Harvey Lancaster adjusted his tie as he stepped out of the courthouse, a small smirk on his face. He had just wrapped up a high-profile case involving two pharmaceutical giants. His client, Axium Biofram, had been the target of a hostile takeover, but Harvey had managed to block it in court. The stakes had been enormous, with billions of dollars on the line, but Harvey's arguments had been airtight, leaving the opposing counsel scrambling.
The reporters outside the courthouse swarmed him, shouting questions and snapping pictures. Harvey waved them off with a polite nod, heading straight for his sleek BMW M2 parked nearby. This wasn't the first time he'd been in the spotlight, and it wouldn't be the last. For Harvey, winning was a habit.
Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the engine and let the sound of the car's growl settle him. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at Harrison & York, the towering glass-and-steel building that housed one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Walking through the lobby, he nodded at the staff who greeted him. Their murmured congratulations followed him as he strode to the elevator, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor.
When he reached his office, his secretary, Claire, was already waiting for him. She was efficient and always two steps ahead.
"Good morning, Mr. Lancaster," she said with a bright smile. "Congratulations on the Axium case. Another victory for the books."
"Thank you, Claire," Harvey replied, loosening his tie. "Anything urgent on my desk?"
Claire's smile faded slightly. "Actually, Miss York has asked to see you. She's in the executive conference room with Mr. Harrison and the senior partners."
Harvey raised an eyebrow. Peter Harrison, the co-founder of the firm, rarely came in these days. If he was involved, it meant something big.
"Alright," Harvey said, straightening his tie again. "Let's see what this is about."
The atmosphere in the conference room was tense when Harvey walked in. Jessica York, the firm's other named partner, was seated at the head of the table. Peter Harrison sat beside her, along with three other senior partners.
"What's going on?" Harvey asked, his usual confidence giving way to curiosity.
Jessica gestured for him to sit. "First off, congratulations on the Axium case. Well done."
Harvey nodded. "Thank you. Now, what's this about?"
Jessica exchanged a glance with Peter before turning back to Harvey. "Are you familiar with the Blackwell family dispute?"
Harvey let out a short laugh. "Who isn't? Stephanie Riverplate is suing her brother, Alexander Blackwell, over their father's will. Typical rich kids fighting over Daddy's fortune."
The room remained silent. Harvey's smirk faded.
His attempt at humor fell flat. Jessica's expression remained serious. "Well, we're representing one of those rich kids."
Harvey frowned. "The sister?"
Peter Harrison spoke up, his voice gruff but steady. "No. Baldwin & Patterson are representing the sister. We're representing the brother."
Harvey's confusion deepened. "Wait—Baldwin & Patterson are the family's go-to firm. Why would they take her side?"
One of the senior partners muttered, "Told you he wouldn't take this seriously."
Peter Harrison leaned forward. "Because Alexander Blackwell specifically requested us. And more importantly, he requested you."
Harvey blinked, caught off guard. "Me? Why me?"
One of the senior partners, Carter, snorted. "I told you he wouldn't take this seriously. I should handle this case."
Jessica shot Carter a sharp look, silencing him. She turned back to Harvey. "They want you because you're the best. Alexander Blackwell doesn't settle for second place."
Harvey shook his head. "Absolutely not. I can't represent him."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"
Harvey hesitated. "I went up against his father once. Cassius Blackwell was… different. I've represented billionaires, royals, you name it. But that man… he wasn't human. He was like a machine—cold, calculating, and relentless. Even when I won, he still found a way to get what he wanted. Representing his son? No, thank you."
Jessica's tone sharpened. "But you did win. And Alexander isn't his father."
Harvey's jaw tightened. "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. The firm can take the case, but I won't."
Peter Harrison's voice cut through the tension. "If you don't take this case, you can forget about working here."
Harvey turned to him, his eyes narrowing. Before he could argue, Jessica stepped in. "Listen, Harvey. If we win this case, we don't just win for Alexander Blackwell. We solidify our reputation as the best law firm in the world. And if you win, we'll talk about putting your name on the wall."
The room fell silent. Harvey's gaze shifted between the partners, all of them watching him closely. Finally, he sighed.
"Fine," he said. "When do we start?"
Jessica's lips curled into a smile. "Now. Alexander Blackwell wants to see us immediately. You'll have support—John, Melissa, Carter, Elaine, and Richard will go with you."
As Harvey stood to leave, Jessica added, "One more thing… try not to anger the richest man in the world."
Harvey smirked. "No promises."
As the group prepared to leave, Peter turned to Jessica. "This case could make or break us."
Jessica's gaze didn't waver. "It won't break us," she said firmly. Her voice carried a quiet determination that silenced any lingering doubts in the room.
Harvey and his team exited the building, a black SUV waiting for them outside. As they climbed in, Harvey couldn't help but feel a knot forming in his stomach. This wasn't just another case. This was Alexander Blackwell, one of the most powerful man in the world, and Harvey knew better than anyone how dangerous that could be.
"Let's get this over with," Harvey muttered as the car pulled into traffic, carrying them toward what would undoubtedly be the most challenging case of his career.