0 comments/ 18532 views/ 4 favorites Three Kings Law and Jessie By: egmontgrigor2010 SET in New Zealand (with NZ spelling). Three King brothers established the law firm 119 years ago. * * * CHAPTER 1 Douglas McLeod, the latest recruit and only a year out of law school, entered the offices of Three Kings Law located with great harbour views in downtown Auckland. It was half an hour before the official start to the business day, with only one receptionist at the desk. The nametag said Cindy. After checking Douglas's ID and reading the start of his letter of appointment Cindy signed in Douglas, issued a pass card and told him to wait. She returned with a glass of beer and asked him for his right shoe, having to repeat her request. She disappeared behind the door behind the desk and Douglas heard the door lock. He stood at the counter feeling the urge to throttle Cindy. Spotting four women at a coffee machine down a side passage, he went to them, walking on the toes of his right foot. They parted for him and one put down her coffee and said, "How do you like it sir?" She was quite attractive. Douglas, although a little confused with this first-day reception, toyed with answering that question how a red-blooded man should but then thought that could easily lead to complaints being lodged against him alleging misbehaviour... not a great way to start his first permanent job and chose his words carefully. "I guess the way you'd like it ma'am," Douglas said, eyeing the two rings on her ring finger. "Regular and hot." All women laughed as if just hearing the joke of the year. "Now, now," the woman presenting the coffee smiled. "I'm Jane Mason, to the left of me is Susan French, first to my right is Rebecca Donald and then beyond her is Jessica Sanford or Jessie as she prefers being called. "Christ you're beautiful," Douglas exclaimed, still rather boyish and irrepressible to be taken for a seasoned lawyer. Jessica had really caught his eye. Jessie blushed and dropped her head and the other females giggled. He decided he preferred the name Jessie. "Jessie is your PA Mr McLeod," said Jane. "I'm HR manager and I had a premonition you'd be different so thought Jessie would be just right for you, she being shy and all that." Four of the women smiled as they watched Douglas's mouth drop open and stay open. Jessie was studying her shoes. Douglas stayed chatting and during that ten minutes found none of them had an access key to the room behind the reception desk. It seemed odd to him that nobody asked had he lost a shoe and whey was he carrying a glass of beer. An unsmiling hawked-nose guy carrying a pilot's case came up and said, "Douglas?" "Yes." "I've been assigned to be your mentor. I'm Peter Duncan." The women had melted away and Peter made no mention of Douglas's missing shoe or why he was holding a big glass of beer at 8:25 a.m. Peter took Douglas to a meeting room where seven other lawyers were gathered. Two more entered. Peter introduced him and they began asking Douglas questions. Douglas had taken the chair beside Peter after placing the glass of beer under a chair at the side of the room and his attaché case above it. He replied to questions thoughtfully and injected humour; having concluded this was a set-up or he'd mistakenly accepted employment with a mental institution. The grandson of one of the founders of the firm, Jack King and his unmarried cousin Thelma King, both in their late forties, had interviewed Douglas two months earlier and accepted him into the practice in which they were joint managing partners. They now entered the room and everyone fell silent. Peter said, "Thelma and Jack, we have almost completed the induction of our new junior, Douglas McLeod." The overweight Jack pulled out his phone and spoke briefly. The door opened and Cindy came in and without speaking placed Douglas's shoe in front of him. He said "Thank you Cindy. Please remove that unwanted beer from under the chair behind me." Pushing his chair back and doing up his shoe Douglas looked at Jack and said, "Well, does this end this initiation?" Thelma pushed back her wayward fringe and said. "Do you think it's a stupid initiation Douglas?" "I think I should say its purpose eludes me." Jack said, "It was established by the founders of this company to decide where people sit around this table, starting from the chair to my right. Two of the founders were strong on initiative and all three liked their little jokes." Douglas's blond eyebrows lifted and his pale blue eyes narrowed in despair. He was aware law offices were fond of traditions but a tradition designed to determine where one sat at the table, fucking hell! "Elizabeth?" called Thelma. The doe-eyed woman with long stringy hair with an air of competence about her stood and said, "Unusually high results for our newcomer Thelma." She then summarised the results. "Playing the video I can confirm Douglas approached the reception desk with confidence, spoke politely to our receptionist and expressed no undue surprise when handed the glass of beer and told to hang on to it and asked Cindy why she wanted his shoe and handed it over when she continued to hold out her hand for it and repeated her request. Only when she disappeared and locked the door did our newcomer express frustration and was recorded as saying, 'Fuck Cindy are you, a magpie?' I would suggest that response is one of the most original recorded and he showed no acute animosity as if confident that the shoe would be returned." "At the coffee machine Douglas greeted the women gathered there in the friendly manner and did nothing to indicate his bewilderment. Moving on, under interrogation in this room Douglas was able to name the four females at the coffee machine as introduced, he complimented Jessica on her appearance and expressed astonishment when she was identified as his PA." Peter then reported. "When I introduced myself as Douglas's senior he reacted in a friendly manner and made no explanation why he was holding a glass of beer so early in the day and why was he without a shoe. When asked under group interrogation why did he think his shoe had been taken, he replied with humour that Cindy the receptionist had a right shoe addiction." Everyone laughed. Peter concluded. "Douglas treated the glass of beer as if holding the Golden Chalice and made no effort to sip it." Thelma asked: "And your conclusion?" Peter said, " Somewhere along the line I suspect Douglas realized he was undergoing a weird induction, something to do with him being appraised, and simply decided to remain calm and play along. I think he thought the women at the coffee machine were a test to see whether he'd flirt or treat them professionally, that he'd not get a PA looking like Jessica does even in his dreams, that the glass of beer was a test for alcoholism or temperance and the confiscation of his shoe? Who knows? Because he accepted it had something to do with forensic research to find his connection, if any, to a triple axe murder." Everyone clapped Peter. Thelma then asked Douglas to stand and step back from his chair and she then asked Peter and the two lawyers on his left to move down one chair. "The vacant chair is your position in this meeting room Douglas and that ends your informal induction except to say you passed that induction with exceptional distinction. When Jack as a raw graduate was put through the process he drank the beer at reception and pulled off his left shoe and left it on the counter. When I as a raw graduate, although having worked here during term breaks, the induction remained an unknown process to me. I vaulted the counter and screamed at the petrified receptionist behind the locked door to return my shoe. I'd handed over one of my mother's beloved Betty Muller's 'Cruise' shoes and the bitch had stolen it. And you'll find everyone here has their own story to tell about their induction, most of the stories being rather embarrassing. But we all agree that to some degree it indicates what sort of person and how we respond to nonsensical behaviour for what that's worth. Congratulations and we'll watch your progress in this firm with interest." Douglas took his seat, with only one senior partner, Lew Black, between Douglas and Jack's right hand. Initially he thought crap, and then looking at the dark looks he was receiving from round the table didn't know what to think. Jack opened proceedings and when he was done Thelma said, "My mother has a traffic violation to defend. Who volunteers?" No hands were raised and someone called, "Give it to Mr McLeod." "Douglas?" "Is your mother a persistent violator with her driving?" "Why do you ask that Douglas?" "Because if she has a pretty clean record I have a great chance of impressing the judge." Thelma laughed. "Very astute young man. Just give me a yes or no." "I'd be delighted to represent your mom." "Thank you Douglas." The meeting ended and as everyone stood to leave Thelma called, "I will ask Jane to assign Jessie as your PA Douglas; she's due for promotion." "Thanks but is this another test?" "No, that's behind you. You'll only be judged on results including billings from now on just like all of us." When Douglas completed documentation at HR, Jane Ratliff took him to his office where Jessie was already seated at her desk. She stood and said a little shyly, "Welcome to Three Kings Law and to your office Mr McLeod. "Call me Douglas at all times please unless you wish to flirt and should call me Douggie. May I call you Jessie rather than Jessica?" "Please do." "Right Jessie, please bring up our file on Miss Thelma King's mother. I don't have her first name." "Adele," said both women almost in unison. "Thank you. Please read the file carefully and highlight each traffic citation Mrs King has received. I take it all client files have been scanned and are now online even if it requires passwords to open some documents?" "Yes that's correct." "I'm going with Mrs Mason now to be introduced to senior personnel. I'll phone text you my cell phone number." "I have already entered it on my phone." "Very impressive. Please have coffee with me at 10:00 instead of going to the café. We should exchange information about ourselves." As they walked off Jane said, "You'll find Jessica is a sweet young lady and very efficient. Be aware you are her first real boss and it's possible with her being young and you being so good looking she'll fall for you. PA's usually do to their first boss and some never stop doing it during their business career." "I'll keep that in mind. You are a very attractive person Jane. That's just a compliment, nothing else so do not be afraid." "Afraid, of you? I think not Douglas. Some HR managers would book you for making a comment like that but I'm not one of them and appreciate your very personal remark was simply a compliment. Now let's meet the crew in IT first." Over coffee, Douglas, who has just turned twenty-three, learned Jessie was a year younger, and possessed a certificate in business studies and had spent year two after leaving high school gaining qualifications in secretarial services and had then had spent eighteen months travelling overseas and working for secretarial agencies for eighteen months. He asked Jessie: "What is your ambition?" "To marry and have a couple of children," she said frankly. "So you are not thinking about a lifetime career?" "Well no." "Why not?" "Like I've just told you, I intend to by marry, um by the time I'm thirty, and then start a family." "And what happens when your children settle in at primary school?" "I guess I'll return to work, perhaps part-time at first." "Hmmmm." Jessie took the hook. "What?" "I've read your CV and note your father heads his own law firm. Why aren't you working there and why haven't you studied law?" Jessie sipped coffee and her look seemed to say who the hell do you think you are buster? "Dad wanted me to go off and start in the real world and not work under favouritism I'd probably receive from his admin people. And if you must know I didn't want to take all that time to qualify." "Good answer." She looked puzzled and said what?" "You appear to have answered honestly. I want you to talk to Jane Mason about career options, by that I mean extending your education to bolster the qualifications you'll have when re-entering the workforce after having your children." "Why are you interfering like this?" "I rather you regard it as advice. You are a bright young woman and look great. You work for me so I feel I have some responsibility. I'll set this up with Jane and won't indicate what I think you should do." Bristling, Jessie said, "And what is that?" "I reckon you should complete a New Zealand Law Society legal executive course and then become registered." "No thank you," Jessie said crossly, looking at Douglas who was unsmiling, shaking his head. She stood and walked out, looking upset. Outside the office tears began rolling down her cheeks so she went to the restroom. As she reached the door Thelma King was passing, noticed her distress and followed her in. "Want to tell me about it Jessie?" "It's personal." "Has your new boss called you incompetent?" Sniffing, Jessie said no, nothing like that. Douglas had attempted to tell her she ought to be extending her education to broaden her future career opportunities. "Is that so wrong?" "What?" "Jessie, Douglas McLeod is fresh from completing extensive legal studies and I feel he has the pedigree and scholastic record and personal attributes to make him one of the best and most successful lawyers to have started in this firm in recent years." "How can you possibly predict that Miss King?" "Experience darling and having gone over his application for a position here and interviewing him at length. Over the years I've been involved in recruiting scores and scores of young law graduates, possibly well over a hundred, who knows. A few have really taken off and some of them are still with us, Lewis Black and Peter Duncan to name a couple. Need I saw more?" "Um no. What do you suggest I do?" "What did Douglas suggest?" "That he'd arrange for me to talk to Mrs Mason in HR." "Jessie please do that. It's what I may have recommended had you had that discussion with me." "Very well Miss King. Do you think I ought to apologize to him for rejecting his suggestion?" "That is for you to decide Jessie. I must go. I trust I've been of some assistance to you." "You have realigned my thinking and attitudes. Thank you." Jessie walked in to the shared office and said hi. Douglas said, "Hi, I reading the Office Manual." "I apologize for my stupid behaviour. I now accept you were only trying to help." "Thank you. Apology accepted," Douglas said without looking up. "Please arrange for Mrs Mason to talk to me about furthering my qualifications." "Oh Jessie, congratulations," Douglas said, jumping up and kissing her on the lips before she even had time to close her mouth. "Douglas that sort of unwelcome behaviour is forbidden around here. It states that in that manual." "Yes I noted that. Define unwelcome behaviour for me Jessie?" "Inappropriate behaviour, unsolicited behaviour, behaviour of a sexual nature, bullying." "Oh excellent definitions but I was not intending to have sex with you, at least not at that moment. May I ask was my appreciative kiss unwelcome?" "I-I suppose not." "Well if you are uncertain I suggest you lodge a complaint through the appropriate channels. No better still, go straight to Miss King. I bet she fires the bullets round here and would be quite capable of garrotting me if she decided I had stolen your innocence." "No, no please, stop thinking like that. This matter is spinning out of control." "What, have you decided to lay over your desk for me right now?" "Dustan please, stop teasing me. All right, I'll admit I do find you attractive and I wouldn't have minded your kiss if I'd had time to prepare: I had my mouth open." ""Yeah, I understand. Can we go somewhere tonight and have more practice? I know, come to my studio apartment tonight where we can work on our kissing in private." "Douglas, any PA fraternising with her boss is frowned upon here. I could be fired and you disciplined." "Then I'd resign and we could apply to your father for jobs." She giggled. He said quietly, "Jessie are you aware Jack King's wife was his PA prior to marriage? Do you honestly think they got married without prior fraternization?" "Omigod, how did you find that information?" "On our website section that the public can access. It says boldly, "Upon becoming a senior partner Jack married his PA of five years, the very personable Helena Shaw." "God how can you remember detail like that?" "I am training to become a competent professional and my education will be continually upgraded throughout my career." "Are you claiming to be visionary?" "I see you on my sofa with your breasts bared." ""No way Douglas," she giggled. "Please behave." Douglas was home at 6:30 changing channels to try to find something of real interest when his intercom sounded. "Hi it's Douglas," he said into the wireless hand control device. "It's Jessie. Beam me up Douggie. Jane spent more than an hour with me. God she is good. She lecturers some nights at tech college but I suppose you knew that." "It's on her CV that you ought to have read before meeting her." "Oh I'm a blonde bimbo aren't I?" "Yeah but with great blue eyes and intense tits." "Don't you mean intense blue eyes and great...um... great tits?" "I expected you to correct me honey. Come up," Douglas said pushing the door release button. Jessie arrived at the open door to find her dark-headed boss with green eyes eyeballing her. She giggled and said it was acceptable to kiss her. They remain locked in an embrace and she groaned when feeling a breast being squeezed. Douglas pulled away. "Let's get a few wines so your legs open." "Um I don't mind a bit of groping but I'm practically engaged to a guy. If you are serious about me I'll dump him and that will give you a season's entry ticket." "Fair enough, I won't proceed beyond groping. But take time thinking over what to do baby, concentrate on working out what's best for you." "That's sound advice. Mom will probably say the same thing when I discuss it with her. She'll ask what are your intentions." "And you'll say it's too early to say and you two will discuss if the risk involved in change is worth taking." "Um Nick is not particularly sexually active. He thinks he is but I don't." "In that case dump him baby." They laughed and Douglas poured the wine. "Cheers." "Cheers," Jessie retorted. "I went through the mill with Jane and she eventually recommended that initially I should study for the legal executive qualification and then later when I am away having my children I study extramurally or online to convert my business certificate to a full business degree." "And?" "I said I'd think about it and she said well decide soon and commit soon otherwise I might never commit." "Good thinking. We'll have to go out for dinner. I don't have enough to eat here." "Splendid. But first could we grope a bit." "Sure, let's move on to the sofa. Jessie suddenly had a vision of herself on a sofa with her breasts handing out. And so it came to pass. At home next morning over breakfast, Jessie raised the possibility of dumping Nick York. Her father rattled the morning newspaper, appearing unmoved, while her mom Barbara gasped and said, "Oh darling, why? He loves you." "He doesn't mom and you really like Mrs York but don't Nick. I've seen it on your face."" Three Kings Law and Jessie "That's correct," said Randolph. "Your mom and I agree he appears to lack brain capacity and appears too unreliable for our likening. He's twice forgotten to pick you up for a date after he's arranged to do that." "He forgot three times and then went home without you Jessica after taking you to that concert." ""He apologized," Jessie said. "More likely he took home someone else," Randolph grinned. "Darling your social life was not all that active until you met Nick. I think it would pay to remember that." ""Well I don't believe he's a good choice for a long-term relationship and I'd almost classified him as being sexually incompetent." ""Jessica please, we are having breakfast," said her mom while her father's contribution was to say that was sufficient grounds for dumping Nick. "Well I want you to really think about this Jessica," said Barbara, glaring at her husband. "You never have been successful in teaming up with any guy that impresses me." ""Then be prepared to be pleasantly surprised mother. I'm currently working on something." "What you've met someone else? So this is what this is about?" "Bull's-eye mom." "I plead with you darling. Think it through very carefully." "That's good advice mom. I'll consider whether he's the right man to father your grandchildren." "Oh darling, at least I can't fault that thinking. You know the word grandchildren excites me." "Some of my older clients ask me do I have grandchildren so I think about grandchildren as well, Randolph said. "We must take a look at this guy." "If I dump Nick you'll have that opportunity dad. Do I get the bus or can you drop me off at King Law on time?" "I'll drop you off. This news excites me. I was worried about the possibility of Nick ending up as my son." "Randolph stop it. Comments like that will influence Jessica in making her profound decision." "Isn't that why she raised this subject with us... to get opinion?" "Oh you're probably right Randolph. Then I'll be emphatic. Do whatever you think is best for you Jessica. Don't make the mistake and believe that sex is the fundamental base of a relationship between a couple living together." "Right I'll have to find out what his other interests are, if any." Barbara groaned. * * * Jessie nervously left the elevator wondering what her boss would think now that she'd allowed him to lick and suck her breasts. He might already be asking Mrs Mason to have her replaced. Douglas looked up as Jessica walked into her desk. "Hi you look gorgeous. Thanks for coming over last evening. You were wonderful and I'll be so proud of you if you take one of those recommended study options.'' Cheered by his cheerful greeting, Jessica decided to press him. "Which option do you think I should take?" "The paralegal qualification would probably be sufficient and certainly require a smaller commitment. But if you see your future as being an accountant or working in senior management you'd have to opt for the full degree and then go for an even higher qualification." "That matches my thinking." "Then do it." She smiled and said she's decided to dump her boyfriend. "When I do that will you date me?" He said yes and she noted he'd responded without hesitation. "I'd need time to study." ""Then simply allocate Friday night, all day Saturdays and Sundays from noon for three hours as times to socialize with me." Jessie said happily that would leave her with heaps of study time and he said that's why he'd suggested that schedule. Also he didn't mind double dating and if her girlfriends wanted a mid-week girl's night out she could clip that night from her study schedule. "Right to work," he said. "Call Mrs Adele King in here and tell her to bring her driving record with her and everything relating to previous court appearances and the traffic offence she was given in this instance and the summons to appear in court on this latest alleged offence." "Yes, got that. What's next?" "Dump your boyfriend today and then call your mom to arrange for us to have dinner with them." "But you and I are still virtually strangers." "Correct but your mother will be worried about dumping that misfit and will be anxious to eye me and assess my worthiness for her daughter." "Oh right. I'll attend to that. When would you like Mrs King to come in?" ""Tomorrow at 10:00 sharp and warn her if she's late she'll have to make another appointment." "Douglas, Mrs King is probably the most influential woman in this city." "I know that. If she objects or stuffs you around tell her to get another lawyer." "Douglas, if Miss King learns you are treating her mother like..." "Her mother has to accept if we are to win this case she has to accept I'm boss. She is a habitual offender and it appears she almost ran down two elderly cyclists while exceeding the restricted speed limit outside the school by 15 km and hour." "Gosh those facts will have her over a barrel." "Yeah that's why I've been given her case and are those claims really facts? No one here including her daughter wish to accept responsibility for losing and having Mrs King spend 7-days in jail." "Omigod, you are doomed." "Not necessarily. It depends on how I can impress the judge." * * * Jessie arrived at the apartment just after 9:00 that evening looking very happy. She handed Douglas a twelve-pack of condoms. "I look him out to a farewell dinner only he didn't know it was a farewell dinner until I told him when we finished mains. He called me a bitch and walked out on me." "Well that was relatively simple and clean. He could have ranted and then slapped you about." Jessie didn't reply to that. Instead she asked to be kissed. "Please kiss me long and lovingly and when it's up hard press it against my leg. I have been dreaming of you doing that." "You've been dreaming about me?" "Oooh yes, you sexy handsome man." Douglas became nervous. "Er Jessie, I don't want you to over-expect. I could disappoint you and that would be the end of us as lovers." "I won't. Tell me, why me?" "I've lost touch with most of the females I knew in this city, being away at law school for four years and not coming home for the summer and other main breaks. I went working in other cities to gain experience. The other big reasons it seemed to me that you appeared to me to be unloved." "Gee thanks." He grinned. "Oh and you appear to be the only good looker with great tits in this entire law office who isn't married. I have yet to taint my reputation by knowingly seducing a married woman." "Oh when I tell mom your attitude about that she'll be so disappointed, assuming that eliminates here from being able to try you out before approving you to date me." "Y-you're joking?" "Does that sound like a joke?" Jessie teased. CHAPTER 2 A short dumpy woman wearing glasses and a black coat entered the office without being preceded by someone from reception, ignored Jessie at the first desk and looking straight at Douglas said, "Young man, I expected you to come to my home to interview me." "I treat all me clients equally Mrs King, without fear or favour. If you have a complaint against me I suggest you fire it at your daughter." "I don't fire complaints at anyone. I just chew their ear." "Kindly dispense with the provocations Mrs King and let's get down to business. My duty is to get you off this serious charge if I can, not to listen to your frustrations. I'm sorry but this is how it is here. We are a legal office, not a social welfare centre." "That's something like what my late husband would have said." "Oh was he also rude and short with his clients?" "No he was a no-nonsense man and kind and effective who liked to get on with it." Douglas said slyly, "No wonder I seem like him Mrs King." She smiled, sat down and said, "Let's get on with it." Jessie accompanied Douglas to the District Court and as they left the office she said, "The office manager Mrs Malcolm will be angry with me. She is in charge of the PAs apart from engaging them and employment issues. She does not like us leaving our posts." "I told Mrs Malcolm you'd be at court with me this morning learning how the system works." "Oh, why did you do that?" "To avoid her finding you gone from your desk without explanation." "Oh. I need to think things through don't I?" Douglas smiled and squeezed her hand and said it was good she was thinking like that. I suggest you sit in the courtroom with others from the office." "What others? The only others from our office will be the two junior lawyers on regular lower court work. Oh I suppose Miss King will bring her mother." "Jessie nothing has been said but some of the partners will be here. I'll be on trial." "B-but that's unfair. You have been given a brief that will be near impossible to succeed with. Of this is so unfair." "Define unfair in this context Jessie, remembering my employers are the partners." "It means wrong, unjust and even dishonest, so there." "Is it unwarrantable or dishonest of the owners of our business to watch for themselves how I perform to allow them to judge how I cope under fire and under pressure to win?" Jessie thought about that and said, "Well I now see it from your perspective." "And the perspective of the partners?" "Well yes." "Good girl." The courtroom was almost empty, the overnight arrests and the quickly resolved charges such as being found drunk and disorderly, urinating in a public place and street soliciting had been pushed through the mill at the morning sitting. Hearing the first defended case after lunch was already underway. Jessie looked at the guy and decided the weasel was as guilty as sin as she heard some of the evidence given against him and his only defence was "I deny I was in the building Your Honour." Well the guy had been arrested outside the premises where the front door had been kicked in. But in summing up the Judge said with contradictions in evidence by witnesses and both arresting police officers admitting they'd found the accused outside the ransacked premises but had found nothing on the accused that had been taken from the premises, the charge of burglary had not been proven against the defendant and he dismissed the case. The way in which the weasel smirked really irritated Jessie. She saw Thelma King arrive and take her mother to sit alongside Douglas. Thelma then smiled and came and sat beside Jessie and said, "I'm pleased to see you widening your interest in what we do." "Thank you Mrs King." "I hear you principal bounced my mother when she charged into his office making demands." "I believe your mother was agitated, worried about proceedings handing over her. Mr McLeod wasn't upset." "An excellent reply. You role calls for huge discretion. I understand you have been seen in bars and out walking at nights with Douglas?" "You possess accurate information Miss King but what about reports alleging we have been fraternizing in the office?" "There have been none so far." "Isn't that how it should be?" "Oh spoken like someone from a law office Jessie," Thelma laughed. "Just maintain those standards and you'll have no problem with me." At that point four other partners filed in and sat alongside Thelma. That left Jessie in awe, wondering how Douglas knew he'd been on trial? "Silver Johnstone appearing as Police prosecutor Your Honour." "Yes Mrs Johnstone. How is you mother?" "Blooming Your Honour." The judge smiled. "That's fraternization, it's so unfair," Jessie whispered to Thelma who replied Cyril Whitehouse had dated Silver's mother when they were at law school together. There was no jury to influence so the integrity of Judge Whitehouse would prevail. "Defence counsel, have you gone to sleep?" "No Your Honour," Douglas said, jumping to his feet, having just taken delivery of a package from a courier. "I apologize. Douglas McLeod appearing for the defendant." "Ah the latest recruit from Three King Law. Have you filed your credentials with the court registrar?" "Yes sir, three days ago." "Good, good. I understand you are the person Professor McKinnon claims is one of the law school's best graduates in twenty years." "That comes as a surprise to me Your Honour." "Oh modesty is in your favour because I graduated from your law school twenty years ago." "As you wish Your Honour," Douglas said, bowing slightly and the judge's return bow sent everyone into laughter. The Judge then said dryly, "May we get on with it Mrs Johnstone." Jessie thought that little exchange restore balance and then was astonished to learn of another connection when Thelma leaned into her and whispered, "Judge McKinnon and my mother dated before my father came between them as a determined suitor." Jessie was worried about that but Thelma added, they remained good friends but the Judge would not take that into consideration in this hearing. Mr Justice Whitehouse was one a top judge with a near-impeccable record. The prosecution's case appeared solid and backed by witnesses, none faltering in their testimony under Douglas's questioning. They all claimed to have seen the vehicle swerve without reason and then the driver brake heavily to avoid crashing into the rear wheels of two cyclists. Douglas worked hard and established it was only one witness who had claimed Mrs King had been speeding, The police admitted under cross-examination two police officers in a stationary vehicle further up the road operating hand-held radar and observing traffic at that time with students arriving back from a school study visit had not detected any speeding vehicles at that time in the reduced speed zone in front of the school. Douglas called Mrs King and led her through her statement made to the police at the time. He produced no new information from her and she stuck to her original statement. In cross-examination Mrs Johnstone asked, "At what speed were you travelling Mrs King, now let's have the truth?" "The truth is I honestly don't know." Douglas continued to glance towards the back of the court as if expecting someone to arrive. One of the investigators from King Law arrived at that moment with a bearded man and Jessie noticed Gus gave Douglas a thumbs up sign. Mrs Johnstone said, "Oh come on Mrs King. You were entering a restricted speed zone and you didn't check your speed?" "There were children milling around the buses. I concentrated on keeping the same distance as the truck in front of me and then I was blinded by sunlight and swerved when trying to see ahead and at the same time I braked hard to avoid colliding with the two cyclists that seemed to appear from nowhere." "So you deny you were driving without due care and attention?" "Absolutely. I acted defensively, taking as much care as I could under the circumstances." "Oh yes Mrs King, this claim about being blinded by sunlight. I have visited the scene and would agree sunlight blinding could occur there at certain times of the year but only early morning. What have you to say to that?" "I know what I saw Mrs Johnstone and I say emphatically I was blinded by sunlight." "That claim is patently absurd." When Mrs Johnstone sat Douglas stood and said, "Your Honour, I have late evidence that could be of assistance to the court." "Proceed Mr McLeod." "These photographs were submitted to me as this case was called. We have been waiting four days to get a clear sky to replicate similar conditions as had occurred on the day of this incident. The police evidence said it was a fine day, no wind. This afternoon at the scene at the same time of the incident, 1:20, we had a photographer at the scene with a bus parked in a similar spot occupied that day by the leading bus of three buses. I call the photographer, Raymond Knox." "Do you have any objection to this late call and other developments Mrs Johnstone?" "No Your Honour, we are interested in anything that establishes the truth." Mr Knox gave evidence that the bus was positioned just back on the other side of the road from where the skid marks of a vehicle clearly ended. Mr Knox said he took photographs at approximately at 1:20 in difficult conditions because sunlight was reflecting straight from the bus windscreen to where he was positioned at the end of the skid marks. The photographs were presented for him to identify and Douglas had them lodged as an exhibit. "You honour I wish to call the driver of that bus on the day. He was off duty today and my associate found him only an hour ago." The Judge looked at Mrs Johnstone who called no objection and Douglas was told to proceed. The driver looked at the photographs carefully and then declared to the best of his ability that was where he'd parked the bus that day. He confirmed the bus had a protective windscreen to reflect glare. Mrs Johnstone asked for a moment to consult her client and after speaking to a police senior-sergeant said, "You Honour we request permission to withdraw the charge." "Granted, case dismissed with the order that any reference to the prosecution be struck from official records including the defendant's driving record. Excellent work Mr McLeod. Your start with Three Kings Law has proven auspicious." Douglas bowed and then smiled at the craggy-faced judge. As the partners gathered round to congratulate Douglas, Jessie slipped away. A social hour for partners and senior personal was called for that evening to mark the occasion of new recruit Douglas McLeod's outstanding success in court that morning. Bug-eyed, Jessie was reading out to email to Douglas when he received a call from Thelma. "My mom is still on a high over escaping a court conviction. She wishes to present you with a small gift this evening. You have read the email about the social hour?" "Jessie was reading it to me when you called." "Well my PA had just sent it out but I wished to invite your personally. Be there Douglas." "Thank you." "And bring a partner." "But..." "Oh caught you out have I? Bring her Douglas." Jennie smiled at said the function was at 5:30. "I gather than was Thelma?" "Yes." "God she's treating you like big cheese." "She wished to invite me personally, that's all, and said to bring a partner." Not thinking Jessie asked, "Who will you take?" "She just said bring her Douglas," he said looking at Jennie suspiciously. Jennie was up to it. "Oh she sat next to me in the courtroom and happened to mentioned she'd heard something was going on between you and me, that we had been seen, and that was okay with her provided we kept our thing outside the office." "Then you're not worried?" "No, I must go out later and get my hair combed up and buy a cocktail dress." "Allow me to buy that for you. They cost heaps." "Okay. What you have been getting from me deserves a material reward." They laughed. Jennie would never forget entering the room on Douglas' arm and watching the horrified look spread across the face of the office manager, Mrs Malcolm. Thelma responded immediately to keep everything in order. She clapped her hands and said, "Everyone please welcome our man of the moment Douglas McLeod and his delightful partner Jessie." Douglas and Jessie glanced at each other, assuming they now had the seal of approval. Jessie looked at Mrs Malcolm who smiled at her quite warmly. A tall, elegant and expensively dressed woman came up to Jessie. "Hi I'm Helena. I was once a PA here and now am Mrs Jack King." That made Jessie feel at home and Mrs Malcolm joined them and then Mrs Adele King came over and kissed Jessie and said. "You are such a pretty young lady and I admire your choice of man. Isn't he great?" Three Kings Law and Jessie "I still can't believe what Judge McKinnon said about Douglas." "Oooh did he say," said the other two women, all ears. The function ended with Mrs Adele King, chairman of the board of Three Kings Law, presenting Douglas with air tickets and luxury accommodation for two in Sydney for three nights. * * * Jessie sat waiting nervously with her parents. "So you've been staying overnight with this guy." "Mum you know I have." "Does he have some kind of hold over you? You never stayed over with Nick." "Well Nick is not the kind of guy to make a girl want to stay over. He just does it the once and then falls asleep." "Oh really? Tell me about how this Douglas performs?" "Providing you tell me about how you and dad perform in bed." Randolph grinned and Barbara sighed and said perhaps they should discuss something else. The doorbell rang. Barbara licked her lips while Jessie panicked and said, "Oh god, he's here." Her father said she'd invited Douglas to dinner hadn't she? By then her mom was heading for the door. "Oh god," Jessie choked. "Go into the kitchen and have a glass a water and drink it slowly. You're allowing your mother to panic you. Just trust me, it will be okay." Barbara arrived with her arm hooked into Douglas's arm as if she were delivering a trophy. "Darling this is my husband Douglas." "Hi Mr Sanford. I understand you run a good ship." "Do you know anything about me?" Douglas asked. "You went into partnership as a new graduate with your father and after his retirement you grew the firm into the sixth largest legal practice in Auckland. You won a varsity blue in Rugby, have been Commodore of the Bayswater Yacht club, command your father's rebuilt 84-footer called Cyclops and you are convener of the Auckland District Law Society's public issues committee." "Jessie is in the kitchen, checking on dinner for her mother. So you grilled her to compile that information?" "No sir, I visited your firm's website. Jessie doesn't talk to me about you guys but I can say she worries you might not like me." "Why is that?" Barbara asked. "She hasn't said Mrs Sanford but I've pieced together little aside. You come from a long-established Auckland family and I gather you've kept her under pressure to team up with your choice of guys whom she refers to as dorks." "Well I must say you are frank almost to the point of rudeness," Barbara said, moving away. "That's more or less how Jessie said you'd react if I confronted you. But who cares? Either you'll like me or not whether I be myself or cower and speak with a silver tongue." "I don't understand what you are saying." "That's almost a grubby response Mrs Sanford." "Well that's being rude. So what do you suggest I should have said?" Her husband intervened. "A wine for you darling and beer or wine for you Douglas?" "A beer thank you sir. I don't wish you to think I'm a Chardonnay wimp although I do dink it after a beer starter." Randolph grinned. "Actually the white is a Sauvignon Blanc." Jessie came from the kitchen and said brightly, "Oh hello?" Douglas went over and stood with an arm round her after kissing her and said, "I think you mother doesn't like me." "Don't listen to him Jessica," said her mother. "The jury is out. You have ditched a wimp for an aggressor." "Take care with your judgement mother. I suggest you think teaser rather than aggressor." "From what I've hear I agree," Randolph said. "Our guest has been busily winding you up darling." After brief hesitation, Barbara snorted, "I ought to wallop your backside young man." "Okay, Mr Sanford and Jessie, out of here. Mrs Sanford intends making me cry. Do you still possess your old school uniform Mrs Sanford?" "Oh god no," she giggled, almost dropping her glass. Randolph smiled and looked at Douglas as if saying 'Good one young man; I think you have achieved the breakthrough'. At the table Barbara could see Randolph and their guest were getting on well and Douglas was courteous, friendly and she could not fault his table manners. Jessie helped her mom clear away after entrée. Randolph began pouring the red wine and the men talked about pinot noir wine from Central Otago. "Although he appears a bit much for you mom, please try to like him?" "Darling don't bother your pretty head about it. I was rather taken aback at first but already I can see why you are all over him. He's miles ahead of Nick. Go get him darling; I'm sure he'll be worth it." "Oh mum," Jessie said, snaking her arms around her mother and hugging her tightly. At the table, Randolph said, "Jessie had told us you are moving to acquire a larger apartment with the intention of inviting her to move in with you?" "Yes I have discussed that with her and suggested she gives me her answer after she talks to you guys." "She's twenty-six so doesn't require our permission." "All the same, you are her parents and she's been living with you all this time." "Well we appreciate your thoughtfulness," Randolph said. "May I say what an impact you've had on Jessie in the three weeks she has been associated with you. She seems livelier and I'm aware her confidence is growing. But what I really wanted to say is you have achieved something I failed to do and that was to encourage her to seek higher qualifications. She lodged her application this morning to comment online studies for a law society legal executive qualification. She told us you applied the pressure and convinced her to talk to your firm's HR manager and in her words, from that moment there was no turning back." "Thank you. She a lovely person sir." "Well call me Randolph from now on. What do you think of this wine... you haven't spotted the label have you?" "No. Hmmmm. It has to be a guess... it's distinctive. I'd say it's a Peregrine pinot." "Oh well done," said Randolph, spinning the bottle to show the Peregrine label. At 11:00 Jessie returned to the lounge now wearing jeans and a top and carrying an overnight bag. "I've decided to stay the night with Douglas." Douglas glanced at the parents and heard Barbara say, "That's nice dear." At the front door Barbara kissed Jessie good night and then grabbled Douglas and said, "You are not leaving without getting a kiss from me Douglas." She kissed him on the lips, making quite a show of it. The two men shook hands and Douglas said. "Good night Randolph and thanks for your hospitality guys. After my shaky start I had a great time." "You are a very nice man Douglas and don't you forget it, Barbara cooed, hanging on tightly to her husband to avoid falling over. As Douglas turned the car on to the feeder road to take them over the harbour bridge, Jessie said, "God did you see mum's eyes and her grin when you mentioned her old school uniform? It makes me wonder if she wears it for dad for special occasions." "Your parents wouldn't have sex at their age would they?" Jessie just sighted but moments later said, "Darling would you like to buy a wee present for me." Douglas moved his pre-used Holden sedan on to the left lane, spotting two cop cars with flashing lights speeding up behind him. "Yes I'll do that for you sweetie." "I'd like you to buy a nurse's uniform for me from a sex shop." "Oooh yes. I suggest a couple of sizes too small for you." * * * After six months Douglas was so busy he hired a partially qualified lawyer to assist him and when Jessie gained her legal executive registration she converted into Douglas's second legal assistant and the two women sharing general admin duties, making it unnecessary for Douglas to have a PA. He was now operating as a business within a business, being charged for his office and corporate services. With the money rolling in together with a loan from his parents who spent most of the year on the Gold Coast, Queensland, he purchased a house on the North Shore with great coastal views and only a couple of miles from Jessie's parents. They were their first guests for dinner held the week after the house warming party. While Douglas was fixing drinks he heard Barbara ask Jessie was there any news about starting a family. "No." "Have you discussed it with him?" "No mum and please do not interfere, not even a hint. He will tell me when he's ready." In bed that night, puffing after a robust bout of sex, Douglas said, "I see you've tossed out that nurse's costume that looked worn out. That was the second one wasn't it?" "The third." "Should I buy a school girl's outfit this time?" "No I'm happy to go along as we are, without embellishments." "Have you thought about when is the right time to start trying to have children?" Douglas grinned when he heard her catch her breath and then say she supposed she really hadn't thought about it. "Suppose?" Jessie wriggled as if feeling under pressure. "Why am I being interrogated?" "Because anyone using the word 'suppose' makes me suspicious." "You don't say." "Well ignore that. When I left the dinner table after mains to make a phone call I spoke to Professor McKinnon. I explained your academic qualifications and what work you do for me and the experience you have gained working for Three Kings Law and he said when you are ready, arrange an appointment to see him. It is possible you could gain admission to the law school without having to do any further studies. You might have to appear before an admission panel. It will be acknowledged that Three Kings Law strongly supports the school." "Why do you want me to do law?" "You were most impressed the other night talking to that old lawyer and learning she is still active with her own clients at the age of seventy-six. That should reinforce the realization a long active business life might await you after you have two children at primary school. Well here's the deal: you apply to study law, get pregnant and we'll marry." There was silence. "Do we have a deal?" Jessie snorted, "That's so typical of a male manufactured deal; the women gets left doing all the work." They laughed and cuddled and then Jessie whispered. "Deal, I'll come off the pill tomorrow and will try to get a time to see Prof McKinnon tomorrow." "Good, that makes me so happy. You know of course what this means?" "Because of your sexy smile you'll take my female clients from me?" "I'm thinking you'll be safe from that. You father will want you with him, grooming you to be his successor." "Omigod, doesn't your brain ever stop churning?" Jessie settled in against him and said dreamily, "What kind of baby do you want?" "I suppose not a black one." She was still giggling when she fell asleep. THE END