Chapter 2 Bobby's sister
Disclaimer; I don't own any of these characters, except Marina Donnell. They belong to DEK.
Bobby paced nervously back and forth in the conference room as he waited anxiously for his sister to arrive."BOBBY!!" Eugene shouted, finally exasperated, "Would you sit down? You're making us all nervous."Bobby sat at the end of the table. "I'm sorry, you guys. I know I'm acting a bit uptight, but I haven't seen her in over a year. And she's accomplished so much in that time.""All I really remember about her is that she looks exactly like Bobby and she's very intense," said Jimmy."She is, isn't she?" Bobby chuckled. "She's always been like that. Well, since our mom died anyway." He became thoughtful as he remembered his younger sister and how focussed she had become. he wondered if he was as bad in his perfectionism as she was in hers.He was jolted back to reality when someone from behind hugged him around his neck."Hey, mister. What does a girl have to do to find a lawyer in Boston, anyway?" She laughed as he quickly stood up and embraced her."Marina! Let me look at you!" He held her at arms length. She was so beautiful. "You look allright for an old lady. Success must agree with you.""Too bad I can't say the same for you!" she quipped back, loving every second. She was tall and willowy and did indeed look exactly like Bobby. Her dark hair hung in thick waves past her shoulder blades. But her most arresting, intriguing feature was her eyes. They were emerald green, clear and deep, with almost a crocodilian quality. They gave her an intimidating intensity that worked well for her in the courtroom. She had been known to make opposing witnesses completely forget or change their testimony mid-trial just by removing her glasses and holding direct eye contact. She oozed confidence and charisma that was immediately felt by everyone in the room. Bobby hugged her again. "It is so good to see you! Let me introduce you. these are our attorneys, Eugene Young, Rebecca Washington, Lindsey Dole, Elinor Frutt...." She shook hands with each in turn and sized each one up. "And do you remember Jimmy?""Of course I remember Jimmy!!" She made her way to him and gave him a quick hug. "How are you?""I'm good." He said. "You look great. But I guess you get tired of hearing that!""No woman ever gets tired of hearing that!" She laughed and looked around the room. She had an amazingly accurate perception about people, and she was sensing some unpleasant feelings toward her coming from across the table. She would need some more time to pinpoint the source."Well, we should get to business. I need to be in court this afternoon," said Elinor, firmly but pleasantly."Of course," said Marina, now all business. Everyone sat down and she passed a folder to each person. "This is my win- lose record for the last 3 years. With each is listed settlement agreements and amount, along with personal profit, and the amount that went to the firm. You'll see that the numbers are substantial and speak for themself.""Win-lose record?" mused Eugene. "There are no losses."Rebecca looked through the papers. "Marina, these numbers are staggering. How can you maintain this kind of success?""Miss Washington, when a client hires me, he also hires my name and my reputation. I get so many settlements because opposing counsel do not want to face me in court and they urge their clients to settle. It has taken me years to get here, but I am now at the place where I have a lot of freedom in the cases I take. I do everything in my power to win and I get good results. I have to admit, I am something of a workaholic. I work up to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. I rarely sleep, I eat on the run except for business dinners, and I have absolutely no social life. I use what I have and I do what I have to do to win. Thats how I maintain success.""You sound like your brother," said Lindsey, dryly.That was it, thought Marina. Thats where the negativity was coming from. Bobby was marrying this? Marina laughed a carefree laugh and said, "Yes, work is in our blood. We can't help ourselves."The rest of the firm looked through the booklet Marina had given them. Elinor spoke, "Marina, what do you expect from us as a firm?""Well, I guess all I expect is support, and occasional second chair, and a desk! I spend 2 to 3 weeks a month traveling nationally and internationally to see clients and i guess I need a place to park while I am here. In return, you will all profit from what I bring in and you will all have potentially new clients."Eugene nodded. "What about a partnership?""At this time I am not interested in becoming a partner. Having a name on the door doesn't make me a better lawyer, just one hungry for recognition." Lindsey blushed and looked down as Marina continued, " I get enough recognition with the quality of my work, I don't need my name stenciled on a piece of glass."Two pink blotches appeared on Lindey's cheeks. Bobby knew he would hear about this later."Well, look. Everything you need to know about me in in your hands. As for me, if I don't come here I am going to the DA's office and honestly, do any of you really want to face me in court? If you think yes, then you are a rookie lawyer. I have known seasoned professionals who wouldn't dare square off against me in a courtroom, because I'll tell you, once a trial starts there is no family, no friends, just me doing what I do best. I am sorry if that is too frank, but its true, and all you need to do is look at the numbers to know it. It was great seeing you all. Bobby, call me and let me know what you decide. I'll see myself out!" And with one more dazzling smile, she was gone.Bobby sat in stunned silence before he smiled. "That is why she's the best. You guys, we need her on our side. What do you think?""I like her. I think she'll add a lot to this firm" said Elinor. Eugene and Jimmy agreed.Rebecca and Lindsey exchanged a glance. Rebecca spoke up, " I am sorry, Bobby, but I vote no. I don't think this firm needs that kind of attitude. She may be good, but I am not sure she's THAT good."Lindsey nodded, "Bobby, I have to agree with Rebecca, It just doesn't feel right.""Feel right? Do you have any idea how much revenue she could bring to this firm? She is the big time, Lindsey. I thought that's what you wanted!?""Well, it is....but...""I vote yes," said Bobby. "That's 4 against 2. I guess this firm has a new lawyer. Lindsey and Rebecca, I hope you can get past whatever your concerns are and appreciate what we're getting." Everyone gathered their things to get back to work."Oh, I can appreciate exactly what we're getting, " said Lindsey as she and Rebecca locked gazes and the other lawyers filed past.TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer; I don't own any of these characters, except Marina Donnell. They belong to DEK.
Bobby paced nervously back and forth in the conference room as he waited anxiously for his sister to arrive."BOBBY!!" Eugene shouted, finally exasperated, "Would you sit down? You're making us all nervous."Bobby sat at the end of the table. "I'm sorry, you guys. I know I'm acting a bit uptight, but I haven't seen her in over a year. And she's accomplished so much in that time.""All I really remember about her is that she looks exactly like Bobby and she's very intense," said Jimmy."She is, isn't she?" Bobby chuckled. "She's always been like that. Well, since our mom died anyway." He became thoughtful as he remembered his younger sister and how focussed she had become. he wondered if he was as bad in his perfectionism as she was in hers.He was jolted back to reality when someone from behind hugged him around his neck."Hey, mister. What does a girl have to do to find a lawyer in Boston, anyway?" She laughed as he quickly stood up and embraced her."Marina! Let me look at you!" He held her at arms length. She was so beautiful. "You look allright for an old lady. Success must agree with you.""Too bad I can't say the same for you!" she quipped back, loving every second. She was tall and willowy and did indeed look exactly like Bobby. Her dark hair hung in thick waves past her shoulder blades. But her most arresting, intriguing feature was her eyes. They were emerald green, clear and deep, with almost a crocodilian quality. They gave her an intimidating intensity that worked well for her in the courtroom. She had been known to make opposing witnesses completely forget or change their testimony mid-trial just by removing her glasses and holding direct eye contact. She oozed confidence and charisma that was immediately felt by everyone in the room. Bobby hugged her again. "It is so good to see you! Let me introduce you. these are our attorneys, Eugene Young, Rebecca Washington, Lindsey Dole, Elinor Frutt...." She shook hands with each in turn and sized each one up. "And do you remember Jimmy?""Of course I remember Jimmy!!" She made her way to him and gave him a quick hug. "How are you?""I'm good." He said. "You look great. But I guess you get tired of hearing that!""No woman ever gets tired of hearing that!" She laughed and looked around the room. She had an amazingly accurate perception about people, and she was sensing some unpleasant feelings toward her coming from across the table. She would need some more time to pinpoint the source."Well, we should get to business. I need to be in court this afternoon," said Elinor, firmly but pleasantly."Of course," said Marina, now all business. Everyone sat down and she passed a folder to each person. "This is my win- lose record for the last 3 years. With each is listed settlement agreements and amount, along with personal profit, and the amount that went to the firm. You'll see that the numbers are substantial and speak for themself.""Win-lose record?" mused Eugene. "There are no losses."Rebecca looked through the papers. "Marina, these numbers are staggering. How can you maintain this kind of success?""Miss Washington, when a client hires me, he also hires my name and my reputation. I get so many settlements because opposing counsel do not want to face me in court and they urge their clients to settle. It has taken me years to get here, but I am now at the place where I have a lot of freedom in the cases I take. I do everything in my power to win and I get good results. I have to admit, I am something of a workaholic. I work up to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. I rarely sleep, I eat on the run except for business dinners, and I have absolutely no social life. I use what I have and I do what I have to do to win. Thats how I maintain success.""You sound like your brother," said Lindsey, dryly.That was it, thought Marina. Thats where the negativity was coming from. Bobby was marrying this? Marina laughed a carefree laugh and said, "Yes, work is in our blood. We can't help ourselves."The rest of the firm looked through the booklet Marina had given them. Elinor spoke, "Marina, what do you expect from us as a firm?""Well, I guess all I expect is support, and occasional second chair, and a desk! I spend 2 to 3 weeks a month traveling nationally and internationally to see clients and i guess I need a place to park while I am here. In return, you will all profit from what I bring in and you will all have potentially new clients."Eugene nodded. "What about a partnership?""At this time I am not interested in becoming a partner. Having a name on the door doesn't make me a better lawyer, just one hungry for recognition." Lindsey blushed and looked down as Marina continued, " I get enough recognition with the quality of my work, I don't need my name stenciled on a piece of glass."Two pink blotches appeared on Lindey's cheeks. Bobby knew he would hear about this later."Well, look. Everything you need to know about me in in your hands. As for me, if I don't come here I am going to the DA's office and honestly, do any of you really want to face me in court? If you think yes, then you are a rookie lawyer. I have known seasoned professionals who wouldn't dare square off against me in a courtroom, because I'll tell you, once a trial starts there is no family, no friends, just me doing what I do best. I am sorry if that is too frank, but its true, and all you need to do is look at the numbers to know it. It was great seeing you all. Bobby, call me and let me know what you decide. I'll see myself out!" And with one more dazzling smile, she was gone.Bobby sat in stunned silence before he smiled. "That is why she's the best. You guys, we need her on our side. What do you think?""I like her. I think she'll add a lot to this firm" said Elinor. Eugene and Jimmy agreed.Rebecca and Lindsey exchanged a glance. Rebecca spoke up, " I am sorry, Bobby, but I vote no. I don't think this firm needs that kind of attitude. She may be good, but I am not sure she's THAT good."Lindsey nodded, "Bobby, I have to agree with Rebecca, It just doesn't feel right.""Feel right? Do you have any idea how much revenue she could bring to this firm? She is the big time, Lindsey. I thought that's what you wanted!?""Well, it is....but...""I vote yes," said Bobby. "That's 4 against 2. I guess this firm has a new lawyer. Lindsey and Rebecca, I hope you can get past whatever your concerns are and appreciate what we're getting." Everyone gathered their things to get back to work."Oh, I can appreciate exactly what we're getting, " said Lindsey as she and Rebecca locked gazes and the other lawyers filed past.TO BE CONTINUED...
