Chapter 1
1891 Words
Leanne Ree Monteverde
"The court found the defendant not guilty!" the judge shouted while hitting the gavel his holding.
I looked at my client, Mr. Abraham Monseratt.
"Thank you so much Attorney, for helping us to win in this case."
We shook hands.
"You’re welcome but you don’t have to thank me, Mr. Monseratt. It’s my job." I respond to him.
He nodded his head. "But still, thank you for saving my family and honor." He finally said before turning around and walk towards his parents who are busy talking to the media.
I saw some of the media were going in my direction. I walked faster as I can. Thankfully, I managed to get out there safely.
I walked out in the basement and I took me and drive immediately.
I’m always doing this every time I took a case. I always avoid the media or reporters, I want my life to be somehow private even though it’s impossible because the cases I handled were always big and controversy, like for example the Monseratt family case. It’s a big case because their family is a well-known business magnate in Europe.
Being an International Lawyer is hard especially to all the big people I need to deal with. Some of them are a politician from different countries here in Europe and some parts of America... and a lot of business tycoons too.
*****
"Congrats Attorney!" My colleagues congratulated me from the moment I entered the floor which my office located.
I smiled at them. "Thank you, guys!” I said thanking them.
After thanking them I went inside my office and start to review the cases that I need to handle.
After reviewing the files, I feel my head aching. That’s why I open my table drawer to look for some Advil but before I could find it, my attention went to the back facing picture frame. I picked it up and stared at it... it was a family picture, my family pictures. I wasn't sure if I'm still part of this family because I was just a big disappointment to them. They made me realized that before... I shook my head as I placed it back on my drawer and closed it.
I was in dazed at the moment thinking of the people I chose to left behind. I don’t know if they were happy when I left. I hope they are because I did it for them. I smiled bitterly while thinking about it.
Aside from my family, my mind also invades by someone who made me lost everything in me. Someone I thought will be with me through ups and downs but unfortunately that someone turned his back on me in the darkest time of my life and disregard me like trash.
I wondered what happened to him? Does he even know that I didn't do what he thought I did? Is he still blinded to what really happened?
I came back to my senses when the telephone rings.
I accept the call. "Yes, Jen?"
"Attorney you have a call from Madam Pat, she's on the line the 1" Jenny said. Jenny is my secretary.
"Alright. Thanks, Jen!" I said before pressing the line 1. "Hello Madam?"
"Hello Leanne, are you busy?" Madam Pat greeted me.
"No, Ma'am I'm not."
"Can we meet now? I want to talk to you... can you come up here to my office?"
"Of course, ma'am. I'll be up there in 10 minutes." I informed her.
“That’s good! See you.” She said before hanging up the call.
I left my office and walked to the elevator. As I entered the elevator, I press the top floor button, which is the CEO's office. Madam Patricia Evans is the owner of Evans International Law Firm. They have expanded in a lot of countries in the world. Their main headquarter is in London which is where I am right now. I’ve been working here for almost four years now. After I graduated from Harvard and took a bar exam. I got an offer to work for Evans.
When I got out of the elevator, Madam Pat's secretary immediately came to me and greeted me.
"Good Afternoon Attorney, Madam Pat is waiting for you.” She said and escorted me to the madam pat office door.
She opened the door. "You may enter Attorney.”
I went in and found Madam talking to someone on her cellphone. Madam pat pointed the sofa set in front of her table signaling me to sit there. That’s why I went there and sat down.
Madam pat sat down in front of me.
"Good afternoon Madam." I greeted my boss.
Madam Pat smiled at me. "Good afternoon, please call me auntie, there’s no one else here."
"Yes, auntie!" I smiled at her too.
"Congratulation on winning the Monserrat case, their family is so thankful to our firm and especially to you." She sounds proud and happy.
"It's my honor to represent them to the court" who wouldn't be? Monserrat is one of the richest families in Europe. They have a connection to the royal family but apparently someone framed the up. Someone sabotages their factory and framed to take fault.
"Yes! Of course, but I called you here for a different reason. You see my son. Lucas is in the Philippines right now. He's currently living there for good."
"Yes, auntie. Lucas told me the last time he was here, that he's going stay there for good"
Lucas is my best friend. We became friends when we met in college. I was taking up my pre-law at that time while Lucas was taking up his MBA. Lucas was born here in London but now he’s currently staying in my home country, the Philippines due to his new business ventures in that country.
"You see, he needs help for his friend. They need a lawyer and he requested you"
I feel nervous, I think I’m not going to like what this conversation will go. I tried my best to avoid getting cases in Asia particularly in the Philippines and madam pat is fully aware of that.
Even Lucas knew that I don’t have plans to go back. They never knew why... They never knew the story of my life back then.
"But Auntie, you know that I don't want to come back-"
She cut me off. "Please Leanne, Lucas wants you to be there. And your one of the few people he trusts. You know that he has trust issues, right? I even convinced him to request another lawyer from our firm there but he insists that he only wants you, he wants his best friend to be with him." She reasoned out.
I shook my head. Madam pat saying the truth. Lucas has trust issues and I feel happy that I’m one of the few people he trusts. I can still remember when I met him. At first, he was cold to me until we clicked. We became close when he realizes that I wasn’t affected by his charm, his words not mine.
Maybe he said it because before a lot of woman in the campus wants to be with him. A lot made it too obvious that they want him not just because of his physical looks but also because of his name and money.
"Please Leanne...."Madam pat pleaded which is got me back to my senses.
I heaved a deep sighed. I can’t say no to this woman. She helps me here with a lot of things.
This woman was the one who offer her to work here in London. "And you can manage our firm there. Lucas might be visiting the firm but he is too busy to his own business that's why he's rarely visited the firm." And she held her while giving a look that I really can't say no.
She sighed in defeat. I know I don’t have a choice but to agreed. “Okay! I’ll accept it.”
Madam pat smiled "thank you, Leanne. Don’t worry about your accommodation, we'll take care of everything. And I know Lucas too."
I just nodded at her and we talked about the pending cases that I’m handling. She suggested to me, to give my case to other lawyers.
*****
I was so tired when I lay down to my bed.
I can’t still get rid of the idea of me coming back to the Philippines. I still have doubts if that was a good idea but I know it’s too late now. I already agreed to madam pat.
I was about to close my eyes when my cellphone rings.
I answered it without looking who’s calling.
"Hello!” I answered.
"Hey Leanne, it's me Lucas. Did I disturb you?"
"No, I'm just about to sleep when you call. So, what's up?" I told him.
"Mom told me, you accepted my request"
"Hmmm yes." I nodded my head even as if Lucas can see it.
"Thank you, Leanne. Ikaw lang ang maaasahan ko about dito (you’re the only one I can trust about this)" I was surprised when I heard him speak in the Tagalog language.
I remembered when we were in college, we have another friend who’s also a Filipino too. We always talked in the Tagalog language. Lucas was always got mad because he can’t follow when we speak that way. So, we teach him the Tagalog language, he learned to understand it but he has difficulty when trying verbally.
I chuckled before talking "So you can speak Tagalog now. How do you manage to do that?”
"Well, what do you know. I'm a man of talent" I can imagine him smirking while saying those words.
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever floats your boat"
We both laughed at our antics. Until he’s friend's case came upon our topic.
"So, what's your friend's case?" I curiously asked him. Even madam didn’t tell me what the case about.
"I'll explain in it to you here when you arrived."
"Why don't you tell me now?"
He sighed "I’ll explain when you’re here."
"Just give me a hint?"
"No"
“Then I won’t go there"
"Leanne, you already said yes. Please! I'll tell you when you are here, in front of your client"
"They are not my client yet!"
"Leanne. Please!" He hissed me
"Fine! Just relax okay! I already booked a flight. I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow." I informed him.
"Thank you. I'll take care of everything you need here when you arrive. See you soon. I miss you"
"I miss you too. I'll see you soon." I said and ended the call.
I put back my phone at the bedside table and stared at my bedroom ceiling.
I don't know what will happen when I came back there. I just hope I can finish everything faster so I can come back here in no time.
- Writer
