Zatima: What if?

77. Familiar

|Law firm|

Mateo's lawyer just pulled up to the law firm's parking lot, just as she was about to get out of her car she got a call...

|Phonecall|

Lawyer: hey
Louis Sr: are you there yet?
Lawyer: I just pulled up, bout to head into the building
Louis Sr: okay cool! Make sure she gives you EVERYTHING
Lawyer: copy that! It's just some paperwork right?
Louis Sr: that's what Teo told me but last night I heard him talking on the phone, I didn't get much but he mentioned a recording
Lawyer: okay I'll ask her about it, ttyl

|Law firm- Reception|

Linda: good morning mam, how may I be of assistance?
Lawyer: I'm here to see Fatima Taylor
Linda: did you set up an appointment?
Lawyer: no but she's expecting me
Linda: okay please have a seat, I'll be right back

|Fatima's office|

Knock knock knock

Fatima: come in
Linda: sorry to disturb, there's someone here to see you but she didn't set up an appointment
Fatima: that's okay Linda, you can send her back in 5min
Linda: I'll do that *she leaves*

Fatima gathers all the documents and files along with the recording. She checks her phone notifs and that's when she sees Teo's voice-mail

Fatima: (listening)

Knock knock knock

Fatima: (whispers) shitttt! (Puts the recording in her drawer) come in
Lawyer: (sits down) I take it they've already briefed you on why I'm here?
Fatima: uhm first of all, hello to you too
Lawyer: (rolls eyes) look I'm not here to make friends, just hand over the things- I'm a very busy woman
Fatima: I don't appreciate your rudeness, miss?
Lawyer: (chuckles) don't worry about who I am just give me what I came here for
Fatima: (rolls eyes) gladly (gives her a box containing everything EXCEPT the USB that contains the recording)
Lawyer: (looks through the box)
Fatima: is something wrong?
Lawyer: are you sure you put everything in here?
Fatima: yeah so you can go ahead and get your rude ass outta my office
Lawyer: what about the recording of Teo's testimony?
Fatima: I already destroyed it, per his request
Lawyer: (stands and takes the box) aight let me get outta your hair, it was nice to officially meet you
Fafima: wish I could say the same

She leaves and slams Fatima's door on the way out

Fatima: (says to herself) this bitchhh
Andi: (walks in) girl what was that about?
Fatima: (sighs) that was Teo's lawyer, she came in here with such an attitude
Andi: between you and me, I'm glad we're done with that case. Way too much drama for my liking
Fatima: yeah me too, I just hope she'll be able to get him a reduced sentence especially since he's innocent
Andi: (shocked) wait whaaat?
Fatima: (sighs) yeah, his mom is actually the one who did it! I have it all on record
Andi: well did you give it to her?
Fatima: (hesitant) uhh no
Andi: Fatima what the hell?!
Fatima: I know this looks bad but he asked me not to give it to her
Andi: Fatima you do know that withholding evidence is a federal crime right?! Are you tryna get locked up or worse?
Fatima: quit being dramatic, I'm gonna destroy it! No one knows about it but him and I- well and you
Andi: (stands up) nope leave me out of it!! I'm not tryna get implicated with you
Fatima: (chuckles) girl quit being so damn scary and sit yo ass down, I'm bout to call him now
Andi: (sighs) fineee, put it on speaker

|PHONECALL|

Teo: (sounds jumpy) hey
Fatima: are you okay?
Teo: not really, but I will be
Fatima: Teo what does that even mean? What plan were you talking about?
Teo: the less you know the better, just tell me you destroyed it
Fatima: -silent-
Teo: you didn't??! I thought you said I could trust you! Shitt this fucks up my entire plan
Fatima: will you calm down!! I'm gonna destroy it now, but not before you tell me what your plan is
Teo: Fatima thank you for your help thus far, please delete and block this number!! Forget about me, I'll be fine as long as you keep your promise
Fatima: (worried) Teo please talk to me, maybe I can help
Teo: no!!!! Look I know my grandpa okay, he's ruthless! I'd never be able to live with myself if something happened to you or the baby in your belly.  *hangs up*

Andi: (terrified) Fatima what the hell did you get yourself involved in?
Fatima: (scared) girl idk how this shit escalated so fast, I was just doing my job
Andi: what do you think his plan is?
Fatima: idk but whatever it is it can't be good, he's not thinking straight!
Andi: well that's his problem! Destroy that damn USB!!!
Fatima: we can't do it here!! What if it ends up in the wrong hands?
Andi: (sighs) shit you're right!
Fatima: come home with me during lunch, we'll do it there. No one's home
Andi: does Zac know about any of this?
Fatima: no, I didn't see the need to tell him because I dropped the case anyway
Andi: (sighs) you know what I'm not even gon say it, we'll leave at 1:00
Fatima: sure, did that lawyer chick look familiar to you?
Andi: yeah, I think she's been on the news a few times
Fatima: I knew I've seen her somewhere, what's her name?
Andi: (chuckles) yall had a whole meeting and didn't exchange names?
Fatima: girl I told you she was rude asf
Andi: (checks her phone) her name is Daisy... Daisy Hall
Fatima: (remembers where she saw her) shitttttt

Meanwhile...

|Louis Sr house|

Daisy: (walks in) hey
Louis Sr: did you get everything?
Daisy: yeah, but there's no recording. She said she destroyed it
Louis Sr: what!!! Why tf would she do that?
Daisy: idk, probably client-attorney privilege. What's the big deal anyway?
Louis Sr: I know Teo is hiding something from me idk what, but that Fatima woman is the key
Daisy: well what are you gonna do?
Louis Sr: what do you know about her? We need to get that USB, one way or the other
Daisy: not much, I know she's married to some real estate guy- Zachary Taylor
Louis Sr: (smiles) perfect

He goes to his laptop and searches Zac, he finds the name of his company (Rise Properties) and calls the company line. The receptionist transfers the call to Zac

|PHONECALL|

Zac: this is Zac how may I be of assistance?
Louis Sr: hi uhm, you're speaking to Lou. I hear you're the man to talk to if I wanna buy some property?
Zac: yes sir! Would you like to set up a meeting?
Louis Sr: yes, the sooner the better. How's right now?
Zac: I'm fully booked for the morning but we can do 1:00
Louis Sr: that's perfect, see you then Mr Taylor  *hangs up*

Daisy: (confused) what was that about?
Louis Sr: idk how, but I'm gonna convince him to show me his house- that way I'll have their address and send my guys over to turn the place upside down until they retrieve that damn USB
Daisy: (smiles) I hope they find it!! Then I can sue Fatima for withholding evidence
Louis Sr: what's your deal with her? Seems to me like you have a personal score to settle
Daisy: (chuckles) let's just say... she thought she got away with it but she didn't

📝Author's note

Whew so Fatima has once again managed to get herself caught up in some BS...
Who remembers when we first got introduced to Daisy?