Will Parnell had just finished breakfast when his cell phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Will. It’s Jared Coombs from the Governor’s office in Harrisburg. The Watson firm in DC referred me to you. Apparently, they worked with you on a relocation analysis for a public relations firm that helped them lure in a big tenant for their landlord client. Anyway, they thought that you might be interested in helping us in a similar situation. I called your old firm, and the receptionist informed me that you were no longer there, and she was kind enough to give me a number for you.”
Will smiled. “Sure, how can I help you?”
Will and Coombs talked for the next hour about the situation. They agreed that Will would be placed on a retainer by the State of Pennsylvania and receive a success fee if the company decided to locate anywhere in the state from its current location in LA.
After a shower, Will checked his email. There was an invitation to his class reunion, number fifteen. There were also several emails from his old friends asking him to attend. They had heard about the divorce and felt this was the right thing for him to do. He groaned and responded to his friends that he’d think about it. It wasn’t until September, which was six months away, so he had plenty of time to decide.
He settled in at his workstation and formed a limited liability company online in Delaware, Parnell & Associates, LLC. Next he sent Jared Coombs a basic services contract reflecting the terms of the deal they made.
Less than an hour later he was pleasantly surprised to see that it was signed and returned.
That was fast, he thought.
His cell phone rang again. It was the receptionist from his old firm. “Will I’m going to connect you to the managing partner in a minute, but first just listen. Brodsky is going to fire the firm unless they can get you to work on the account, at least that’s what I heard at the water cooler.” She paused, “You ready for me to connect you?”
“Sure … and thanks.” His mind sorted through several possibilities.
The managing partner came on. “Hello Will.”
“What a surprise,” he said.
“Not really. We have been working for the last four weeks on the Brodsky account, and we have learned that your work was very important to the project, so I have a proposal for you, if you’re interested.”
“I might be, depending on what it is,” Will said.
“The firm is willing to pay you as a contractor at the partner rate to spearhead the work on the account.”
“What’s the status of the relationship with Brodsky?” Will asked.
“I want to get the original team back in place … for continuity.” She ducked his question. Her lines were well practiced.
Will thought about it. “Here are the terms that I would proceed with. You tell Brodsky that the firm’s original work is mine. Furthermore, I would be willing to have my new firm, which I control, contract with them and pay your firm a referral fee of ten percent of the revenue my firm receives. Additionally, the referral contract with your firm will require that asshole partner of yours to stay away from the client, any work related to it, and me. I’ll write the engagement … and this is non-negotiable.”
“I would have to take this to the partners–”
Will had had enough. “You have twelve partners. You have until five to accept my offer, which I’ll have to you within the hour. If I don’t hear from you or you don’t accept it, I’ll contact Brodsky at 5:01.”
There was a momentary silence. “What the hell happened to you?” She asked angrily.
“I woke the fuck up. You have until five.” He hung up.
Will prepared a referral agreement and sent it to the managing partner.
He put on his sweats and went for a jog.
Life was changing fast. There can’t be any more changes in store for me, he thought.
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