Chapter 2
Alexis woke up with the sun's warmth lingering on her face. She yawned and stretched to awaken her body to a new day. As she lay there basking in the sunlight streaming through the window she looked to the days activities, mentally preparing herself for what was to be a long day. She needed to be in court at 10:00 to defend the rights of an 11 year old little boy who had been physically abused by his mother. The case had become very special to Alexis. The little boy for some reason unknown to her touched a chord deep inside her heart. She didn't know why, there was no explanation for it. All she knew was that he had to be saved from his mother. She would not allow the courts to send Matthew back to the abuse he was forced to live in on a daily basis. She knew what she needed to do and she knew how she was going to accomplish it. There was no doubt in her mind that Matthew would be safe, in his father's custody, by the end of the day.
As she lay there thinking about Matt she suddenly remembered that her newest secretary, Ann, had informed her at the close of yesterdays business that she made an appointment with a new client for this afternoon at 3:00. A grievous error that Alexis dealt with quickly. Before anyone was allowed an appointment with Alexis they were to be screened first. Ann not only failed to complete the initial appointment questionnaire while the client was on the phone, she also failed to acquire information regarding what services the client was requesting.
Her secretary now knew that all potential clients were to be put through a screening process before an actual appointment was confirmed and in the future if the process was not adhered to then her services as a secretary would no longer be needed. Therefore, Ann's first job of the day was to spend the morning trying to get information on the client before the actual appointment time.
By the time Alexis showered and enjoyed her first cup of coffee it was 8:30 and she was regretting lying in bed so long. It was not a normal practice for Alexis to sleep in, but her musings of the night before had left her exhausted and her night proved to be more fitful than usual. But, today was a new day, fresh with no mistakes in it; another day to prove her worth. Alexis finished her cup of coffee and climbed the stairs to get dressed for the day.
Since she was meeting a new client she wanted to make sure her best power suit was in good condition. Alexis was very conscious of the fact that first impressions could make or break a deal. First impressions were what made the difference in who held the upper hand in not only the first meeting but in all subsequent meetings and negotiations if she took a case.
Her favorite suit was a navy blue pin-strip that ended just below her knees. When she wore it she felt authoritative and commanding. The last time she had worn this particular suit she noticed that as she walked through the corridors of the courthouse she caught the attention of several men and saw a faint look of respect cross their faces. It pleased her to know that she was able to succeed in her efforts to create a self-assured and very competent persona. 'This suit will be perfect for today', she thought.
At 11:30, just as Alexis turned from the judge who rendered his verdict in favor of her client, she felt Matt's hand slide shyly into hers. Giving him her full attention she sat down so she could look at him on his level. During her years in dealing with children she learned that it was extremely important to gain a child's trust so they wouldn't fear her or the court processes they were forced to endure. She learned how to read and react to their body language. There were times when children needed to feel important and for an adult to come down to their level, it was something very special to a child. If someone had only cared enough to hear what she couldn't say when she was Matt's age; maybe her life would have turned out differently.
Matt let go of her hand and put both of his arms around her neck and hugged her fiercely. With tears in his eyes he whispered, "Thank you. You gave me my daddy back and I'm gonna be ok now." Alexis felt her breathe stop for a moment. As Matt started to take his arms away, Alexis did something she had never done before to any of the children she represented. She gathered him close and hugged him back. As she put her arms around Matt, she felt tears in her own eyes and couldn't remember when her arms had ever felt so full.
She held him for just a moment longer and then let go. With a husky voice filled with restrained emotion she took Matt's face between hers and very quietly told him, "If you ever need anything Matt, call me." Reaching into her briefcase she pulled out a simple embossed business card that held her name and personal phone number. As she handed him the card she looked at him very seriously and explained what she was offering. "Matt, this is my personal number. No one is to know you have it. It is just between you and I. If you ever get into trouble or someone is harming you, call me. I'll come right away. You have my word."
Matt took the card with a look of awe and reverence. He could not remember a time when anyone besides his dad had treated him as anything but a nuisance and yet here was Miss Alexis giving him her own special number. The smile he gave Alexis warmed her heart as it had not been warmed since she was a child running in the park with her mother. It was quickly becoming one of those days she didn't see very often, a special day to remember. A small precious golden moment in time!
Once Matt and his father left the courtroom, Alexis stood to pack her briefcase. It had certainly been a productive morning and she felt good. As she left the courtroom, however, she failed to notice the stranger in the back of the courtroom who watched the whole exchange between she and the little boy. And as she left the courthouse, she also didn't notice that the stranger followed her out. She was oblivious to her surroundings, she was still remembering the feel of those tiny arms shyly hugging her in gratitude and she felt the warmth once again as she smiled contentedly.
Alexis settled into a booth at the corner sandwich stop to grab a quick bite to eat before going back to the office to prepare for her 3:00 appointment. She hoped Ann had been able to get some information on the potential client she was scheduled to see. She did not like doing business with anyone she had not had the chance to run a background check on before their initial appointment.
Upon entering her office at 1:30 she called Ann into her office for a quick run down on the activities of the morning while she was in court. Nothing out of the order occurred and much to her regret, Ann was not been able to reach her 3:00 appointment. Well, she would just have to be more cautious than usual while she met with Mr. S. Corinthos.