Before Mina could dial anything on her E-Phone, the Ninja Kitty chiptune ringer emitted loudly from behind the pink case. Mina's eyes widened when she realized that the Caller ID read, "Maxine Electra, Electra Company, Business Park!"

"What the hey?!" Mina gasped showing the phone to Victoria. "Your mother is calling me?! How does she know your phone number?"

Victoria and Taco were both silent, and there was even a bit of fear in their eyes.

Mina carefully slid her finger over the button to answer. "Y'ello?" Mina answered trying to sound casual.

"How're you, baby?" The huskiest, buxom voice answered on this side of Chief O'Law, and Mina was hoping that it wasn't somehow a call from a female phone operator from those shady bars downtown.

"Ummm uh," Mina stammered. "Is this Maxine Electra? Owner of the Electra Company?"

"None other," the voice said slyly. "Making everything that is fit to be plugged in. This whole country is powered by Electra!"

Wow...Mina thought to herself, She's so invested in her company, she's a walking tagline.

But instead of being snarky, Mina answered cautiously. "But uh, how did you get my number? Why are you calling me?"

Maxine gave a deep chortle. "When you're as rich as me, darling, you can get anyone's number you want!"

Mina was so stupefied by the answer, and Electra added, "Besides, your number was on your website. You are the attorney who defended my daughter in court are you not?"

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ah..." Mina said, a sigh of deep relief. "Yeah, that's me!"

Electra's voice drained of its flamboyance. "That was a bold move from you, Victoria. Hiring some inexperienced, you g defense attorney, thinking your foxy mum wouldn't find out! Just hope you know I have eyes and ears floating in the sky. But I won't DRONE on too much about the high tech machines a billionaire like me has!"

Electra began to belly laugh over the phone. Victoria was still as pale as a beauty queen on ice.

Contrary to her previous statement, Electra continued to drone on.

"But since you avoided a national scandal anyway, while I was out of the country, I'll let it slide. Now then, Miss Hawkins...I'd like to discuss something with you..."

"Y-yes?" Mina asked, feeling equally flustered.

"Your matter of pay," Electra said casually. "You managed to pull off a very high profile cases, and I want you to be gorgeously rewarded."

There was a hint of drool on Mina's face. No longer would she be slurping Swirly Ramen out of soup bowls at her house. She might actually be able to dine in style.

"I'd like to give you.. in lieu of pay..." Maxine began. "A lifetime pass to the Electra Company."

"What the huh?!" Mina shouted. That didn't sound like a good pay at all.

"Yes..." Electra said. "With this pass, you will be allowed at all Electra Company hosted events, gatherings, concerts, performances, fashion shows, interpretive dances, and barbershop quartets! It's truly a chance and privilege of a lifetime!"

"Buh buh but..." Mina choked out words.

"It seems judging by your silence you are either choking on a pretzel or you are speechless in your gratitude," Maxine Electra said, chuckling. "And since I like to put a positive charge into everything. I will assume it is the latter!"

Mina quickly attempted to summon her words of anger and exasperation, but the crook billionaire quickly added, "But now momma is busy. Very busy. Thank you very much, Miss Birdbrain and I look forward to meeting with you when I return to America. Toodles and shock ya later!"

With the click of the receiver, Mina was left in silence. She had just been conned out of her lawyering fee.