An Apprenticeship to Remember

[SAM HOLDER]

Same had been home for only two days, and those two days had been chaotic ones. His father had been kind enough to help find an apartment for him in the city while he made arrangements to have his belongings shipped across the country from Massachusetts. Grandfather invited him to stay with him but Sam thought it would be in his best interest to just get his own place immediately so he wouldn't need to procrastinate on all of this. He had the money, thanks to his grandfather, who despite his threats never cut him off. If anything, Sam believed the older man found some amount of respect for his act of rebellion. Sam's dad invited him to stay at his home as well, but he declined that as well, partially for the same reason, but mostly because as much as he loved his father and his wife, his half sister, Morgan, was relatively obnoxious. He loved Morgan. She was a sweet girl, but her frivolous spending habits and overly dramatic ways annoyed him. Plus she partied too hard, Sam had no idea why her father put up with her, but deep down he knew the man didn't want to lose both his children. He'd waited twenty years to have a relationship with Sam, and he wouldn't throw Morgan onto the street with no place to go and risk not seeing her again. His dad never said that, but Sam was intuitive and he figured it out on his own.

The apartment was small, but more than big enough for him. His grandfather gave him a handsome graduation present that helped furnish his home and went right into buying a wardrobe for his first job. He was still floored he'd been hired on as an apprentice lawyer at the firm, but deep down he knew his last name held enough weight to give him the edge he needed. The Drakes and Holders had been friendly in the past, so it wasn't entirely surprising he got the position, but Sam liked to believe his good grades and dedication got him to where he was. He did well at his internship and surely his letters of recommendation had done more than his last name. Of course that was something he would never know. He was simply grateful to find employment after graduation when so many others would be seeking a job for years given the state of the economy.

The night before his first day was a rough one and Sam didn't really sleep much. He kept waking up and checking the clock to make sure he didn't oversleep. Naturally he crawled out of bed thirty minutes early and got his shower. By the time he walked out the door, every hair was perfectly in place and every tooth brushed. His nails were perfectly cut and filed, his clothes ironed with perfect creases and his shoes polished until they gleamed. He reeked of expensive cologne and success. Everything about him was perfection, wanting to make the very best first impression possible. He moved down the elevator with his coffee in hand, too nervous to actually drink it for hear he might spill a drop on his crisp white shirt, but he knew by mid afternoon he would be exhausted from lack of sleep if he didn't have caffeine. He drank it carefully as he drove to the firm to start the next chapter in his life.

Sam took a deep breath, looking up at the building. City Hall was enormous, and he would be coming to work everyday through those doors. He found the office easily enough, though it was quite a walk from the entrance way. He was nearly twenty minutes early and the secretary wasn't even in yet. Fortunately Mr. Yardley was, and he was the one Sam was intended to follow. Yardley showed him around and finally brought him to his desk. There was already a stack of papers lined up for him to fill out or read, talking about the firm and their expectations of him. Sam listened intently as Yardly briskly explained everything before moving on. He set to work filling out the W-9 form first since it was on the top of the list, feeling fidgety and excited with the mornings going ons so far. The time ticked quickly as he read and before he knew it, it was after nine. The secretary was already there, filing papers and making photo copies of depositions for whoever was going to court that day. Another older gentleman entered who he assumed must be Drake but the man was on his phone and paid him no mind as he went to his office. Sam continued on until a young woman walked into the building. Sam looked up and then looked down before his neck snapped back up, taking a double look at the beautiful girl. Was she a client? The way she smiled and talked to the secretary for a second before moving away towards the offices made him wonder. He quickly averted his eyes but he could see her nearing him and he reluctantly looked back up. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen such a beautiful girl before. "Good morning." He offered in a husky voice politely, clearing his throat afterward and looking a little bashful.

[DANI DRAKE]

Another Monday. Dani had never been much of a fan of Mondays. It was hard to readjust from relaxing most of Saturday and all of Sunday to working once again. Being the head of a law firm didn’t give a lot of leeway for sick time or vacation either. Sure, Jasper could hold down the fort while she was gone, but she always felt she was missing some life-changing learning opportunity or putting herself ridiculously behind on her cases. Of course it was never that serious, but Dani wanted to keep it that way. The woman loved her job even with all of its trials and tribulations. For every salve of human trafficking she saved, the world felt a little lighter. True, most of her work was in Portland and she was stationed in Scriptor Bay, but the justice made the long trips worth it. She came from a long, long line of public servants, most of whom had gone corrupt and tainted the name of Drake in some circles. Dani was working single-handedly to change that reputation for the better. Only the bad guys should think of her family name in a negative light. The more cases she handled, the more her name was becoming associated with mercy, kindness and hard justice. So Mondays weren’t really all that bad she supposed—at least there were always more cases pouring in after the weekend.

Today she had opted for wearing her dark brown hair down over her shoulders, bringing out the color in her large eyes. Blue and green, much like the sea. Her make-up gently played up how large and blue her eyes were, but very subtly. She then donned a cream-colored short-sleeved sweater with a turtle neck, tucked into a beige skirt that gently hugged her hips and ended at her knees. Beige patent leather high heels graced her feet, giving her a little more height than the actual 5’2” she stood at. She spread just a little gloss on her lips before she made her way out of her apartment, grabbing her briefcase, purse and a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator before she breezed out of the door. It was only when she got in the car and started it up that she realized there would be a little bit of a stir this morning in the office. Jasper had gone and hired an apprentice for himself. Dani wasn’t miffed, she just didn’t know what the guy looked like or anything. All she knew was he was a Holder and had a very impressive educational background. The Holders and Drakes had been friends for generations—she could remember her grandfather mentioning one of them when she was young. They were a prominent family too, known also for their public service, so it only seemed right that a Holder should come to apprentice at her family’s firm. Jasper had presented the resume to her for checking and she had wholeheartedly agreed to take the guy on. Finally there would be someone there to help her manage her work! And Jasper’s…but she could get some help too. As she drove and listened to the music on low in her car, she considered what she would be able to ask the new guy to do or if she should spend most of the day properly beginning his training. No doubt Jasper would want her to get some more experience training new employees.

When she arrived at City Hall, she parked in her usual spot and noticed how lovely the day was turning out to be. Neither too hot nor too cold with a gentle breeze on the air—it put a smile on her face as she moved toward the building. The walk was nice too, waking her up out of her daze before she got into the office. Naturally the receptionist was there to greet her with a big smile. “Good morning, Dani!” Dani’s own smile lit up her face as she looked over at the woman who was a couple years older than her. “Good morning, Eva! How was your weekend?” Eva sighed and shrugged playfully. “It was just a whole lot of nothing.” Dani giggled gently and touched the desk as she passed. “Sounds like a good weekend to me.” With another bright smile, she headed back toward her office next to Jaspers, ready to throw the blinds up and let the morning sunshine in. That was before her eyes fell on a new face sitting at the set of cubicles where the apprentices were housed. He was looking at her too and she was surprised to see it, giving him a small smile as she approached him. There weren’t many good-looking lawyers in the world, but she had to admit this guy was easy on the eyes with his boyish charm. Seeing the W-9 he was filling out, she figured this must be the new guy.

“Good morning.” His voice was raspy, husky, but in a pleasant sort of way. She smiled wider and made a beeline for him. “Good morning! You must be Mr. Holder. Jasper showed me your resume. I have to say, I was very impressed.” Her smile was warm and genuine as she extended her hand to the tall young man. “I’m Danielle Drake. Everyone calls me Dani. I had hoped to be there for your interview with Mr. Yardley, but I was at trial in Portland.” Holder insisted that she call him Sam and she nodded politely in return. He had a firm grasp, but he seemed a little hesitant all the same. It was his first day on the job, so she couldn’t blame him. She’d been the same way when she’d come into the office, fresh-faced and all of twenty-three years old. When she released Sam’s large, warm hand, she glanced down at the stack of papers on his desk and gave an amused smile. “And the paper is already starting to pile up. Has Jasper—er, Mr. Yardley, shown you around yet and introduced you to some people?” The guy looked a little anxious and she thought maybe introducing him to some folks would help him feel more comfortable in his environment. Work was always harder to do when you didn’t know anyone, she felt.

[SAM HOLDER]

“Good morning! You must be Mr. Holder. Jasper showed me your resume. I have to say, I was very impressed.” Sam was a little surprised by her words. Why had she seen his resume? She looked like such a baby, probably another apprentice at the firm. He smiled a little shyly, though he was certainly a bit confused. That is, until she continued. “I’m Danielle Drake. Everyone calls me Dani." His lips parted a little in surprise at her confession. She was Drake? But how? She couldn't be much older than him, if she was even as old as him. How could she be the head of the firm? "I had hoped to be there for your interview with Mr. Yardley, but I was at trial in Portland.” He was staring up at her, trying not to gawk. Maybe she simply looked young but was much older than she was.

"You didn't miss much." He said lightheartedly, extending his hand politely as he stood just a little. "But it's an honor to meet you, Dani. Please, feel free to call me Sam. Everyone else does." She gave a gentle nod and took his hand, meeting his firm handshake with her own. Grandfather had always taught him that a handshake was a mans first impression and should be firm and confident. Still, it felt strange to know this girl was his boss and he finally took his seat again, glad for the interruption from the trivial paperwork.

“And the paper is already starting to pile up. Has Jasper—er, Mr. Yardley, shown you around yet and introduced you to some people?” He smiled slightly at her tease, unsure what else to do. "He showed me around a bit, but he was busy this morning and, well I suppose I am too." He gave a weak sort of smile, the freckles at the corners of his mouth bunching with his skin. He'd never really cared for the freckles he donned. Sure a handful was nice, but to be painted in them completely was a little embarrassing. "No one else was in when I arrived this morning." He looked at the paperwork and then back to Dani. "I wouldn't be entirely opposed to a break in this task if you were willing to offer a substitution."

[DANI DRAKE]

“He showed me around a bit, but he was busy this morning and, well I suppose I am too.” Dani smiled back at Sam when he smiled, noting how wide and pleasant a smile it was. It made him look even more boyish than he already did and she wondered if he was her age or older. Couldn’t be much older…unless he was a guardian like herself. Wouldn’t that be interesting? “No one else was in when I arrived this morning. I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to a break in this task if you were willing to offer a substitution.” He talked so properly! She did too, but he made her feel like she talked slang in comparison. It made her smile a little more, silently amused, and she waved her hand gently for him to follow. “Come with me! I’ll introduce you to everyone. They should all be here by now.” He stood and even in her heels she felt short compared to him. She still had her purse and briefcase in hand, so the first stop they made was her office next to Jasper’s and down a small hallway. As she unlocked her door, she spoke to Sam: “Usually I have my office door open for questions, but if it’s closed you can always knock. I have an open door policy and I’m amenable to questions about anything.” She tossed her stuff on a chair just inside the door before shutting the door again and smiling at Sam. Across the hall she introduced Sam to the Human Resources ladies Lisa and Fiona. Both were in their early thirties and trading stories about their kids when Sam and Dani interrupted. They were sweet and greeted Sam with wide smiles. Next Dani took him by Jasper’s office, waving to Jasper as she passed, then continued down a smaller hallway of offices that circled around to the front. These were the offices of the senior partners: Roy Jackson, his gray hair a stark contrast to his ebony skin, Joseph McConnell, a man with salt and pepper hair and a straight back from his years as a JAG attorney, and Amanda Wright, a tall older woman with a high brow and silver-streaked red hair that fell in tight ringlets around her elegant face. All of them had a certain severity to them, but they were kind nonetheless, extending a hand and a kind smile to the new apprentice. Roy even got to joking with Sam about being a newcomer, saying, “It’s nice to have more young people around. I get tired of looking at these old people all the time.”

Around the corner was another set of offices for the junior partners. The oldest was Rick Colt, a man nearing his forties but who had lost none of his charm. He liked to flirt a little with the younger women like herself, but never went overboard—there had never been any complaints. Youngest of the junior partners was Holly Hurtado, a thirty-year old Hispanic beauty with a no-nonsense attitude. She gave the pair a curt smile before burying her nose back in her evidence. Dani knew she was actually pretty friendly to those she trusted, but it was hard to get into her good graces. She was one of the lucky few who could call Holly a friend. In all there were four other junior partners, all men in their mid-thirties—James Trottman, Lee Shaw, Ron Grayson, and Wayne Jordan. By the time they arrived back at the front, Eva was hanging up the phone and giving Dani and Sam a bright smile. Eva was Dani’s age with a much better tan and big brown eyes that convinced her boyfriend to do anything for her. She was pretty with her bleached hair and perfect nails and make-up, which was a good thing since she was the first thing anyone saw coming into the office. It was also good she wasn’t as dumb as she looked, but Dani kept that thought to herself. When they moved back into the cubicles area, she took Sam around to meet the other apprentices like him. There were six including him, the others consisting of three men and two women. All were in their mid to late twenties or their early thirties and generally a nice group of people. Latoria and Annie sat one behind the other and Annie was launching a ball of paper over the cubicle walls to land on Latoria’s desk when Dani and Sam came walking up. “Are you trying to get us in trouble with Dani?” Latoria teased Annie and Dani just grinned. They all knew she wouldn’t be mad at them for a little playful behavior. Next to the women were Alex and George who gave Sam and Dani kind smiles before going back to editing depositions and across from Sam was Harry. The guy welcomed his new neighbor and offered help if Sam needed it.

The whole round of introductions took about twenty minutes and when they came back around to Sam’s desk, Dani smiled up at him. “So that’s everyone! If you need coffee or just need a break for a second, the break room is over there.” She pointed to a room just across from the cubicles. “When you’re done with your paperwork, you can just hand that in to Lisa and Fiona across from me before you report back to Jasper. It’ll save him a step. Do you have any questions for me?” Her smile was kind as she looked up at him, her demeanor as patient as it ever was. She was known in the office to be kind until she was crossed. Most situations were forgiven, but she didn’t tolerate office drama and quickly quelled any that cropped up. But for now, Sam didn’t need to know that.

[SAM HOLDER]

Her smile was a beautiful one and it was hard not to be attracted to his new boss. But she was still his superior and he would respect her and try to not make it completely obvious how beautiful he thought she was. Dani waved her hand for him to follow and he got to his feet, towering over her and suddenly feeling selfconsious about his height, and her lack of it. "Come with me! I'll introduce you to everyone. They should all be here by now." he followed her to her office, peaking at it as she dropped her blongings off to give him the grand tour of his new home away from home. "Usually I have my office door open for questions, but if it's closed you can always knock. I have an open door policy and I'm amenable to questions about anything." he gave a nod, deep down wondering how much more advanced she was than him. Her connection to the firm by her name surely gave her more authority than she had earned on a legal basis, but he certainly wouldn't ask questions about that.

Second stop was to the HR girls, one of which he recognized from walking in earlier on her phone. Thy welcomed him warmly and he did the same, if not a little shyly. For a lawyer in training he didn't show a lot of confidence, but it was mostly because Sam was a thoughtful person, preferring to watch rather than be in the center. Next they passed Jasper and he offered a slight smile to the man as they passed. Dani then introduced him to all the senior partners and then the junior partners. Everyone seemed nice enough, if not a little annoyed by his interupting their morning briefly. Most of the junior partners were kind seeming, and he felt comfortable meeting them all.

After the last of the offices they ended up back up front where Sam got to meet the beautiful Eva, who looked like she might have spent the last few months lounging on a beach somewhere. Sam envied those who could sit in the sun. He'd always get such terrible sunburns and then more freckles would appear, as though he needed more. Finally she brought him back to his cubicle and introduced him to his fellow apprentices, who all seemed relaxed around Dani. Sam had always assumed things would be different once he got to the office, that there would be no funny business and hard work would be the only thing on the agenda, but this firm seemed almost relaxed considering the high stress career path they were all on. Not that they were all goofing off, just the overall atmosphere wasn't what he expected. It eased him some and he wondered how much of that was Dani's influence.

"So that's everyone! If you need coffee or just need a break for a second, the break room is over there." He gave a nod, turning his head to look before his gaze fell on Dani. "Thank you." "When you're done with your paperwork, you can just hand that in to Lisa and Fiona across from me before you report back to Jasper. It'll save him a step. Do you have any questions for me?" Her smile was kind and he shook his head gently. "I think I'm good. Thanks." She gave a nod and smile befre leaving him. Sam took a seat and looked at the pile of paperwork in fron of him, knowing he'd betterget started.

Sam had finished filling all the paperwork out by noon but still had a stack of paperwork to go through. His "welcome" packet, though he didn't find the tedious task of reading it all very welcoming. A few of the other apprentices stopped to talk to him throughtout the morning, asking him about his schooling. They all seemed semi impressed, but not overly. Annie had been to Harvard as well it turned out, and Harry had actually gone to the same boarding school as he had, only they'd all graduated different years. Harry seemed th most chatty, and it had been he who informed Sam that the new guy always got everyones lunch. A sort of tradition that they did there. Sam questioned internally how true that was, but no one debated what Harry said, so Sam agreed to go. The apprentices all gve him their money and wrote their orders on a piece of paper before instructing him to visit all the juniors then seniors. Sam was more than a little uncomfortable doing this, but he figured it was his initiation of sorts. One by one he pestered the attorney's, some more welcoming than others. A few gave him orders while others shooed him away. Finally he ended at Dani's office, which was closed. He gave a soft knock and when she invited him in, he stepped inside. She as on the phone, which surprised him, so he shut the door behind him and waited patiently for herto finish her conversation, taking a moment to look arund again. Finally she hung up and gave him her attention. "Uh.. I'm running out to grab lunch for everyone. Did you want somthing?" He asked, extending the menu for her review if she cared.

[DANI DRAKE]

“I think I’m good. Thanks.” Dani nodded and smiled at Sam’s humble response, turning away from him, but giving him a reassuring look. “Okay! Well, if you think of anything, just come find me.” And with that she returned to her office. She always liked to see new faces in the office, especially since most of the partners had been there ever since she could remember. It changed things up to have new employees and it left her in a cheerful mood. That was until she got into her office and sifted through her e-mail. The case she was working on at the moment involved a human trafficker bringing in women from Eastern Europe to serve as sex slaves under the guise of a legitimate mail-order-bride business. There were multiple persons involved in the business, but the others were being tried by other lawyers. Her key witness was the victim of this man for three years and had originated from Romania. Now the defense had subpoenaed her witness’s sister to testify to her experience as a legitimate mail-order-bride. Dani would have to switch up her questioning of the witness and come up with a reasonable line of questioning for the sister. At least she was certain the sister would be a reluctant witness, having met the woman before. By mid-morning she was taking frantic calls from both sisters and doing her best to calm them.

When lunch time rolled around, she finally looked up from her work and realized she hadn’t heard a peep from the new guy all day. It was a little disappointing—new people always felt intimidated by her and for once she wanted someone to take her up on her offer to help. As she was musing on this, she got a call from her witness again, asking if she and her sister would be able to stop by the office for trial prep over the next few days. Dani assured her that would be fine and set up a time for the following day. As they were talking, a soft knock came on the door and she excused herself for a moment to call out for whoever it was to come in. The face on the other side of the door made her smile though Sam seemed nervous about finding her on the phone. With a few last reassurances and a promise to see her client tomorrow, she ended her conversation and found Sam looking around her office with curiosity. For the most part it was warm and professional, the wooden bookcases lined with law books and binders full of information on old cases—quick reference guides in case she needed to refer to an old case. There was a long file cabinet where she kept her most recent cases and new cases that she would work in the future. It was tidy except for her desk which was littered with highlighters, pens, papers and a clear ruler underlining a line of and expense report she had yet to continue work on today. A leather sofa by the door gave it a sort of live-in feel, the coffee table before it stacked neatly with depositions and other resources. On her bookshelf she kept a single picture of her parents and one of her brother beside it. They were somber pictures and kept there more for posterity’s sake. This was a family business after all. A small picture of her and Jonah sat facing out beside her computer beside a mug with UC Berkley stamped across it. Besides that, there were very few personal affects, but that was enough for her. Sam could easily take all of this in within the short period he’d been in her office.

She smiled wider, pushing her chestnut hair behind one ear. “Hello Sam,” she greeted cheerfully. “Uh…I’m running out to grab lunch for everyone. Did you want something?” He handed her the menu and she glanced at it, giving an amused little smirk. “So they pulled the ‘new people get lunch’ card, did they?” As she glanced over the menu, she noted how many order had been made. Sam couldn’t possibly carry all of that by himself. “You know what?” she said, pushing herself to her feet and smiling wide up at Sam. “I’ll come with you. It looks like you could use some help lugging all of this back and I wouldn’t mind some fresh air.” The afternoon sun glinting off distant buildings and cars running past beyond the long lawn of City Hall made her want to go out as well. Why should the trees have all the fun swaying in the light, warm breeze? She quickly grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder, laughing gently at the look of surprise on Sam’s face. “Well come on! I won’t bite.” With another soft laugh, she walked out of her office, Sam following behind before she locked the door behind her. As they passed Eva at the front desk, Dani waved. “We’ll be back soon.” Eva got an intrigued sort of smile on her face before bidding them goodbye. Dani’s heels clicked on the marble of the hallways as she walked leisurely beside the tall, freckled young man. Well, he wasn’t that young since he was older than her. “So, Holder…you’re related to Edward Holder, right?” she inquired genially. When he assured that was his grandfather, her smile grew. “Oh! Our grandfathers knew each other, then. My grandfather passed away some years ago, but I know he knew your grandfather.” For the first time she noticed he had a slight limp, but she was only distracted for a second before she pushed on with their conversation. She was curious about his leg, yet she knew it would be rude to ask. “So what made you choose the east coast for school? Was it the prestige?” she teased lightly, giving a gentle smile. The way she watched him as they made their way towards the front doors to walk down the street assured he would know he had her attention. She was always polite and paid attention when speaking with someone. It was probably a product of her brother’s punishments if she didn’t do so when she was young…but she liked to see it as a good trait to have.

[SAM HOLDER]

Dani took a look at the menu and then smirked at him like she was in on some sort of joke. He gave her a curious look before she said, “So they pulled the ‘new people get lunch’ card, did they?” He smiled shyly, obviously embarrassed. His shoulders shrugged and his cheeks got a little color. "I guess I was duped." He said softly. “You know what?” He watched curiously as she stood, unsure why she seemed so chipper about all of this. “I’ll come with you. It looks like you could use some help lugging all of this back and I wouldn’t mind some fresh air.” His lips parted to protest, but deep down he knew he couldn't manage all those lunches alone. Not that he wanted his boss to help him, though! His brows furrowed with the debate of whether he should refuse or not, but he hesitated and she was already grabbing her things. Could he really stop her? “Well come on! I won’t bite.” Speechless he shut his mouth and followed the beautiful short woman like a lost puppy as she left.

Dani stopped to bid her farewell to Eva who grinned at the two of them, making Sam a little uneasy. What would the new guys think of him using the boss to help him bring their lunch back? Would he be mocked? Was there a hazing process he wasn't aware of yet? Other than expecting him to get everyone's lunch. “So, Holder…" Holder.. no one had called him that since his time overseas. "you’re related to Edward Holder, right?” He gave a short nod. "Yes, he's my grandfather." He answered in his soft, husky voice. Her face lit up with acknowledgement. “Oh! Our grandfathers knew each other, then. My grandfather passed away some years ago, but I know he knew your grandfather.” He walked with her outside the building and nodded. "He's actually the one who encouraged me to seek apprenticeship here. Drake is a name he trusts, and though we've had our differences I trust his opinions on others." He offered.

“So what made you choose the east coast for school? Was it the prestige?” Was she teasing him? He raised a brow and then smiled, relaxing a little. She was making it difficult for him to show reverence. He gave a soft chuckle and then half nodded, half swayed his head to the side. "I had a free ride and the intelligence to get into almost any school in the country. I don't mean to sound conceited. Honest, I'm anything but, but one doesn't throw an opportunity like that away. Well, perhaps a fool does, or a man with too much pride, but I try my best to make decisions in my life that will benefit me for the better. I'm very fortunate and will never take that for granted." He knew he'd been both a fool and too prideful in the past. He would forever limp due to his pride and foolishness, but he wore those things with honor, because to him it was done out of honor, not just stubborn, bullheaded pride. "And what about you, Drake?" It was his turn to tease, his kind eyes finding hers as they walked together. "How did someone so young find themselves in charge of one of the most established law offices in Scriptor Bay?"

[DANI DRAKE]

Dani smiled wide as Sam nodded his head from side to side in answer to her question. “I had a free ride and the intelligence to get into almost any school in the country.” Dani’s eyebrows rose, visibly impressed but silently wondering if he was just tooting his own horn. “I don’t mean to sound conceited. Honest, I’m anything but, but one doesn’t throw an opportunity like that away. Well, perhaps a fool does, or a man with too much pride, but I try my best to make decisions in my life that will benefit me for the better. I’m very fortunate and will never take that for granted.” A smile formed on Dani’s mouth again. She could hardly blame him for taking up such an excellent opportunity—that was why she went to UC Berkley after all. Plus, it was always good to see a man who was humbled by his rare fortune. It didn’t seem to be an act, either; she was usually pretty good at spotting when a person was lying. She had a pretty good feeling that Sam was a bad liar, which was always a good thing to be.

“And what about you, Drake?” She laughed at his gentle tease, her heels now clicking down the steps leading up to City Hall. It was a beautiful, sunny day, neither too warm nor too cold. “How did someone so young find themselves in charge of one of the most established law offices in Scriptor Bay?” The way he said it made it sound so much more impressive than she thought it really was. With a small shrug of her shoulders, she glanced down at the ground before looking straight ahead as they walked. “Well, I graduated high school early and finished my bachelor’s when I was twenty. I went straight into law school while my older brother ran the firm with Jasper. I didn’t really like the shady clients that my brother was defending and I was hoping to rectify our reputation when I finished school. Before I finished, though, my brother was murdered by one of his clients. That left me in charge. With my lack of experience, though, I asked Jasper to be kind of co-head of the firm with me. So far that’s been successful, though I think he sometimes gets me confused with my brother.” She gave him a kind smile before realizing that she might have made him uncomfortable with bringing up her brother. “Sorry if I made you feel weird...bringing up my brother and all. I just always assume people know about that before I start talking.” It wasn’t much of a secret and the Drakes were a well-known family, but Sam probably hadn’t been in the area when her brother’s murder happened. Thinking on it now, she didn’t really want to keep dwelling on it.

“Anyway, that’s how I ended up as head of the firm. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be a normal twenty-five year old.” She grinned wide to indicate she was being playful. “So with a free ride at the finest schools out on the east coast, I’m sure you could have gotten any job out of law school that you wanted. What made you come back to Scriptor Bay? If you don’t mind my asking.” If Dani had been in that situation, she would have found a job in New York or Boston or Washington, D.C. Life would be so much more exciting in the thick of things, but she had her own obvious reasons for staying in Scriptor Bay. This was where she belonged. Did Sam feel the same after his years so far away from home?

[SAM HOLDER]

Her delicate shoulders rolled in a shrug, and he couldn't help but see her as the young, small girl that she was and not the big shot lawyer. “Well, I graduated high school early and finished my bachelor’s when I was twenty. I went straight into law school while my older brother ran the firm with Jasper. I didn’t really like the shady clients that my brother was defending and I was hoping to rectify our reputation when I finished school." Same recalled the reputation the firm had, but knew it was in good standing as of late. "Before I finished, though, my brother was murdered by one of his clients. That left me in charge." He recalled that, too. His grandfather had attended the funeral, and he suddenly felt guilty for having asked such a very personal question. "With my lack of experience, though, I asked Jasper to be kind of co-head of the firm with me. So far that’s been successful, though I think he sometimes gets me confused with my brother.”

Sam wondered how the man could confuse them. They sounded very different in their approaches to upholding the law. Her smile was kind despite her words and all he could do was stare back silently, the light shining on his face and making his eyes look pale. “Sorry if I made you feel weird...bringing up my brother and all. I just always assume people know about that before I start talking.” "It's no bother." He said quickly. "I recalled his death, but I wasn't familiar with the details of it." Sam looked away bashfully, suddenly feeling very hot in his coat. He should have left it at the office.

“Anyway, that’s how I ended up as head of the firm. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be a normal twenty-five year old.” Twenty-five! She she really was as young as she appeared to be. Sam was amazed; being so young and successful had to be difficult. He let out a polite laugh anyway, knowing to some degree what it was like to be a normal twenty-five year old. He'd been in school studying mostly, but there had been plenty of times where he'd gone to the bar for a drink and hit on girls. Sort of. He'd never been good at hitting on girls. And he didn't go out often enough to actually get good at it. “So with a free ride at the finest schools out on the east coast, I’m sure you could have gotten any job out of law school that you wanted. What made you come back to Scriptor Bay? If you don’t mind my asking.” He shook his head. "I don't mind." He explained before he began.

"My family is here. My roots.. I've thought of moving on, going to a bigger city, one with more opportunities, but I think I'd like to start out small and work my way up. No sense getting burned out at a big firm so quickly. I want to enjoy this, and my grandfather has always spoke very highly of yours. I knew it would please him, and so you know, I don't always do whatever pleases my grandfather. He raised me, and though that's a story perhaps for another time, I owed him to stay close and work with people he trusts. He's getting older and I'd like to keep his stress low, and what I choose to do with my life tends to reflects on his stress level for some reason." He gave a small smile down towards the short girl walking beside him. "Family is very important to me." He stopped walking and reached out, grabbing the door of a little delicatessen and opening it for his new, very young boss.

[DANI DRAKE]

“I don’t mind.” Dani smiled and silently noted how much she liked Sam’s quiet and polite way of speaking. It was very calming. “My family is here. My roots…I’ve thought of moving on, going to a bigger city, one with more opportunities, but I think I’d like to start out small and work my way up. No sense getting burned out at a big firm so quickly. I want to enjoy this, and my grandfather has always spoken very highly of yours.” She had to grin wide at that comment. Who wouldn’t be proud that their family’s business had such a good reputation? “I knew it would please him, and so you know, I don’t always do whatever pleases my grandfather.” She shook her head but silently made note of the tiniest hint of defensiveness in his voice. It more amusing than anything else and she continued to smile through his explanation. “He raised me, and though that’s a story perhaps for another time, I owed him to stay close and work with people he trusts. He’s getting older and I’d like to keep his stress low, and what I choose to do with my life tends to reflect on his stress level for some reason.” She smiled a little wider at the kind smile he offered her, but she found herself curious about this relationship he had with his grandfather. “Family is very important to me.” With that statement and the way he opened the door for her, she was definitely sold—Sam was a genuinely nice guy.

“Family is very important to me too. And I think that’s an important quality to find in people. Family-oriented people tend to be less selfish, in my experience. I’m not a big fan of selfishness.” She smiled wider, her tone bordering on playful before she looked up at the menu. Her head tilted to the side a little as she considered what she would order. “Do you know what you’re getting? There are so many choices…” Sam gave his answer and found it was actually one of the choices she was eyeing. “I think I’ll get that too.” She nodded decisively before throwing a smile up at Sam. He was so tall compared to her! They moved to the counter and placed their multiple orders. It was a good thing there was hardly anyone in the shop, otherwise they would have been holding up the line. They were shown to a separate counter where they could wait for their order to finish and Dani took the chance to turn back to Sam.

“You know what’s interesting? I came back to Scriptor Bay because of family too. I mean, I probably would have come back eventually, but for a while I seriously considered just picking up and moving to D.C. or New York or Boston when I finished school. I liked being out on my own for once. If my brother were still head of the firm, I might have done that.” Her blue eyes shifted and stared at nothing in particular while her face took on a sort of pensive look. “But then I always knew my duty to my family would eventually bring me back here sooner or later.” She blinked and shrugged her shoulders, trying to cast off the momentary gloom that she’d felt settling over her. “Not that I see it as a bad thing. Like you said, my roots are here. It’s nice to go off on your own, though…like how you went off to the east coast for school.” She smiled a little wider and tilted her head to the side again. “I guess we have a lot in common, huh?” Her smile was bright and friendly. She wasn’t usually so talkative but Sam made her feel at ease. Weird that she’d just met him and she already felt like she could trust him. Her brain told her to be wary, fast trust could come back to bite her, but for once she didn’t heed the warning. Well, not entirely anyway. She was still keeping some distance for the time being, being the cautious person she was. For instance, she wasn’t about to tell him why she wanted to run away from Scriptor Bay. She probably never would. “So what do you do for fun? Besides pick up other people’s lunches.” She gave a smile to show she was teasing, though it was pretty obvious. Who would have fun picking up another person’s lunch? She leaned against the counter slightly as she waited patiently for his answer.

[SAM HOLDER]

“Family is very important to me too. And I think that’s an important quality to find in people. Family-oriented people tend to be less selfish, in my experience. I’m not a big fan of selfishness.” She smiled wider, her tone bordering on playful. He smiled back, liking her compliment and finding it to be true, not just in his case, but in most. "Neither am I." His eyes moved to the menu as well, figuring out what he himself wanted. “Do you know what you’re getting? There are so many choices…” He pushed his lips to the side, pursing them. "I haven't had a good reuben in a long time." He admitted, thinking that sounded pretty good, and deli's often made those well. “I think I’ll get that too.” He grinned a little bashfully and then let out a small laugh. It was hard not to like her, and he was glad he could count on his boss being someone he could get along with.

Before he knew it they had reached the front of the line and started putting orders in. When they had finally finished they moved down the row to not hold the rest of the line up, and Dani took the opportunity to talk more, since he was too shy to really think of anything worth saying. “You know what’s interesting? I came back to Scriptor Bay because of family too. I mean, I probably would have come back eventually, but for a while I seriously considered just picking up and moving to D.C. or New York or Boston when I finished school. I liked being out on my own for once. If my brother were still head of the firm, I might have done that.
But then I always knew my duty to my family would eventually bring me back here sooner or later.” He watched her speak, considering her words. He'd thought briefly of going elsewhere, but he wanted to be close to his father and half sister, and he knew it would kill grandfather if he moved so far. Sam was really all he had left. “Not that I see it as a bad thing. Like you said, my roots are here. It’s nice to go off on your own, though…like how you went off to the east coast for school. I guess we have a lot in common, huh?” He liked that she talked so much, and he was drawn to her for that, oddly. "Seems that way. My family drew me back here as well. There are people in my life I wanted to know better, not just be close to my grandfather. If circumstance had been different I might have gone to another firm for a while myself, but like you, I'd have managed to find my way back here sooner or later." Sam couldn't recall ever opening up to someone so quickly, but it was hard not to with Dani. She was kind, and she drew his words from him. It was no wonder she was the youngest lawyer he knew.

“So what do you do for fun? Besides pick up other people’s lunches.” He wrinkled his nose at her playfully at her taunt. "You're very funny." He said in a soft voice, teasing but kind. "I enjoy reading, and I do like traveling but I can't exactly do that in spare time.." He smiled as if that was obvious. "I'm actually very boring. None of my hobbies are any more interesting than paint drying to most." He smiled, slight wrinkles forming at his eyes. "Besides, aren't we supposed to go over depositions for fun? Since that seems to be all we have time for, among other tasks. Unless you manage to find more time for hobbies than myself." He was subtly asking her the question in return, wondering if she would open up more for him, liking this little one on one time with his boss.

[DANI DRAKE]

i] “You’re very funny.”[/i] Dani laughed at the way Sam wrinkled his nose with the statement, trying to sound like he was pouting but more sounding like he was teasing. She was sure that was his intention anyway. “I enjoy reading, and I do like traveling but I can’t exactly do that in spare time…” She grinned with him, finding his grin infectious. “I’m actually very boring. None of my hobbies are any more interesting than paint drying to most. Besides, aren’t we supposed to go over depositions for fun? Since that seems to be all we have time for, among other tasks. Unless you manage to find more time for hobbies than myself.” Another laugh escaped her at his poking fun at himself and lawyers in general. It was true they were constantly working and it must have seemed like they worked for fun. She shrugged gently at his returned question. “Not really. I’m probably more boring than you. I like reading, though I can only manage like a chapter a night of any book. I try to be outside as much as I can, too. I love hiking and going to the beach and I absolutely love horseback riding. Every Saturday morning I go to the stables to ride the trails with my Silver.” She realized she was revealing something very personal about herself and it made her give a nervous laugh, her cheeks coloring a little. At least it wasn’t her passion for magic that she mentioned. “I’ve been riding since I was a girl. I could go on about it all day.” Thankfully she wouldn’t have to since their food arrived.

Once the worker had hauled the bags up onto the counter and pushed them across to Dani and Sam, each took a bag and started for the door. There were tables outside, though, and she looked at them before she got an idea. “Do you want to stay and eat out here? I could use more of a break from the office and they can wait a few more minutes for their food. You can blame me if anyone gives you grief.” She smiled hopefully and it grew when he agreed to sit with her at the table. It took several minutes to fish out their orders, but with each name written on the paper wrapping, it was easy to spot them at the bottom of Sam’s bag. She thanked him as he handed her a sandwich and eagerly unwrapped it, feeling her stomach grumble loudly. One bite and it was already the best sandwich she’d had all week. Even though she was hungry, her bites were dainty, a force of habit she’d picked up being raised in high society. She even waited until after she swallowed to ask Sam another question.

“So you said you like to travel. Where have you visited? I’ve been to most of the countries in Western Europe, but not recently.” It would be interesting if they’d been to a couple of the same places. Considering his family’s background, it was likely they had been. Or had he been to exotic places that Dani had always hoped to visit? She took another bite of her sandwich as she waited patiently.

[SAM HOLDER]

His eyes were on her as she rolled her shoulders, the light from the window hitting her face at a strange angle and making her eyes shine. He could see the deep colors of her eyes, brought out by the sunlight. They weren't just blue as he suspected, but were flecked with green and maybe a little yellow. They were beautiful, and he found it odd he would notice her eyes of all things. “Not really. I’m probably more boring than you. I like reading, though I can only manage like a chapter a night of any book. I try to be outside as much as I can, too. I love hiking and going to the beach and I absolutely love horseback riding. Every Saturday morning I go to the stables to ride the trails with my Silver.” He couldn't help but smile. She was opening up to him and he could tell by her nervous laughter that she hadn't meant to. Still, he could relate to her hobbies, enjoying horseback riding himself. He had his own horse as well, though he kept it at his grandfathers private stables. Hiking was also another thing he liked though he didn't often do it. Sam had a tendency to burn, so he didn't often go out for long periods of time unless he could be certain there would be ample shade for him to hide under. “I’ve been riding since I was a girl. I could go on about it all day.” Sam was about to comment on his own equestrian background, but their food arrived and he was cut off before he could even start. They grabbed the bags and headed for the door.

“Do you want to stay and eat out here? I could use more of a break from the office and they can wait a few more minutes for their food. You can blame me if anyone gives you grief.” He couldn't help but grin once more, strangely drawn to the small, young lawyer. He looked at the tables, seeing they were in the shade of the building considering the sun was to the left of them. "I'm going to hold that to you, Ms. Drake." He teased, taking a seat and digging their food out of the bag. He'd forgotten about horses for the moment as he unfolded his sandwich, watching the woman across from him do the same.

“So you said you like to travel. Where have you visited? I’ve been to most of the countries in Western Europe, but not recently.” Sam was in the middle of a bite and chewed quickly, forcing the food down his throat before it was even really broken up in his mouth. "Most of western Europe as well. Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales.. you know.. I've been to France and studied very briefly in Spain, which was amazing. I was in High School at the time, so it was especially fun since I could have a glass of wine." He smiled and looked down at his sandwich, picking a piece of meat off the side and popping it into his mouth. "I went to India last summer for a few weeks, stayed in Mumbai. It was amazing, and I spent a weekend over in Dubai as well since it was only a three hour flight. I'd like to eventually get over to New Zealand or Australia. Or maybe both." He surprised himself with how easy it was to talk about all of this, usually feeling shy about the privileged he'd had, but she came from a similar background and she wouldn't likely judge him on this. "Japan is another place I'd like to visit, but I'd like to learn a bit of the language and culture before I head there. Just like you can go on about your horses, I can go on about the places I'd like to see." He admitted, this time a little more shyly. "I ride too, by the way." He said more softly, looking at his lunch. "Mahatma. That's my stallion." His eyes went back to hers and he chuckled softly. "I was into Hinduism when my grandfather gave him to me." He explained a little bashfully.

[DANI DRAKE]

Dani watched Sam struggle to swallow a bite of his sandwich and for a moment she was worried he would choke on it! Soon he was able to answer her question, however. “Most of Western Europe as well. Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales…you know.” Dani smiled wider, listening intently as she nibbled on her sandwich. “…I’ve been to France and studied very briefly in Spain, which was amazing. I was in high school at the time, so it was especially fun since I could have a glass of wine.” She laughed, remembering how excited she had been for that as well. It had been such a weird feeling to be eighteen and ordering a glass of wine, but liberating too. “I went to India last summer for a few weeks, stayed in Mumbai. It was amazing, and I spent a weekend over in Dubai as well since it was only a three hour flight. I’d like to eventually get over to New Zealand or Australia. Or maybe both.” “Me too!” Dani piped in return before giving a little sigh. “I have to say, I’m a little jealous that you’ve been to India and Dubai. Those are definitely on my travel list.” She smiled wider, completely engrossed in her conversation. It was strange, considering she was usually very wary of people she didn’t know. “Japan is another place I’d like to visit, but I’d like to learn a bit of the language and the culture before I head there. Just like you can go on about your horses, I can go on about the places I’d like to see.” His smile was shy and hers was wide and warm in return. She could go on about that too, and all of the amazing things she’d already seen. “I have a long wish list too when it comes to travel. I just wish I had more time to do it,” she offered before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“I ride too, by the way.” Dani immediately perked up. It wasn’t often she met other people who enjoyed riding! Less often that it was a man. Sam did come from money, though, just like her, so that probably explained some of it. That could also explain why she felt more comfortable around him. He wouldn’t judge her for the life she grew up in, a life that she didn’t like to flaunt even though she enjoyed her financial freedom. “Mahatma. That’s my stallion. I was into Hinduism when my grandfather gave him to me.” Again, Dani’s smile spread, both amused and intrigued by this information. “With a name like that, he must be very calm.” It was a silly joke and her nose wrinkled as she giggled softly. “Sorry, that was lame. At least your stallion has an original name. I named my mare Silver because that’s the color of her coat and mane. Not very creative.” She gave a soft laugh before she leaned in a little more over the table. Unbeknownst to her, she had been leaning in just a little closer bit by bit through their conversation. “I’m really interested in Hinduism, too. All religions, really. You’re so lucky to have been to India! I’ve always wanted to see the Ganges River and to step into it like all Hindi devotees do. I think there would be something so calming and spiritual about it.” She shrugged her shoulders with a bit of an embarrassed smile. “Or maybe I’m just hyping it up because I read about it in a book. The author made it seem so magical.” A soft giggle left her as if it was nothing more than a silly romantic notion. It occurred to her that she might be starting to sound as young as she was and maybe that wasn’t a good idea with her newest employee. But it really felt like she was making a new friend…did the lines have to be so severe? She and Sam seemed to have a lot in common and it was hard to come by someone she could really level with.

“We should go riding together sometime! Like I said, I go every weekend and it would be nice to have company for a change. Unless that would be weird…me being the boss and all.” She wrinkled her nose a little with a smile, though she knew it could be awkward seeing your boss outside of work. It was easy to forget she was the boss sometimes. “And please don’t feel like you have to say yes or anything.”

[SAM HOLDER]

“With a name like that, he must be very calm.” Sam grinned and his shoulders rolled gently. Mahatma was pretty calm, but that's because he was getting older. In his younger days he wasn't the mellow stallion he is now. “Sorry, that was lame. At least your stallion has an original name. I named my mare Silver because that’s the color of her coat and mane. Not very creative.” Sam chuckled. "But a pretty name none the less." He said gently. “I’m really interested in Hinduism, too. All religions, really. You’re so lucky to have been to India! I’ve always wanted to see the Ganges River and to step into it like all Hindi devotees do. I think there would be something so calming and spiritual about it. Or maybe I’m just hyping it up because I read about it in a book. The author made it seem so magical.” Sam watched her with interest and then slowly nodded. "I didn't see it when I was there, but I would imagine if you're a believer, it would feel magical. I think a lot of that stuff is in the eye of the beholder." Sam took a bite of his sandwich and chewed for a second before swallowing. "When you visit, that should be on your to-do list." He suggested, though he was sure it probably would be.

“We should go riding together sometime!" Dani suggested after a moment and Sam cocked a brow. Would that be weird? "Like I said, I go every weekend and it would be nice to have company for a change. Unless that would be weird…me being the boss and all.” She wrinkled her nose a little with a smile, “And please don’t feel like you have to say yes or anything.” He laughed again and considered her proposal. "That would be a little weird." He admitted, "But only because you are my boss, and everyone would think I was sucking up to you." The thought did sound nice though, not because she was his boss though. She was easy to talk to and it was nice relating to someone, especially a girl, when he didn't have all that many friends in the area. That's what happens when you go away for school for so many years; your friends are spread out around the country. The world, even.

"But I'd like that. Going riding.." He admitted. "I haven't taken Mahatma out since I've been back and it's never the same riding someone else's horse. Would it be weird to ask we not tell the office? In case they get the wrong idea about me." He looked a little anxious, his nose wrinkling now, making his freckles bleed together. "And you have to promise no special treatment because we're riding partners. I've had enough special treatment because of who I am, I'd like very much if you judged me on my merit and not because we're friends. Or riding partners.. or.. whatever this arrangement is exactly.." He looked unsure and then broke out into a smile, realizing how silly he'd sounded.