Dallas, Texas
"…so, just to clarify what I understand and I want to know. Is there anything written in that contract that requires me to work out the entire year at Ewing Oil, and if, hypothetically, I did choose to resign from my position before daddy retires, can he renege the offer of a fulltime position and guaranteed future ownership of the Southfork Ranch business?" Sitting in Brooks Oliver's office on Tuesday afternoon, Bobby Ewing anxiously explained his understanding of his contract and which parts he really wanted further clarified. He didn't blame his father for feeling stressed and acting a bit short with everyone, because he did understand where he was coming from, however, just because he understood his father didn't mean he wanted to prolong the time they spent together discussing potential issues at Ewing Oil.
After attempting to fight for what he had believed was his rightful place in Ewing Oil, and then settling for something different, but still enjoyable and equally necessary, things in his business life had taken a sharp turn recently with the current economic climate. The atmosphere at the office nowadays was much less friendly and enjoyable than it had been in the past, and the business trips he took were suddenly a little more difficult to return home from with good news to report. JR would probably call him weak for doing what he was doing, but it felt necessary; he needed to know that if it became necessary, he could abandon the Ewing Oil ship and assume his new role at the ranch without running into any contractual issues. He liked the oil business, but not when it was how it had been recently.
He had long since come to terms with the fact that he didn't have a business mind like JR and his father and although he'd originally believed he wanted a future at Ewing Oil, when his father offered him the opportunity to separate his business life from JR's and work at the ranch, everything had become a little bit clearer. He was competitive and he wasn't stupid, so in different circumstances he knew he could have been a successful oilman if he had truly committed everything he had to it, however, with things as they were, that just didn't seem possible to him. He knew for a fact that JR was completely disinterested in running Ewing Oil as a Ewing family company employing Ewing's not named John Ross, and he was not afraid to do things that may hurt other people but would ultimately benefit him and Ewing Oil. With JR the way he was, it only seemed to make sense to him that if he wanted to live any kind of happy professional life, resigning from his position when their father retired was the right thing to do; JR didn't want to employ him and frankly, he didn't want JR to work for JR either. He liked being in control and feeling as if he was achieving something just as much as JR did though, and in ranching, he would eventually be able to feel that way again, so combined with the many other reasons for transferring, he had no regrets about his long-term decision.
Listening to Bobby Ewing as he spoke, Brooks Oliver's mind raced. Luckily, he hadn't read the papers he'd handed him yet, because their meeting had been scheduled very last minute and this was the first time he was hearing of exactly why Bobby had asked to meet with him, so he could bring the matter to a close before it even opened; that didn't make the situation any less awkward though. Clearing his throat and looking at a very anxious looking Bobby, he began to speak, "those are some very valid questions and you're absolutely right to seek legal advice before you make any decisions. With that being said though, I'm sorry but I cannot be the lawyer that gives you that advice; there's a potential conflict of interest in this situation. I recommend you either make an appointment with the lawyer that you originally had look at this contract before you signed it, or, if for some reason you're unable or unwilling to do that, I can recommend several excellent lawyers in Dallas". In all honesty, he wasn't sure how much of a conflict of interest there was regarding Bobby Ewing's contract at Ewing Oil, because the work he had done for JR Ewing had involved his request for majority ownership and control of the company, and Bobby wanted the opposite, he wanted a quick escape if necessary. He didn't want to risk having a complaint filed against him for shady business or non-disclosure though, so although it could be nothing, it was best for everyone to reassign the work Bobby needed doing.
"Oh", hearing Brooks' words, Bobby was confused for a moment before realising what the conflict of interest was: his brother. Brooks hadn't said it, but he didn't have to, it wasn't that difficult to work out what had most likely occurred. Prior to renegotiating his contract with his father, to now include his future at the ranch rather than at Ewing Oil, JR had done the same thing more than once and it made sense that he had need for a lawyer independent of the firm Ewing Oil used. He didn't know whether JR had realised it himself and just made an appointment with Brooks', or whether he had also received an apologetic response from Harve Smithfield that he wouldn't be able to act for him personally in this case because he already acted for Jock and Ewing Oil. The order of events didn't really matter though, the end result was still the same, he was going to ask a fourth lawyer for advice before he did anything. It was annoying, because he did have things to do during the day and he couldn't just keep taking long lunches, however, he wasn't an irrational man, he understood that no one was deliberately trying to stop him from getting the clarification he was seeking.
"It's a shame, and it's a bit inconvenient, but I understand. JR is possessive and secretive when it comes to business so I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy if you took me on as a client too. If you don't mind, could I take you up on your offer though? I do need a lawyer and you're not the first rejection I've had to deal with. First Harve Smithfield said something similar to what you're saying, and then Paul Morgan's secretary told me he's on vacation; it's fine, but I really would appreciate if you could put me in touch with someone who is available to assist me sometime soon". Knowing it wasn't really anyone's fault and appreciating the manner in which Brooks had broken the news to him, Bobby politely accepted what he was being told and then responded in a friendly tone. He wanted help and he had no issue paying whatever the fee would be to get that help, so although it was a bit of an ordeal to actually get that help, he knew he would eventually get what he wanted and really, for now, that was all he wanted.
To be continued…