Free Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young

“What are you talking about? We’ve been doing everything we’re supposed to do. Going to meetings three or four times a week, praying five times a day. I’ve changed my diet and I don’t even cuss anymore.”
Well, almost.
    “I’m talking about the big thing we’ve been doing that’s straight-up wrong.”
    Special’s face clouded. “What big thing?”
    Clayton gave her a skeptical look that told her to stop playing dumb. “Special, we can’t have sex anymore. Not until we’re married.”
    Fear eased out of her body and astonishment skidded into its place.
    Special laughed. “Boy, stop playing.”
    Clayton frowned. “I’m not playing. I’m serious.”
    She waited a beat, expecting him to explain this joke, but he didn’t.
    “Oh…uh, okay,” was the only response Special could muster.
    “I don’t expect it to be easy,” Clayton continued. “For either of us. But I want to follow Allah’s will in every way.”
    “Okay,” she said again, still shell-shocked.
    “Let’s pray.” Clayton took both of her hands, lowered his head and closed his eyes. “Oh great Allah, we come before you as mere servants, humbled by your power. Strengthen us, Allah, so that we may be the worthy servants you deserve. . .”
    Special opened one eye and pinned it on Clayton.
This has to be a joke?
Maybe this was some kind of test to see if she was really serious about Islam.
    Once he’d finished praying, Clayton instantly seemed like his old self. “Whatever you’re cooking smells good. I’m going to wash my hands.”
    As Clayton disappeared down the hallway, Special stayed put, still a bit dazed. This was crazy. She did not wait three decades to find the man of her dreams just to become a friggin’ nun. Christians fornicated all the time. They just went to church Sunday morning and asked Jesus for forgiveness. It was no big deal.
    A naughty smile suddenly graced her lips. They weren’t planning to get married for another year. There was no way Clayton could go without sex that long. He was the most sexual man she’d ever dated. Her smile grew increasingly wider. Since Clayton was putting her to the test, she’d turn the tables and come up with one for him.
    And she’d make sure there would be no way he could pass it.

CHAPTER 15
     
    G irlie lowered her head and let out a quiet breath of air.
    “Tonisha,” she said into the speakerphone, “I need you to calm down and listen to me, okay?”
    For the past ten minutes, Girlie had been trying to explain to her obstinate client why it was unrealistic to expect to have a two-million-dollar check in her hands three days after the jury’s verdict.
    “Were you even listening to me the last two times we discussed this? I already told you there’s a good chance that Lamarr will appeal the verdict and if he does, it could be a long time before he has to pay you.”
    “I need my money now!” Tonisha yelled in a shrill voice. “Can’t you file a motion or something? I can’t even get a job strippin’ no more ’cuz everybody’s hatin’ on me. How am I supposed to live?”
    “
Star
magazine paid you twenty grand for that story they ran last month. Where’s that money?”
    “It’s gone. I had a lot of bills.”
    “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe a family member can give you a loan.”
    “My family ain’t got no money. You gotta make Lamarr pay me!”
    Girlie bit her lip. “Tonisha, I want you to listen to me. There’s nothing I can do to make that happen right away.”
    “Okay then, how about loaning me some money until we get paid?”
    Girlie had advanced money to clients on a couple of occasions. She was fairly certain Tonisha would eventually receive the jury’s award. Even if Lamarr appealed, it was unlikely that the court would overturn the verdict. But Girlie didn’t want to be tied up with Tonisha anymore than she already was.
    “My law firm doesn’t allow us to advance money to clients,” Girlie lied. “But maybe I could approach