It was Ashley Ryan.

But Mina barely recognized her.

Familiar only with the uptight pants-suit wearing lawyer Ashley, this one was completely different.

She wore a tight, form fitting black gown that traveled down to a pair of jet black heels. Her lioness mane was permed to perfection and she wore more mascara and lipstick than she ever did in the courtroom. A pair of large chunky black diamond hoops also hung from her ears and bounced as she moved across the stage.

With a microphone in hand, Ashley began to sing, something else Mina had never seen before. Dolores, the big bodybuilder who flirted with Mina, headed over to a piano in the corner to perform a smoky lounge tune.

"I'm Kitty Galore and…

I ain't kitten around, and I ain't lion either

What every girl needs is someone to love

Do you have what it takes to please my kitty?"

Mina rested her head in her hands for a second before shaking her head. "My lawdy!" she exclaimed. "What kind of fever dream is this?! What's Miss Snooty Booty prosecutie doing here?!"

Suddenly, she realized how loud she was talking as the performance stopped and everyone turned their heads to Mina. Even Ashley looked completely confused. "Mina Hawkins?!" she squeaked, looking like she had been caught naked in the courtroom.

"Umm…" Mina said, turning bright red. "I can explain…!"

Star rolled her eyes and grinned. "This is gonna be good!"

***

Ashley halted the performance and Mina once again, explained to her and Star about the hassle she had been through that night and how it was all her fault her friends had been captured. Unlike Star, Ashley was no friend of hers, so she had no idea why she was even explaining to her. Truthfully, she was equally dying to know why Ashley was now a lounge singer in a lesbian bar.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"That's completely and utterly ridiculous," Ashley said at last, turning her nose in the air.

Mina glared at her.

She didn't know why she bothered explaining to such a prissy pussy cat.

But she wasn't in the mood for her antics. "Not as ridiculous as your get-up!" Mina exclaimed. "Did you lose a bet?!"

Now it was Ashley's turn to look hurt. Clearly this wasn't just a random fling. It might have been her new day job…(or night job in this case!)

Ashley still clung to her lioness pride. "Some people just had side hobbies in addition to being the top prosecutor in the county!"

Star grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. "Side hobby? You sure are here full time for a hobby!"

Ashley turned beat red. "Nyah…Ok…I'm just finding myself you know. I'm going through a quarter life crisis! After…William died…I just…thought I'd be more honest with myself!"

"That's obvious!" Mina laughed. "Someone's a real wild cat now!"

Ashley hissed angrily like she was an actual cat. "Did you just come here to take a victory lap, undergrad?! Like you haven't humiliated me enough on the court circuit?!"

Mina shook her head. "Like I just told you, I need help! Desperately. Of course I'd laugh at you normally, but this is no laughing matter."

For once, Ashley was totally silent. She didn't have a single jeer or jab to throw in Mina's direction.

Instead she crossed her arms and her eyes gave the young defense attorney an earnest look. "Promise you won't tell me folks…or any of my Yarhard friends about my little moonlighting job?"

Mina was gonna say, "I don't even really know them personally," but instead she decided to keep her leverage. "You bet! This is a secret I wished I could keep from myself!"

Ashley crossed her arms over her shoulders. "It's that bad huh?"

Mina shook her head. "No…you look good. And hot and er…what am I saying?! I double cat promise I won't tell anyone you're Kitty Galore!"

A small smirk spread across Ashley's face. Her eyes twinkled and glinted like an actual cat. "Then I think I can help you. I'll see you tomorrow, Mina."

"Er…actually," Mina said, turning slightly pale. "I lost my keys to my apartment too since Devillia stole them!"

Star chuckled and slapped her so hard on the back she was afraid her eyes would pop. "Don't worry about that, pinkie. You're gonna stay with me! We are lesbian bar mates now!"

Mina gave a sheepish grin at her new allies.

Just like Star had predicted, she had found herself playing for the opposite team. At least in a court of law!