Fortuity

Chapter 3

Damien's P.O.V 

 "Hey D, what's up man?" Darris my best friend and roommate asks as I walk into the house from my morning run. "Went to check on the new neighbor again?" 

He has been relentlessly vocal in teasing me for my obsession with Monica. Of course, it's weird to be so attracted to someone I only just met but there is something about her that draws me in. Something in the pit of my stomach pushes me to protect her and keep her nearby. 

"Nah man," I walked over to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water. "Just went for a run." 

"Right. A 'run'," he tosses up air quotes. "You casually 'ran' past her house in the hopes she would be outside." 

I roll my eyes and grab eggs, sausage, and cinnamon raisin bagels to make a quick breakfast. "You know, overuse of air quotes makes them less effective, right?" 

I kick the door closed and walk over to the countertop near the stove. "Do you want some of this?" I ask cracking the eggs placing them into the bowl.  

"I can eat," he shrugged. He walks over to the coffee pot, pouring another cup of coffee before walking to the island to seat across from me. "I'm just saying. You have gotten obsessed with her and she has barely been in that house a week." 

"I'm not obsessed," I deny as I place the sausage patties in a pan and make myself a cup of coffee. "I'm intrigued." 

He raises a brow glancing over the cup of coffee placed to his lips. "Intrigued you say? 

" It's just something about her that draws me in. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something there," I retort. 

"Yeah, like what?" he asks placing his cup on the counter.  

"It's hard to explain. It's like I have to protect her, guide her, comfort her..." 

"f**k her?" he interjects. 

"I don't know man. Maybe," I groan rubbing my hands down my face. "I have the strong sense to be everything she needs and more. Once you meet her you will see what I mean. I'm telling you she fits the puzzle." 

"I thought we gave this up already," he sighs. "We agreed to let it go after Alicia. We thought she would fit in perfectly as well and look at all the hell she caused us, man. We damn near lost everything. We damn near lost each other." 

"I'm telling you; Monica is nothing like Alicia. Alicia was a gold-digging, two-timing b***h. That's not who Monica is."  

"How would you know who she is? You have not taken the time to get to know the girl," he sighs in frustration. "Look, I'm not trying to be a bearer of bad news, I'm just trying to be realistic here. You don't even know if she is up for this type of situation. Or if she is even as innocent as you want to believe." 

"I hear you," I say as I began to plate the food and place it on the table. "I'm telling you I'm not wrong about her. I'm willing to be optimistic about her. Everything that went on with Alicia, won't stop me from still wanting this. Plus, Alicia was your doing." 

"Yeah, but you agreed in having her," he chuckled. "That is one mistake we learned from. Just promise me you won't dive into this headfirst." 

I nod in agreement, "I won't." 

"Good," he smiles as he passes me a case file for a potential client. "I need you to review this file." 

"Have you already met with them?" I asked as opening the document scanning over the initial claim forking the eggs in front of me. 

"I haven't met them face to face. Trisha gathered the information in the phone interview," he swallows the pile of food in his mouth, washing it down with coffee. "Alton and Jaime Hampton. He wants to petition the courts for control over his daughter's accounts. Says that she opened the accounts fraudulently when she was underage and shouldn't have access to the funds until after college. Thinks she's going to use the money to fund old habits." 

"Sounds like bullshit to me, I say as I continue flipping through pages. 'It says that she is 18 no, so I think it's safe to say that daddy is just looking to cash in on his daughter's inheritance or something. Did he say what those old habits were? Drugs? Gambling?" 

"Nothing concrete," he shakes his head as he clears the dishes from the table. "I was planning to meet with them, so I could try to get some kind of read off of them. Initially, I wanted to turn them down at once, but now I want to know why he's fighting so hard to have control over a two-year-old account." 

"That's the million-dollar question," I grab the last of the sausage before he can take my plate. 

"This has the potential to ruin our reputation if he turns out to be someone conning their daughter out of her hard-earned money," he folds his arms across his chest as he leans against the counter. 

"NO f*****g WAY," I spit out the coffee as I come across the name of the daughter. Attached is a copy of her bank statement with her personal information blacked out. This girl is a bundle of surprises. 

"What's gotten your panties in a bunch?" he asks as he wipes down the table. He grabs the file from my hand and flips through the pages. "What's going on Dam?" 

"We're not taking this case," I shoot up from my seat and grab my phone from the counter sending out a quick emergency text. "Call them and tell them that this is unorthodox and to find themselves a new attorney." 

"Will you tell me what the hell is going on?" he raises his brow in question. 

"Yeah, get ready," I say checking the notifications on my phone. "We are going to kill two birds with one stone. Be ready in ten." 

Monica’s P.O.V 

I decided to take today off from classes since it's my mom's birthday and the anniversary of her passing. I planned to spend the day doing things we used to do when she was here with me. This morning I made her favorite breakfast and bed meal. Chocolate blueberry pancakes with strawberry topping, over-easy eggs, rice, and turkey bacon. I turned on our favorite soap opera Passions. Sucks that they ended such a popular show during its prime, but we always went to the Utube to catch the full episodes. I booked the spa last week so that I could get our routine mani-pedi, facial, and deep tissue massage.  

Ten minutes into my massage my phone pinged. The massage therapist glared dagger in my direction as I fumbled to find it in my bag. I smiled shyly passing him a wave and muttered sorry. I placed the phone on vibrate and opened the message. 

Dam- Need to talk now. It's an emergency. 

What's going on?  

Dam- Better to talk in person can we meet? 

"Ma'am, you can't use your phone in the Zen room," the attendant whispered as she approached me. Although she gave a smile her tone was arrogant and rude. I quickly gather my items and head to the dressing room to change. 

Meet me at Cheesecake Factory on Westport in 30 minutes. 

Dam- Okay, see you then. 

I quickly shower changing from the white robe provided. worry plaguing my thoughts about what could be so important that Damien needed to see me so urgently. We haven't had much interaction with each other outside of a few run-ins. I thought to call Ashley and have her join me, but she was dealing with so much already with this new guy in her life. I could never understand her and her need to be in a relationship.  Every guy that she has dated was always involved with another girl and the most recent ex-fling turned out to be married with children. Of course, no matter how much I tried to convince her to take her time, she did what she wanted to do and jumped right into another bad situation. 

I walk out of the spa and walk across the street to the restaurant. I used their parking earlier since I knew I had reservations there right after the spa. The hostess checked my name on the list and led me to my table. I informed her that I would have a companion arriving as well so that they could be guided to the table. Damien arrived just as the waiter came to take my order. 

"I see your party has arrived. I will give you a few moments to look over the menu." He smiled walking to another table in his section. 

"Good afternoon," Damien greets.  

"Good afternoon," I smile grabbing my water with lemon. I stare at him over the rim of the glass. He was dressed in his business attire. He made being so damn yummy effortless. Every inch of his body screamed temptation. He flashed his devilishly handsome grin showing his beautiful pearly whites while he took his seat. 

"So, what brings you here to see me?" I questioned, refocusing my mind on the topic at hand. 

"We will get to that soon, my associate will be joining us he just needed to step away for a brief moment," he informed me taking a drink of his water. 

"Associate?" I asked trying to get a feel of the situation. "What's going on Damien? Don't tell me I should be concerned about your intentions." 

He furrowed his brows and his face twisted with a slight tinge of sadness. I didn't want to let my guard down with anyone, no matter how much my core ached to have them. 

"Are you here to threaten me? Force me out of this place so you could kidnap me?" My mind started to wander with every negative outcome I could think of. 

"I would love to force you out of here," a husky voice rang from behind me. I hesitantly turned my head to see who it belonged to. He was equally as handsome as Damien. His build was slightly broader than Damien's and he was slightly shorter. His dark brown eyes glinting with a hit of lust. His blue suit was adorned with his muscular frame. "Though I wouldn't mind kidnapping, someone as beautiful as you." 

"Well, that's not creepy at all," I reply sarcastically rolling my eyes. 

"Monica this is..." 

"Darrius... Darrius Johnson. Very nice to meet you," He says with a sexy grin stretching his hand out. 

"Nice to meet you," I reply meekly grabbing his hand. He bows slightly bringing my hand up as he placed a light kiss on my knuckles. My body flushed and I was grateful that I was sitting, or my knee would have buckled beneath me. 

"Monica, Darrius as my roommate and colleague," Damien spoke out.   

"We needed to discuss an issue that was presented to us this morning, and we didn't want to leave you to be ambushed by it." 

I stare at him in confusion as Darrius takes a seat pulling a file from his briefcase. He slides the file across the table to me. 

"So, this has something to do with Alton?" I glance up at them as they nod, before opening the file to examine its contents.  

"Your mother and father..."Darrius began. 

"Alton and Jamie," I glare at him over the file. "They are not my parents. I mean, Alton is my sperm donor, but Jamie is just his wife." 

"My apologies," he corrected. "Alton and Jamie are looking to petition the courts for the executive state over your finances." 

"Well good luck with that," I sighed tossing the file back onto the table. "What does that have to do with you two?" 

"They called our firm as potential clients," Damien leaned back into his chair crossing his arms. "They were looking for our representation." 

"Well, I can ensure you that it will get them nowhere. So, it will be a waste of your time and theirs," I grab my glass again taking another sip.  

"Are you all ready to order?" The waiter asks as he approaches our table. 

"Could we get a few more minutes please?" I smile at him and he nods walking away. 

"It may not be," I raise a brow at Darrius. "Since the accounts were open when you were underage, he could argue that you obtained the account fraudulently. Which could result in the courts ceasing the accounts and placing the funds into a trust until you finish college." 

"And let me guess," I stare blankly at him growing annoyed with the conversation already. "He would be the one in control of my money and assets." 

"Pretty much," he nods. 

"Well as his attorneys I don't see the need to have this conversation with you," I grab my things moving to stand from my seat. 

"We turned them down," Damien grabs my wrist stopping me from leaving. 

"What?" I heard him clearly the first time, but my mind was slower to process what he just said. 

"We turned them down," he repeats. "We don't feel right taking this case. Especially when there is a conflict of interest." 

"Monica, we want to be your representation," Darrius says pointedly.

I slump back into my seat mouth agape, "You want to be my attorneys?"

"Yes," Damian sighs releasing his hold on me. 

"Why?" I was curious to know. "You could have taken him on and wiped out my accounts. Why do you want to help me?"

"We have our integrity to uphold," Darrius replies flatly. "and helping someone con their daughter out of her money would tarnish that as well as our reputation. Not to mention our credibility."

"How do you know I'm not the con-artist?" I raise a brow in his direction. "Better yet how do I know that you aren't using this as a way to get information out of me to help their case?"

"We wouldn't need to talk to you to win, Monica" Darrius spat offended with my implication. "We would have won the case before you had time to wipe your own ass, sweetheart."

I visibly flinched at the harshness of his words, but completely compose myself. I open my mouth to retort before Damien speaks up.

"Monica, we are not here to gather information for them. We honestly want to help you keep what you work hard to get," He assures. "You don't have to give us your answer now, but when you do you know how to reach me."

With that, he and Darrius stand from the table leaving behind the file. I let out an exasperating sigh standing from my seat. I dropped a fifty-dollar tip for the waiter and grabbing the file before walking out the door. Next stop the Lake.