Pretentious and misguided lawyer Leila discovers a new passion in her job when she is assigned to defend a sixteen-year-old boy for murder against the state. Unfortunately, what she presumes to be an open-shut case is more complex. The hottest rappe...
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I had spent the better part of an hour organizing and cleaning my apartment, knowing that Kaanon was coming over to help me review all the information in Kadeem's case. My nerves were beginning to fray, so I tried to channel my energy into making sure everything was perfect. The stacks of legal documents were neatly organized on the coffee table, and I had even taken the time to brew a pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, hoping it would make Kaanon feel more at ease.
"Leila, have you picked out a dress for the gala yet?" my mother, Trisha, asked through the phone, her voice riddled with its usual air of impatience.
"Uh huh," I mumbled, barely listening as I continued to fluff the throw pillows on my couch. Trisha was never one to let up on her expectations of perfection, and I knew she'd want every detail on my outfit and date for the event.
"Who's your date? Is it someone from the law firm?" she prodded further.
"Mom, I'm really busy right now. Can we talk about this later?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I glanced at the clock nervously.
"Fine, we'll discuss it later. But don't leave it too late, Leila. I need to know who you're bringing."
Just as I was about to respond, the doorbell rang. Relief washed over me as I took the opportunity to end the call with my mother. "Sorry, Mom, I've got to go. Someone's at the door. Love you."
"Love you too, honey. Bye," Trisha said, and I hung up, grateful for the reprieve.
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my blouse and opened the door to reveal Kaanon standing on my doorstep. His tall frame loomed over me, and his pecan-toned skin seemed to glow in the warm light of the hallway. His soft, curly hair was close-cropped and tapered, while his beard framed his face perfectly.
"Hey," Kaanon greeted me as I opened the door.
"Hi, come on in," I said, stepping aside to let him enter.
As Kaanon surveyed the cozy one-bedroom apartment, I couldn't help but feel proud of the eclectic mix of furniture and décor that made it feel like home. The colorful tapestry on the wall, the bookshelves filled with legal volumes and personal favorites, all spoke to who I was. I just hoped that Kaanon would see that too.
"Nice place," Kaanon said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "It's got...uh character."
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a small sense of accomplishment at his compliment. "Let's get started on Kadeem's case, shall we?"
"Aight, so where do we start?" Kaanon asked, taking a seat at the dining table as I handed him the coffee I brewed earlier.
"First, let's go over what we know about the case and then brainstorm some ideas on how to move forward," I suggested, pulling out my laptop and the case files.
"Sounds like a plan. You lead the way," he said, leaning back in his chair as he sipped his coffee, his gaze never leaving mine.
"Alright, so we know that Kadeem has been accused of a murder, which he swears he didn't commit," I began, summarizing the case. "The evidence against him is circumstantial at best, but the lack of cooperation from potential witnesses is making it difficult to build a solid defense."
