the contract

7

Mr. Leigh walked alongside Johnson, their footsteps echoing in unison as they approached the door. The warm sunlight cast a golden glow on their faces, and the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

"I'm telling you, Johnson, that joke was a masterpiece!" Mr. Leigh exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

Johnson chuckled, his deep voice rumbling. "You're just saying that because you're a sucker for a good pun, Mr. Leigh!"

As they reached the door, Johnson turned to Mr. Leigh and extended his hand. "Thanks for the hospitality, my friend. I'll catch you later!"

Mr. Leigh shook Johnson's hand firmly. "Anytime, Johnson. Drive safe!"

Johnson nodded and headed towards his car, parked in the driveway. He opened the door and began to attend to his vehicle, his movements fluid and efficient.

Meanwhile, Mr. Leigh turned back into the house, his phone already in hand. He dialed a number and waited for a moment before speaking.

"Schedule a meeting with Ms. Stephanie, today," he said hastily to the person on the line. His voice was firm and commanding, brooking no argument.

The call went off, and Mr. Leigh stood there for a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought. He then turned and walked back into the house, his footsteps purposeful and deliberate.

The law firm's lobby was a vast, high-ceilinged space with polished marble floors and dark wood paneling. The walls were adorned with framed certificates and ominous-looking legal texts. A large reception desk dominated the room, behind which a poised receptionist sat, her eyes fixed on Stephanie as she entered.

Stephanie's heels clicked on the marble floor as she approached the visitor's bench, a plush, leather-upholstered seat that seemed to whisper comfort. She sat, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes fixed on the receptionist, who nodded curtly before returning to her work.

Moments later, a slender woman with a kind face and a gentle smile approached Stephanie. "Ms. Stephanie, Ms. Esther would like to see you now," she said, her voice soft and polite.

Stephanie rose, her knees straightening as she followed the woman through a maze of corridors and into a spacious office. Ms. Esther, a woman with a commanding presence and piercing eyes, greeted her warmly. "Hey, good morning."

Stephanie returned the greeting, her smile formed but hesitant, as she took a seat across from the lawyer. "How possible should it be I take on both jobs?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ms. Esther's expression turned concerned, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Stephanie, the collision between you being an experiment and a wife might be tragic."

Stephanie's eyes flashed with determination. "I can, I'll be his contract wife, we don't have to see each other every day, right?"

Just then, Stephanie's phone buzzed, the vibration drawing her attention. She glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing. "I have a scheduled meeting with Arnold Leigh," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of worry.

Ms. Esther's eyes wandered through her system before nodding in disagreement. "By what time?" she inquired, her face straight.

Stephanie hesitated before answering, "12 noon."

Ms. Esther's eyes seemed to bore into Stephanie's soul before she spoke, her voice measured. "I have a meeting with another client, the meeting wouldn't be time-consuming, so I guess if I have to be there with you, it should be after my meeting, pardon me ."

Ms. Esther's words hung in the air, and Stephanie felt a pang of disappointment. She had been hoping for a more concrete solution to her situation.

"Alright. I'll just be around till then," Stephanie said, trying to hide her frustration.

Ms. Esther gave her a questioning look, but Stephanie just shook her head. "I'll seriously wait, it's not like I have any other place to be," she added, her tone breaking down in emotions.

Ms. Esther's expression softened, and she nodded. "It's okay, Stephanie. Have you heard anything from Mr. Leonard?" she asked, changing the subject.

Stephanie shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. "No," she whispered.

Ms. Esther's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and Stephanie felt a surge of determination. "Have you tried calling him?" Ms. Esther asked again.

Stephanie hesitated before answering, "No."

Ms. Esther's expression turned stern. "Any payment?" she asked eagerly.

Stephanie shook her head again, feeling a wave of despair wash over her. "No."

Ms. Esther's face seemed to cloud over, and she nodded slowly. "OK, be patient, alright?" she assured calmly.

As she waited for Ms. Esther's meeting to end, Stephanie couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Magdalene Smith stormed into Mr. Leigh's office, her face a thundercloud of displeasure. Her eyes flashed with irritation, and her lips pursed into a thin line. She was a woman who exuded confidence and poise, but her current demeanor betrayed a hint of desperation.

As she approached Mr. Leigh's desk, her gaze locked onto his calm and collected figure. He sat with his legs crossed, his aura serene, and his tough guards standing sentinel behind him. The air was thick with tension, and Magdalene's voice was laced with venom.

"What do you even mean?" she demanded, her words dripping with malice.

Mr. Leigh's expression remained unruffled, his voice gentle but firm. "You will not come into my office and force me to bargain with you, Magdalene. I want you to leave, now."

Magdalene's anger simmered just below the surface, her eyes blazing with a suppressed fury. "You won't want to be on my bad side, would you?" she hissed, her voice low and menacing.

Just then, Stephanie and Esther approached the receptionist counter,

The secretary, got caught up in the drama as she tried calling her boss whom was engrossed in an invisible battle, nodded hastily and invited them to Mr. Leigh's office.

As they entered, Magdalene's voice rose, her words hanging in the air like a challenge. "Stephanie is my daughter, and I control who helps her. And I promise you, you will regret disobeying me!"

Stephanie stood at the entrance accompanied by her lawyer, her eyes widened, her face pale, as she called out to the woman who had just turned her back on them. "Magdalene!"

The woman's gaze flickered, her expression unreadable, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she glided gracefully towards the door, her beautiful face a mask of indifference. As she exited, the tension in the room dissipated, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and unspoken threats.