Laws of Love

{1}

I'm confidently walking into my new office. I just finished my law degree and am now a full on lawyer. Honestly, it's in the family. My parents, both my mom and my dad, are lawyers, my uncle is a lawyer and my brother, well he's a lawyer assistant. It was his own decision.
My heels are clicking on the floor tiles loudly and all the people working at my parent's chancellery smile at me and give me respectful nods. Most of them have known me my whole life. Saw me running around these halls, playing catch with my brother.  Saw me laying on the benches, doing my homework and heard me giggling with my friends when they came here. We were here far more than in our actual home. Arriving in my office, I spread out my things and get to work, deciding which case I'll take as my first one.

A loud knock on my door stops me from reading at some point and my dad comes into the room.
"Leya, when did you take your last break?"he asked.
"I started reading this morning and I haven't stopped since then."
"Diligent as ever."dad smiled at me.
"Come have lunch with me. I think I have a case you might want to take."
That got me interested and we went to the cafeteria.
Dad explained to me that the case was about a woman who wants to get a divorce and also sue her soon ex husband for raping her multiple times. I took a deep breath.
"What makes you think I should take this case?"I asked.
"It's not an everyday divorce, yet it's a rather usual case to start with. It's a challenge but it's not too big."dad said.
"So you think there are cases that are too big for me?"I asked mocking him.
"No.. but I want you to have a good start."he said.
We smiled at each other.
"I'll read into it, think about it and let you know tomorrow morning ?"
"All right."he said and we kept chatting over lunch.

After lunch I started reading into the case. It's tricky, not the divorce part but the other thing. The client has no actual proof of it happening. She never went to a doctor or to a hospital, there's no evidence. From all the things I read I do believe that it happened though. At some point I decided to take a break and take a quick walk around the chancellery.
"Leya? Is that you?" someones' voice interrupted my thoughts. I searched around for the face of said voice.
"James? James Miller?"I asked when I looked at a face that was awfully familiar.
"You look.. great.. all grown up.."he almost stuttered.
We were childhood friends, in elementary school and middle school, all the way through high school, then he moved out of town for college.
"Right back at you."I said, really taking him in for the first time. He was wearing a perfectly fitted suit. His dark blonde hair was cut short and his eyes were shining as green as ever.
We gave each other a hug.
"Am I keeping you from something important?"he asked when we let go again, pointing at my formal clothing.
"Oh, no. I'm just on a break. It's my first day working at the chancellery."I explained. Pride and something else sparked in his eyes.
"You really did it, huh?"he asked smiling proudly at me.
"It wasn't easy but here I am.. a full on lawyer.."I said. We started walking together.
"I always knew you could do it.."he almost whispered.
"And what brought you back to our quaint little hometown?"I asked.
"I actually just moved back a few days ago. I'm a journalist and started an online-magazine."he explained.
"You did always have a thing with words.."I smiled up at him and we giggled.
"Wouldn't it be safer to be employed though?"I asked.
"Probably, but I was employed before and always just working on one thing just.. it gets boring.. now I'm free to write about whatever I want, whether it's a sports event or a good looking lawyer.." he winked at me and I lightly punched his arm.
"Do you write about serious things too? Like crimes or something?"I asked.
"If it catches my interest, sure."he nodded.
My phone rang.
"Sorry.. got to take this.."I said stepping away.
"Leya? Where are you? Miss Portel is here and she's.. well she's stressed."my brothers voice came on.
"Who's Miss Portel?"I asked.
"The woman of the case you'll do? The divorce? Suing her husband for rape?"
"Oh yeah, right. Sorry. Give me ten and I'm there."
"You better be."he said and hung up.

I turned back towards James.
"My brother. I need to get back to the chancellery."I said.
"Ok."he said and held a small piece of paper out for me. I looked at him quizzically.
"My number. Let's meet up when we both have more time?"
"Sounds great. I really need to get going. I'll call you."I said, took the paper and after saying goodbye we both walked our way.