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Chapter Two
Phillip Heart
This is what I get for agreeing to meet my youngest brother Clark at his office instead of mine. Clark liked to live life on the edge, and still had the party mentality. Seeing a woman camped out in front of his building was hardly a surprise.
“I have no idea who you’re talking about, Phillip,” Clark said. “But if you’d like, I’d be more than happy to have security bring her up here so we can find out why she’s stalking me.”
“I’m not telling you what to do, but I know she’d be escorted off the property if this was my building,” I stated firmly.
Clark picked up the phone and called down to security. But instead of taking my suggestion, Clark instructed them to bring the young lady up to his office. Placing the phone on the receiver again, he turned to me and said, “Guess we can hold off on starting our meeting until this issue is resolved.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t have these issues if you focused more on business,” I said. Instead of your next conquest.
Clark chuckled. “I’m here at five in the morning for a meeting. If I focused any more, I’d be considered old and boring… like someone else I know.”
“I believe the words you meant to use are ‘responsible’ and ‘mature.’” I was only ten years his senior, but at times, I felt more like a father than a brother. This was one of those moments. “Delaying our meeting shows a disregard for the other commitments that need my attention this morning. So, let’s not waste any more of my time. What did you want to speak to me about?”
Clark became serious and said, “I want to go into business with you.”
It would be a cold day in hell before I did business with Clark. We didn’t see eye-to-eye on brotherly matters, so financially, the two of us working together would be disastrous. Straight-faced I asked, “You’re joking, right?”
Clark burst out laughing. “Of course I am. No way could I work with someone who refuses to have any fun. Work doesn’t have to be work.”
“Really? Then I guess I make my money by luck,” I said sarcastically.
“You’re a great lawyer, and if I needed legal advice, I’d ask you. But a joint venture with me? You’d never take the risk.”
“Business law is about eliminating risk, not taking it,” I clarified. My clients wouldn’t be happy if I allowed them to enter into a contract not in their best interest which could lead to them subsequently losing everything. Protect your assets by covering your ass.
“And overthinking everything. Don’t leave that out,” he added.
I was done with this conversation. “What did you want to speak to me about?” I repeated, my frustration seeping into my tone.
“I’m looking at buying a hockey team.”
“Hockey team? Do you even play hockey?” I couldn’t recall his ever showing an interest. But then again, who can keep up with what Clark is into?
“I’m not looking at being a player, just owning the team.”
“And you’re telling me this because you want me to review your contract?”
He shook his head. “The players. They are all under contract now, but I’m not sure I want to take on any of their liability. What I’ve read so far is I’m tied into them for the length of the contract. I’m hoping you can find something stating otherwise. If anyone can find a loophole, it’s you.”
“I’d be happy to look at the contracts. Can you have them emailed to my office by the end of the day?” I was impressed that Clark was doing his due diligence. He usually leaped before looking. The guy was damn lucky that things worked out the way they had for him. I’d seen people lose their shirts on less.
“I’ll have my attorney send you the contracts,” Clark replied.
Normally I wouldn’t take on a client who needed to second-guess my work, but hopefully Clark had let his attorney know we were brothers.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Clark said.
The gruff security guard I’d met on my arrival entered, pulling a very angry woman into the room.
“I said get your hands off me,” she snarled, pulling away.
What the hell!Nothing about this was what I suggested Clark do. The last thing he needed to worry about was some hockey player. This woman looked so angry that she might actually bring a lawsuit herself. I knew damn well that Clark would smooth things over in his casual player’s voice, but right now, the situation needed a bit of diplomacy.
Rising, I said, “Please take your hands off this young lady. She’s here by request, not by force.”
