Page 6 of Knocked Up by Mr. Grump Lawyer

“Very much willing to take your case,” I finished for him, making him throw me a dirty look. I ignored him and smiled at Maya. Then I led her to one of the private conference rooms, leaving Robert scowling at me.

A client already on my first day! I must be on a lucky streak!

At the end of the day, when my father discovered about my client, he was ecstatic. It was a simple case, and he was confident I could easily handle it. However, he still volunteered to guide me, which I was grateful for.

I was almost skipping like a happy little girl as I exited the building and booked an Uber. I was renting my apartment, the initial payments of which I saved up from my side hustles and odd jobs while in law school and interning at other law firms in Hollywood.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw a limousine parked at the side of the building. A uniformed chauffeur got out and opened the back door for someone. That was when a young boy, probably in his pre-teens, went out and greeted…

Wait! Is that…?

It was Robert in his still immaculate blue suit and perfectly brushed-up hair. To my amazement, he hugged the kid, and they got into the limousine together.

Was that his son? Did he own that limousine?

Now he’s definitely piqued my curiosity.

Chapter 4

ROBERT

Iwascluelessinthe kitchen. I couldn’t remember the last time I cooked something.

“Would you like some bacon with your pancakes?” Anna asked me, her heavy Asian accent evident in her words. She’s been our cook and house helper for eight years now in the big house where only my son and I lived. She’d also practically been a mother to me because I was only around twenty-four years old when I first hired her. My son Riley was only two years old then, so it was a great relief when she came into our lives.

“Yes, please,” I answered with a faint smile. “Thank you, Anna.”

“Me too!” Riley quipped.

“Of course,” Anna told him with a big smile. “Anything for you.”

She was even more of a mom to him than his very own mother — my ex-girlfriend Jaynie.

As we ate breakfast, I tried to give Riley my full attention. I felt guilty for missing his soccer game a few days ago because I was in New York. We only had time to catch up during this period before I had to go to the office, and he went to school.

“Dad, I can’t believe they’re making us sew and knit in school!” he complained to me. “It’s so hard! Isn’t that supposed to be just for girls?”

“Well, it usually is,” I answered. “But times have changed. Don’t the girls in your class do the same sports as you do? And aren’t they in your wood workshop class too?”

He nodded.

“Well, these days, women do a lot of manly stuff and men do a lot of feminine stuff…” I said. At the back of my head, I could suddenly picture Kayla’s pretty face scrunching up with irritation at my discrimination of her. I was guilty as well of looking down on her because her appearance did not fit the lawyer’s mold.

“Yes, I guess so,” Riley agreed. “Didn’t you say you used to change my diapers and prepare my milk bottles and stuff like that when I was a baby?”

“Yes, you’re right,” I said, chuckling. “It seems so long ago now.”

I almost laughed at recalling those memories. They had been painful at that time because I did not have a choice. Instead of partying with the boys, I had been losing sleep over law school and being a single dad and building a digital business too. As I reflect back, I realize that I was juggling so many things at that time and it's truly amazing how I was able to accomplish everything.

I remembered that kind old lady who lived next door and always volunteered to take care of Riley when I couldn’t. When I became wealthy, I helped her settle in a nicer home near her grown-up children.

I recalled my uncle, who had taken me in his custody when I became an orphan. He’d now passed away due to a terminal illness, but before he died, I was able to pay him back for all the goodness he had shown me.

“Anyway, I have this project to make a bonnet,” Riley was saying. “I need to practice this crochet stuff! Can you help me?”

I gave him an incredulous look. This was one skill that I had never learned. Even basic sewing was totally foreign to me.

We asked Anna if she could help, but she also had no idea about crocheting. “I can recommend someone, though,” she said.

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