It’s amicable. We’ve always been the best of friends.”

“A unique situation.”

They spoke for a bit longer about the climate differences Grant would have to become accustomed to, until Ernie’s assistant paged him over the loudspeaker to let him know he had a conference call. Grant thanked him for stopping in and stood to walk the man to the doorway.

“I feel great things are ahead for you here, son,” Ernie smiled before he turned and walked down the hallway to the elevator.

Grant stared after him hoping he was right.

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After settling his filing system and synching his Palm Pilot, Grant went about filling his desk drawers with the supplies he needed. As he loaded a pack of yellow legal pads into his bottom drawer a young man walked into the office nervously.

“M-Mr. Hensh-shaw?”

“Yeah!” Grant gestured to the seat before his desk and the younger man took it warily.

While he waited for the kid to speak, Grant took in the kid’s appearance. He was short-ish – around five feet eight – with a lanky frame in a large dark blue suit that looked like it needed to be tailored for him. His dark brown hair hung in limp clumps over his forehead and his dark brown matching eyes darted about.

“I-I’m Kenny,” he finally informed Grant. “Y-your new secretary.”

“Assistant,” Grant said with a smile. He held his hand across his desk and waited for the kid to shake it. When he did, Grant noticed the tremble in his fingers. Must be his first job out of school, he thought when he released the guy’s hand. “How long have you been with the firm?”

“F-first day,” Kenny said quietly.

“Well, don’t sweat it then. We’re in the same boat.”

Kenny’s face eased into a grateful smile and he relaxed back in his chair. His smile gave him an even more youthful look than he’d had before.

“So,” Grant sighed in mock frustration as he glared at his phone. “Did they give you any information on how to set up this phone? You can control a starship with this many buttons.”

Kenny laughed, got up and walked around to Grant’s side of the desk to help him set the phone and record a voicemail. He also figured out how to make the phone ring to his line first so that he could screen Grant’s calls.

“Thanks, Ken!” Grant clapped his hands together when they were done. “I never would have figured it out without you.”

“Any time, Mr. Henshaw.”

“Ach! Call me Grant!”

“O-okay,” Kenny chuckled shyly. “My desk is just outside your door, as you saw. So if you need me, I’ll be out there watching IT set up my new computer.”

“Got it!”

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Grant stepped out of the meeting he’d gone to feeling more relaxed and sure of his new place in the firm. The litigation team appeared to be solid and his supervisor seemed fair. She’d assigned him two cases involving some of the firm’s longtime clients, and he would be advising a few associates in the corporate department on some ongoing cases they had as well. As he was walking back to Kenny, he nodded to a few people he’d met earlier. Just before he reached the alcove where his new office was, a blonde guy around his own age stepped into his path.

“New guy,” he smirked as he stuck out his hand.

“Uh, yeah.” He took the proffered hand and shook it. “Grant Henshaw, new to the lit team.”

“Edison Mallers,” the blonde man said smoothly, still smirking. “I’m with the corporate division.”

“Nice to meet you,” Grant said with a small smirk of his own. He could see this guy was an ass kisser without being told. Why he’d decided to seek Grant out was the question, though.

“I hear you’ll be working with a couple of associates on our team,” Edison said. “I just wanted to see what you were like. You know.”

“No, I don’t,” Grant replied politely. “But I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Just kidding, man,” Edison chuckled. “I was really just looking for an excuse to meet the new crack litigation partner.”

“Ah,” Grant murmured, trying to sound impressed.

“Kelsey and Rollings are looking forward to your help on their cases. Especially the Yansky deal. That one’s been a pain in Rollings’ side since he got here.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Edison nodded before turning a discreet blue-eyed gaze on Kenny who sat at his desk typing furiously on his computer.

“I see they gave you the whelp,” Edison laughed. “Listen, if you want to trade assistants it’s cool with me. Mine is pretty good and I’m sure you could use someone more experienced to help you get grounded here.”

A sour sensation began to manifest in his stomach as he watched the man eye his assistant. It was almost as if Edison was keeping himself from salivating.

“No, that’s okay,” Grant finally replied. “We’re good here.”

“Offer’s open if you change your mind,” Edison said, meeting Grant’s gaze directly. He gave him a final wolfish grin before sauntering off.

Grant watched him retreat until he was out of sight.

“Oh, good. He found you,” Kenny said when he looked up from his computer.

“Hmm?”

“Mr. Mallers,” the young man said. “He was looking for you.”

“Did he tell you that?”

Kenny nodded.

“What else did he tell you?”

“Um, nothing much,” the young guy said softly.

“Ken, it’s okay for us to be candid with each other. We’ll be working together for a long time.”

The boy stared at him uncertainly for a moment. “We will?”

“Why wouldn’t we?”

Kenny looked down before he replied. “Mr. Mallers said I shouldn’t get comfortable. That he was going to have me moved over to his assistant’s position and move her here,” he said quietly. “He said that he was going to talk to you about it because you needed someone with more experience.” His blush deepened. “He also said that he was in a better position to … train me.”

Suddenly the sickening feeling in the pit of Grant’s stomach moved up his esophagus and he no longer harbored any doubts about the man’s character.

“Well, I turned him down, so don’t worry.”

“You did?” Kenny looked confused.

“Yeah.”

“He also said that he spoke to the senior partners about it already and that I would be moved anyway.”

“Oh, we’ll see about that,” Grant hissed. “Stay here, no matter what.”

He strode immediately over to the elevator and punched the button.

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Grant tapped lightly on Ernie’s door before he poked his head in. “Are you free for a second?”

“Absolutely, Grant. Come on in!”

The old man was seated comfortably behind his large oak desk, working on some forms that looked like a contract. Grant walked in and took a seat in one of the guest chairs.

“You set up all right?” Ernie asked.

“Great! My office is ready for action. I’ve even just had my first meeting with the lit team.”

“Great bunch, aren’t they?”

“Fantastic! Especially Susanna. She’s got a sharp mind.”

“That’s why she’s the head!” the old man laughed. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s about my new assistant, Kenny.”

“Ah, yes,” Ernie sat back in his chair. “Edison Mallers has already been in to see me about this.”

“He has?” Grant kept the bitterness from his voice.

“Yep. Said you would probably do better with his assistant since she already knows the ropes. I told him the decision was up to you.”

“I see,” Grant breathed a mental sigh of relief. “Well, if it’s up to me, sir, I’d prefer to keep Kenny.”

“You would?” The old man seemed surprised.

“Yes.”

“Hmm,” Ernie looked thoughtful. “Edison said the idea was yours and that you were hesitant to bring it up because you’re new.”

“Well, he must be mistaken, then,” Grant replied, angry that he was now reduced to covering for Edison’s scheme, not knowing whose toes he’d be treading on if he revealed the facts just yet. “Kenny’s been very helpful to me, so when he informed me that the firm wanted to move him, I was surprised.”

“Well, like I said,” the old man shrugged his bony shoulders, “the decision’s yours to make.”

“Many thanks, sir,” Grant grinned as he stood. “I won’t take up any more of your time.”

“Not a problem at all.”

As Grant made his way back downstairs to reassure Kenny that the matter was settled, he mulled over the new adversary he’d suddenly discovered in Edison Mallers.