The Royal Contract

She could see the slight hesitation in her eyes as she thought of how to broach the topic with her. But it was clear that something was heavily weighing on her shoulders. She could tell that there was a problem.

If she could help strangers with her pro bono cases, how could she turn her back on her employees who had worked for her father for as long as she could remember? Especially Magda, who had been loyal to her father.

“Well, I don’t have much to offer, and I know you are a very busy person and a soon-to-be mother. So I know I should not be bothering you.” She paused, still slightly shy to continue as her face looked down on her lap where she was playing with her fingers.

She had worked for her father since she first set foot in this country. Her previous employer had helped her with her immigration papers, making her a legal citizen of this great nation.

But Mr. Hamilton did not stop there. He also included two of her children in the petition. If not for him, she might have faced deportation long ago. Besides that, she had many to be thankful for with this family. Even Ms. Laura had helped her kids go to college.

But since her husband died several months ago, it had not been easy for her and her son and daughter. But it was no reason for her kids to forget what was right and wrong. So, she could not accept what her son was facing today.

.....

“Hey, Magda. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Then, let me decide if I can help or not.” Dani assured her. “Deal?” She did not want to shut her down without hearing her problem. It might be just a simple case that had an easy solution.

Her employee looked slightly relieved after hearing her say that. But she could still see the apprehension in her expression. Whatever it was, she realized it was not what she initially thought. It might be something more complicated than that.

“Ok. But I will understand if you are unable to help me. I will not take it against you.” She rapidly said. “Your father and mother had done so much for my family already. I don’t know how I could repay them for their kindness and even you and your husband.”

Then, she started relating the situation that his son had found himself entangled with, telling her boss that he was now in the custody of the police.

His classmate accused him of taking something from him. But his son had promised her he did not do such a thing. She believed him because she had raised her kids with fear in the Lord and respect for the law.

But they could not afford a fancy lawyer. The free lawyer assigned to take their case already told them that they would not win the case. Yet, he had barely studied his son’s case. Now, that lawyer asked his son to plead guilty.

“So, you are saying he is innocent of the charges the police filed against him.” Dani had heard many cases like this before. But what criminal would plead guilty to a crime?

But under the law, everyone should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. So, she was ashamed that a lawyer would not do his job to protect the vows they had sworn to uphold.

Unlike the other lawyer, she would like to give her and her son the benefit of the doubt. If her mother, Laura, trusted her two kids and sponsored their education, maybe they were good kids who stumbled on with a rotten crowd.

Maybe it was still worth investigating and not just dismissed outright. “I will not promise anything, but I will ask a friend to look into it.” Immediately, Adam came to her mind. Maybe this was a perfect start for their collaboration.

She believed that if anyone could help this kid, Adam would be the perfect one on the job. She would have volunteered herself, but her circumstances prevented her from doing it.

“Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me. I am not asking for a miracle but a fair chance for my son. Thank you.” The woman repeated as she stood up from her seat and approached her table.

She reached out her hand and shook her hand. “Thank you.” She kept repeating.

Soon, the woman left her, going on her way with hope in her eyes. At least she might be able to sleep tonight, knowing someone else was willing to take a look at the case before passing judgment on it.

She had seen many cases with folks like her, whose cases got buried and then misrepresented because they had not enough money to fight for justice. She did not want that to happen to her child.

“Adam. I have a favor to ask of you.” She immediately called her friend. “Would you meet me in an hour?” Then, she halted. She would have met him in a restaurant, but she remembered Alex was picking her up in a few minutes.

She doubted he would agree that she made a side trip to a restaurant because of work. So, she decided to come up with something else. “...or better yet, can you just join us for dinner tonight?”

Dinner with a friend seemed to be a good alibi. And besides, it was a good time for Alex to catch up with his friend. She knew they had also been closed back in the old days but had to separate because of their different goals in life.

But she was sure Alex would understand why she had to help this woman. She could not allow this woman’s son not to get a fair trial. She believed in the saying that justice should be blind and the tip of the balance scale should differentiate the truth from the lie.