I watched my wife as the cameras rolled and popped.....
Olivia and her niece, Beverly were at a press conference..
No, they had not just gotten some controversial client acquitted... Richard Graves was the last such client...
Today they were the guests of their recent client...Monica Seale...formerly known as "The Skirt With The Dirt." The City's foremost gossip columnist.....
Her now ex-husband, Drew Hunter had gotten a young women pregnant and it was discovered he was using her money to keep this woman in a tony townhouse...and had bought her a car...
This news ruined her credibility and led to a sensational divorce..in which she fired Drew as her radio show's producer, fired him as her manager , kicked him out of the house and took the car and townhouse from his baby mama....
Drew was forced to rent a much smaller apartment , while still remaining an associate attorney at her late father's law firm...To say he had been humbled was an understatement..
Now she wanted Drew to be named Producer of her new Bi-Weekly Cable talk show.. And she had Olivia and Beverly draw up a legal contract..
Nelson and I couldn't understand it for the life of us...
"She went through that big divorce, took his girlfriend's car, kicked her out of the townhouse after she had his baby and fired this guy...Now after all that she wants to hire him again? I don't get it."said Nelson, who had represented his baby's mother...
"Women change their mind like the weather." I said.
"You two really don't get it do you?" asked Josie..."They're still sleeping together and I'm betting they never stopped...Divorce or no divorce..."she said.
"WHATTT?? Josie you're drawn...She put the man in the poor house...He lost his managerial job, his producer job, his car, She kicked him out of the house and don't forget he had to make a down payment on his baby mama's apartment and he pays her a hefty child support payment....She'd be the last person I'd want anything to do with." said Nelson..
"Nelson, what does your wife always say? Huh? About the power of the pan-tays..." said Josie..
I didn't say anything, but I smiled..Josie made a lot of sense...Though they had kept a very low profile..There had been whispers that the two had been seen together at a lot of late night spots..They were divorced on paper only...They were still married in the bedroom...Neither one had been reported to be with anyone else..
"I've got a new show guys, coming on twice a week.. I'll be discussing politics, important news items of the day and feel good news..no more gossip...My ex-husband , who was after all an excellent producer will be my show runner and producer...We are divorced...We will probably never marry again, but we are still good friends and he is still good for my brand and my business..As you see I am represented by acclaimed attorneys, Olivia Bennett -Alexander and Beverly West-East...I have been friends with Olivia since we were 12 years old...I've known little Beverly since she was a baby. We are all family here."said Monica Seale.
Olivia smiled at the camera and whispered...
"What a load of crap.. I knew her at 12, but I didn't like her...She started a rumor that I had had a baby and that you weren't my niece ,but my daughter.." said Olivia.
..
Beverly laughed..
"I remember...That rumor was still going around by the time I was in high school...People were asking if you weren't really my mommy..."she said.
"Your father put an end to it
...I can't tell you how many simple boys were suddenly calling me because they thought I had "experience" and must be good at sex to have had a baby so young...at nine.. I swear ,guys were so stupid then.." said Olivia..
"Then, as opposed to when Auntay?"said Beverly...
They both giggled..
"Olivia....Beverly....Turn this way..."said Reporters...They both had on brand new dresses and the very expensive shoes Richard Graves had bought them..They looked like a million bucks..
Beverly struck a sultry ,sexy pose for the cameras....The reporters and photographers loved it and her!
"Let's get out of here...I have an announcement to make...A Major announcement.."said Olivia..
Even I didn't know what she was talking about...
''What new announcement?" asked Josie..
"I don't know.."I said.
"Don't look at me.."said Beverly...
"Let's get out of here, we'll find out.."laughed Nelson..
II-
One person who wasn't enthused was Lt. Tragg , who was getting his hair cut and a nice shave at his local barbershop...
"Auntie and Niecy...Hah...I remember when they both were just Public Defenders...Now look at em, wearin designer dresses and expensive shoes...always on Television...HAH!" said Lt. Tragg…
"Jealous Artie...?" asked another customer..
"Jealous of what? I'm on the Television as much as they are.."said Lt. Tragg..
"Not lately.."said Another man...
"I'll be on HARD BOTTOM this week...I just filmed a segment..Two segments in fact.."said Lt. Tragg…
Indeed he would be...After much protesting..He was allowed on a panel of other Police Chiefs from the area on Crime Prevention and another segment on the mind of the killer..He was quite proud of himself... He had worn a new suit, had a fresh hair cut, shave and manicure.. He couldn't wait to see his segment aired..
At our Duplex/Office, which we called home...Attorney Calvin Hunt was sipping coffee.
when we returned...
"Hey Guys...Saw you on Television..."he said..
"Hey Calvin.." said Beverly ,looking at him strangely...
"Hi Calvin....How's that baby?" laughed Josie..
"She's taking her first steps...My how time flies." said Calvin..
"It does doesn't it.."I said..
Olivia smiled..She called Alfreda into the office...
"This must be big...You're calling me in." said Alfreda..
"Well, I won't keep you in suspense....Nelson East....the husband of my niece and my friend for all of his professional career , my brother from another mother... has effective today tendered his resignation to Robert Foxworth and Associates of which he has worked for the past three years...AND accepted a lucrative offer from ME!!! Lets welcome our newest attorney, Nelson East...I told you I was gonna get you." said Olivia, kissing him..
Nelson smiled..
"You did at that." laughed Nelson....
"Oh My God, you didn't even tell me boo!" said Beverly, who kissed him passionately...
We all broke into cheers...
Josie hugged him...
"I'm so glad you're here...You just ought to be...You work how many of our cases?" said Josie, who had come to view Nelson as a big brother...he was only a year older, but a big brother just the same.
"Yeah Liv was tired of paying those Consulting fees." laughed Nelson...
"I certainly was.." said Olivia..
"Congratulations and welcome to the firm."I said..
Nelson brought with him several of his clients and their retainment fees....This was definitely an economic boon to the firm in more than just one way..Olivia now had two attorneys on hand.. A Para legal and me, her in house investigator...
"Wow, isn't this a Monday??....You two on Television representing the Skirt with the Dirt and this..Nelson working with you guys officially." said Alfreda..
"Hey Guys, I have an announcement too!" said Calvin Hunt.
"You've signed with us too?"asked Beverly.
"No....I have resigned from my firm and taken Nelson's old position at Robert Foxworth and Associates.."he said..
"Hey man, that's great..."I said..
"This calls for a celebration...I know a perfect place...Bev, get the company credit card, this is on me."said Olivia..
"You know it Auntay...Celebration!!!"said Beverly...
"Yay!! "said Josie...
"What a great day..."said Nelson..
Our doorbell rang!
"I'll get that."said Alfreda...
It was Television Host B.L. Benz...The Host of the television crime talk show.. HARD BOTTOM.
He looked around....
"So this is where the famous Auntie and Niecy team reside." he said.. "Nice...Office down here, apartments upstairs...I guess no one is late for work!" he said.
No one laughed.
III-
He caught himself..
"I'm sorry ladies...I didn't come here to insult you..I'm actually a big fan!"said B.L. Benz.
''We aren't insulted...We know that's the nickname the cops and the ADA's have for us.."said Beverly.
"I am her aunt and she is my niecy poo!" said Olivia ,hugging Beverly...
"So to what do we owe this visit?" asked Olivia..
"I know that you and your team have handled cases of those wrongfully convicted for the Innocence Project and recently for the American Civil Liberties Union...I have a case I want you to spotlight. In other words a client I want you two to represent and I want to cover the case from start to finish on my new Pod Cast-"Wrongfully Convicted.." and also, I want your whole team on my tv show.. The network is going to pay your legal expenses to represent this client...I'll bring the information with me tomorrow..." he said.
"You know you can't film our strategy and research sessions don't you? And except for certain circumstances...I prefer to work incognito when I do my investigations..."I said.
"Understood, but you can give me updates and allow me to interview the client and you guys going forward can't you?" said B.L.
"Yes, we can do that..."said Olivia..
"And you get the exclusive before the rest of the media."said Beverly...
"Excellent....I'll bring contracts tomorrow for you all to sign.."said B.L.
"And we'll have contracts for you.."said Nelson..
"Good Deal.. I'll See you tomorrow guys."said B.L.
After B.L. left... Alfreda smiled..
"I'll just bet your boy, Lieutenant Tragg is going to be livid when he sees you guys on TV and twice in one week..."said Alfreda.
"Won't he though?" I said, beginning to laugh...
"Anybody care?" laughed Olivia...
"Nope!" said Beverly ,almost on cue..
Nelson guffawed with laughter as if he imagined it..
Josie laughed....
"You guys are too much!"laughed Calvin Hunt...
IV-
Lieutenant Tragg finshed up his haircut, manicure and shave...
"How much is the damage Smitty?" he asked.
"Your money is no good here Artie...I used to cut you dad's hair..."said Smitty…
"Thanks Smitty."said Lt. Tragg with a smile as he walked out..
"Be sure to be watching Wednesday..." he added and left...
We celebrated Nelson becoming a member of our practice and Calvin Hunt joining Robert Foxworth's practice at a Tony Rooftop Bistro in town that Olivia knew about..
The Food was on point....
"Liv! You guys know how to party." said Calvin Hunt, who was enjoying his meal..
"We know how to show appreciation for our friends and colleagues..I've been working with Nelson ever since he joined the Public defenders office...I'm just so pleased he's actually a part of my practice now and I'm happy for your wonderful new opportunity too.."said Olivia.
'We've got Champaigne coming in a minute." I said.
'We really know how to appreciate someone.."said Beverly...
Nelson whispered in Beverly's ear..."And in a few hours...I'm hoping I can unzip you out of that skirt and you really show me some appreciation..."
Beverly blushed like crazy...
"Maybe we can slip off somewhere and I uh give you a down payment.." she said..
Now it was Nelson's turn to blush..
"I feel so excited...I don't know why." said Josie..
"I'm waiting for you to graduate from law school little lady and pass the bar so that I can sign you on as my next attorney..." said Olivia...
Josie smiled..
Beverly hugged Josie, who was like the sister she never had..
"This is great." she said..
And at the neighborhood bar where he spends most of his free time, Lieutenant Tragg is chatting up a young woman..
"So like I said baby....I'm going to be on Television Wednesday and Thursday....I can't believe you've never seen me on TV." he said..
"I'm not from Philly....I'm from Los Angelas..I'm not familiar with the locals...but you look like you're suited more for Television than police work...I mean you have uh Hollywood looks."said the woman..
"I do don't I? Heh Heh Heh.." said Lt. Tragg….
"I'll be lookin forward to seein you on TV Wednesday Night." she said..
"Heh Heh Heh...Curly! Two more of what the lady is having.." laughed Lt. Tragg..
