"Are you able to represent me, my company has been taken illegally." I said
"Apologies, we're not accepting anymore cases for the month." The attorney replied
I sighed, "Okay, thank you." I said and hung up, tossing my phone on my bed.
I've been spending every single day calling attorneys seeing if one could represent me in my case, everyone is booked or they don't want the case.
With so much going on, I'm sorry, did I forget to mention, my name is Taylor. Taylor Houghton, 25.
To make my story as short as possible, since it's the least appeasing story to hear, I'll make it short and simple. My father raised me and he has been in my life since I can remember, my mother died when I was just 9, so my father has been both my mother and father and I'll forever appreciate him for that. He raised me to be tough and to always fight and to never give up.. but with the way my cards are falling, it's looking kind of hard.
In a minute I'm going to give up and let the company go, that's not how I was raised, and plus my father and I both have put so much into this company that giving up should be the last few words in our vocabulary.
I sighed and grabbed a hold of my papers again, and
my laptop. I'm back to searching for attorneys and giving them calls.
"Hi, my name is Taylor Houghton and I'm the former owner of the company T. Houghton AF and corporation, it was illegally taken from me and I need an attorney to represent me to legally gain it back. Are you or anyone else able to represent me?" I asked
"How long has it been out of your possession?" She asked
"Just about a week or two." I said
"I may be able to help you, I just need proof that it was illegally taken from you." She explained
I sighed, "I have a piece of paper, but it doesn't insinuate any illegal actions taken, but—" I started
"Well sweetie unless you have documentation that it was illegally taken from you, I can't really help you." She said
I sighed, "Do you know of someone that can?" I asked
"No one will be able to take your case unless you have the proper proof and evidence that you need, you'll have to chop this company up as a loss." She said
I said okay and hung up.
I should've cursed her out, with her unprofessional ass. I know I'm not a lawyer but I know that I can at least appeal this or something, even if I can't get an attorney to represent me. She just flat out told me to consider this company I put all my hard work into, as a loss.
And if it was illegally taken from me, why would I have the "proper" documents?
It was taken illegally, there aren't any documents.
I tossed my laptop and phone aside and went into the kitchen of my large 3-bedroom and 3-bathroom house. I honestly don't need a house as big as this, but since I have the money to, why not get what I want?
I grabbed a granola bar and slid on my slide on shoes and a jacket to go with my leggings and half top I was walking around the house in. I grabbed my phone off of my bed and my car keys and left out.
I'm about to go to look in my last resort- an attorneys office not too far from here. I'm kind of discouraged for even going down here because everyone that walked in this office walked out with little to nothing done. They rarely accept cases here and if they do accept them, they never win.
"Hi, can I help you?" The lady at the front desk asked
"Yes, my name is Taylor Houghton and I'm the former owner of the company T. Houghton AF and corporation, it was illegally taken from me and I came here looking for an attorney to represent me to legally gain it back." I explained
She sighed and looked through the computer, "No one here is available to take any more cases, if they are, not this kind of case." She said
Figured.
"Okay, thanks.." I sighed, about to walk away
"Wait— I do know of one of the best attorneys in town," she paused while looking around at her desk, "he typically wins all of his cases, but I'm not sure if he's booked or not or if he'll take this type of case, although he has worked a variety of them. If he is available, he's very hard to book with so I'll give you his card but I can't help you from here." She explained
I smiled, "Thank you!" I said and grabbed the card from her
I jogged to my car and sat in the drivers seat and dialed the number right there.
It went to voicemail after a few rings, the person directed me to leave a voicemail and I did so, leaving my name, number and why I was calling. Fingers crossed that he gets back with me.
I pulled up to Mia's house, maybe we can go to lunch or something.
Mia and I are just cool, as I stated before. We're not really close best friends, but we're not strangers with each other either. We went to high school together and have been cool since.
I knocked on her door and she opened within seconds, "Hey girl, I was just thinking to call you." She said, stepping aside
"Yeah, sorry about popping up, I was already out so I said why not?" I said as I walked to her couch.
"What have you been doing today?"
She sighed, "Nothing really, looking for jobs."
"If my company was in my hands, I'd get you a job there even though you have no experience." I said
"That's so sweet, and speaking of your company, how is it going? You know, as far as you getting it back?"
I let out a loud sigh, "Girl, not good. Every attorney I've reached out to won't take my case- but, I just got a number to another one and I heard he's good, I left him a voicemail." I said
"Good luck, boo." She said
"Thank you, I have a list at home of jobs hiring, I don't need it but I kept it just in case. I'll either send you a picture or bring it to you."
My started ringing on my lap, I immediately picked up, hoping it was the attorney I called earlier, but it was my father.
"Hey pops." I answered
"Hey, honey. How are you?" He asked
"I'm fine, what about you?"
"Great, how's our company?" He said, sounding very proud.
I let out a sigh, "It's... it's going great. Couldn't get any better."
I hate to lie to my father but, I wouldn't dare tell him his company was taken from me and it was from someone I affiliated with. I won't hear the end of the, "You don't mix business with pleasure" talk..
"Okay, I was thinking of stopping up there." He said
"Oh.. uh, we're extremely busy, I'll let you know when things die down and you can stop by then."
He chuckled, "Really? What does that have to do with me stopping by?"
"We just don't need any distractions, dad, nothing personal." I said
"Okay, honey. Let me know when y'all aren't as busy." He said
"I'm about to go out with my lady friend so I'll call you later, stay safe, love you." He said
I smiled to myself, "Love you more, dad." I said and hung up
I returned back in the living room with Mia and I chilled and sipped on a margarita for a minute.
After we finished talking I headed back home, right when I pulled into my driveway my phone started ringing again.
It was an unknown number but I answered it anyway.
"Hello?"
"Can I speak to a... Taylor Houghton?" The male voice asked
"This is she, may I ask who's calling?"
"This is Christopher Brown, I'm an attorney. You called this office a few hours ago, stating you wanted me to represent you." He explained
"That is true, I'll explain to you—"
"I would like to arrange a date to meet, I don't like holding the phone, or discussing cases over the phone if it's our first time discussing it." He slightly chuckled
"Okay, that's fine, what date are you free?" I asked
"Tomorrow at 10:30, I'll email you my office address." He said
I recited my email to him and we ended the phone call.
Hope all goes well tomorrow morning.
•
•
I woke up bright and early, put on my best business attire and headed out.
I got there at 10:25.
"I have an appointment with attorney Christopher Brown." I said to who I'm assuming was an assistant.
"He's not in yet, but his office is located on the tenth floor, suite D1, you can wait outside of it until he gets here." She said to me
"Okay, thank you." I replied
I went upstairs and sat outside of the office in the chairs provided. There was a table for coffee and granola bars were available. I grabbed a granola bar and sat back down.
I scrolled on my phone while waiting on him to get here, before I knew it it was 10:45 and he hadn't been here yet.
What the hell? Late upon first meet, I don't know if I wanna use him if he's late like this.
Another 15 minutes had passed.
I was seconds from calling him, then I was minutes from canceling this meeting and going home, but this is my last hope so I don't want to give up just yet.
I stood up, grabbing my suit case, ready to go.
A man came speeding by me, struggling with his keys in hand.
"Are you Taylor Houghton?" He asked
Well damn! And to think I was about to leave.
"Uh— Yes." I said
He opened his office door, "I'm sorry for the delay, please step in." He said and stepped aside
"Damn traffic, then there was an accident so I had to detour, then—" he paused and sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm rambling, but please excuse me being late, I should've called. If I take your case it won't happen again." He assured me
I didn't pay attention to him talking, I was mesmerized by his face. I didn't expect for him to be this fine.
I hope he takes my case.
"So, explain to me what is going on." He said while getting out his things.
"My company was taken illegally. I'm the CEO of T. Houghton's A.F. and corporation, A.F. Is accounting firm, I need help getting it back." I said
"How was it taken illegally?" He asked
"I-I don't know, I just came into work one day and was told I had no right to enter and was passed a sheet of paper telling me the company is no longer mine." I shrugged
"The first mistake you did was not contacting someone immediately to file a lawsuit against whoever the new owner is for the illegal actions taken." Christopher said
"No one would even take my case for me to think of
filing a lawsuit." I replied
"Well someone just took it now and that's the first step we need to take, you know who's the new owner right?" He asked
"Yes, Lance Morrison."
"Alright, tell me more about this Lance, I need as much information on him as possible." He said
"Wait so you're taking my case?" I asked
"I didn't tell you to get out of my office yet, did I?" He smirked
I smiled in return.
Finally!
Did ya like? The new attorney is so fine.. but meanwhile , this is Lance (I'm sure y'all already knew)
Ria 💋