The Desk

OOC:
This is my first attempt at an SRP so please bear with me.

The following thread will be open to any and all-comers, and everyone is more than welcome to join! ^_^ Just write yourself in in an appropriate manner and have at it...

As far as the story goes, I'll be playing a young PI intern, who I will post a brief character sketch for before I actually start the thread. Oh, and the 'new' employee's position is already filled ... but please don't let that stop ya!

^_^

Lillith Skiles
Age: 23

General Character Info:
Lili has an investigative degree from the local college, however she was taken on as an intern at the firm of Johnson, Weaver and Pitt to learn the ropes from their investigative team and hopefully join it.

Physically, Lili is a small thing with some obvious asian blood. Standing about 5'3, she measures 36D-28-34 and has a sweeping curtain of ebony hair that, when down, brushes against her rounded hips.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The firm's building practically vibrated with the tension and gossip. For the past week or so the entire staff had seemed caught up in the whirlwind of excitement surrounding the mysterious circumstances.

Johnson, Weaver, and Pitt were more than just a distinguished lawyer firm. They were one the nation's premier persecutors in international insurance fraud - an industry that most people rarely thought of, and yet a booming one indeed.

Everyone knew that the small firm flourished primarily because of its team of crack investigators - top PIs who travelled the globe and worked industriously on behalf of their employers, digging up information and pictures, confessions and interviews most would have simply overlooked.

Below the senior partners, Johnson Weaver and Pitt, there was also a handful of senior staff members who supported the senior lawyers. There were junior staff and junior lawyers, including several of the partners' sons, and then there was the investigative team.

Aside from the hiring of Lili as a 'progressive' intern to work with them two years ago, the staff in the investigative squad had altered very little - new secretaries or receptionists about being the extent of it.

That's why the firm was in such an uproar - the partners had finally decided to take on another PI. The event was unprecedented, but it was also true the firm was being swamped with a lot more work then they had handled five years ago.

Lili sat in the corner office, perched on the edge of the massive, walnut desk that she had until a few weeks ago envisioned as being hers.

She had simply been straightening things up - making sure the file cabinets were empty and the desk stocked with supplies, everything clean and well-aired out - when reverie had caught her. Her hands idly ran over the dark, rich wood and the dark green leather blotter on it almost caressingly as she gazed out the picture window to the metropolis skyline.

Giving a wistful sigh, she slowly stood up, straightening on her almost absurdly tall platforms and tugging down her short pin-striped suit before tugging at the matching jacket and the tight button-up blouse she wore beneath it. She barely restrained herself from stamping a foot in irritation and frustration at what she viewed as the destruction of her hopes and ambitions as she whirled to stomp out of the office -

And noticed a man standing in the doorway. He was watching her with darkly glittering eyes and she abruptly took a deep breath and straightened, erasing the frown from her face and instead blushing slightly under that intense gaze. She noticed the box he held under one hand and stepped hesitantly forward.

"Uh, hello, welcome to Johnson, Weaver, and Pitt. I'm Lillith Skiles, the intern for this department - but most just call me Lili. Can I take that for you?" she rushed through the words in a quick breath, extending a hand to shake his or to take his box or maybe both, her wide eyes flitting up nervously to his face...

Stuff

OOC:

*Bump*

Aw, cum on!

I was hoping there would be more interest than this in a thread built around the office environment who's main focus is obviously going to be an office desk...

Maybe its just me.

And I guess I'll just have to give it more time - oh well!

To all the people who have at least stopped in to read it, thank you very much!

^_^

~Mai

Edwin Pitt

OOC: I'd love to join you darlin'.

Description: At 44 he's the youngest of the senior partners. He joined the firm at 28 after a short but distinguished stint with a tax and international business lawfirm in Chicago. In the sixteen years since, he's helped the firm grow and prosper with his hardhitting style and his killer instinct. At 6'1" and 220lbs, he looks more like a football player than a lawyer, but he just uses the image to his advantage in the courtroom imposing his body when his attitude doesn't do the trick. His longish black hair is always pulled back in a ponytail that barely hits past the collars of his custom dress shirts.

IC:

Just last year it was Edwin who'd started the discussion of hiring a new PI for the firm, he'd suggested it right after he'd bought his new powerdesk. A black oak monstrosity that looked like polished obsidian in the center of his corner office. The bright lighting from the halogen and fluorescent lamps makes the room glow a strange hue from the polish of the desk. At the moment he's leaning back in his black leather office chair awaiting the arrival of the new intern whom he's been ordered to supervise since it was, in Johnson's words "Your brilliant damned idea to take on a rookie." He was looking forward to it though as her credentials were impeccable. They were starting a new case and when the client came in she was to bring him into his office and the two of them could then begin the sometimes long, sometimes fast, but always interesting process that went with the cases they worked.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, Mai!

Description:
Jason Burton, 29 years old, Tall, athletic, very short (buzzcut) brown hair, dresses to the occassion. He's the new PI the firm has just hired. Despite his age, he has a stellar reputation as an insurance investigator. He was hired from JW&P's main competitor, but ultimately it was his decision to make the move. He is intense to a fault, doesn't like to be challenged, and generally gets what he wants by way of his unmatched intelligence and desire. His wiry 6'2" frame is seemingly all one hyperactive muscle; he's the type of guy that is good at just about anything he tries, without really trying. That usually causes people to despise him almost immediately, but he earns and commands respect from everyone he comes in contact with.

___

IC:

Jason Burton was, simply put, a prodigy. He had single-handedly solved more fraud cases in his 5 years as an investigator than most PI's do in the first half of a lifelong career. He somehow elicited information from claimants without them realizing they were giving it away. His dedication to his work is unmatched, and he was at the top of his game.

That is, a line was crossed at the New York office of Silverman, Silverman, Gross & Murphy. He handled every important case, every groundbreaking discovery was his, and his employers treated him like the golden child he was.

But he wanted privacy.

In Jason's opinion (which was usually the only one that really mattered), a man's job was open for discussion, but his private life was just that: private. Silverman #1 took it upon himself to allow Newsweek to do a cover story on big-time insurance fraud, and gave up pertinent information about Jason Burton, which the reporter took and ran with. That week's issue, although mainly flattering, gave the public more of Jason than he wanted them to have.

He took it upon himself to solve the problem. His solution was simple: Beat the shit out of the reporter, then beat the shit out of Silverman #1. He did both, and quite aggressively at that.

Silverman #2 didn't take kindly to Jason's pugilistic problem-solving, but couldn't afford to fire him. He was that damn good at what he did. It didn't matter, though, Jason solved that too. He never went back to that office again.

He was hired by Johnson, Weaver & Pitt less than a week later, and with a 40% raise to his already six-figure salary. He arrived for his first day on the job in Eddie Bauer jeans, a black T-shirt, a black Oakland Raiders ball cap, and a pair of worn construction boots. No one dared challenge his wardrobe, despite the prestine glass and marble kingdom that was the JW&P home office. After all, he was the prodigy, he called the shots.

The elevator stopped at the 42nd floor. He exited, turned left, right, then right again, and opened the double doors to his new office.

"Who the hell is this?" he thought, but the young woman didn't notice him right away, as she was facing the window. He stared at her, mentally sizing her up as he did every individual he met, until she turned around.

She blushed slightly, her cheeks clashing with her pinstriped suit, and blurted:

"Uh, hello, welcome to Johnson, Weaver, and Pitt. I'm Lillith Skiles, the intern for this department - but most just call me Lili. Can I take that for you?"

He looked her up and down. She probably had Asian blood, long black hair, and a killer body. She had offered her hand to him, perhaps to shake it, but he simply strode past her to the huge walnut desk that owned the room.

"I didn't realize they had hired a secretary for me," He gazed out the window at the New Orleans skyline as he spoke. "I don't need one."

Lili

OOC:
LOL
no problem - I am just all eager to get the fun on... you know me
^_~


*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lili stared at this ... this 'man' and felt her jaw drop.

He was one of those tall, whipcord men who made you eye his broad shoulders and lean hips with glinting eyes - when they weren't attired in jeans and t-shirts!

Without even thinking about it, Lili knew how the partners were going to react to this. So instead she clamped her mouth shut and simply coughed, feeling put far, far below her place by his casual disregard for her extended hand, her friendly smile, and her position.

"I-I'm NOT a secretary!" she answered angrily, her words sounding almost stuttered. "This department has a typing and receptionist pool, just like any other. I'm an intern - I am supposed to be here to learn from the best..." She gave him an angry glance and then sneered.

"They told me that was you." She harrumphed and marched over to the door, her shoulders rigid with her anger.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to speak with the partners. Mr Pitt will want to see you once you've settled, I'm sure." Her tone was frigid and the words clipped before she swung out of the room and left him alone with the computer-topped monstrosity that was her shattered dream.

Lili realized that she had to make a report to the partners as soon as possible, but my god - that man! She grit her teeth together and instead headed for the opposite side of the building, where the staff lounge and balcony awaited.

Nora, one of the receptionists from the front office appeared headed in that direction and touched her arm as she passed by. Lili swung to face her, her upset surely obvious.

"Oh, hunny, Ah saw," she drawled in that sweet-southern-mollases voice most of the women around here spoke with. She patted Lili reassuringly and continued, wrapping her hand in Lili's arm. "Mah goodness, ain't nevah seen a man more full of hisself in yeah's - although you know, Ah think Weaver Jr. came pretty close... but he nevah got any worse once he got undah daddy's thumb..."

Nora's senseless prattle in that slow southern drawl had exactly the reaction she had hoped for - Lili laughed. The girl's strained features eased and she relaxed into Nora's grip, the two swinging into the lounge like girls getting ready for a night out on the town.

The two women instantly moved for the double glass doors leading out to the protected balcony, laughing at themselves as they both hopped outside and lit up cigarettes, taking long, deep drags as they stood and eyed each other.

"Mm hmm hunny, Ah bet he put you right in yore place," drawled Nora with a quirk of her eyebrow. Lili laughed again, bending at the waist slightly as she grinned and shook her head.

"Oh ya - I guess I'm the new receptionist or something!" she said, rolling her eyes. They both laughed and Lili took another strengthening drag, straightening slightly.

"Oh, yes... I can't wait. Now I get to go report to Pitt and the other partners... I don't think they're gonna like this." Nora looked surprised.

"Hunny, they don't haff to like it, they most likely won't - Ah heard this guy was a real pain in the ass in his office in New Yohk... the pahtnehs wanted him fo' his investigative abilities darlin, not his people skills." Nora gave Lili an oblique look and then the two women laughed again.

Lili

Lili and Nora finished their smokes and both dug their butts into the waiting can. They gave each other looks and laughed.

Even though Nora was merely a 'receptionist' at the firm, she was also a delightful lady who held one of the most important positions in the company. And if you wanted to know something, or get something done without bogging down the secretary or typing pool, you talked to Nora. She was a motherly type, slow-speaking with that molasses drawl, yet gifted with fiery irish looks - flaming hair and bright green eyes, peaches and cream complexion.

Lili hadn't made many friends at the firm since joining - after all, she was extremely young and a minority to boot; regardless of all that EOE crap, the only minorities elsewhere employed in the firm were receptionists, secretaries, typists, and the ocassional paralegel or junior attorney. Lili thought the entire mail room crew was asian and hispanic - it made her wince for what she considered 'her people'. The 'Elitist Echelon' attitude at JW&P sometimes drove her crazy, and she knew that most of the other women there resented her position - technically, the only work she'd done to acheive the position is have her uncle point out to Weaver Sr. that sooner or later someone would need to be replaced on the PI team and why not just train someone with their effective methodology and stalwart loyalty?

It didn't hurt that her uncle, Wu Jetwing, was the owner of one of the largest international shipping, transit and freight lines in the Pacific. The fact that she had had to flex any kind of muscle to get into this position at all had irked her beyond measure.

Lili grabbed one of the gold foil-wrapped candies off the glass-top tables that lined even the sumptuous leater and chrome 'staff lounge' and popped the sweet in her mouth, sucking at it noisily for a minute as she waited for Nora, who was getting herself some water from the dispenser. Bottled, filtered, nicely sterile, pure, and tastily refreshing. All too reminiscent of the firm itself, thought Lili with a sad shake of her head.

She and Nora left and made their way towards the front of the building, and Lili stayed close to Nora's side, holding a muttered conversation with her.

"Nora, Pitt wants a report on this guy... and I was supposed to show him around and introduce him to the pools but... sheezus Nora, I really can't see myself doing that!" she hissed at her friend as they walked.

Nora laughed as they drew up front to her massive oak desk, the marble top glistening beautifully in the overhead spots. To one side of the office was a few scattered chairs, tables, and a large rocky waterfall that dumped into a huge glass tank filled with Koi. Nora had, eventually, learned to recognize and name each fish. Lili could only name their breeds, but loved Nora's reception area as much as anywhere else in the huge floor of offices.

Nora scooted under her desk and shooed off the receptionist who had been filling in for her during her break and dragged out her purse, plugging in her headset and talking to Lili at the same time.

"Hunny, honestly. Ah think its best you go in theah and show that man you refuse to be intimidated. Let him know yehr made of sterner stuff. Give him a damned tour and then study everything about him so you can report to Pitt a really complete first impression. Saying he's an ass isn't going to score you any points there hunny," said Nora with a grin.

Three figures emerged from the elevator and approached Nora's desk, calling out a chorus of hello's.

"Why, hello theah Mr Wickley - Ah do believe they are waitin for you and yoah associates Mr Dean and Mr Wiggins in the board room Excalibuh, gentlemen," she said with a teasing smile. All the elderly gentlemen smiled good naturedly and gave their hearty thanks before disappearing into the depths of the JW&P offices." Nora turned to Lili with glittering eyes, offering the girl a squirt from the Givenchy Organza bottle she had just applied between her breasts. Lili giggled and leaned forward, and Nora squirted a cloud of delicious scent at the base of her neck.

"Honestly Lili. You ahh gonna be stuck with this man for some time - its best mehbe you come to tehms with that. Even if ya'll nevah have a good working environment, that man can do nothing but good feh you, hunny."

Lili stood a minute, elbows atop Nora's glistening marble-top and pondered. She knew Nora was right - but damned if she was going to let that man get to her. She straightened up and shot Nora a grateful look.

"Thanks a lot, Nora," she said. The older woman smiled and patted Lili's hand.

"Its alright deah. We all needs a friend - sometimes moah in a place like this!" They grinned at each other and Lili headed back towards the investigative teams' section once more.

As she neared the corner office she could still see the double doors propped open and the shadow of someone moving around inside. Well, at least he hadn't left yet, she thought with a sigh and stepped inside, quickly stowing the sliver of her caramel-flavored candy in the corner of her mouth as she cleared her throat.

"Mr Burton?" she inquired politely, stepping into the square room.

*Jason*
________


Jason began to unpack his personal effects from the box he brought with him. Not much, as he had no immediate family, hence, no photos, and didn't feel it necessary to clutter up a desk with needless items. However, this desk, this mammoth walnut slab, begged for something to fill its huge surface. The 21" Apple flatscreen monitor, its companion G4 Tower, and the accompanying keyboard and mouse covered barely a quarter of the surface area, and the green blotter sat isolated in its center.

For his entire career, he had never needed a secretary, or an "intern", as she euphemistically titled herself. Former President Clinton had been the only guy he could think of that had ever found a good use for an intern. But as that thought crossed his mind, and made him smile a little, another image jumped in its path.

"Now that I think about it," he grinned, "That hot little intern probably could be of some use to me."

As his mind wandered off to a corner where it could contemplate what kind of panties, if any, Lili was wearing under that pinstriped business suit, he heard a noise behind him.

"Mr. Burton?"

It was her! Despite his raunchy thoughts of her meandering through his mind, the sight of her immediately brought back the memory of her outburst only an hour or so earlier.

"What, did you forget something?" He asked sternly. He still did not give her the satisfaction of turning fully towards her, or looking her in the eye. He had learned long ago that to gain an upper hand, you never let someone think you respected them until you wanted them to know. He had met numerous women like this, all thinking they could intimidate him. Each and every one of them learned the contrary, and some of them learned their lesson in the confines of his bedroom. A flicker of hope entered his head that Lili would be one of the latter. He continued to unpack his things, impatiently awaiting her next retort.

Lili

Lili couldn't help the frown that puckered her brow at his words. She took a deep, calming breath and suckled at the candy in her mouth before sliding it back into the corner of her cheek.

"Well, somewhat. I must admit I forgot my manners-" and here she shot him a look that often froze people mid-thought, "- and my responsibilities. As the junior staff member in the department, I was actually waiting to meet you and extend more than just the firm's welcome. I was hoping that I might be able to interest you in a tour of our offices and maybe introduce you to the typing and receptionist pools."

Lili coughed uncomfortably and took another step into the room as she spoke, and then another, finally setting herself on the edge of one of the forest green wingbacks before the dark desk. She uneasily kept her legs pressed together, and then crossed one over the other, tugging her little pinstripe skirt down.

"Quite honestly, it will probably make your time here easier if they can recognize you on sight, and thus you can make your requests of them without having to fight for a partner or someone else to present or justify any work you want to have them do."

She straightened a bit in the seat, giving him a slightly petulant glance as he still remained turned away from her.

"And I also realize that being familliar with the facilities will also be very helpful for you and the firm as well. Since your first week will be spent mostly familiarizing yourself with both the building and the firms inner workings, I was only hoping to offer you a little insight there before the seniors start loading you down with casework."

Lili squirmed slightly on the chair, her eyes flitting upwards to meet his, widening in the dim office to flash a deep, rich green hue at him.

She was rambling on and on, something regarding the receptionist pool, and her giving him a guided tour of the JW&P facilities.

However, he was barely half-listening. He had already checked out the building on his own time, including blueprints, before even agreeing to take the job. It was his nature to know every detail of a situation before taking a step further. It was Lili,though, that was attracting his attention now. She had slowly made her way into his office, finally taking a seat in one of the green wingbacks that faced the gigantic walnut desk. It was then that he finally gazed at her, quickly, and then averted his eyes elsewhere. He strolled around to a spot just behind her chair as she continued on.

"...I was only hoping to offer you a little insight there before the seniors start loading you down with casework," she finished.

Although Jason had never been one to waste a moment of his time or thought on sentiment, he admitted to himself that her naievity was almost cute. Despite their ages being quite close, at this particular moment she seemed like a schoolgirl sitting in the Headmaster's office. And he, of course, was The Headmaster.

Lili squirmed slightly on the chair, her eyes flitting upwards to meet his, widening in the dim office to flash a deep, rich green hue at him. He looked down at her, his glare of impatience belied the real thoughts behind his steely eyes: He wanted her. Bad. While she had been talking, Jason's eyes had been roaming her body from behind her. Once, she had re-crossed her legs, and he got a lovely view of her smooth inner thighs. He imagined for a quick moment what it would feel like to run his tongue up those thighs as she struggled to free herself from the shackles that held her wrists and ankles.

He derailed that train of thought, but would definitely remember to return to it very soon.

"Lillith, I have decided to keep you on as my... ah... intern." He dragged out the final two-syllable word for emphasis, obviously implying that he still would view her as his secretary, and nothing more. Well, perhaps a little more, if things went as planned.

"You should be advised, however, that I don't take kindly to my underlings thinking for themselves. I make all the rules and all the decisions. My word is law, your opinion of it means nothing. If you don't want to play ball my way, I can easily play just as well without you. Is that understood, Lillith?"

He didn't really have to say any of that, she would certainly learn his "system" quickly. But he enjoyed toying with her, he remembered her temper flaring up during their first meeting earlier in the morning. He always liked fiery women, they were so much more fun to play with.

Lili

Lili had felt her hands fisting up beneath the intense scrutiny she knew he was giving her even as he moved around behind her. Attempting to hide her on-edge sensation, she simply tucked her balled up hands under the edge of her skirt and tried to remain calm.

She nearly choked on the tiny sliver of her candy as she listened to his self-righteous speech, then felt it crush to sugared slivers across her tongue as she clenched her jaw, straightening up, a ramrod for a spine - a position which drew the small white blouse tightly across her heaving chest, but something she failed to notice as for once it was unintentional.

"Your intern?" she spluttered, leaping up to turn and face him with flashing eyes. "Pardon me for saying so, Mr. Burton, but I am the department intern. I work beneath ALL the PIs at JW&P, and quite honestly I don't think that position is likely to change!" In her anger, she stumbled over one of her shoelaces, her foot tipping precariously in the absurdly high platform sally and she caught herself with one hand on the edge of the wingback. She slowly straightened, tugging down her skirt and jacket once more.

"I am sure if you wanted to ask one of the partners for a change in assignment you are more than welcome to," she said through stiff lips, turning away slightly to hide the blush diffusing over her features.

"I won't presume to question your methods when I am learning them, Mr. Burton, and so I will attempt not to question anything else. In the meantime, if you'd like a tour, now would be a good time since I do have an appointment with Mr. Pitt." She gave him a wry glance out of the corner of her eye.

"I believe we were both supposed to attend, however, considering your attitude, I am quite sure you will find it just as unneccessary as anything else I've offered today." She practically smirked as she tilted on one heel to give him a smoldering, daring glance.

"Now would actually be a perfect time for that meeting."

Jason desperately wanted to add "bitch" to the end of that sentence, but bit his tongue. He was pissed that he had allowed himself to get worked up over this insignificant lower-level employee. If she didn't look so damn good, he would've insisted to Mr. Pitt that she be fired on the spot. But instead, Jason had other plans for Ms. Skiles.

"I'm sure Mr. Pitt will be interested in what I have to say about the treatment I've received since my arrival. Although I dislike your disorderly conduct, I do appreciate the fact that you returned to my office to offer your... ahem... services again. I'll make sure that Mr. Pitt is well aware of your loyalty to this firm."

He wanted to slap that silly smirk right off her face, and the words he just spoke to her tasted like motor oil in his mouth. But he was a master of reading people, and he sensed something in her that would inevitably give him what he wanted.

"Shall we, Lillith?" he invited, as he motioned her towards the doors.

Ooohhhhhhh!!

OOC:

TOTALLY cannot help myself here...

^_~

We'll consider the following a possible ass-shot of Lillith in her kewt lil pin-stripe lol .. um, minus the tighty whities of course.

LOL

~Mai

^.^

Graham Johnson Jr. Esq

OOC

Graham Johnson Jr. was the younger of the two founding partners of Johnson, Weaver, & Pitt. He and Francess Weaver had fought hard to be a leading firm and enjoyed an unusual intimacy. Alas, as so often happens, the succeeding years saw a relaxation of enthusiasm. Francess Weaver spent more time on the links than she did in the office and Graham Jr. was...well, a playboy.

Neither were stupid however, hence the invitation to hard hitting and ambitious Edwin Pitt as the newest partner.

Graham Jr. was a specimen, at 55 he stood 6'1" 210#, iron gray hair and a build maintained at the Y. (A bit déclassé for a member whose annual surpassed $1.5 mil, but possessed of an under celebrated boxing trainer who took a liking to Graham's open bottle policy). Boxing was Graham's passion for which he had a knack. An international sport, boxing is what inspired Graham to take the firm to the next level. He lacked a real genius for business, so it was just dumb luck that the market found need of the kind of services Graham's firm was best known for: insurance fraud investigation and litigation.

IC
Mexico City, Civic Auditorium
"This kid is fast and hits hard!" Francisco Garcia said over his bourbon and rocks. The Federal attorney turns from the large plate glass overlooking the ring. 'The fop loves to have her hands on him always', he thought to himself, disgusted. Graham Johnson Jr. lounged in the chair before him glass in one hand. Smoke from the Cuban queen carressing the cocoa cheekbones of the expensive call girl whose hands langorously explored Graham's chest from behind him.

I think we're almost to the point where 'Cisco has to get down to brass tacks, "Yeah, but he's young. Look at Esquivez; sure, pacing himself...the kid won't go the distance. 'Age and treachery over youth and zeal' in this fight." I dash the ash without regard to hitting the ashtray. I watch 'Cisco wince as the glow fades from the expensive carpet. "This is great 'Cisco, my box at the Garden is 250 feet from the ring. Hard to see the whites of their eyes from way up there, but from here I can see the blood trickling over the kid’s eyebrow."

Mollified by the compliment, Garcia clears his throat, "Now about this San Luis Potosi affair. If U.S Plating proceeds, the press can make things difficult for both our current administrations.”

“What do I care about politics, 'Cisco? Besides, that’s a civil issue,
not my forte. If U.S. Plating takes your government to court it’s because you let some pretty sharp gringos write NAFTA for you. Why bring us in?” I suck air through my teeth as the kid lays in two jabs to Esquivez’ ribs and takes a hard right to that open cut.

Undistracted, Garcia starts to chewing his bone. “We never thought there could be such an unscrupulous interpretation...”

‘Nothing more tedious than a self righteous Latino’ I’m thinking. “I’m not an expert, mind you, but from my reading of the NAFTA language, ‘Plating will win.”

"Yes, I can see that.” Garcia seemed genuinely anguished. “But what if we can prove there was a conspiracy inside U.S. Plating?”

Now he had my attention, “Can you?”

Garcia demurred, looking at the carpet again, his eyes raised to meet mine under knitted brows. It’s my turn to be disgusted. “You guys are a piece of work. Why not call 007? Or Israeli intelligence? Even if we dug up some dirt like that, do you realize who is representing ‘Plating? These people rule the planet; they’d chew us up. The Mexican government can’t protect us in U. S. Federal court.”

“The U. S. Court and the Canadians are facing similar cases. You will find friends. Besides, if the dirt smelled like that stogie you won’t need protection.” Garcia’s expression turned into a shit-eating grin.

My head lolls back into two soft pillows, what ‘Cisco suggests doesn’t just stink, I am overwhelmed by visions of a scandal that would make Teapot Dome look like a tempest in a tequila bottle. I see 300 lawyers ripping each other's throats out. Somewhere ice cubes snaped crackled and poped. Leaning forward, intrigued, I bite my cigar and ask “This is no fishing expedition, what’ve you got?”

His voice lowered conspiratorially, “There’s a whistle blower…”

The bell signaled the end of the sixth round.

Go a few rounds with me

Benito Cortez

Graham Johnson Jr. Esq

Edwin only carries so much weight at the firm because he gets so much done. 'Damn young Turk' I think, 'just because he's so effectual, half the junior partners wanna get in his pants'

"I know it's not insurance work, Ed. But if Garcia says his office will underwrite our expenses that craps all over our normal pro bono work. This has far reaching consequences, it's the morality play of the decade. The press can't help but spin it our way if the shit hits the fan. Can you see the headlines "US Firm Blows Lid Off Toxic Dump Scam!"? Forget the money, Ed, imagine the halo effect!"

Francess should be a push-over when she gets her lush ass back from the clubhouse, but I was getting the impression that Ed just wanted me out of his office, something about a meeting. I had to get his vote for commitment of investigative resources. He poached this new hot shot from Silverman & Silverman, Whatsisname Burton and he hadn't posted his assignments yet, this is right up his alley. Wonder how Burton would fancy a little junket to San Luis Potosi?

**BUMP**

2:30am - Once again, I will post in the morning.

I will say this - I am surprised no woman have leapt in, I mean cum ON grrls I can't handle three guys by myself ...

...

At least I don't THINK I can!

ROFLMAO!

~Mai

Lili

Lili still couldn't believe it. This - this man could so incense her with the slightest of actions or words ... ! Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked up at him.

"You want to come along, Mr. Burton, trust me in that you are, of course, as always at JW&P, more than welcome to!" She huffed and glared at him. He continued on and she found her jaw dropping.

"Y-You can't be serious...! Why - " She glared up at him, her hands balling into tiny fists against her hips as her mouth slowly closed.

She could feel the humiliation and shame rising in her like a tidal wave. She simply replied with a curt,

"Fine," through thin, clamped lips and spun about on her heel.

She could feel the horrified flush that was even now blooming upwards from her heaving chest, making her skin hot against its' confines of fabric. She blinked furiously to stem the flow of tears she could feel welling up in her narrowed eyes. She knew the instant that bright crimson stain touched her cheeks and so she kept her back to him, instead beginning a stilted, jerky stride towards the propped open double doors. She blinked again, making sure her tear ducts were under some semblance of control.

"If you'll please follow me, Mr. Burton," she managed to choke out, her movements now regaining their fluidity as she neared the doors and reined her madly spinning emotions under control once more.

Charlene Welks

Mai -

All by yourself? With three guys? I wouldn’t *dream* of leaving you in such a predicament without a little feminine help…


OOC: Charlene had come fresh and naïve out of law school, 2nd in her class, with the personal recommendation of every professor there. Second – she still resented the chauvinistic bastard who had bought himself a one-way ticket to the top. Jason Burton…she’d never stop resenting the fact he had put her “in her place” once and for all.

In her late twenties, she had done more with her life than most cushy firm lawyers did in their many years they spent trying to make partner. She could have started as a rookie anywhere she desired, but the daily grind of billing forty-five hour weeks made her stomach turn.

On the streets, Charlene was no longer the naïve southern belle that had been sheltered from the world for her entire youth. She did a lot of pro bono work, her meager income supplemented by city and federal wages.

A street lawyer’s job wasn’t easy – you had to work with the benefit of money never on your side, and the loopholes of the law seldom in your favor. It took a strong person to wrestle a billion dollar firm into publicly apologizing for illegally evicting its tenants or mistreatment and misaccusation of squatters on its property.

JW&P had called on her many times for help in its more nitty-gritty cases. The ones that cracked their big boys, they sent to her. It was usually a once-a-month thing, but lately their workload had been overflowing a lot more onto her shoulders.

Charlene hadn’t really been surprised by the phone call last night, asking her to come meet with the partners about an issue that needed immediate and quiet resolution. After all, she was second best.

IC: Straightening her skirt, Charlene shifted uncomfortably in the restraining suit. She wasn’t sure if the flame red color was suitable for the “office” – it had been five years since she had interned in one. The majority of the people she met in the hallways had been dressed in somber black and gray and looked as if they were heading to their own funerals.

Smoothing back her honey blonde hair, she glanced at her watch. They were late – whoever they were, anyway. A frazzled secretary had shoved her into a corner office, almost as if they wanted her out of the way.

Tapping her high heel against the chrome of the chair monotonously, she sighed, ticking off the seconds in her head. She would give them ten minutes before she went looking for blood – there were two human interest cases she was determined to resolve today in the center city court house, and if this meeting made her late…well, lets just say, they’d think twice about asking her for help again and then standing her up.

She was fuming, it was obvious, but had he brought her to tears? Jason could tell from the beginning that Lili was putting up a front as a hardass, but he didn't think he'd break her down this quickly. However, she seemed to compose herself in the time it took her to get to the double doors, maybe she was going to keep it together for a few minutes more.

"Wouldn't want to get all misty-eyed in front of the boss," he uttered, barely audible. He didn't think she heard him, but didn't care if she did. There would be many more opportunities to humiliate her, and although he didn't usually go out of his way to do it, this was turning into somewhat of a pet project. Lili was really beginning to excite him, and he wasn't sure if it was simply her incredibly sexy body, or that combined with her "tough-girl" attitude. No matter, he wanted a piece of her, and he would get it, sooner or later.

"If you'll please follow me, Mr. Burton," she offered, and they were on their way.

Jason noticed a couple of things on the way to Edwin Pitt's penthouse office. Among them was Lili's nice, tight ass swaying to and fro beneath her pinstripes. The other (which later proved to be just as important) was the interior design of the building. A tribute to the sport of boxing seemed to crop up everywhere. He knew that Graham Johnson Jr. had a thing for the sport, even got in the squared circle himself at one point or another. Jason himself thought it was an ugly, corrupt sideshow, but a sideshow that made billions of dollars, so he couldn't argue with its popularity among the wealthy.

"I noticed that portrait of Joe Louis back there in the hallway, Lilith," Jason started. "Was he one of the firm's clients?" He knew it was impossible, not because of the years, for JW&P had been in business for almost a century, but because in Louis' day, it would have been laughable that the firm would represent a black man, despite Louis' popularity and social stature.

But he thought he should lower the tension just a bit more before they got to Pitt's office, just in case she was more of a whistleblower than he deduced. Not that he was worried, but since he had had so much fun with his "intern" already, he figured he should focus on business. There would be playtime with Lili later.

Lili

As Lili led Jason imperiously through the glass-lined hallways, she made sure her spine and shoulders were like iron.

The only time she found her stride - lengthy and rushed and yet barely able to rush Mr. Burton, striding confidently behind her - faltering was when one of the receptionists had stepped forward and put a hand on her arm.

The two had bent their heads together, caught in a whispered conference. By now, Lili had simply decided to ignore Mr. Burton and his offensive mouth. She'd tolerate and react to him only when forced to due to casework, but otherwise, he was simply going to be a cockroach under the toe of her nearly four-inch platforms.

Confident in her abilities to so disregard the man, Lili smiled and gave Regina Lawson a swift pat on the arm.

"Thanks, 'Gina," she said softly. The receptionist turned, gave Jason an oblique, assesing glance from blue sloe-eyes and then disappeared into one of the many oak-panelled rooms nearby.

"As far as the portrait of Joe Louis, Mr. Burton, I honestly don't know. Mr. Johnson is quite a boxing afficiando, however - and since none of the other partners were really concerned with office decor, he has been supplementing pieces from his private collection into the office as he likes." She shrugged and turned sideways, looking out at the dazzling Orleans skyline rather than the figure next to her as she spoke next.

"I'm afraid there's been a change in plans. We have time to introduce you to Mr. Pitt - and possibly Mr. Johnson as well - and then we're going to have to leap right into some casework. Apparently Mr. Johnson has already scheduled us to do some interviewing and case revision with himself and one of the free-lance lawyers we occasionally contract out with." She blinked, a slow lowering of her sooty lashes before she once more turned on her heels, her striden steps muffled by the thick gray carpet as she entered the pristine outer office for senior partner Pritt.

Lili continued to ignore the figure behind her and marched right up to the gleaming glass-topped secretary/receptionist's desk.

"Afternoon Mabel - is Mr. Johnson still with Mr. Pitt?" she asked quietly. The silver-haired woman bobbed her head and gave Lili a cool smile.

"Yes, Ms. Skiles. However, I do know that Mr. Pitt thought it most urgent to speak with you both-" and here her flinty eyes sought out Jason Burton's lingering form.

"Yes, thank you, 'Gina caught us in the hallway," Lili said with a similarly small, cold smile to the elderly woman. Mabel sniffed and tossed her head back, pointing towards the obsidian doors with their silvered handles.

"Go on in then - I'm sure they're most likely both expecting you."

Lili merely nodded and turned towards the large portal, pausing.

"Mr. Burton, if you please?" she murmured, leaning forward and nudging the right door inwards. Lili quickly moved into the room, noting a slightly agitated Mr. Pitt and a not-unusually bouyant Mr. Johnson as she pushed the door wide open and stepped to hold it for Jason Burton.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Johnson. I apologize for our delay - however, we will try and get things underway with you both as soon as possible," she said smoothly, giving them both a pleasant smile even as her eyes flitted from one to the other of the men, across the massive black desk Pitt lounged behind, and then across the floor.

Her smile faltered and she turned to gesture Jason inside.

"Mr. Burton, right this way, please."

Durin O'Shera

Durin leaned back in his chair and sighed. he had flown back in from Ireland four days ago and had just finished collecting his notes and putting them down on paper. picking up the printed report and heading down to the main office, where all reports were looked at he passed a young woman leading one of the layers. she seemed to be trying to ignore him. this brought a smile to Durins face

sure, he worked for them, but he laughed at all the "scum of the earth lawer" jokes.

when he got ot the main office, the secritary looked at him, sneering. "Mr. O'Shera, shouldn't you be in formal wear?"

Durin looked at himself. his slacks and t-shirt were good enoght for him. it wasn't like to spoke to clients. so he didn't worry too much about it. there was noting lewd on him, just a blank black tshirt and slacks. "i probably should, but what are you going to do about it? i don't talk to anyone, so i don't think any of the higher ups are going to care."

leavingf, he walked back to the elevator and went back to his small office. maybe he could spend some time doing meanial things. he may not be send back to Ireland for a while with any luck. not that he hates the country, he just needed a break.

"Mr. Burton, right this way, please," Lili instructed. They had arrived at Pitt's office. Jason was amused at Lili's choice of words:
"We have time to introduce you to Mr. Pitt -- and possibly Mr. Johnson as well..." Was she really that clueless to think that a man of Jason's ability would accept a position without first meeting the men he'd be working for? It was either her naiviety, or just that she was much further down on the chain of "need-to-know" than he even imagined.

Regardless, he stepped into the plush office and took a seat in one of the black high-topped chairs that faced Pitt's huge black desk.

"Edwin, Graham, good to see you again." Jason extended his hand before sitting, and shook with both men. He wished he could have seen Lili's face, certain she was once again taken aback. But she had followed him into the office, and was still behind him.

"Lilith here has been quite the welcoming committee. I think we see eye-to-eye on most everything, and you should know I find her to be a very loyal and...respectful... employee." Jason empahsized the word, mostly for her benefit.

"She tells me you have some casework set aside for me. Why don't you fill me in?"

**BUMP**

Mr. Pitt

OOC: Sorry for the delay. Had a long trip and a very short stop here this morning.


IC: He smiled at Johnson and said simply, "Well, if you think Burton should be on the case, that's your call, but I don't think Lili should be going off on her first case. As much as she needs to learn the professional investigative ropes, she needs to learn how we work HERE more. He goes she stays."

He knew Johnson had gotten what he wanted out of him and he smiled as the elder partner left the office. "Have a good one sir."

When he saw the time he buzzed his secretary to let in Mr. Burton and Lili, knowing that Lili would have been as punctual as ever.

"Mr. Burton, it is indeed good to see you. I hope you like your new surroundings, but unfortunately you won't be seeing them again for some time. We've got a rather urgent assignment for you. Mr. Johnson will be calling on you later to give you the details. Lili, you'll be staying here. I'm certain you were just thrilled to be learning from Mr. Burton but we'd rather have you learning our typical cases, even the hard ones, than training you on something we might never work on again." He watched Lili intently, his gaze alternating from her eyes to her perfect body. He could tell she was use to the attention, but he also knew that she despised it.

Graham Johnson Jr. Esq

That's what I really wanted to hear.
"Glad you see it that way, Ed. While Burton is onroute, I'll have his contact waiting. Thanks for your time."

I was on my way out when Lilli and Jason entered. The look on her face was hard! Unusual expression for our favorite intern.
Jason looked more smug than usual.

I shook his hand, "Nice to have you aboard, Burton. Hello Lilli."
I held her hand in both of mine.

"Burton, when your through here I'd like to brief you in meeting room 4. Say 10 minutes?"