Serena Vale adjusted the collar of her blazer, balancing a stack of case files against her hip as she stepped out of the courtroom. The marble floors echoed under her heels, but the weight pressing down on her shoulders wasn't the paperwork — it was the reminder that, at twenty-four, she was still just the junior lawyer. Brilliant, yes. Hardworking, absolutely. But invisible to the partners who treated her like a shadow trailing behind them.
"Another late night?" a familiar voice teased.
Serena glanced up to see Chloe Rivers leaning against the sleek lobby wall, scrolling on her phone with one perfectly manicured hand. Chloe's job in social media meant she never missed a chance to critique Serena's "serious lawyer aesthetic." Today was no different — she arched an eyebrow at Serena's messy bun and smirked.
"Work doesn't stop at five," Serena muttered, shifting the files.
"It does when you have a life," Chloe countered, sliding her phone into her clutch. "Which is why Jade and Maya are waiting at the café down the street. And before you say you're too busy, consider this an intervention."
Minutes later, Serena was squeezed into a café booth with her three closest friends. Jade Sinclair, in a silky blouse and bold lipstick, looked effortlessly chic, sketching fashion designs in the margins of a notebook. Maya Torres, still in her nurse scrubs, stirred her coffee with a tired but warm smile, the kind that made Serena feel instantly grounded.
"You know what your problem is?" Jade said, tapping her pen against Serena's sleeve. "You spend more time with court documents than actual humans."
"She's married to her job," Maya added with a grin.
Serena rolled her eyes, but the truth stung. She was married to her work — partly because she wanted to prove herself, and partly because it was easier than admitting her love life felt… flat. Ethan, her boyfriend of two years, was safe, reliable, predictable. And yet, sitting there with her friends, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that her life was missing something she couldn't quite name
It was a thrilling feeling,she was craving some action
"Hey,u are drifting off again" Maya said while munching on a piece of cake
"You shouldn't talk while eating" Serena added
Maya rolled her eyes and said "C'mon forget about my manners,Tell me what's on ur mind,is it that jerk Ethan?"
"C'mon don't say that about him,Ethan isn't a jerk"Serena said defending her boyfriend (who is totally a jerk)
"Not to sound intrusive and rude,But He is" jade added
"Baby girl,wake up to Reality, Ethan is a jerk,someone who forgets ur birthday, rarely takes you on dates, only runs to You when he is in trouble,yea baby girl,that's Totally a definition of a jerk" Chloe added
Serena looks at jade and Maya with looks pleading for them to defend her,but nothing came "Really, girls c'mon,say something " she added
"what do u want us to say,he is a jackass"Maya said and looked at jade,who in returned nodded in agreement to what Maya said
"he isn't a jerk, he's just..... Umm really busy" Serena added
"ugh,he issssssssss" Chloe said dragging her sentence
"sweetheart, You deserve better,and Ethan isn't the best choice,they are loads of guys out there willing to do anything just to win ur gaze" jade said
"yea,jade is right, Serena u gotta dumb this guy,he doesn't deserve a rare gem like You" Chloe hugged Serena and looked at her pouting her lips
"Right"
"Right"
Jade and Maya added
"okay,okay,okay,fine can we just stop talking about me,jade,u haven't said much,are u okay?" Serena said
"huh" jade looked up totally in her own space
"Guess I wasn't the only one drifting away" Serena said while taking a sip of her coffee
"jade,c'mon not you toooo" Chloe added
"jade,we are your friends,talk to us if they is something bothering you" Maya said ,and the three young women looked up at jade anticipating her reply
"Hmmm,I ummm... I'm pregnant " jade said taking in a deep breath and relaxing her tense muscles
"cough cough cough... What?!????" Chloe exclaimed
" jade,I don't know you to be someone who cracks jokes"maya added
" I'm not joking" jade said and brought out four pregnancy strips for her knitted purse
"how did it happened, when,you had a boyfriend and You didn't deem it fit to tell Us" Serena added sounding disappointed
"i couldn't, I just couldn't sob sob" jade added bursting into tears
"why,who's the bastard.... Ummm I mean father" Chloe added
"yea,jade,who's the father,did you tell him about the baby,what did he said" Maya looked at jade with an inquiring look while Serena handed her a handkerchief
"wipe your tears,Tell us everything " Serena added,jade took the handkerchief and took a deep breath
"its Jude " jade said
"what Jude???,the flirt,the womanizer " Chloe exclaimed
"chloe let her speak" Serena said
"My bad,continue" Chloe said
" I wanted to tell you guys,I promise but anytime I wanted to say something I just couldn't find my voice, well it started last year" jade said
"okay what the f" Chloe chimed in
"chloe stop it like her speak" Maya said
"hehe sorry again, my lips are zipped" Chloe said indicating it by zipping her lips
" umm,last Christmas when I went out to buy decoration,I met Jude at the mall,we talked and when I wanted to pay for the things I bought,I realized that I didn't come with my purse,so Jude offered to pay, I thanked him and said that I was going to pay him back,but he said the only repayment he wants was my number, he gave it to him hesitantly, and I left after a few days on new year's eve, he called me and asked if I had plans for the day,of course I said yes,because I had plans with you girls,he hanged up,to cut the long story cut,we started talking and going out on dates and we liked each others so we had sex a couple of times and recently when I found out about the baby, I told him and he said that he wasn't Ready to be a father, and that I should get rid of the baby" jade concluded while wiping her tears
"Ouch,how could he,that bastard" Chloe said
"no matter what,we'll will always stand my your side,Right girls?" Serena said and held jade hand from across the table
"Right"
"Right" Maya and Chloe echoed
"To be real,I didn't expect to be an aunt at this young age,but naaa when life gives you lemons squeeze them in people's eyes" Chloe said and the girls laughed
"we'll always be by your side,umm would you look at that it's quite late, I have to go to bed by 10,I have a case tomorrow " Serena added while she picked up her purse and called for the waiter
"yea,me too,I have a full day shift tomorrow at the hospital " Maya added
"lets all head home" Chloe said and helped jade stay up
The Three young women walked out of the cafe and boarded their respective rides.