Chapter 4 The Osvaldos

• TEXAS, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.
• KJ BEAUTY EMPIRE: KIARA’S OFFICE
• Kiara’s head snapped up to look at whoever just opened the office and she found Lila standing at the entrance with a bright smile on her face.
• “Hey best friend!” Lila giggled as she strolled further into the room.
• Kiara managed a smile on her face. “Good afternoon, Lila.”
• Lila raised her eyebrows at the unusual way her best friend just acknowledged her presence. “Is that the right way to greet me? Woah! You didn’t even offer me a seat! So rude of you, CEO Kiara! Is this how you treat a good client?” Lila questioned in feigned annoyance with her hands on her waist as she stood at akimbo.
• Kiara glanced up again from the laptop screen. She was busy taking a free spa lessons online.
• “Let me ask you a question.” She paused.
• “Yes I am listening.”
• “Are you here today as a client or a best friend?” Kiara asked.
• Lila thought for a moment. “Such a cunning question. Perhaps am I making you uncomfortable?” She asked in a low tone.
• “Why on earth have you not being picking up my calls?! You didn’t even reply to any of my text messages?!” Kiara blurted out after some seconds of silence in the room.
• She wasn’t angry but pissed that her best friend had left her hanging for about twenty four hours without caring about her welfare. Lila knew Kiara was just being her usual self—Being petty. And she likes too much attention from those who claimed to love and have her interest at heart.
• Lila sat down in the seat facing her directly. “Should we go out for lunch? We can talk things out from there.” She requested with a fake smile on her face. She was trying so hard to not let out her emotions.
• Kiara heaved a sigh. “I can’t step out now. I have to finish up a few files on some top clients. We are fully booked for this week.” She tapped her fingers on the system.
• Lila bit the insides of her cheeks. “I can tell already that you would barely have time for yourself.”
• Kiara nodded in agreement. “Business is doing well—“
• “And you love what you are doing.” Lila completed her intended statement but in a low tone.
• Kiara’s forehead creased when she noticed the change in Lila’s countenance and tone. “Are you okay, Lila?” She demanded with worry laced in her tone.
• Lila bursted out in tears all of a sudden. Without wasting much time, Kiara got out of the swivel chair and rushed to her.
• “Hey...what’s wrong? Talk to me, Lila.”
• “I got fired at work...yesterday.” Lila wailed out loud.
• Kiara gasped out. “Why? What went wrong at the law firm?” She took her hand, pulled her out of the chair and took her to settle on the couch. “Please stop crying and give me every detail.” She moved again to get her a bottle of water.
• Lila sniffed. She wasn’t sure if she should let Kiara know of her situation that’s why she refused to call or reply her text messages after the happening.
• “Speak to me, Lila.” Kiara persuaded. “Here.” She handed her the bottle of water. “Remember our promise. We can’t hide things from each other.”
• Lila shook her head slowly. “I don’t even know if I should tell you about it.”
• “Listen Lila, I am sorry for acting petty earlier. So please let me in on your situation.” Kiara said in a pleading tone.
• “The Osvaldos.” Lila muttered.
• Kiara readjusted her sitting position. “Yeah. I heard the news about Mrs Osvaldo stabbing her husband to death...but how does that concern you?” She arched her brows.
• “So this is it. Elena Osvaldo’s younger sister brought the case to our law firm and she requested that I should be the one to defend her sister in court. She specifically mentioned my name. I looked through the case and and it was something I could defend but knowing about your history with the Osvaldos, I turned down the offer to be their attorney. Although it is against my job rules.” She explained.
• “So you got fired for that reason?” Kiara mumbled with a guilty look on her face.
• “You know how selfish my boss can be. He knew the chance of Elena Osvaldos winning against her in-laws is very low but he wants us to try because of the money it would generate to the firm’s wallet.” Lila answered.
• “But you should have—“
• Lila interrupted her. “I should have taken up the case? Oh come on, Kiara! Have you forgotten how badly they treated you? Elena Osvaldo being a victim of domestic violence didn’t even feel pity for you and all she wanted was the freedom of her son!” She stood up abruptly. “Woah! Thinking back at when she offered you money to stay quiet about her son’s cruelty is even making me burn deeper with rage! I hope she rots in jail for the rest of her life!” She grimaced in anger.
• Kiara bowed her head, feeling guilty and ashamed for burdening her friend. If she hasn’t gotten involved with the Osvaldos, Lila wouldn’t have lost her dream job. She could remember how Lila had talked nonstop about getting a job at Kings Law Firm after taking her bar exam. The happiness on Lila’s face after getting the job was still vivid in her memory. Seven years since she has been working at the Law firm and she still has so much interest in her job and the passion to help the poor, defenseless and fight injustice in the country was still burning within her.
• “I am sorry, Lila.” Kiara apologized for causing her best friend pain.
• Lila wiped her face clean. “Why are you apologizing?”
• “It’s all my fault.” Tears pulled in her eyes.
• “Come on Kiara, I knew you were going to take the blame that’s why I didn’t reach out to you yesterday. Daniel was with me throughout and he did a great job at comforting me.” She settled back next to her.
• “Listen, me losing my job is not your fault. It’s a choice I made to protect my integrity. The truth is Kings Law Firm is not what I imagined it to be. My boss just wants the money and nothing else. He doesn’t really care about justice.”
• Kiara still didn’t look up at her friend. She failed at controlling her tears. It has been almost five months since she divorced Carlos Osvaldo and she hasn’t heard about him. The last news on him was leaving the town and relocating to a place not mentioned.
• “Look at me,” Lila instructed as she held on to her two hands. “Kiara,” she called out. “I made a promise to protect you from the Osvaldos and that’s what I did. I think it’s a blessing in disguise that I got fired because in a little while I have made the decision of opening my own law firm.”
• Kiara’s head snapped up to look at her best friend. “Yeah.” Lila nodded, a genuine smile crawling on her face. “I don’t regret turning the offer to defend Elena Osvaldo. I am sure they can hire the best lawyers in town to fight her case.”
• “Are you sure...about this Lila?”
• Lila shook her head. “On a scale of one to hundred, I am 99.9% sure and the 1% is for the success after I am done setting up my space.”
• Kiara in turn pulled Lila in for an embrace. “Oh Kiara, what do I do with you? I am the one who got fired but you look gloomy more than I do.” She pat Kiara’s back.
• “Forgive me for putting you through all of these things. I really appreciate you.” Kiara pulled away from the embrace. “But you should have called me immediately. It had me thinking you were avoiding me because I couldn’t book you a slot for the spa session.” She pouted.
• Lila laughed. “Oh really? If I don’t get a spot, my best friend can always run the session on me at home. I didn’t want to bother you with my problems knowing you have too much to handle already.”
• Kiara rolled her eyes. “You are my go to person and it should be reciprocated but because Daniel is in the picture, he is the first to get to know everything.”
• Lila couldn’t help but laugh again. “You know that’s not true. I come running to you first but this issue is too sensitive to you that’s why I called him first.”
• To be honest, Lila is a very good friend and she is capable of handling any task at hand. And Kiara is grateful for having such human in her life.
• “So what are your plans of opening up your space? Do you have an estimation of what will be spent? I can help with anything.”
• Lila shook her head in disagreement. “If you are talking about helping out financially then I’ll have to decline. The fact that you have so much money doesn’t mean you should give it out so easily.”
• “But I am giving it out to my best friend who has helped me out a whole lot of times. I want to help.” Kiara countered.
• “Listen girl, I got that money for you to have fun and travel around the globe. And not spend it on some charity or friendship goals.” Lila interjected.
• “Come on, Lila, I have told you several times that I don’t want to travel around the globe. My whole life is in this town—“
• Lila interrupted. “That almost caused your death.” She completed.
• “Point of correct, it wasn’t the town itself but a native of the town.”
• “Whatever! I have enough savings to set up my firm. You can hold on to your money.” Lila stood you again from the couch.
• “How about I pay for the furnishings?” Kiara offered.
• Lila shot her a feigned glare. “I will let you know if there is any help you can render without the involvement of money.”
• “It’s very unfair of you—“
• “Enough! I didn’t come here to have you feel guilty or being sad for my situation. I came here to tell you something awesome!” She snapped her fingers in the air.
• “What is it?” Kiara leaned back into the couch properly.