"Waitaminute!" Mina exclaimed, feeling quite flustered and baffled. "Let's hit the pause button here! You really think I'm unfit to be Dustin Himbolake's attorney because I was late? By a minute and thirty seconds?"

Ms. Cilan brushed aside her blond ponytail and looked at her E-Watch. "Thirty-two seconds to be precise. And it's not a matter of punctuality but your whole demeanor as a lawyer. You have all the tact, poise and charisma of a gawky teenage girl."

"Ummm hmm," Mina said, eyes rolled and hands on her hips. "That's because I am a teenage girl. Though gawky is going a bit too far."

Blind nudged her. "In lawyer speak," he whispered. "This isn't helping your case, dear."

Penny Cilan shrugged her shoulders, her eyes still hidden behind her dark shades. "I just don't get it. I don't know why management suggested you. We could have any lawyer in California! Why pick some vapor headed, dopey, teeny bopping...child."

"Well helloooo there baby!" a deep manly voice said from behind the glass window. "I didn't see you come in!"

Everyone turned around to see the Prince of Pretty himself, Dustin Himbolake, dressed in his suit and tie, and wrapped in a purple cloak.

"Oh..." Ms. Cilan said, deadpanning. "Now I see."

Dustin's handsome eyes surveyed Mina like they were an x-ray machine. "Did I die and go to heaven?" he mused. "Or did you simply fall from heaven to save me from hell!"

Blind sarcastically quipped. "I think he killed the metaphor and it went to heaven."

Dustin ignored him and continued to gaze lovingly at Mina. "Well, if I may use one more heavenly metaphor. I think you may be my guardian angel in the shape of an attorney."

"Hehe," Mina giggled, her finger to her lip. "I was going to be before your manager...said I wasn't"

"Ahhhh! Penny!" Himbolake screamed frantically at his manager. "I can't believe you'd do this to me. Do you know what most attorneys look like? They're balding middle aged men in leisures suits. Not a hot young thang in a hot pink miniskirt!"

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Awww, Dustin," Mina swooned. "You're making me as pink as my miniskirt"

Blind wrapped his arm defensively around Mina. "I may be the one who's blind," the former prosecutor said. "But I hope you aren't blind enough to see that this attractive, debonair attorney is taken!"

"Awww Blind!" Mina giggled, adoring the amount of attention she was getting. "This doesn't need to be a compliment measuring contest! Dustin...I am taken, but I will gladly be your attorney!"

"Great!" Dustin grinned, showcasing his diamond grills. "I'm glad to have the hottest attorney in the biz."

"Its too bad," Ms. Cilan answered. "I have already removed 'hire attorney Hawkins' from your schedule, Dustin. We're going to get you a professional attorney. Not some law student cosplaying as a professional."

Himbolake growled beneath his breath. "Who makes the decisions woman? Me or you?"

"Well," Ms. Cilan said, "I am you manager!"

Dustin growled. "And I can fire you at will. Its either Mina or you, dear. And to be frank, she's a dime and you're a nickel!"

Penny Cilan's nostrils flared.Mina wished she could see the woman's eyes. But they were hidden behind a veil of dark glass. She did seem quite cross.

"I'll pencil her in as your attorney." the manager said at last.

"Yaaaaaaaay!" Mina exclaimed, doing a happy dance before nearly tripping in her heels. She flashed finger guns at her adversary. "Looks like you got nickeled and dimed, manajerk!"

It seemed, she and Dustin seemed to be the only ones who cared. Blind and Ms. Cilan seemed less than pleased.

The mysterious, short man continued to stare at Mina intensely from behind his own shades. He seemed quite sus for the way he said very little and how little he was. "Umm, but Dustin. I'm happy to be your attorney," she answered. "But can you please introduce me to your friend here?"

"Ah yes," Dustin chuckled. "This is Chives. My bodyguard. Otherwise known as Knives Chives!"

"What in the huh?" Mina gasped. "Your bodyguard? He's even shorter than me...without heels!"

A smirk came across Chives's face. He grabbed her hand and before Mina knew what was happening, he flipped her in the air, right over his head.

Much to her surprise, she landed on her feet. Feeling dizzy and frazzled she turned around to see Chives quite pleased with his impromptu karate move.

"Big things come in small packages," the short man said.

"I'll say..." Mina said panting and wobbling from the vertigo. "I think I need to sit down."

Chief O'Law, who had been standing on the sidelines approached Mina. "I think I'll get her some coffee and a pink frosted donut." she said as she led Mina away. "I'm glad we got this all sorted out. Now say goodbye Hawkins!"

"Wait..." Mina said, as Blind looked equally confused. "Where are you taking me, chief?"

The chief whispered in her ear. "I really need to talk to you now, Hawkins."

"About..." Mina said, her eyes still staring out into space.

"About Raven..." the chief said. "I finally have a lead on that bird brain."