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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Quentin's smirk widened as he saw me, but his gaze immediately shifted to Kaanon and lingered there.
"Leila, " He greeted me with a smug grin, "it's been a long time." His eyes flickered over to Kaanon. "And who's your friend?"
"Quentin, this is Kaanon," I introduced them, my voice barely concealing my disquiet. Kaanon offered a polite nod, but I could feel the unease radiating from him as he took in my ex and his glowing wife.
"Nice to meet you, man," Kaanon said quietly, trying not to let his discomfort show. However, I knew him well enough to sense his struggle beneath the calm exterior.
My ex-boyfriend's brow rose as he glanced between us. "Likewise," Quentin replied, a hint of condescension in his voice. He nodded at Kaanon before setting his gaze directly on me, ignoring Kaanon as if he were nothing more than an unfortunate accessory. "So, Leila, how have you been?"
"I've been good," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, even though the sight of Quentin and Vanessa made me feel like I was suffocating. "Just busy with work."
"I bet," Quentin said with a smirk. "You always did have a way of keeping yourself busy."
I felt Kaanon shift beside me, his body tense. I knew he could sense the tension between Quentin and me, even if he couldn't see it.
As the caterers began to serve dinner, I couldn't help but notice the rigid posture of both men, their jaws set in tight lines. Though they attempted to maintain decorum, it was evident that neither was thrilled with the seating situation.
Quentin's wife Vanessa spoke up, her voice smooth and honeyed. "So, Kaanon, what do you do?" Vanessa was a stunning woman with long, curly hair and bright, green eyes. She seemed to have a permanent smile on her face, which only made me feel more uneasy.
"I'm a musician," Kaanon replied, his voice low and hesitant. "I rap."
Vanessa's eyes widened, and she turned to Quentin with a look of mock surprise. "A rapper? How fascinating! I've always been interested in the arts," She gushed.
"tell us more about your music."
As she spoke, I couldn't help but notice how radiant Vanessa looked. Her soft, caramel skin glowed under the warm lighting of the banquet hall, and her dark curls framed her face perfectly. The slightest hint of a baby bump beneath her elegant gown only added to her ethereal beauty.
"Uh, sure," Kaanon replied, clearly caught off guard by Vanessa's interest. He hesitated for a moment before diving into an explanation of his musical influences and the message behind his lyrics.
Quentin mused, swirling his wine glass idly. "I think I've heard some of your music. A bit... different from what I usually listen to, but I suppose it's got its own charm."
I could tell Kaanon wasn't about to let Quentin's condescension slide, but I prayed he wouldn't let it boil over into a full-blown confrontation.
"You barely ever kept up with current music anyway," I replied, my voice sharp. "Kaanon's music is for people who actually have a taste for talent."
