Page 24 of Knocked Up by Mr. Grump Lawyer

She recounted how she and her baby had been thrown out of her so-called friend’s apartment when they couldn’t contribute financially. They had been transferring from one free shelter to another to have somewhere to sleep and eat. She was a makeup artist, so sometimes Raven and her friends would get her as a project assistant. Those were the only times she made some money.

“Then my baby got sick…” she said, sobbing. “He… H-He’s been throwing up and had diarrhea too, so I got s-scared… then I brought him to the hospital.”

“They will give him free treatment and medication, for sure,” Raven said. “What did the doctors say?”

“Something with his stomach,” the woman answered. “M-Maybe from lack of nutrition or maybe the environment… I don’t know…”

“I suppose you will need a better place, a permanent one, to live at once your baby is discharged from the hospital,” I said. “And you need a stable source of income to provide healthy food for him.” In my mind, I was already thinking of donating some of my savings to her and perhaps starting a fundraising campaign for people like her.

Robert was nodding, but I noticed he was busy typing furiously on his cell phone. I narrowed my eyes, thinking of how insensitive and aloof he acted about all this.

But I soon found out I was wrong. In just a few minutes, his assistant Willard appeared.

“Willard, please accompany this young woman to the hospital and check on her baby’s condition, too,” Robert said, lowering his voice to speak to his assistant privately. “I think we have a vacant unit at J-Homes. Help them settle in and buy all their house needs.”

Of course, I could hear everything since I was seated beside him. My mouth dropped open.

The woman and Raven also looked bewildered. Raven and I exchanged meaningful looks.

Robert took the woman’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Don’t worry; your child will be taken care of. You can go with Willard and he’ll help you settle into your new home.”

“What? How? I mean, I don’t have money,” the woman said with a shocked, confused expression. “How can I repay you?”

“Don’t think about it now,” Robert assured her. “That apartment where Willard will take you… It belongs to me, so you can use it for free while we help you find a stable job in Hollywood.”

The woman threw herself at him and hugged him tightly before going off with Willard. Luckily, most of the others had gone home already. I had a feeling some might get jealous and take advantage of Robert’s money.

I stared at him then and saw that he was very much sincere in wanting to help the woman.

“That’s so kind of you!” Raven gushed. “Thank you!”

“It’s no big deal,” Robert said. Then he turned to me and began to discuss the case.

Chapter 10

ROBERT

Checkingmywatch,Isaw that it was almost six. As I was expecting, my phone began to ring. I also considered my coaching client Janna a good friend when she wasn’t busy flirting with me.

“Hey, Janna,” I greeted. “I’m stepping out of the law firm now. How have you been?”

“I’m thinking…” she started in a very sultry voice. “…what if you just come over instead of meeting online?”

I laughed. “I know what you have in mind.”

I could imagine her pouting as I heard her utter a sound of disappointment. “Oh, come on, Robert,” she urged. “I know you’re still single and probably haven’t been in bed with anyone for, like, what? Six months or so?”

That’s not really true,I thought, thinking of Kayla. Suddenly, an image of her gorgeous face and naked body popped into my head, arousing me.

“I’m too busy, Janna,” I said aloud. “Maybe some other time, and I’d prefer it if we meet in a public place.”

It was her turn to laugh. “I think you’re just afraid of falling for me!” she said teasingly. “Oh, well. I’ll just have to invite my co-star over again.”

“I’m sure he’ll be more than glad to do that,” I told her.

“But I’m just so tired of sleeping with these actors,” she complained. “I want a hot lawyer like you!”

Chuckling, I simply said, “I’ll see you online at seven, Janna.”

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