Chapter 1
Chapter One
Oren
Rather, there were jobs, but not careers. Anyone who wanted additional education had to go to college or university on the mainland, and then, when they finished, they had to look around for where to use that degree. Because the one small town on the island only needed so many professionals.
If someone was willing to work in a retail store or restaurant, something tourist-oriented, they could stay.
But in order to earn enough to support oneself, on an island where almost everything had to come by boat, the few who remained had two, sometimes three jobs, making it hard to enjoy the life they fought to hold.
I admired them, went home every chance I had, but I wanted more.
“It must have been a real culture shock to go to college thousands of miles from home.” One of the partners of my new firm joined me in the conference room where we would be meeting a new client. “I understand you’re an island boy.”
“Not so much that boy anymore. Yes, it was difficult at first, but sometimes, that’s how a person learns what they are capable of, and if I hadn’t made those choices, I’d never have ended up here at this prestigious firm.”
Ronald Sturgis, a junior partner on the fast track, nodded. “And make sure you let the seniors hear you say things like that often. They take a lot of pride in our group and like it when the associates and juniors do it too.”
“Thanks, I will. It’s not hard to be admiring here.
” This was not my first position since passing the state bar.
And I hadn’t been unhappy at my previous firm, not really.
But the offer made to me here had been too good to pass up.
I’d been swept into the other office with dozens of other graduates of my year.
And eventually, I would have moved up, eventually being key.
Here, with the smaller number of attorneys on staff, I could make great strides, work with a wider variety of cases.
Frankly, that was a better incentive than the higher salary and speedier opportunities to advance.
I’d been pigeonholed, working largely on divorce cases.
Not something that made coming to work a very cheerful experience.
Of course, most clients were upset about something.
Or looking to us to protect them from something.
Criminal charges, civil suits, injuries, even wills.
I took my position as a defender seriously, and the clients responded to that.
The clients arrived just then, and we listened to their story and took notes, asking questions and determining what we could do to help them achieve their goals.
It was a will. Should have been so easy, but it never was.
“It’s just that the kids are already treating us like we have dementia,” the omega partner complained. “And I’m afraid if we don’t get this in place now, they will try to fight it when the time comes.”
“We have this. Have you thought of any more instructions for us?” We had a form they could fill out that saved a lot of time, but there were always additions, assets they thought of later, changes to what they’d put down initially, and in this case, there were already trusts and other things to be considered.
They had placed their trust elsewhere, a mistake.
By the time the clients left, we had made great progress, and the sun had set. And a few hours later, I had completed my work for the day and was ready to set off for an evening at my new club.
Crowned.
It was another one of the reasons I’d been glad to move to this city.
Although it was relatively new, the kink club had made a big splash among those who sought the company of like-minded individuals to express themselves.
At home, I’d only begun to wade into this world, but on the mainland, there were many who, like me, could appreciate a place like Crowned.
I was putting away as much money as possible with the goal of moving home one day, but one evening at Crowned convinced me that the membership was worth the cost. All work and no play and all of that.
Working into the evening more hours than not, I wasn’t getting there often, but every evening, whether playing or just visiting with new friends refreshed my spirit in ways I’d have a hard time explaining to an outsider.