Crossroads

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Is this some kind of a joke?" I shriek at Lucas. "Because if it is, it is a sick one!"

"What are you yelling at me for?" Lucas stands up and bangs his fists on the table. "I am as surprised to see them as you are."

"So, you didn't call them?" I asked shocked and baffled.

"No, genius." Lucas drags his hands through his hair, irritated.

"I swear to God, Shanaya, you accuse my client of one more thing and I will slap you with a case so fast your head will spin."

"Actually," Nate raises his hand and stands smirking. "I called them."

"What?" How did he know about my cousins? In any case, I have to ask them to leave before the table turns in their favour. "Anyway Sakshit, Rahul and Manyata will not be representing you as their lawyer. Hence the matter is settled."

"We don't mind." Sakshit replies from behind.

I swear if I wasn't grounding my teeth in order to keep a lid on my temper, my jaw would have hit the ground with a thud.

"What?" I squeaked. Looks like my word of the month is what.

"We are their attorneys. It will be highly unprofessional of us to leave now." Rahul answered.

"But... but... but..."

"It's settled then." Manyata said firmly.

"What the hell, Manya?" Mike exploded.

"Mike?" I saw her eyes eat him up and then falter at what she just said.

"You will not sit across from me and defend these asshats. "

And shit just hit the fan.

Did I ever mention that my sister has commitment issues? Well, she does and it is so deep that if there is one thing that she can't tolerate, it's dominance.

"I will not allow it."

Well neither do I, for that matter.

"Allow it." Manyata and I shrieked at him together.

"What the fuck do you mean by 'allow it'?" Manyata all but growled. "I am not your slave to be commanded as you please. I am my own independent person who does not depend on anyone else to decide for me." Then she took a step forward and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sakshit and said haughtily. "We will represent our clients."

I glared at Mike and turned towards my family. "Can I talk to you, outside, in privacy?"

"I don't think-"

"NOW."

"Yeah, sure." Rahul agreed on behalf of the others.

As my family left the room, I turned and looked at Mike who gave me a sorry smile. "You jackass!" I spat at him and left the room. Once outside, I looked at my family and narrowed my eyes at them.

"What are you playing at?"

"Nothing. We're just representing our clients who had called us here for an emergency." I looked sharply at Sakshit, who looked as calm as a flower in a superhot, non-windy day. "And we just want to see how you interrogate." He relented.

"I can get kicked out of this interrogation for conflict of interest and you are interested in seeing me interrogate?" My voiced rose with disbelief. "Are you insane? Have you completely lost your mind?"

"You won't get kicked out." Rahul rolled his eyes. "You are overreacting. There will be conflict of interest if you knew the suspects but the same rule does not apply to us."