Disobedience

Chapter 30: Stupid Games, Stupid Prizes

Kimberly Jane

"Thank you for doing the favor again." I said to Madison as we both sat here at the patio  by my pool. It was a last minute favor to ask her to cover for me but she did it anyway.

"Yeah, no problem." She smiled and sipped her wine. "I'd really like to teach every now and I'm actually thinking about doing it long term, you know? Stay out of the messy courtroom..." She replied. Her tan suit contrasted the white cushions of the outdoor couch. Her Hermés rested on the coffee table in front of us and next to it was a bottle of Italian wine she brought.

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm one of the senior partners in the firm...I can always just demote myself to just being the face and name of the firm, and let my best friend oversee most of the cases. She can kick åss on her own most of the time."

I nodded. She does share a big firm with her best friend, Atty. Peyton Santiago-Nikolai. We're all in the defense field but we don't necessarily see each other as competition, if anything, we contact each other for law advise when the case gets too complicated.

"My kids are growing up and I want to be part of that.." She added.

I licked my lower lip.

"You're giving up law?"

She chuckled and shook her head.

"No, Kim. It'll always be a part of me but I just love my kids more than my career now and I'm ready to make that sacrifice for them."

"What is that supposed to mean? I knew how much of a career girl you are, ever since law school." I asked genuinely.

"There is this certain fulfillment that I feel whenever I do something that I love, what I'm passionate about and that is law for me, but when I had kids, I started to feel that fulfillment whenever they call me "Mama" or when I tuck them to bed, or when I make them lunches, or when I sit with my husband at night watching Titanic. Each day, I wanted more and more of those moments because the fulfillment is more than what I had ever felt, it was more than whenever I win a case or eat opposing lawyers for lunch."

Napalunok ako bago ako napalagok ng alak. I definitely see myself watching some cheesy and sad movies with him.

"So, this Pierceton boy.."

Napalingon naman ako sa kanya. She knew about Elijah. Madison and I knew each other all the way back in law school. She saved my åss a couple of times both in court and in my personal life. I also just had to hell someone in the legal community—someone to understand my dilemma.

"Are you gonna call me a cougar now?"

She threw her head back and laughed.

"Shut up. I was gonna call you 'cradle snatcher'" She grinned.

My mouth parted and I gasped.

"Madison!"

She laughed when I tossed her the throw pillow on my side.

"Just kidding. I don't think you are either, okay?" Bawi niya. "Look, girl," She crossed her legs as she put away the pillow I tossed her. A wine glass still in her hand just like mine. "I'm not the one to talk and judge here, my husband was a lot of things before he met me." She widened her eyes, and I chuckled. I was aware of that, it was all over the news for a good month before the chatters died down.

"He wasn't nineteen though."

"An adult and he wants you bad, like real bad." She said seriously. "You told me he hasn't seen you for a couple of days and you started pulling all these stunts, and he looks stressed and looks like hasn't slept at all."