Page 24 of A Trial of the Heart
Offering a smirk and a wink, he stepped over the threshold of my office, closing the door after him. Once he was gone, I exhaled and dropped back into my seat. I had been nervousabout today, but because everyone expected me to fail, I refused to show weakness. William was right. I had been on a fourteen-day cruise two weeks ago for my thirtieth birthday. He was also right about this being a high-profile case that I was sure I was offered because the offender was black, unlike other cases this office took on. Either way, I was under pressure, and I refused to fold no matter how unprepared and scared I was. This case would not defeat me.
Ding.
Hearing the elevator’s noise along with the sudden stop indicating I’d reached the third and final floor to Williamsburg District Court caused me to snap from a trance. For the most part, I had been calm all morning, but now that I was in the courthouse, my nerves got the best of me. Today was only the arraignment for the offender, but I was still extremely nervous because my office, mainly me, was being forced to go against the top law office in the area.
“Now is your time, Ms. Monroe.”
Arthur’s Southern drawl behind me forced me to look over my shoulder at him. It was my case. I would do all the work. I’d even argue and object every point, but myteamwas here for the show.
“Okay.” I nodded. Stepping from the elevator, my four-inch designer heels tapped the marble floors lightly with each step, while my right hand clasped my messenger bag, and my left arm cuffed my laptop bag.
Though I was nervous, I refused to allow it to show. I was like a horse with blinders and only saw what was in front of me. Slowing my stride, I stopped in front of courtroom four, my soft,dark brown eyes raising above the doorway reading the wordsGeneral District Court.Things were about to get real. Inhaling before exhaling deeply, I pulled open one of the double doors without assistance from either Arthur or William, not that I expected it, before stepping inside the courtroom.
It was the middle of the summer, and the heat damn near knocked me out as it rushed my skin. They surely didn’t want anyone comfortable in here. Though I wasn’t paying much attention to my surroundings, I could see the courtroom didn’t have nearly as many people as I expected. Ambling my way to the right side of the courtroom, I rested my things on top of the large, rectangular table before stepping aside so my useless boss and colleague could pass to take their seats.
“Psst.” I heard quietly.
Turning my attention to Arthur, I noticed his old ass wore an awkward smile that didn’t match the distant look in his yellow-rimmed green eyes. Arthur and I weren’t in any way associated outside of work, but from the yellowing of his pupils and heavy smell of mint that tried to mask the previous night’s alcohol, I knew he was an alcoholic.
“Yes?” I whispered, just as the bailiff called the court to order.
“All rise. This federal court with Honorable Judge Preston Fairbanks presiding is now in session,” the bailiff said, looking out to us.
“Please be seated and come to order,” Judge Fairbanks stated once he was seated.
Judge Fairbanks was a man in maybe his early sixties with a deep Southern accent, who never played any games any time I was in his courtroom. He was fair, honest, and did everything by the book. He wasn’t cutting corners, and he wouldn’t allow anyone in his courtroom to do so either.
As I sat, I looked to Arthur to see what he wanted previously.
“Don’t fuck this up.”
Had it not been for the bailiff calling the court to order, I might have said some real shit to Arthur, boss or not. Instead, I narrowed my eyes his way, watching him sit back and unbutton the single button to his suit before crossing his legs. I didn’t give a fuck what strings my deceased father had pulled for me to obtain this job. Once this case was done, so was I with Arthur and his shit. Changes had to be made. Finally, I swallowed hard, nodded, and turned my attention to the judge as he prepared to speak.
“Kyan Carter, you have been charged with one count of embezzlement, one count of money laundering, and two counts of credit card fraud.”
I already knew the charges but hearing them read off shocked me. If the defendant was convicted of any of the charges, they carried a lengthy sentence of twenty plus years.
“Have the charges been read and understood by the defendant?”
“They have, Your Honor.” I knew that to be the defendant’s lawyer’s voice simply because it was a voice I hadn’t recognized.
“Kyan Carter, how do you plead in the matter?” Judge Fairbanks asked.
“Not guilty.”
The deep voice that I couldn’t forget even if I was paid to do so sent a shockwave throughout my body like it did the first time I’d heard it. Until this point, I had no desire to look at who I was up against. Today was just the arraignment, and I had work to do. My eyes were in my documents, making sure the charges read were what I had. I needed to make sure all my T’s were crossed and I’s were dotted so I wouldn’t fuck this up.
When my eyes met Rashad, my mouth slightly fell agape. I knew this man, but his name surely wasn’t Kyan. Instead, I knewhim as Rashad.Wait. That’s his middle name,I thought after replaying Judge Fairbanks’ words.
Rashad winked. My mouth dropped further while the seat of my panties soaked, and I wished I could instantly die. There was no way this was happening to me on such a big case.
I was representing for the Commonwealth of Virginia as I did for most of my cases, and because most, if not all, cases were high profile, I kept things low key. I stayed off social media, avoided watching the news, and didn’t even view the profile pictures of the defendants. I wanted all evidence presented to be the hard-core proof we had. I didn’t want anything altering how I handled the case.
I zoned out. I couldn’t take my eyes off Rashad or whatever the fuck his name was, and he wouldn’t even look my way again.
“Ms. Monroe?” Judge Fairbanks said louder than I was sure he intended. When I looked his way, his facial expression showed annoyance.
“Ye-yes?” I stuttered.
