Suits and Secrets

2. The Art of Sarcasm

Avery perched on the edge of a plush couch in her apartment, the city skyline painted in hues of oranges and reds through her floor-to-ceiling windows. Though the sight was breathtaking, aesthetic beauty couldn't overshadow her tumultuous thoughts. On her lap lay a pile of documents bearing the name Emilio Rossi. Arthur had firmly linked her fate to that of a man who could make even the thought of a face-lift cringe-worthy. For reassurance, she flipped the top page, as though it held the secret to resolving the existential crisis brewing inside her.

Across the room, Eveline Smith, her best friend and a tongue-in-cheek fashion designer, rustled about the kitchen in a whirlwind of creativity. She emerged occasionally, like a fairy godmother wielding fabric swatches more than a wand. "Avery! What do you think of this color scheme for my spring line?" she called. In her hand, she held two outrageous swatches—one a vibrant neon green and the other a sparkling silver.

"Definitely not the silver," Avery replied, eyeing the fabric like it was an alien subject invading her personal space. "It looks like something an alien would wear to a disco."

"Right? It's so 'Elliott from E.T.'" Eveline laughed, tossing the offending fabric into a pile. "What about the green? It screams 'chic space hermit,' don't you think?"

Avery couldn't help but chuckle. "More like 'I'm desperately seeking attention in the suburbs.'"

"Touché," Eveline said, making a grand gesture of defeat. She walked toward the couch, her wild curly hair bouncing gently with each step as a determined expression graced her face. "But enough about colors. What about you, Ms. Hart? You haven't mentioned anything exciting since your endless analysis of the latest court cases. This lawyer gig has you cooped up like a hen in a henhouse."

Avery groaned, running a hand through her tousled hair. "Well, some truly exciting news just dropped into my life. Brace yourself. I'm defending Emilio Rossi."

Eveline froze, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Shut the front door! The crime boss? The man with the dangerously sexy reputation?"

"The very same," Avery muttered, rolling her eyes. "He's not just a man, Eveline. He's a crime lord! A ruthless monster! This is not a rom-com; this isn't 'How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days'!"

"Not yet it isn't!" she said, her voice taking on a sing-song quality. There was a sparkle of mischief in Eveline's eye. "But imagine it—you, a powerful defense attorney, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's 'most sought-after criminal!' And you call it career suicide?"

"You make it sound like the plot of a cheesy novel," Avery retorted. "Wouldn't you be advocating for me to defend a guy who's practically a Tinder profile for 'Hot and Dangerous'?"

"I mean, if I could book a date night with him, I'd be the worst friend ever," Eveline replied, lip-sticking for emphasis. "But imagine the stories, Avery! You'd have a world-class story to tell at parties. 'Oh, did I mention I defended a crime boss? Yeah, he has a 'thing' for fast cars and expensive suits!'"

"I can just picture my career jetting off faster than a Ferrari on the run," Avery deadpanned. "Do you think anyone will care about my amazing argument when all they'll see is 'Avery Hart, Lawyer of the Underworld?'"

Eveline grinned, leaning closer. "They'll see 'Avery Hart: Reigning Queen of the Underworld'! You'd be like the lawyer equivalent of Nancy Drew but ten times cooler. And way more glam! Think of the fashion line you could launch—'Law and Order: Just Shades of Glam!'"

"I'll be the laughing stock of the legal community if I take this case! Imagine sitting at coffee with my colleagues and being greeted with applause for defending a monster! I'm hardly ready to join the 'bad-guy club!'" Avery exclaimed dramatically, folding her arms like an indignant character from a soap opera.