Disobedience

Prologue

Atty. Kimberly Jane Wincezlao

"Father, I caught him with another woman in our own apartment." I said as I pressed my phone against my ear. The leather cushion of my Cayenne soothed me for a moment as I absentmindedly stared at the Porsche  logo on the steering wheel of my car. I tried to ignore the glare of the sun. The August heat seemed to be unforgiving today.

"Maybe you're not making him happy, Jane."

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. Did he really just blame me for the fact that Travis can't keep it in his pants?

"Father, our agreement is for him to not touch me until we get married. I can't have any liabilities out of wedlock." I replied.

I'm glad that there is an agreement because the idea of touching Travis makes me so nauseous. I doubt that he can even make me wet.

"I understand."

I sighed softly.

"I can't be with an unfaithful man. Father, you told me that he was good for me and I listened—-"

"-----And you have to keep listening to me, Jane. Travis is a decent man. You have to fix him. His father is running for president and he wants to select me as his vice president. We do not want to be in his bad graces." His stone stern and final, like always.

Napalunok ako.

"Okay."

"Good. I have to go now. I have more cases to hear."

I nodded like he could see me and said my goodbye. I let out another sigh when I tucked my phone in my brown Italian leather barrister briefcase.

I rested my head against the chair. I then pulled the sun visor down and revealed a small mirror. My blue eyes stared back at me. I took another breath and fixed my shoulder length blond hair into a neat ponytail before heading out to walk to the courthouse.

*.*.*.*.*.*

"Anong itatawag mo sa Judge?" Tanong ko kay Jefferson Flores habang nakatayo kami rito sa loob ng courthouse. The double doors of Judge Esperon's court are a few feet away from us. My hand is putting a simple tie around his collared shirt. Jefferson is my pro-bono case this week and I need him to appear as good as possible, so the night before I advised him to wear slacks and a formal shirt. Now, I am just putting on the tie I bought to make him look more presentable.

"Ma'am po."

In court, presentation is everything. Both cases and the people. As a lawyer, I had always been trained to dress decently. People would want someone who looks like they are put together to present them in front of a judge. The judge would want to be in favor of someone who looks like they are not guilty. It's a simple science.

"Good. Better yet, you refer to her as your honor, okay?"

He nodded. I tightened his tie and let it go.

"Hindi ko po alam kung paano kayo babayaran." Napakamot siya sandali sa kanyang batok. His brown eyes were weary.

"Huwag mo nang isipin ang ibabayad mo. You are pro-bono, which means you don't pay me anything, understood?" I replied that made him nod.

What I love about practicing law is that I don't have to necessarily specialize in one area like medical doctors too. I have an independent practice who currently take in defendants. However, if I wake up next month and I want to do banking law, I definitely can.

"But you have to promise me that after this, you will say sorry to your parents and keep your behavior good."

"Gaano po kayo kasigurado na hindi po ako makukulong."