Here is a new one. I hope you enjoy it!


Chef and The Lawyer

So what if Sam needed help and Mercedes was the only one who could help?


Sam Evans adjusted his bag on his shoulder, checking the office directory as he stepped off the elevator. He was here to see Sebastian Smythe about a legal issue, but he couldn't

seem to figure out which office belonged to him. As he walked down the hallway, a muffled banging sound caught his attention, followed by an exasperated groan and a loud "No, no, no!"

Curious, he stopped in front of the open door and peeked in. A woman sat behind a desk, her curls falling perfectly over her shoulders, her orange tank dress popping against the sleek black blazer she wore. Leopard print heels tapped against the floor as she stared at a frozen computer screen. Her assistant, Marley Rose, looked up from her own desk outside and smiled.

"Oh, perfect timing!" Marley said, motioning to Sam. "You must be the tech guy."

Sam opened his mouth to clarify but didn't have the chance before Marley ushered him inside.

"Uh, actually—" he started, but the woman behind the desk, Mercedes Jones, cut him off.

"Good, you're here. My computer's frozen, and I'm on a tight deadline. Can you fix it?" she asked, gesturing to the unresponsive screen.

Sam hesitated, glancing at Marley, who gave him an encouraging nod. Deciding to help, he set his bag down and walked over. "I'm no IT tech, but maybe I can help," he said, inspecting the computer.

As Sam fiddled with the computer, the tension in the room lightened. Within a few moments, the screen froze, and Mercedes let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I—"

Her gratitude was interrupted by the arrival of Biff McIntosh, who strolled in without knocking.

"Having tech issues again, Jones? Maybe you should focus on winning cases instead of whatever's on that screen," he sneered.

Mercedes' eyes narrowed. "Don't start, Biff. Just because you've been here twelve years doesn't mean you've earned my respect—especially when I've closed more cases in five."

Biff's gaze shifted to Sam. "And who's this? Your IT lackey?"

Before Sam could respond, Mercedes stood. "He's none of your concern. Now, if you'll excuse us, I'm busy." She walked to the door and gestured for him to leave.

Biff scoffed but obeyed, muttering under his breath as he exited. Mercedes turned back to Sam. "Don't let him get to you. He's just mad because I'm better than him at everything."

Sam chuckled, slinging his bag back over his shoulder. "I believe it. Thanks for sticking up for me."

"Of course," Mercedes said, offering a warm smile.

As he reached the door, Sam hesitated. "Do you know where Sebastian Smythe's office is?"

Mercedes tilted her head. "Next door, but he got called into court unexpectedly. Why do you ask?"

Sam sighed. "I'm looking for legal help. My best friend Blaine said Sebastian might be able to assist."

Mercedes' brow furrowed in thought. "Maybe I can help instead. You did fix my computer, after all. Take a seat and tell me what's going on."

Sam hesitated but eventually sat. "My family's farm has been in the family for thirty years. A few years ago, my dad took out a loan to put me through school, set aside money for my siblings, and fix the tractor. He's always paid on time, but now the bank's claiming he missed a payment. Their contract says one missed payment means they take the farm."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I need a good lawyer, but I can't afford much. Blaine and Artie said someone here might be able to help."

Mercedes studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "I remember you from Blaine's birthday party a few months ago. You catered it, right?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah, I'm a chef."

Her eyes lit up with recognition. "So you're the reason I'm addicted to beignets! Fried, powdery goodness."

Sam laughed. "Maybe."

Mercedes smiled. "Well, you helped me, so I'll help you. Blaine, Artie, and Sebastian are my favorite people to work with. If they sent you my way, knowingly or not, I'm not going to turn you down. Don't worry about the fee. Let's figure this out together."

Sam settled into the chair as Mercedes grabbed her planner, flipping through the pages. "It looks like I've got a packed few weeks," she murmured, scanning her schedule. She paused, tapping her pen against the desk. "But I can help you after hours. And it won't cost you a thing."

Sam blinked, caught off guard. "Why would you do that for me?"

Mercedes shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Because people need help sometimes. I'm glad to be in a position to give it."

For a moment, Sam couldn't speak, his throat tight with gratitude. He smiled back. "Thank you. I—I remember you, too."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "From Blaine's party?"

Sam nodded, but he didn't mention that the first time he'd seen her wasn't at the party. It was months earlier when he, Blaine, and Artie had swung by to grab Sebastian for lunch. Mercedes had been at her desk, talking to two women and laughing. The sound had caught his attention, and when he'd looked over, she was radiant—her curls bouncing, her smile brighter than the sunlight streaming through the windows. He'd asked about her then, but Blaine and Artie had only chuckled, saying she was a ride he'd never recover from. A shark with a razor-sharp legal mind but kinder than anyone had a right to be.

Instead of sharing all that, Sam said simply, "You were wearing a purple dress, hair up in curls. You looked... carefree."

Mercedes blinked in surprise, her cheeks coloring faintly. "That's a rarity for me," she admitted, laughing softly.

Sam chuckled, shifting in his seat. "Well, I'm a freelance caterer, so my schedule's flexible. I'll work around yours."

Mercedes leaned back, studying him thoughtfully. "Flexible, huh? Good. We'll figure this out together, Sam."

Her words, so full of confidence and warmth, wrapped around him like a blanket. For the first time in days, he felt like things might actually be okay.

Mercedes motioned for Sam to sit as she pulled out her planner, flipping through its neatly organized pages. "Let's see," she murmured, tapping a pen against her desk. "I've got plans tomorrow, but my Friday is clear. If you can gather as much information as possible by then, we can meet up after I get off work. If not, we'll have to wait until next week."

Sam leaned back, considering. "Friday works. I've got poker night with the guys, but..." He hesitated, then smiled. "If you don't mind talking while I cook, you could come to my place. That way, you get a meal, and I still get help."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, amused. "So I'm getting dinner, and you get legal work? Not a bad deal."

He chuckled. "I mean, it's only fair. And you know my good is good…you did say you were a fan of my beignets."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Alright, that could work. But I'm expecting something better than fried dough."

"Challenge accepted," Sam said, his grin widening.

Mercedes slid a notepad across the desk, her pen resting on top. "Write down your name, number, and address. I'll text you when I'm on my way Friday evening."

Sam nodded, scribbling down the details. "You know, I didn't expect to find a lawyer this way, let alone one willing to take payment in food."

Mercedes smirked, taking the notepad back. "You caught me on a good day, Sam. Just don't burn the food, or I might reconsider."

Sam stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "No pressure, huh?"

"None at all," Mercedes said, her tone teasing. "I'll see you Friday. Don't forget to gather everything you can about your case."

Sam nodded. "Thanks again, Mercedes. I owe you."

"Just make sure the food's worth it," she replied with a wink.

As Sam stood, Mercedes glanced at the notepad with his information, a small smile playing on her lips. This might turn out to be an interesting case after all.

Before Sam could fully step into the hallway, the door opened, and Marley walked in, nearly bumping into him. She blinked in surprise, then glanced back at Mercedes. "Um, Mercedes... your IT guy?"

At that moment, Blaine entered behind Marley, his brows furrowing when he saw Sam. "Sam? What are you doing here?"

Sam grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Looking for Sebastian, like you suggested. I ended up finding Mercedes instead."

Mercedes smiled, gesturing toward her now-functional computer. "Thanks for coming, B, but your friend here saved the day."

Blaine raised an eyebrow at Sam, then glanced toward the office next door. "Sebastian's not in?"

"Called into court," Mercedes explained, noting the slight disappointment on Blaine's face. She tilted her head thoughtfully, an idea sparking in her mind. "You know, Sam, maybe Sebastian can still help me with your case. What if I ask him to come with me before your poker night?"

Sam's eyes lit up as he caught on. "That would be great! The more help, the better."

Sam turned to Blaine. "And you're coming early anyway, right? To help me set up."

Blaine nodded eagerly. "Of course! I'll have planned on it."

With their plans set, the three of them exchanged goodbyes. As Sam and Blaine headed toward the elevator, Marley leaned against the doorframe, watching them leave. "Those are some good-looking men," she said with a smirk.

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head. "Keep dreaming, Marley."

"Hey, a girl can admire," Marley said with a wink before returning to her desk.

Mercedes chuckled to herself as she closed her planner. Friday was shaping up to be more interesting than she'd expected.


As Blaine and Sam walked toward the elevator, Sam glanced back over his shoulder, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Mercedes is amazing for helping me, and she's not even charging me. Who does that?"

Blaine grinned. "Yeah, she is. Don't think I didn't catch what you and Mercedes are trying to do, though."

Sam blinked, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

Blaine gave him a knowing look. "Don't play dumb. You two are totally trying to set me and Sebastian up."

Sam chuckled, shrugging. "I mean... the way you accepted the invite tells me that you are not upset with me about it."

Blaine rolled his eyes but smiled. "Uh-huh. I'll play along—for now. But if this goes sideways, I'm blaming you."

Sam laughed. "Fair enough. Anyway, I gotta call my parents. I want to make sure Mercedes has all the info she needs about the farm."

As Sam reached for his phone, Blaine smirked, giving him a sideways glance. "You know, I heard she was single too."

Sam froze for a moment, his face flushing. "I wasn't... I mean, that's not—"

Blaine laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Relax, man. I'm just saying. You're blushing like crazy, though."

Sam groaned but couldn't hide his smile. "You're impossible, Blaine."

The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped inside, their laughter echoing as the doors closed.


The next morning, Sam's phone buzzed on the kitchen counter as he prepped ingredients for his catering gig later that evening. Wiping his hands on a dish towel, he picked it up and saw his mom's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, Mom," Sam greeted, but the moment he heard her voice, his stomach dropped.

"Sammy..." she said, her tone thick with emotion. "A lawyer from the bank just came by. He dropped off a bunch of papers about the loan, and—" Her voice cracked.

Sam tightened his grip on the phone. "Mom, what happened? What did he say?"

"They said... they said the payments aren't enough, that we're in default we need to leave this weekend. Your dad and I tried explaining, but the lawyer wouldn't listen. He just left the papers and walked off. Sam, I don't know what to do." Her voice broke entirely, and Sam could hear her trying to stifle a sob.

In the background, Sam heard his younger sister, Stella, asking timidly, "Are we going to lose the house? Are we getting kicked out?"

Sam's chest tightened as he heard his mom trying to reassure Stella, her voice shaky and uncertain.

"Mom," Sam said firmly, his voice low but steady, "I'm not going to let that happen. I promise. We're not losing the farm, and you're not losing the house. I'll figure this out. I'll be there soon."

"You don't have to—"

"I do," Sam interrupted gently. "I've got someone helping me already—a great lawyer. Just hang tight, okay? I'll call you when I'm on the way."

His mom sniffled. "Okay, Sam. I trust you."

"You can trust me, Mom. Tell Dad and Stella not to worry. I've got this."

After hanging up, Sam rushed to his car, fumbling with his keys as his mind raced. As he slid into the driver's seat, his phone buzzed again. It was a text from Mercedes:

MJ: Are we still on for after work?

Without thinking, Sam hit the call button instead of replying. The line barely rang before Mercedes picked up.

"Hey, Sam, everything okay?" she asked.

The words tumbled out before he could stop them. "I need you—my parents need you. Is there any way you can meet me there? Like, now? They're about thirty minutes outside the city."

Mercedes' tone shifted immediately, calm but concerned. "Slow down. What's going on?"

Sam gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he merged onto the main road. "The bank's lawyer showed up at my parent's place with a ton of papers saying they had to leave this weekend. My mom was crying, my sister thinks we're getting kicked out, and—" He exhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. "I just... I need someone who knows what they're doing to talk to them."

Mercedes paused for a moment, her voice thoughtful when she spoke. "Where are you right now?"

"I just started driving," Sam admitted. "I'm heading to their house."

"Well, I'm at the courthouse. My case just got continued, so I've got the time. If you can swing by and pick me up, I can make some calls, and we can figure this out."

Sam's heart lifted slightly at her words. "You'd do that?"

"Of course," Mercedes said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "How far are you from the courthouse?"

"Five minutes, tops," Sam said quickly.

"Alright," she replied. "Pull up to the front. I'll be waiting."

"Got it. Thank you, Mercedes. Seriously."

"Just drive safe," she said. "We'll figure this out."

Sam pressed down on the gas as the call ended, his focus sharper than ever. For the first time in hours, he felt a flicker of hope.

As Sam's truck pulled to the courthouse, he spotted Mercedes waiting near the steps. His frown deepened as he took in her outfit. She wore a sleek black pencil skirt that hugged her curves and a silky purple blouse that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Her five-inch heels gave her an air of authority, making her appear taller than usual, and her hair cascaded in glossy waves over her shoulder.

Sam felt self-conscious as he stepped out of his 2023 Ford truck. Dressed in a simple henley and jeans, he suddenly felt underdressed and out of place. Still, he pushed the thought aside and jogged around the truck to open the door for her.

"Thanks," Mercedes said with a small smile as she climbed into the passenger seat. Her perfume—a subtle, warm vanilla scent—wafted in as she settled in, and Sam couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked.

Sliding back into the driver's seat, Sam glanced at her again, momentarily at a loss for words.

Mercedes caught his look and chuckled softly. "Alright, focus. Tell me what's going on."

Sam shook himself out of his daze and grabbed his phone. "A lawyer dropped off a lot of papers for my parents, and I just…Mercedes, this is our home. This is…"

Mercedes reached out and took his hand. "Sam, I got you. Don't worry."

Sam exhaled as his phone rang. Seeing his mother calling, he answered, "Mom, I will be there soon."

His mom sighed in relief. "Okay, your dad just got home, and Stevie and Stacey are here too."

Sam frowned. "Wait, the twins are home from school. Why are they home?"

"They were coming for a visit," his mom explained, her voice tight.

Sam clenched the steering wheel, and his frustration was evident. "I'm almost there. Just hang tight, okay?"

"Okay, honey. Drive safe."

As the call ended, Mercedes reached for her phone. "Let me make a quick call."

"Of course," Sam said, glancing over at her as she dialed.

Mercedes called Marley, her assistant, and shifted effortlessly into work mode. "Hey, Marley. I need you to cancel my meeting for today and send a memo to the partners letting them know we'll reschedule for Monday."

Marley's voice came through faintly on the line. "Got it. Everything okay?"

"Yes, something urgent came up. Can you also tell Sebastian to be on standby? I will need his knowledge of property procedure," Mercedes said.

"Of course."

"Thanks, Marley."

Hanging up, she turned to Sam and looked over to her with a mix of gratitude and guilt. "I'm sorry for pulling you away from work," he said, his voice low.

Mercedes waved off his apology with a laugh. "Don't be. That meeting was about performance reviews. They can wait. This is important."

Her reassurance eased some of the tension in his shoulders, and he gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you. Really."

She nodded, her expression softening. "Let's get to your family. We'll figure this out together."

As they drove, Sam couldn't help but think how lucky he was to have her in his corner.


As Sam's truck pulled onto the long gravel driveway, Mercedes leaned forward slightly, taking in the breathtaking view of the Evans family farm. The main house was a beautifully renovated two-story farmhouse with a modern touch. Its white clapboard siding contrasted against black shutters, and the wide wrap-around porch added a charming, elegant flair. The driveway curved in a wide loop, lined with tall oak trees that swayed gently in the breeze.

"Wow," Mercedes murmured, her eyes scanning the eight-acre property.

Sam smiled, parking the truck and hopping out. He quickly circled around to open her door, offering her a hand. As she stepped out, her heels clicked softly against the gravel, but she didn't seem bothered by the terrain.

"This is it," Sam said, a hint of pride in his voice. He gestured toward the right of the house. "That's where the horses are kept. We have a stable and a few acres for them to graze. And behind the house—" He turned and pointed toward the sprawling fields in the distance. "That's where we host our horse ranch day camp every summer for kids. It's my mom's passion project."

Mercedes smiled, impressed. "It's beautiful, Sam."

Before Sam could respond, the front door of the house swung open. A petite woman with soft blonde curls ran out, her arms wide. "Sammy!"

"Mom," Sam said, grinning as he bent slightly to hug her.

Mary Evans pulled back, her eyes teary. "I'm so glad you're here."

Soon, Sam's father, Dwight, and his siblings followed, stepping onto the porch. Stevie and Stacey, identical twins with a polished and preppy look, stood side by side, while Stella, the youngest, peered curiously from behind their father's.

As Mary turned her gaze to Mercedes, she gave a polite smile, but her eyes darted back to Sam with unspoken questions.

Sam reached for Mercedes' hand, reassuringly squeezing her as he guided her closer to the group. "Mom, Dad, everyone—this is Mercedes. She's an amazing lawyer, and she's here to help us sort this out." He gestured to each family member as he made introductions. "Mercedes, these are my parents, Mary and Dwight Evans. My twin siblings, Stacey and Stevie, are freshmen at Yale. And this little one here is Stella, who is absolutely not as grown-up as she thinks she is, despite being thirteen."

Stella rolled her eyes. "I am grown-up."

Mercedes laughed softly. "Nice to meet you all."

Dwight nodded, stepping forward and extending a hand. "We appreciate you coming, Ms. Mercedes. Whatever Sam is paying you, we'll find a way to help cover it."

Mercedes shook his hand firmly, offering a warm smile. "Don't worry about that, Mr. Evans. Sam and I have it handled."

Before Dwight could respond, Stacey crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Sammy, please tell me you didn't just hire some cheap lawyer you're...you know..." She trailed off, but the insinuation was clear. "This is serious. Our home is on the line."

Sam's eyes widened in shock, his face flushing red. "Stacey, what the hell—"

"Language, Sam," Mary interjected, though she looked sternly at Stacey. "Stacey, that was uncalled for."

Mercedes held up a hand, her expression calm but firm. "It's okay," she said, her tone professional as she addressed Stacey. "I get your concern. I would be protective of my family, too. But I assure you, Sam and I aren't dating, and I'm not some 'cheap lawyer.' I'm actually a partner at one of the top firms in the country, not just the state. My job is to protect people's homes and businesses, and I promise you—I won't let your family lose this farm."

Her words, steady and confident, seemed to resonate. Stacey's eyes softened slightly, though she still looked a bit wary.

Dwight cleared his throat, stepping forward again. "We appreciate that, Ms. Mercedes. Truly."

Mary nodded her hand on Sam's arm. "If Sam trusts you, we trust you too."

Sam glanced at Mercedes, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks, Mercedes."

She gave him a small smile before looking back at the family. "Now, let's go inside and figure out what we're dealing with."