I Fell In Love With My Client

Pressure

My boss has us working long hours since my coworkers got locked up for fraud. Now I have three cases I have to represent and only 5 hours of sleep today. At 30 years old I rarely had time to have fun. I graduated high school early and went off to college. After getting my associates degree, I went ahead and got my masters and so on to become a Lawyer. Almost everyone in my family is either a doctor, lawyer , or works in mental health. As a kid growing up on the white side of Memphis Tennessee I had dreams of being a singer and my father wasn't going for it. We lived on an army base and I guess you could say that I am spoiled rotten and everything is by the book. My two older brothers Michael and Leonard both went off to the army after highschool then became doctors. My sister Michelle was a lawyer like me and moved to Louisiana with her husband and their three kids. Then there is me , the baby , a lawyer and living with my parents still as a lawyer. I had my own crib years ago but a bad breakup with an ex resulted in me being put out. 3 years later I am still putting the pieces together.

"Damn it."I said, knocking white out over . I got up and cleaned it up a couple minutes later my co worker Lisa came up with paperwork in her hand.

"Another case for you."She said

"Damn...I can't take this Lisa. I already have three cases I am working on."I sighed, sitting back down.

"I know.. No one else will take it and he's a conflict of interest for me..he used to date my sister."She said, rolling her eyes.

"Who is he?"I asked, sitting down and looking through my drawer for a snack.

"His name is Kadeem Wright. He was charged with drug distribution, aggravated assault on a cop and carrying a firearm without a license."

'Any priors?'I asked.

"Nothing major...just juvenile offenses for fighting,"She said.

"Let me take a look,"I said, putting my glasses on. Lisa handed me the folder and sat down in the chair next to me. I opened the folder and a picture of a tall dark skinned man with waves, and tattoos was standing for a mugshot. He was fine as hell looking like a GQ model. I shook the thought of his muscles glistening in the picture away and read his background fully.

"Foster homes his whole life huh?"I said, shaking my head.

"Yep his mother Tina was a prostitute and left him in an alleyway by himself at 6 years old. His father died in a car accident when he was two and grandparents on his mothers side declined to take him in."

"That's crazy. I don't know why people have kids if they aren't going to do right by them."

"Be careful with Kadeem ...he's a smartass and manipulative."

"Thanks Lisa,"I said. I got up and got ready to head to the first courtroom. I had a court hearing for one of my clients at 9 in the morning. My first client was a woman beater and I felt ashamed to even be representing him but he paid a lot of money so I had to do my job. I walked into the courtroom beside my client , Mr. Dajuan Hicks. His ex wife sat in the courtroom with bandages and cuts all over her body. Their two children sat in the pew.

"Ms.Garrison has a plea negotiation been established?"The judge asked the prosecutor , my best friend, Hailee Judd.

"Yes your honor we agreed to probation and drug and alcohol counseling..He is not to have contact with the victim and visitation with his children is biweekly a family member of Mr.Hicks will pick the children up from their mothers home."The prosecutor said.

"Mr.Hicks, do you have anything you would like to say?"The judge asked .

"Yes. I want to apologize to my ex wife Anita..I hope one day we can get past this."He said . I felt disgusted inside because I was defending an abuser and he made my skin crawl every time I was around him.

"Mr.Hicks please abide by the rules of your probation and stay away from Anita Young.This case is now closed."The judge said.

I shook Mr.Hicks hand and walked over to Lisa to handle the filing piece.

"Girl you look sick, are you fine?"

"Just tired but I have one more case to do and then I have to give Kadeem a call."I said, rubbing my forehead.

"Let me take the next one . you go ahead and call Kadeem and get something to eat."She smiled while taking the paperwork from me. I headed down to the courthouse kitchen and grabbed a coffee. As I was walking in Kadeem was walking out.

"Are you Kadeem Wright?"I asked him to size him up. He was wearing an all black suit and had hair in waves. His teeth were super white and he smelled like blue polo.

"Yea..who are you?"He said, licking his lips.

"I am Sierra McCoy. I will be representing you . let me grab my lunch and then we will head to my office."I said walking over to the salad bar and grabbing my food. I paid for my meal and headed up to my office. When we got in Kadeem sat down in the chair across from mine and was tapping his fingers.

"So can you tell me what happened first?"

"I was taking my daughter to school when I got pulled over by this racist cop. We know him around the hood as Fallon. My daughter was nervous and crying in the back. He told her to shut up and I got in the car and beat him up. He called for assistance and they found the drugs and my gun in the car."Kadeem said.

"You know with these charges you are facing up to 5 years in prison."

"I know. I'm raising my daughter by myself. I can do probation, I can't do it for 5 years."He said, putting his head down.

"I'll speak to the D. A and see what we can do.For now let me know what I need to know about Fallon."

"He drinks heavily...got ties with the klan from what i've heard. Just a goofy redneck from Frayser."

"I need you to keep your nose clean until the court hearing. We have court in two months. In the meantime imma talk to my friend and see what we can come up with and i will keep in touch."

"Thanks baby."Kadeem winked standing up.

"Sierra will do or Ms.McCoy."I corrected him. Kadeem walked out and I began looking up information about the police officer Fallon. He owned a couple apartment buildings , most of his tenants were white only and he had several juvenile charges for Arson.

It was getting late so I grabbed my items and headed home. I lived on the white side of town a couple minutes away from Frayser . We owned our land and house and my mother had a mini house built next to it so she could hold her book club nights.

I walked in the house and my mother was watching tv while my father cleaned his work boots.

"Hey."I smiled.

"Hey baby . How was work?" My father said giving me a hug and a kiss.

"Pretty good. I am extremely tired tho."I said

"Well I put dinner in the microwave for you to go on and get something to eat and get some rest, baby."My mother said . I smiled and walked into the kitchen to heat up my plate. Afterwards I took the plate upstairs to my room and closed my door. As I was eating I could hear my parents talking downstairs.

"I just wish she would find someone new Frank..we are getting old and only have two grandchildren by Michelle and the boys aren't having kids anytime soon."My mother said.

"Gloria, don't rush her. I rather her take her time then get pregnant by one of these niggas out here."My father said.

I turned over and grabbed a picture of me and my ex out my drawer and looked at it. I took a lighter and burned it until it was dust then fell asleep. I too was waiting for that someone to settle down with.