Fate's Unwritten Path

Chapter Two

Third Person POV:

Sasha's office buzzed with the energy of a new day. The morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished wood floors. But Sasha barely noticed. Her mind was already deep in the details of her newest case, a case that, if won, could elevate her status even further—or destroy it completely.

Ashley Carter, sister of one of the most feared men in New York City, was in serious trouble. The charge: embezzlement. The evidence was damning, but Sasha had already detected inconsistencies, the kind that could turn a case on its head. Still, defending the sister of a feared man was a dangerous game, even for her.

Sasha gathered her briefcase and left her office, her stride purposeful as she made her way to the jail. This was where the real work began—getting inside her client's head, understanding her story, and finding the cracks in the prosecution's case.

The ride to the jail was uneventful, giving Sasha time to mentally rehearse her questions, anticipating Ashley's responses. By the time she arrived, she was a picture of calm, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.

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Ashley Carter was younger than Sasha had expected. She was in her early twenties, with the same sharp features as her brother, but softer, more vulnerable. Her blonde hair hung limply around her face, and her eyes were red-rimmed from what looked like days of stress and sleepless nights. Despite her circumstances, there was a quiet strength about her, a determination that Sasha immediately recognized.

The jail's sterile environment contrasted sharply with the designer clothing Sasha wore, but she paid it no mind. The steel door clanged shut behind her as she entered the small room where Ashley waited, seated at a cold metal table.

Ashley looked up as Sasha entered, her gaze steady despite the tension in her posture. 

"You're the lawyer?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of doubt.

"Yes," Sasha replied, taking a seat across from her. "My name is Sasha. I'm here to get you out of this mess."

Ashley blinked, a flash of hope crossing her features before she steeled herself. 

"I didn't do it, you know. The embezzlement. It's all a setup."

Sasha nodded. "I believe you. But I need to know everything—every detail, no matter how small. Tell me exactly what happened."

Ashley took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began to speak. 

"I work for a non-profit—one that helps children in underprivileged neighborhoods. I've been with them for years, doing everything from fundraising to managing our finances. A few weeks ago, I noticed some discrepancies in our accounts. Money was disappearing, but it wasn't me. I reported it to my boss, and that's when things got strange. Suddenly, I was the one being accused. They found money in my personal accounts, but I swear I didn't put it there."

Sasha leaned in, her mind working through the information, piecing together a timeline. 

"Did anyone else have access to those accounts? Your boss, perhaps?"

Ashley hesitated. "My boss... he's been acting differently lately. More stressed, and paranoid. But I can't imagine he would do something like this."

Sasha's eyes narrowed. "And the money found in your account—how much was it?"

"Nearly half a million dollars," Ashley replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Enough to ruin your career and make it look like you were planning to flee," Sasha mused aloud. "Who else knows about this?"