Jenkins' Law, Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A New Job

The hallway was silent.

Across from where I was sitting I could see a meeting going on, there were a lot of heated opinions being shared. One man seemed almost possessed with his hands erratic movements flying from one direction to the other. The woman who I guessed to be the “boss” of the meeting, was simply sitting at her ‘head of the table’ position drinking her coffee, and staring at papers directly below her sprawled on the dark wooden table.

I found myself appreciating the texture of what looked to be an expensive table. I was then distracted because the table shook and I looked up to see the man I noticed before, pounding his fists on it for what I assumed was the second time. I wonder how long it’s going to take for the passionate man to storm out? I found myself thinking as my hands found it’s way through my hair. Of course it got stuck because my curly thick hair never lets trespassers go through it. Protective hair. After I got my hand free the man looked towards the glass door and I knew he was about to make a run for it.

One I wished that I had something to drink, my throat was getting dry and I've been waiting for almost thirty minutes. Two It’s quite sad that this was my only entertainment, but I was somewhat grateful for it, three. The meeting was adjourned as the tall, angry or passionate man could have broken the glass door as he opened it, leaving the room in haste. Those still remaining in the room looked stunned and a little appalled, but the lady sitting at the front seat looked very amused. She had a slight smile on her face and brought the coffee back to her lips. I watched her carefully. Something about the way she was acting told me she expected the man’s reaction and possibly even wanted the man’s reaction. Did he do something wrong to her and she was just paying him back? Or did she hate him? Or did he hate her and she just found it entertaining? Or did I get this whole scenario wrong? I’m no Sherlo-

“Excuse me, Miss, are you here for the job interview?” A calm voice interrupted my thoughts and I looked at the face who spoke to me. She was fairly tall, although compared to me most people were tall, and she had a prominent nose, very noticeable. Her hair was blonde and covered her shoulders in a flattering way and she had light blue eyes. She wore raspberry colored lipstick and her nails were painted a light purple. She seemed like she didn't really want to be in her position, and she also seemed like she cared a lot about what people thought of her. She dressed formally, and she spoke carefully, pronouncing each word like she knew she was better than me, and then she raised an eyebrow just to add emphasis as to whether or not I understood what she was saying, or at least that’s what it seemed.

“Yes. At least I think so, I've been waiting for so long I figured they've given the job to someone else!” I laughed a little. She smiled and raised an eyebrow again.

“No, no. Come this way please,” She directed me forward, and I stood from my seat gripping tightly onto the folder on my lap, and followed her. I was surprised that she didn't ask for my name, but then again it just proves my guess that she wasn't happy with her position so she didn't feel the need to do her job properly. That and, or, she felt she was better than me so she didn't need to know my name. That, or she was smart and figured that I would have never made it this far into the building if they didn't already have my name, and if I hadn't gone to the receptionist. She stopped abruptly in front of a door, it was glass, and the room inside it was visible. I found it intriguing and a little scary that everything was visible, but then again, what’s a law firm without honesty and openness? On the glass door it was placed “Maryanne Lister: Hiring Agent”. I smiled, here comes my chance at getting the highest paying job I could ever have. I was about to go in when a hand stopped me. I turned to the lady who brought me here.

“I think you’re nice so I’ll tell you now, just let her speak and don’t interrupt her. And also, Miss, do not ever wear that ensemble again. Especially those shoes.” She looked at me serious for a moment sizing me up and then she smiled and nodded towards the door. I sighed and thanked her as I opened the door.

What was so wrong about my ensemble? I was wearing black dress pants and a white T-shirt underneath a black suit jacket. It was good enough, not too fancy, not too simple. I tried to balance between comfortable and professional but it seemed like I failed. Slight nerves hit me right as I stepped into the room, despite the fact that if I looked clearly enough I could’ve see the inside of it a moment ago. I walked toward the woman at the desk and sat down in front of her she as she was looking at some paperwork. For a while we just sat there in an awkward silence as I expected her to speak and she said nothing. Finally she broke it looking up at me bewildered.

“Aren't you going to say something? Tell me about your expertise, about how and why you deserve the job? About all the different law schools you went to, and how you have your masters or PhD? Although I admit, you look too young for a PhD. But why not plead your case?”

“I want to know who you are looking for, first.” I answered quietly, her face was that of someone who has toiled their whole life, hard and experienced. She had dark brown hair that barely reached her shoulders and golden brown eyes, especially when the light hit it. She smiled a little at my reply.

“Really? And you don’t already know? How did you find out about this job?”

“I’ve subscribed for information on openings for associates in several different law firms.” She looked impressed.

“Have you gone to any other ones?” She asked. I wondered if this was some sort of test to her. She was staring at me intently as if my answer would determine what type of person I was.

“Just one, I liked the office and the firm, but they didn’t really want me.” I explained. She looked confused.

“They didn't want you as in you individually?” I smiled and nodded.

“Were they being discriminatory?” She questioned, excitement in her eyes. Maybe she was hoping they were racists or something so that she could take them down. This made me smile slightly.

“No, they offered me the job but I refused,” She went back to confusion so I continued. “I didn't fit in with who they really wanted. They wanted someone who would sit back and help them with all the paperwork and look through their by laws, and get their coffee and still be content and happy with the job. I am not that person. I want to be a part of the action. I’m a lawyer because I want to help people and effect change, not because I want to have the title.” She was looking at me intensely throughout my statement and there was a change of features throughout. She seemed like she had some kind of understanding. She nodded at me after a moment of silence and then sighed.

“Can I see your resume?” She asked without emotion. I nodded and handed the folder to her. It was embarrassingly wrinkled because I had held onto to it the whole time. I had forgotten all about it. It was the only thing that I brought with me from the car apart from my phone which was in my pocket. She opened it without a word and started filing through my information. She looked and looked, so I decided to look too.

I glanced quickly around her room and noticed that she must sleep here sometimes because, I could see that her couch was quite indented on all the cushions and an article of clothing was badly hidden underneath one of the big pillows. She had a diet coke on one corner of the room that was opened and just sitting there. I wondered if she ever sat at that corner filing through papers and thinking. The thought made me smile because I too had a spot in which I sat and thought and processed cases or situations. The woman cleared her throat and I turned to look at her.

“You’re hired. You’ll be our new associate, and I want you to start working on Monday. Bring your things in anytime before then though, considering you already work here. We’re only closed on holidays but most people take the weekends off. I’ll need you to sign some paperwork and then Angela will show you to your office, it’s not too far from here.” She said all of this in what seemed like one breath and all I could do was grin.

“Thank you,” I told her. She was looking through papers at her desk and then paused to smirk at me.

“Hope that means you’ll take the job? Or do we not really want you either?”

“Well, it depends on the contract I have to sign, doesn't it?” I told her, and she looked confused again, I almost wanted to laugh. “I haven’t accepted the job quite yet. But I’m hoping for it to work out.” I told her sincerely. She laughed.

“Me too. Legal consultant for four years, and you got hired straight out of college and graduated from Harvard Law School summa cum laude! And you have the spirit of a fighter. I hope you like what we can offer.” I nodded at her.

“All I want, is to know that I will be heard, I will not be taken for granted, made to do things that I do not feel will either benefit the company in the long run or are morally correct. I want to have some freedom and leeway and I promise the best results.” I told her seriously. She eyed me carefully as if to try to decipher whether or not I was tricking her, or if I was serious about everything I had said.

 But by the end of her stare I believe she made a decision. A decision to believe me.

“Well then Ms. Jenkins, welcome aboard.”

- - - - - -

The walk home to my apartment was always cold and tiresome, even when I didn't stay out all night like I did that Friday. I was randomly invited to a dinner party as the “newbie” of the law firm. It was fun. But also annoying to have to talk about such meaningless and mundane things. So much so, I could've easily been talking to a rabbit.b But even more so, fending away the “eligible”, or rather ineligible, bachelors that the firm had to offer. If for any crazy reason men was why I was looking for a firm, no matter how nice Maryanne had been my answer would've been no.

Other than the painful experience of socializing, it wasn't so bad, I got to discover a lot about the firm and the people involved in it. And Angela, the blonde lady and I had formed somewhat of a friendship with, stuck by me the whole night. She was the one who gave me the advice about not saying anything. It was good advice but I was probably not going to say anything either way. I could tell also at the party that she really does have a self-esteem issue, she was very protective over me, and told them not to bully me, someone who has been bullied would try to protect, not to mention the way she glared at anyone who laughed her way.

Maybe there was a rumor once spread about her? She told me before we got to the restaurant not to believe a word people said about her. She seemed paranoid throughout the whole night actually, the more I thought it over, the more her strange behavior came to me. It made me wonder what kind of atmosphere I would be getting into on Monday as I officially would step into the world of Law. Well, technically of law firm. It would be my first, and I could just feel my heart jumping at the thought of doing my first case. I couldn't wait. Being a legal consultant was something short of torture for me, but I realized it was a good start. It was an independent start, and if all failed, since I was my own boss, I could rehire myself as a legal consultant and have something to fall back on.

I arrived at the apartment building I was living in and entered the front lobby. Mr. Bellard was at the front desk where behind him were all sorts of spare room keys. I wondered why he kept them at display. What if someone stole one when he wasn't looking? I was sure it had happened before. He lit up when he saw me, like usual, it used to make me feel uncomfortable considering he was a single and a little passed middle aged, but later I grew to know the difference between his friendship kindness and his ‘I’m interested’ kindness. He had a nice full out smile, but if he didn't grin his face was kind of solemn despite any small smile. He was balding a bit but not fully and his hair was wispy and brown. He waved at me.

“Hello there, Jenkins!” He like many other people called me by my last name only. I smiled at him politely and was about to walk past him to climb the stairs when he continued.

“Did you get the job?” Oh right! No wonder he had been staring at me as if I just ignored him. I forgot I told him about my job opportunity. I smiled at him again.

“Yes, and I accepted it this time.” I told him, and he grinned and gave me a thumbs up. I laughed and shook my head at his unnecessary concern with my life and walked on up. I lived on the second floor of the building so I never had to worry about taking the elevator. Room 203 was mine, and I was happy to have it. As soon as I could afford to have this small place I made sure to get it. Now that I would be getting more money I might move out, but I’ve gotten quite accustomed to the special little home I had. It pretty much had everything I needed. As I opened the door, I surveyed the place.

I forgot to wash some of my dishes because I was rushing to go to the dry cleaners and they sat in the sink. The table was filled with books of law, I was revising in case someone wanted to be funny and test me on things. My two seater couch had blankets on them from me watching the news the previous night, and it ended up being where I fell asleep because I was too lazy to move to my bed, which lay open at the other side of the room. The floor at least was spotless except for the rich purple carpet where some law books were because I had been sitting on the floor to think certain things through. The carpet was my thinking spot.

Sighing, I removed the suit jacket I had been wearing and hung it on my coat racket. I closed my door behind me and moved towards the sink. I had to get the worst done first. I think my first investment with my new found money will be a dishwasher. I had been wanting to get it for a long time, but instead of using my money for it I would end up buying new clothes, or books, or artifacts that I would never use but liked to look at.

I had about four porcelain dogs around my house. I had a quilt that was filled with about every color known to man. I had about twenty coasters handmade by someone I have never met before. I had a crochet of an owl. I had a lot of cups of different shapes and sizes. I even had a glass bowl filled with marbles. The glass bowl came with the marbles yes, or maybe it was the other way around? Anyway, I had a lot of things that are fun to look at and I realized that I really like collecting them. It makes me seem like a really lonely person but I’m not, I just like looking at things, and there’s nothing wrong with being alone.

When I finished the dishes I quickly started to clear off the table and floor and stacked the books in the bookshelf. Once that was done, I settled on my couch, turned on the TV for background noise and started to think. Why was that man so angry in the conference? I realized now that during the dinner get-together that I was invited to, nobody seemed completely comfortable, there was an odd tension floating around. Like everyone was on their toes. I believe it had something to do with the woman I saw there. She was the same woman I saw in the top chair sipping coffee earlier that day. Except when she’s standing she’s much more frightening and her sharp features are clear.

From her stance you could tell that she was demanding yet purposeful. She didn't tell people to do things just to be the boss, she told people to do things because she knew the outcome would be good. I respected her instantly, but I could tell that she was most likely the reason that everyone seemed on edge. I never got to speak to her. She was right there at times, but she would talk to the person next to me and completely ignore me.

I wasn't offended but I was a little surprised. I thought about approaching her and saying something, but I knew that would seem desperate. And then it made me wonder; what if she wanted to know if I was desperate? What if it was some kind of mind game? That made me frustrated; I had enough of those with my parents growing up. I had enough of those almost everyday of my life, but I knew it was just the beginning to a whole lot more. I understood that law included some mind games and tricks, but that was suppose to be within the courtroom. Not in everyday life. 

There was a sudden knock on my door and I jumped a little, not used to the sound. I groaned at having to get up and walked towards the door, taking my time. When I arrived at the door the person knocked again. I sighed and opened it. My mouth dropped open involuntarily and I took a step back. Rolland, my neighbor across from me was standing in front of me with a gun in his right hand.

“W-what are you doing?” I barely whispered out to him, quickly closing the door.

“Hey!” He started laughing. “I don’t mean any harm! I just thought I’d warn you that there’s been a break in at Marla’s room so I’m just suggesting you protect yourself with something. I got my gun, so if you hear anything call me and I’ll help you.” I gave him a weak smile and nodded.

“Thank you very much Rolland. Say hi to Betty and the little one for me.” I greeted like usual.

“Of course, and actually if you need a gun -”

“Oh, I won’t need one, thank you!” I said quickly and then shut the door.

I shut my eyes and tried to breathe evenly, and also ignore the ominous sensation in my stomach that came when I wondered how he might have known about the break-in at Marla’s. If Bellard had known, he would have said something! Wouldn’t he? Would he?

I tried to sleep that night but three things kept me up, the “boss” at the Law firm, my Monday move-in, and the strange fact that Rolland came to warn me about the break-in. Marla wasn’t even on our floor. The thoughts ran back and forth in my mind, until finally, sleep consumed me.