5 "NO PROMISES!"

"Look, Mrs. Smith, I cannot allow you to meet Ms. Johnson right now. She is very occupied for the time being and even for another month to come up."

The secretary tried to talk out the middle-aged woman who was very much insisting to talk with Janet Johnson to take up her son's case.

She had come to the office herself only because she knew that on call, of course, her request would have been not considered right away, as to the fact that Ms. Johnson was already too much occupied with her present cases.

"What is going on, Rosetta?"

Janet barged out of her office as she could not focus on work when such a commotion was taking place right outside.

"I don't know how she got up but she won't go unless she meets you..."

"Good morning, Ms. Johnson, I'm Mrs. Smith..."

The woman stepped ahead of the secretary and introduced herself to Janet, forwarding her hand for a shake.

Although hesitant at first, Janet accepted the hand for a shake. The woman continued, even though even she was taken aback by the fact that Janet looked so much younger in person and to amass such success in such a short span for her age.

"Look, Mrs. Smith, I m sorry but I can't accept whatever that you have come for here...I m already too much occupied..."

"I know...your secretary has been saying the same thing."

She interrupted Janet right away. From her handbag, which looked really expensive, she drew out a file.

"I have tried to reach you out through the online medium and knew that it would take months before you notice it, or even to get an appointment with you, so I had to come here, uncalled in your office..."

"Yet I m so sorry that I will have to go..."

Before Janet could complete it, Mrs. Smith held onto her hand, stopping her.

"Don't you see here, Ms. Johnson, I m desperate? "

There was a rise in her voice and it made Rosetta almost press for the securities as she looked at her boss. Janet had not given her the signal yet.

"All my clients are, Mrs. Smith...all are desperate.

I wish I could help them all, including you but it's beyond me..."

That was why everyone wanted her to be taking up their cases as she was always so soft-spoken and generous towards all those who would come to her, not snobby or arrogant like other lawyers, who felt as if they were doing those seeking justice a favor to them.

Janet was different altogether. At first, when she struggled to decide on which case she was to take from the ocean lot she used to receive, Mr. Sawyer helped her with it, guiding her.

With the fame, came cases back and forth, right and left when many lawyers sat ideal without one case on their desk.

He had told her to take up a case that seemed more urgent, justice denied for too long and life was at stake...she had tried to apply those principles when taking up cases.

When she was so feeble in with her clients, it also amazed them how aggressive and passionate she would get in court trying to pursue justice for her clients. It was a unique trait in her which made her all the more known.

"I m only asking you to have a look...please."

Mrs. Smith gave her the file that Janet was, at first hesitant to accept but peeking at the eyes of the middle aged woman, she could not hold herself back any longer.

"I will see...but no promises."

Janet replied and it was enough to make the woman smile at her. After thanking Janet and apologizing for the disturbance, she had left.

"You have five cases in line...you just gave her false hope!"

Rosetta said. Janet was still standing by the door looking at the file.

"I do not even know how she came up here...must have been Ellen, half of the time, she is not at the reception desk..."

As Rosetta continued bantering, Janet got back inside her office, closed the door, and kept the file on her table.

She moved towards the window to see the woman coming out from the office and getting inside her Mercedes, on standby before driving away.

It did seem that she was from a wealthy family. Her attire and everything else told Janet the same.

No doubt, she would be able to find another lawyer, and thinking that, Janet got back to her work before calling it quits for the day, to pick up her daughter from school and her baby son from the daycare.

"I'm off Rosetta. Please do not transfer any work call. "

"Yes, I know, Ms. Johnson. You have a nice evening! "

Her secretary bid her farewell as she left.

"Give my greetings to Em and Aiden!"

"Will do!"

Janet rose her voice up as her figure disappeared. She got inside her Audi and waited patiently before the school of her daughter.

'Will you be home next week?'

She checked the text that she had sent to her husband last week and no response from his side left on seen.

It was established that he would not be home next week either. It was hard but more difficult with the kids, they kept asking for their father, especially Emily. Aiden was too young to know things yet.

And seriously she liked it that way for the moment. Emily was so curious all the time and it made sense as to why. It was her age for that.

A text popped up on her phone and she saw it before her daughter got inside the car.

'Drinks tonight?'

"Hello! My baby girl!"

She kissed her daughter's cheeks, as she got her in the baby chair strapped to the passenger's seat behind, after coming out of the driver's seat.

"Love you too Mommy!"

She smiled listening to her daughter's response. The little girl had come to know what her mother liked to hear and what would come of their greeting later, in the end.

As if she liked to cut to the chase and come to the end terms. It kind of reminded Janet of her father and before she would go slipping down into her past, she closed the door and got inside the driver's seat.

"What happened in school today?"

"Same old same old, Mommy!"

Janet nodded looking at her daughter through the front view mirror.

"Although I met your friend today..."

"Which friend?"

Janet asked, not sure about what her daughter was talking about. She had only one friend and that was her bestie, Viviana Richardson, except for Greyson Siegfried and they would only meet up for drinks often to talk about life.

"The one from the mall last week...the man."

And as Emily began, Janet's ears turned deaf and a ping sound took over her state.

"He was the new beneficiary of our school..."

She definitely would need a drink after this so she responded positively to the text that Greyson had sent to her and started the engine.

Why the hell was her past all of a sudden knocking at her door?

"He recognized me and came to me..."

And that was enough for Janet to apply brakes on her car even before they could leave the parking lot.

_____________________________________________

The story will begin with a soft and static note before all the drama unfolds. It will transition between the past and the present.

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