Maite's POV

I make a quick start of my day and leave Cata in bed. I had a long conversation with mama who told me that I have to strike while the iron is hot.

I am looking for lawyers that can help with my case and I look up Mason, Petrovich and Miller. They have good ratings on the legal websites I have seen. I walk in the door and go up to the receptionist.

"Hello, I called about a consult about a potential case with a Diane Miller." The woman just looks at me as if she is examining me and she I guess passes me because she picks up the phone and starts talking to the person on the other line. I can only assume that would be Diane Miller.

"Hello Maria, we can just step into my office. Wendy hold all my calls… thank you." She doesn't even glance back before she is clacking her Louboutins into her office which is a boss move I can't help but admire.

"Hi, we spoke briefly about the reason I need the consult. I am not sure of how family court works in the U.S. but my sister… well she is legally my cousin has been living in Buffalo with her biological mother however her mother is irresponsible and goes long bouts without being home and misses important meetings that pertain to my sister's education. She is too advanced for the current school she is in and the principal has recommended some schools that would better suit her needs one of them being Port Charles High School. I live here and I want to know my chances to be her legal guardian. My parents were here legal guardians for most of her life but somethings happened and her biological mother took her to the states and my mom didn't want to start an international custody dispute over this because of what it might do the psyche of my sister but she does not want to live with her mother. She has been taking care of herself for the most part, so I want to know what my options are?" Diane just looks at me with a face of stone and I wonder if she will even take the case.

"Are you a U.S. citizen or resident? I am not going to call anyone, but you must be prepared for the court system will be asking these things."

"Yes, I am… my father was American-born. I recently received my citizenship documents from USCIS applying under that rule for my citizenship. I didn't need it before in Mexico but I did it here so I wouldn't have to choose a job that would require me to be sponsored by them."

"This is good… You have a stable job correct?"

"Oh yes, I am a Professor of History at PCU."

"Impressive and this will be great. First what we must do is file for an emergency hearing and apply for jurisdiction to be moved here due to extenuating circumstances. After we file for the emergency hearing you will have to show up and counsel for your sister's mother…"

"What happens now?"

"Well I decided I will take your case. I will have to petition the court for an emergency hearing. The good thing is that our children services is run by the state so we could most likely get the courts here to hear the case. We will need the testimony of your sister and any evidence showcasing how neglectful her mother is will be helpful."

"She has messages on her iCloud that can corroborate her claims. I would rather her be released into my custody instead of her being emancipated." I get a ding on my phone and I apologize so profusely because it could be my mother.

"Maria, I don't take it kindly for phones to go off during my meetings. It makes me less inclined to take you on as a client." I understand what she is saying but I can't miss a message from my mother.

"I am really sorry but how enforceable is a Mexican custody order that shows my mother has guardianship of my sister? This was years ago though?"

"There isn't an expiration date on permanent orders if it was one. What matters is if they had legal jurisdiction to make such a decree in the first place."

"Well my sister is a dual citizen from birth and her legal residence was in Mexico when the order came down. We had some misfortunes and her mother took her out of the country when my mother was not able to do anything. When we found out where she was my mother wanted her back, but we didn't want an international custody fight with governments involved so we had to come to an agreement, but her mother didn't uphold those agreements"

"If she was bypassed for your parents to be her guardians then she has no say. Have your mother fax those documents to my office. This will be much easier to because we only need the courts to enforce the existing agreement. What this Sylvia did constitutes international kidnapping which is a crime. She could be arrested and serve time in a Mexican prison."

"You think this might work?"

"Maria, I am the best lawyer in sight, and I vanquish all my enemies. We need to have your mother give you guardianship of your sister for her to reside here or else she would have to go to Mexico."

"So, this means you will take my case?"

"I like to win, and this Sylvia sounds like she is something so I want your sister to be in a place she can thrive."

"Thank you, Ms. Miller." I shake her hand and I think to myself my goodness I could win.

"Let me walk you out." As she opens the door, I feel like a deer spooked in the woods. I see Michael in one of the chairs waiting for I guess Diane. I hate that I still feel things for him. I just want punch him in the dick.

"Maite?! What are you doing here?!"

"You two know each other?" Diane's eyebrow is raised and Wendy the receptionist is pretending she is doing work but is really being nosey.

"Something like that…" I roll my eyes at him and it makes Diane smirk.

"Can I speak with you for a minute?" I want to slap the shit out of him but hitting people is wrong even when it feels right.

"Fine!"

"Michael, your father might be my favorite client, but you cannot hold use my office as a parlor."

"Diane, I was early for my appointment." She looks to Wendy and the woman nods her head and Diane just shakes her head and goes back to her office.

I walk outside and Michael follows me he needs to make whatever this is quick because I have to get back quick.

"How have you been?!"

"I'm fine Michael." He looks like he's upset and wants to say something, but he catches himself.

"I just wanted to see how you were? I don't see much of you anymore."

"Well yeah I don't work for ELQ..." I almost feel bad for the flash of hurt that passes his eyes, but his mask is back.

"You did more than work for ELQ…"

"Yeah I know Michael I used to suck your dick too." His nose flares and he closes his eyes for a long second before opening them again

"Why do you have to be so difficult?" He grits through his teeth.

"Why the hell should I be nice and civil to you Michael? The last time we spoke to each other I barely got to speak! I made an informed decision about my future without any interference and you only thought of your ego."

"You never even told me about it. You went behind my back."

"Stop painting yourself as a victim. I had that job offer longer than I even knew you. I would have been an idiot to not have a backup plan and it comes really in handy since I didn't get the job."

"You could have told me…" He deflates and I feel a little bad now. I certainly could have told him. Our relationship got pretty serious and I wanted to tell him, but I was scared of what I would do. I was scared that I would make the same decision as before.

"I wanted to tell you Michael, but I needed to have a clear head about what I was doing. I don't need to run my career decisions by anyone and be influenced in any way."

"Do you really think I would do something like that?"

"No, I don't but I would make decisions that I feel are right for everyone and not what is necessarily right for me. I don't expect you to understand my rationale, but I wanted for me to decide with no other factors to influence me because I have done that before." I hate being vulnerable to him because I don't want him having this power over me especially now.

"I wouldn't have done anything but support you."

"Like you supported me that night in my apartment. You shut me down and out and wouldn't let me explain and you told me to not speak to you. You broke me thoroughly and I don't owe you a damn thing. So, I don't know why you even wanted to have this talk maybe for closure or whatever but stop doing this to me."

"What can I do?"

"Leave me the hell alone like you promised and have a great life with Sabrina."

"You know what I fucking will. I am so tired of doing this with you."

"Whatever Michael, you ask me what you could do but you could never do the simplest thing in the world because it didn't occur to you. You never once apologized for how you treated me and today you still didn't. You don't feel what you did was wrong. I don't need any kind of saving it drives you up the wall because you need to be the prince charming. I save myself and that's what makes you so upset huh?" I poke him in the chest, and he groans. I grab him by the tie, and he comes closer to my face.

"I'll always find a way to save myself so go find your Ariel in Sabrina or whoever. But remember this you wanting the hero is going to catch up to you Miguel and someone is going to ruin your life and use it against you." I let him go and I walk to my car and get in and I can feel his eyes on me the whole time.