Chapter 5. In-Charge Partner

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A Day At The Office

When I arrived at work I was stopped at the door by a senior PA who handed me a memo marked “read right away.” That was strange but I had been a partner for less than a week so there were bound to be some new wrinkles.

The memo stated that Barnes and Stern would not be in today, which Rose told Jessica who had already told me. Attached was a list of other partners who were skipping the day, about 15 in all - which sounded like a record.

I recalled reading about a 2-year education college (around WW I) where there was one day in the year, selected in secret, where the entire faculty took off for a day. Students had to take over and run everything, including teaching the classes and being administrators. Sounds like a day off, right? Wrong, the faculty gave exams the next day on the material that was due to be covered, no excuses were accepted.

I felt like the guy who was elected to teach all the law class.

The second paragraph said that I was the “On-Site In-Charge Partner” (OSICP) until Evert Russell took over for the night shift, which was likely to be at about 6 or maybe later this evening. Until he took over I was to stay on site to handle any issues that came up as if I was the managing partner. I could not even go out to lunch, somebody would fetch it for me. If I left my office I had to tell my PA.

This was unexpected. Basically partners worked on their own, but sometimes they needed to talk things out or had a dispute. Usually they went to Barnes or Stern with these matters. But for today, with those two both absent I was nominated until Evert showed up. Barnes always implied this ‘in-charge honor’ was random but I knew better.

I looked closer at who was not at work. Besides the entire Barnes team from the auction and a few other more influential types the list included all the members of the team that enjoyed Holly Russell’s charms at the auction along with some of the other guys who were known to “date” her. To me that suggested that 2 sex parties had been planned, one with Holly enjoying a sloppy little orgy with her fuck-buddies, and a second centered on passing around the Church girls. I wondered what other females might attend Holly’s party? I knew that one rule for dating her was a willingness to put it to her while she was sloppy. While virtually all dates with a partner’s wife tended to be a one-on-one thing, Holly often took two or three lawyers on her extended dates, they all shared a bedroom where Holly went from cock to cock nonstop most nights. But three was her limit and she was the only woman. Looking at the list I figured she had 6 lined up, along with 9 for the Church party.

That seemed like a lot of partners showing their equipment to other partners, where the only benefit was repeated use of a sloppy pussy. What had come over these guys? Religion?

With so many people out I asked in any service girls wanted the rest of the day off. Two thanked me and took me up on the offer, including Zoe who had worked overtime the previous week, then was at the extended weekend, and had not had a break this week. It sounded like a mental-health day was indicated. As a special bonus I even slipped her a couple of C-notes from petty cash for some ‘retail therapy.’ I know what fills the heart of a young LA woman.

“Just bring me the receipts,” I said as I gave her the money.

She was happy enough to do me right then and there if I wished. When I declined she said I had her vote to be managing partner.

I have to say that her sincere happiness gave me a good feeling. As the rumors spread some of the other girls were amazed.

The next day I got an “Atta Boy” from Barnes, he said that letting the two girls take an unpaid vacation day showed I was “thinking like an owner,” which, I guess, most of the partners around here didn’t do. He was pleased. Reading between-the-lines I was now his go-to OSICP guy. I did not need that, so I sent him a reply that said I could not see myself as the OSICP guy for at least another six months.

Barnes understood that I was declining the honor. Being stuck at the office really did not suit me.

Before I got to my desk I got a hand-carried memo from Joe Pope that said he wanted to schedule some face-to-face time with me at the end of the day to go over the job applicants. The resumes were all in my office, he wanted me to sort them into yes/maybe/no piles for interviews. His hope was that we would see them the same way and he could start interviewing. Well, anybody needed a second set of eyes for such a job, that was natural. Pope picking me made sense because he thought we agreed on the future of the firm. In fact we did not agree on anything, including his seeing the new year, but I kept that part to myself.