Page 16

When Emily enters her office the next day, she still feels the trace of Leah's lips on hers and can't stop smiling. She walks quickly through the room where all the attorneys work in their cubicles, greeting everyone until she reaches her cousin's desk.

"Can you come to my office?" she asks and continues walking without stopping.

Emily's mind is on the previous night, on that kiss and Leah's expression afterward. She noticed her confusion and is sure it was her action that prompted Leah to leave so hastily, but she also wants to trust Leah's word when she said everything was fine, convincing herself that was all it was—Leah just hadn't expected it.

"What's up?" Emma asks, entering her office practically right behind her.

Emily turns around, startled because she hadn't even heard her follow her down the hallway.

"Oh, you're already here, please sit down," she requests with a smile that stretches across her entire face.

"I really don't understand how you can be this happy so early," Emma says, thinking how wonderful it would be to rub her sleepy eyes if she hadn't already applied makeup.

"I kissed Leah last night," Emily blurts out as soon as she sits down.

That's not what she called her cousin in for, but it shot out without her meaning to, and her honest smile doesn't fade.

Emma's mind is very foggy this early, but she doesn't take long to react.

"Again?" she asks and laughs.

"Again?" Emily repeats, confused.

"You kissed her at the club, Emily," Emma reminds her.

Emily blushes when she remembers, and the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stands up.

"Well, but that kiss wasn't important, I mean, it was just the heat of the moment," she justifies.

"Well, in that emotional outburst you could have kissed Mia, even me," Emma narrows her eyes, "but you kissed her. Anyway, that doesn't matter now, tell me about this other kiss, the one from last night."

Emily spreads that all-encompassing smile again, and her cousin feels envious. Even if just once in her life, she wishes she could convey the same sincere joy that Emily does.

"During practice, she asked me to stay afterward because she wanted to discuss something, but I couldn't because I had a meeting with a client here at the office, so I suggested we meet later at my place."

"You never miss an opportunity," Emma points out sarcastically.

Emily smiles and shrugs her shoulders.

"The thing is, she came over, we had dinner, talked, and I kissed her, just like that. And I loved it, Emma. That kiss wasn't like the one I gave her on the court; this one was intentional. I saw her standing there and suddenly realized I'd been wanting to do it since she walked into my house. And she kissed me back, but then my phone rang and interrupted us."

"Aha," says Emma. "And after that?"

"She left. I think she felt uncomfortable. That's the feeling I got, maybe she wasn't expecting it, though she told me everything was fine. Anyway, I don't know, I'll talk to her as soon as I see her," the lawyer concludes.

"And that's it?" Emma asks, perplexed.

"Of course, what do you want me to do?"

"Damn, you make everything seem so easy. I'd be freaking out," Emma admits.

"I'll stress out if I really need to, not before," Emily finishes. "Anyway, I didn't call you in for this, but for the reason Leah came to my house. Mia and her little brother, Aaron."

Emma wishes it hadn't happened, but just hearing Mia's name makes her heart skip a beat.

"What about them?"

Emily tells her in detail everything Leah told her last night.

"Shit, that's awful. I had no idea," says Emma.

"Neither did I. Leah asked me to handle the case, but I can't do it alone, so you'll be the lead attorney and I'll just supervise. Does that work for you?"

"Yes, sure, no problem."

"Are you sure?" Emily insists.

"What do you mean?" Emma asks, offended.

"I don't doubt your ability, but I know you and Mia don't get along very well. I'll understand if you'd prefer me to assign another attorney from the firm."

Emma stays silent for a moment, and doubt creeps in because she's not sure she can handle the ball girl's arrogant character, but on the other hand, she wants to help her. There's a part of her that desperately wants to help Mia get custody of her brother.

"I'll do it, Emily. I'm sure we can both put aside our nonsense to handle this, don't worry."

"Perfect. I told Leah we needed all the documentation they had on the case, so I imagine Mia will stop by to bring it."

"Alright."

"You'll need to talk with her, immerse yourself in her life. We'll need statements in her favor from…"

"Stop right there, Emily," Emma cuts her off with a raised eyebrow, "just because I don't feel the same calling as you do doesn't mean I don't know how to do my job."

"I know, sorry," her cousin smiles, "but keep me updated on any progress, okay? After all, Leah hired us, and I need to keep her informed."

"How convenient for you to have another excuse to get close to her," Emma teases.

"It is," Emily laughs. "Anyway," she stands up and grabs her leather briefcase, "I'm heading to court, call me if you need anything."

"Sure, crush Vanessa."

Emily arrives at the courthouse barely twenty minutes later. She's about to enter when Vanessa Cooper walks out, and they nearly bump into each other. Emily, nervous, steps aside and watches her, not understanding why she's leaving the courthouse when their trial starts in just fifteen minutes.

"Hello, Emily," Vanessa greets, moving away from the door to avoid blocking the entrance.

"Hi," she answers dryly.

"The trial has been delayed an hour, they just announced it," the opposing attorney explains.

Emily nods, uncomfortable.

"Okay."

"Wait," Vanessa says when Emily decides to enter the building. "Let me buy you a coffee."

Emily frowns. How long has it been since she and Vanessa had coffee together? She can't remember exactly, but she knows they haven't spoken since they broke up, not even the times they've crossed paths at the courthouse, though they haven't had to face each other in any trial until now, and it's being very uncomfortable.

"Please," Vanessa insists with that cordiality so characteristic of her that Emily used to adore. "We have time, and don't tell me you're busy because we both know that's not true. One coffee and I'll let you go, I promise."

"Fine," Emily accepts.

They cross the street and walk side by side as they had done so many times before, circling the block across the street and entering the coffee shop where they had shared so many coffees.

"The usual?" Vanessa asks.

Emily nods and looks for an empty table while her ex-partner orders the drinks.

"Here you go," says Vanessa, placing a latte with a swirl of whipped cream and a chocolate bar in front of her.

"Thanks."

"I don't want this to be uncomfortable, Emily," Vanessa begins. "I just wanted to apologize for what I did."

Emily looks up, surprised, and furrows her brow.

"It's a little late for an apology, Vanessa."

"I know, and I don't expect you to forgive me, I just want you to know that at that moment, I wasn't able to understand how much I was risking or the damage my decision could cause you and our relationship. I didn't think it would bother you that much, honestly. That guy was guilty of fraud and was going to get away with it thanks to you. I even thought you shared that information with me so I would act on it, or at least that's what I wanted to believe so I wouldn't feel guilty, but you were just trusting me, nothing more," Vanessa says.

"Guilty or not, I had been assigned to defend him, and I'm an attorney above all. Now I can afford the luxury of choosing who I defend, but back then I couldn't. I shared that information with you because it made me angry that he was going to get away with it. I knew that, thanks to me, that guy was going to go free and could do the same thing again. I told you because I felt bad, because you were my girlfriend and I needed your support, not for you to use the information I'd given you in court."

"I know, I understood that when I lost you," Vanessa responds, "and I'll regret it for the rest of my life, Emily. Even if you don't believe it, it was incredibly hard for me to get over you. I was very much in love with you," she smiles with a nostalgia that spreads to Emily. "I just want you to know that I'm truly sorry, and if I could turn back time, I would never make that mistake again, not with you or anyone else."

Emily nods and takes a sip of her coffee, smudging her lips with whipped cream.

"I believe you, and I forgive you. I guess I've moved on too," she confesses, wiping her mouth with a napkin, though a small stain remains, making Vanessa smile.

"My God, you're still a mess," she says with wide eyes, and they both burst into laughter.