Stephanie and her former father-in-law arrived at Hans Müller's Miami offices early for the meeting. Stephanie readied all the paperwork, which included her annotated transcript of the original planning meeting. She was so engrossed in her preparation of the documents, she started when the door opened and the RangeMan Core team entered with two additional gentlemen. Stephanie and Mr. Orr rose and Hans introduced Mr. Orr to Bobby, Ranger, Tank and Lester. Then he introduced General Marcos Santos and Julius Manoso to both of the Orrs.
"Stephanie, I am honored to meet Valarie's sister at last. Lester and Val speak highly of you." The General brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her. And if Stephanie was correct, Ranger barely muffled a growl. Julius took her hand away from his uncle and shook it.
"I understand you are the youngest partner in the history of your firm." Julius smiled at her and Stephanie noted how similar his smile was to Ric's.
Stephanie turned and spoke to Ric and Tank, "It has been such a long time." Tank gave her a hug.
"Little Girl, we have been in the wind quite a bit over the past few years."
"Les and Val told me. Lula and I spoke frequently. She complained a bit about being a "single parent", but she was like a rock star when we met up in New York last year."
"The kids keep telling me we need to visit Aunt Steph- they love your apartment."
Stephanie laughed. "Actually, it is Richard's apartment. My in-laws are kind enough to allow me to rent it."
Richard spoke up, "It was a bribe to keep her in New York. There have been too many firms sniffing around trying to steal her away from us. She is a genius."
"She always was." Ric stepped forward. "My daughter told me that when Jeopardy is on, her Aunt Stephanie knows all the answers, no matter what the topic is." He took Stephanie's hands in his. "I hope you will be able to join us for a meal while you are in Miami." The electricity from their joined hands ran to her shoulders and she saw in Ric's eyes so much that could not be said. Not here. Not now. But the bond was still there. Unchanged after all this time.
"Steph, we all want to spend time with you," Tank interrupted her thoughts. "How long can you stay?"
"Originally, we planned to be here for the contract signing, but after a thorough review, I believe we will need considerably more time to get the contracts to a point where you are all satisfied and properly protected." She waved her hand to the table. "You should all take a seat while I explain."
After everyone was seated, Stephanie spoke, "Before we get started, I would like some clarification on a couple of points… I understand the original attorney was removed from this case." Stephanie stated. "May I ask why?"
"He claimed that one of his clients is a rival and he had to recuse himself." Hans answered. "I was not pleased but Richard assured me his firm could take on the work and try and make the original timeline."
"How long had he been working on the contract at that point?" Stephanie asked the group.
"Since we first decided to but the building, which was… three, almost four months ago at this point." Lester answered. "It was when Val and I passed through New York heading to Paris."
"And he recused himself last week?" Stephanie looked unhappy.
"Yes." Tank suspected something was off. Stephanie was holding something back. "What's wrong, Steph?"
"In reviewing the work completed when I reviewed the file, I found there are a number of subtle changes from what was discussed in your original meeting according to the transcripts. Also, the work done by no means took months, so you will need to check the billable hours."
Because of course Stephanie read the transcripts of both planning meeting- which would have been hundreds of pages when transcribed, Ric thought to himself. No wonder she made partner at such a young age.
Stephanie went through a number of flaws in the contract as it was originally drafted. "The repayment schedule is accelerated to a point that would make it hard to meet all RangeMan's payroll and other financial obligations, and the late payment and missed payment penalties are extremely harsh so I went to the transcripts to compare it to your original discussion points. RangeMan would be at tremendous risk if the contract was executed as currently written."
"How did you even know to look at the transcripts" Hans asked.
"The information didn't match the original plan for RangeMan that Ric showed me years ago when the storefront was first opened." Stephanie answered. "I knew it was off."
"Are you saying a lawyer unfamiliar with us, with RangeMan's operations, could have missed the changes and RangeMan would have been at risk?" Julius asked.
Stephanie nodded, "I would go further and say the work… the changes in the draft were deliberate. And that is why the attorney recused himself- to allow deniability." All Ric could think was that his Babe was a rock star.
Bobby asked, "Who was the original firm handling this account?"
When Hans mentioned the law firm that handled his business in the Southeast, Stephanie barked a laugh.
"Oh God, now it makes sense." She laughed out loud and tears welled in her eyes and she had to swat them away. "Revenge is best when it is served up cold."
None of the men at the table were laughing. None of them knew what was funny.
"It was an L.T., guys!" Stephanie told us. "One of those Delta Tau Chi idiots! Clearly they are still mad that you evicted them."
Lester got there first. "No fucking way! Which one?"
"Mary Lou's, Leopold Thornton. He was already working at that firm when we met him and his idiot friends."
Hans looked murderous. "Like the Real Estate agent?"
"Yes," Lester told him. "The three frat boys referred to themselves as L-T to the 3rd Power."
"Gentlemen, I think Ms. Plum will need additional time to put together a proper contract that covers all of you and sticks to the fundamentals you agreed to." Richard spoke to this group of friends who represented a part of Stephanie's life he was unaware of. "How long do you need to get everything done?"
Stephanie said that two weeks would allow her to draft a new contract to her satisfaction and give it to them for questions and comments.
"And Stephanie, I will be speaking to your father-in-law about stealing you from New York to take over as my in-house counsel. I clearly need new representation."
"Hans," Richard growled, "I thought we were friends…"
Stephanie interjected, "Perhaps, Mr. Müller, you may want to explain the issue with the partners of the firm, prior to shifting your account to another firm. If you pull your business, a good number of individuals who did nothing wrong could lose their livelihoods because of the misdeeds of this one man."
"What do you suggest I say to them?"
"A conversation with the partners where you let them know you will be discussing the case with the certified grievance committee of the local bar association should be enough for them to take action. Clean their own house so to speak. Because this might not be the only time he has circumvented what their clients wanted."
That was Stephanie. Always thinking of others, doing the right thing. Ric would have two weeks where he and Stephanie would be in close proximity. He had fourteen days to rekindle their romance… if that was possible. This time he would pull out all the stops. Because he loved Stephanie Michelle Plum Orr with his heart and soul.