James sat in the passenger seat of his father's Ford Explorer, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. The morning sun gleamed across the rooftops of downtown San Francisco, casting long slashes of gold across the city's skyline.
He clutched a worn folder against his chest — inside were the blueprints of his future: patent drafts, technical specifications, designs.It felt heavier than it should.
They pulled up in front of the mid-sized law firm, Hamilton, Reese & Partners. The name glinted on a brass plaque by the door.
Thomas turned and gave his son a reassuring smile."Relax, James. Danny's a good guy. He'll take care of you."
James nodded but said nothing.Today wasn't just another meeting — it was his first real leap into the new life he was carving out for himself.
Inside, the firm was professional but modest — heavy oak furniture, thick carpeting that silenced footsteps, and the smell of strong coffee lingering in the air.
Danny Hamilton himself strode out to greet them. A tall, broad man in his fifties with thinning blond hair, a tanned face, and a warm, confident handshake.
"Thomas!" he boomed, clapping James' father on the back."And this must be the young prodigy I keep hearing about."
James smiled awkwardly and shook his hand."Just trying to get things moving."
"That's how empires start," Danny said with a grin. "Come on, let's talk."
Danny's office was lined with legal books, awards, and framed photos of him on various golf courses — a clear sign he spent as much time networking on the green as he did in courtrooms.
They sat across from him as he flipped open James' folder and scanned the documents.
"So," Danny said after a moment, "you're applying for patents on an ad delivery system, click tracking, dynamic targeting, one-click ordering... a full suite of e-commerce and digital advertising tech."
James nodded.
Danny whistled low."Ambitious. I like that."
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk."Alright, kid. Here's the deal. Your patents can definitely be filed with the American Patent Office. If you want global protection — Europe, Asia, other regions — we can file internationally too."
James nodded again, already bracing for what came next.
"But," Danny said, holding up a finger, "you need to be aware. Patents aren't a one-and-done deal. After application, you have to pay annual maintenance fees. In multiple jurisdictions, those fees pile up fast. We're talking thousands of dollars a year."
James didn't even blink.
"I want them filed everywhere," he said with a firm voice."I can't afford to leave any opening."
Danny chuckled."Spoken like a true businessman."
He made a few notes, then looked back up."Normally, the patent office will take one to two months to process everything."
James' face immediately fell.
"In my last..." he caught himself, "...it usually took three months for patents to clear. Sometimes longer."
He remembered vividly — sitting, waiting, feeling helpless as the world moved on without him.
He couldn't afford that kind of delay this time.
"Can't we speed it up?" he asked, his voice tight.
Danny gave him a knowing grin."Well, of course. Bureaucracies are slow... unless you pay to move faster. With expedited processing fees — and a little... persuasion — we can push things through."
"How fast?" James asked sharply.
"Normally? Two weeks," Danny said."But if you're really serious — and you're willing to pay premium fees — I can get your filings reviewed and cleared in three days."
James stared at him, stunned.
"Three... days?!" he exclaimed.
Danny laughed, amused at his reaction."Welcome to the real world, kid. It's all about connections — and knowing where to apply a little pressure."
James sat back, half laughing at himself."God, in my previous life it took months. I always thought it was some complex process of government examination... and it turns out it's just... money and friends."
He shook his head in amazement.
"Really, it's all about connections," James muttered to himself.
Danny winked."Connections, and knowing who to call at the right time."
James didn't hesitate another second.
"Do it. Three days. Whatever it costs."
Danny clapped the desk once."Consider it done."
They spent the next hour finalizing paperwork, scanning documents, and preparing the expedited filings.
When James finally left the firm, he carried a signed retainer and a fresh sense of momentum.
The future was no longer just a dream.It was being built, piece by piece.
The next stop was the San Francisco City Attorney's office, where his older sister, Lillian, worked.
Lillian wasn't just smart — she was razor-sharp. At 37, she had already built a fearsome reputation in the city for her legal mind, her quick tongue, and her slightly rebellious streak that sometimes annoyed the more conservative establishment she worked in.
As he walked into the gleaming municipal building, he spotted her at a security checkpoint — arms crossed, arguing good-naturedly with a guard about a procedural technicality.
Typical Lillian.
When she saw James, her face lit up.
"Hey, little brother!" she called, waving him over.
He hugged her briefly, inhaling the scent of her light vanilla perfume mixed with courthouse paper.
"You said you needed help setting up a company?" she asked, leading him toward a small conference room.
"Yeah," James said. "I need to incorporate DoubleClick Advertising Inc., get contracts ready, founder agreements, all the basics. Plus make sure I'm totally clean with city and state laws."
She raised an eyebrow, impressed."You're not playing around."
"No time to waste," James said, smiling.
She grinned."Alright. Let's get to work."
Inside the conference room, Lillian pulled out her laptop and set to drafting documents with a speed and confidence that made James dizzy.
"So first — Articles of Incorporation," she said."Name, purpose, initial directors. That's easy."
James nodded, rattling off answers as she asked.
"You'll need a business address," she added without looking up.
James winced."I can't use Dad's garage?"
Lillian gave him a look that could have melted steel."You want people to take you seriously? Rent an office. Even a tiny one downtown."
James grinned sheepishly."Alright, alright."
As she typed, she glanced over at him, her tone softening.
"You're serious about this, aren't you?"
James nodded, his expression earnest.
"I'm going to build something real, Lillian. Something that changes things."
She stopped typing and looked at him, studying his face.
"I believe you," she said finally.
"You do?"
She smiled, a bit wistfully."James, the system is built to keep dreamers like you out. If you're already breaking through — at your age — don't let anyone stop you. Not even yourself."
James swallowed hard, feeling a sudden, fierce pride.
"Thanks, Lillian."
She smirked, her rebellious side flashing for just a moment.
"Just don't forget about me when you're famous, alright?"
He laughed."Deal."
By the end of the day, James had everything he needed: patent filings on the way, incorporation documents submitted, a checklist of legal requirements ready.
As he walked out of the city building into the crisp San Francisco air, he realized something important:
He wasn't doing this alone.
He had his father's support.He had Lillian's sharp mind.And he had Danny's connections.
James looked up at the setting sun, feeling the fire light up inside him again.
This time, he wasn't going to fail.