"Where is Miss Stafford?"
"She's in the hospital, your honor," he said as he smoothly slid in behind the table next to his client, gliding his briefcase into position in front of his chair as he flipped the latches with his thumbs to open it.
"Hospital? Is she okay?"
"Well, I haven't talked to her, but I chatted with her husband Luke this morning. She's doing great. And
so is
the baby."
"She had the baby?" Emily asked, a tear running down her cheek.
"Yes. Your honor, if I could indulge the court, I'd like to put on the record for this proceeding that Steven Lucas Stafford was born this morning at 7:28 AM, and he weighed ten pounds, eight ounces."
Judge Austin laughed out loud and said, "Whoa! That's a big boy! So entered. Marjorie, please put that in the notes. Cassie's been involved in this case for months. It's only fair her little boy knows what a great job his mommy did to get us this far. Bailiff, can you have my secretary get in touch with Alex's firm. I want the details of where she's at right away so this court can send something over."
Alex loved that he had a great, respectful relationship with the judge. He was tough, but he was also fair. He was also a friend, so much so that he felt comfortable talking directly to the bailiff.
"John, have Julie call Maggie at my office. She has all the details. Thank you, your honor. I know Cassie will appreciate it."
"When did you get the case, Alex?" he asked, still being informal.
"Monday. She was two weeks overdue. They scheduled her last week to be induced yesterday afternoon."
"That explains why he's such a big baby. Do you need a continuance? I know there have been quite a few, but most were brought on by Miss Davenport. Under the circumstances, I could be persuaded to give you a week to better prepare for the good of your client."
For the first time, Alex turned to look at his opponent across the aisle, pleasantly surprised to see it was the gorgeous blonde that had flirted with him earlier. That is if bluntly insinuating that you're available to fuck, you feel his cock through his pants, and you show him an X-rated video showing yourself naked, tied and being spanked could be considered flirting.
He offered a knowing smile as their eyes connected. Her expression was more of the panicked variety.
Her fear was twofold. First she was unnerved by the ease with which he navigated the courtroom. He had charm, and humor, and an incredible sensitivity. He also had a commanding presence; her observation of him being a type-A personality being spot on. It was clear he knew his surroundings, including a personal connection with the participants. That didn't mean he would win the case, but it put him on even footing when she thought she had a distinct advantage with the judge. He was known for having a reputation for oogling hot, young female lawyers. There was never any evidence that he acted on his impulses, but he did love a pretty face and a hot body to go with it.
Ashley's other sudden concern was the encounter she'd had with Alex in the hallway. She was in a particularly nasty mood, a rough encounter with a female friend wielding a strap-on only pouring rocket fuel on her sexual impulses instead of satiating them. Accidentally seeing the video on his computer had ignited the fire inside her loins. The idea that she'd shared a video of her own, and the specific kind it was, exposed him to the woman beneath the sexy business suit. She'd bared her soul in under five minutes, and in doing so she'd undone three months of hard work paving the way for a huge win in her budding career.
Alex's mind raced to calculate his options. He had just seconds to respond to the question posed by the Judge, who had thrown him a lifeline he didn't expect. Entering the courtroom, he had no reason to expect to be granted a delay, knowing four had already been exhausted before any of the facts had been argued before the court. Only some preliminary evidence had been introduced to that point. Instead of a hurdle he dared not attempt to jump, that same Judge was offering to pull it out of the way. It was a godsend. And he was actually considering not taking advantage of it.
As he stared at Ashley, his eyes narrowed. He was reading her face, and then her body language. She had referenced her ability to read people regarding a sexual connection. He had that ability in the courtroom, and felt he had a considerable advantage.
His expression changed as he scanned her body, recalling how it looked in the graphic video she'd foolishly let him watch. She'd teased him, fondling his cock, trying to stoke a desire. She'd even challenged him, asking what kind of role he was going to assume for the hotwife that was blossoming at home. She'd questioned the lack of masculinity he'd shown toward a self-described submissive who was for all intents and purposes willing to kneel for him. She'd blatantly told him she was looking for a new Dom. And this after he blurted out that he was a stag.
Add to that the verbal go ahead Christina had given him earlier, and the challenge via text she'd sent just before he entered the proceedings, and he felt emboldened. By all accounts he had no business making the decision he was about to, but he often went with his gut instincts when presented a difficult decision, and he was never afraid to gamble. He just needed to convince his client. Leaning to his left, he whispered to Emily.
"I could drag this out farther... I don't have the email. We could reschedule."
"The look in your eyes tells me that's not what you want to do. Why?"
"I have an advantage. I can't go into it, because... I can't. If you want me to reschedule, the Judge is offering us a guaranteed win if we postpone. Well, ninety percent. Nothing is guaranteed in court."
"If we do it today?"
"The odds drop. Eighty percent, maybe seventy-five."
"I don't know Alex. I can't afford to lose. I also can't keep coming here. This is affecting my new job. It's just never ending. I want this over with so badly."
"The reason this is never ending is the counsel across from us. She's been playing you, and using Cassie's pregnancy as a tactic. She thought she'd get some first-year lawyer as a replacement. Instead she got me. Do you trust me... because I'm playing poker with a marginal hand right now."
"But you're the better player, aren't you?" she grinned.
"In more ways than one," he replied, trying to build up her confidence while stroking his own ego.
Sighing, she nodded. "Do it. End this, please."
"Alex?" the judge finally asked, having been patient to that point. Which was the first salvo he used to his gain.
"Thank you, your honor. That won't be necessary. It appears to me that this case has been before you too many times already. I don't think it's prudent to keep wasting your time."
"I appreciate that, counselor. However, I should remind you that my ruling will be final, so please take that into account."
"I'm good, your honor. I know we put this off once so Miss Stafford could have an ultrasound. I'm unclear as to why opposing counsel had to delay three times. This case doesn't look that complicated upon reading the file. Let's do this so my client can get on with her career."
"Very well. I'll entertain opening arguments. Miss Davenport?"
"Yes, thank you, your honor. I'd like to start by congratulating Miss Staff..."
"Excuse me, your honor," Alex said as he stood, opening his briefcase. It was a well-honed tactic of his own, used at precisely the right time. Ashley was about to use the birth of Cassie's baby to score some points of her own. He'd anticipated that and cut her off in the midst of trying to get
that
as part of the record... at least in the eyes of the judge. He had other ideas. "I apologize for interrupting, but if I may, before you open up to this phase, may I remind the court of a request for discovery we filed on Monday."
"Yes, Mr. Edwards. Go ahead."
"Well, I'm a little unsure of how this got overlooked by the plaintiffs," he said as he pulled out a piece of paper, holding it up as if it were the actual email he'd been waiting on.
"And that is?"
"It's an email. Miss Swanson is accused of tampering with a client of the plaintiff regarding her non-compete. There exists an email to the plaintiffs from that client, and it states..."
"Objection, your honor!" Ashley barked out in flash of panic. She'd picked up a document off of a pile, gripping it tightly. She was told by her firm that she was safe to proceed because they'd confirmed the email wasn't in anyone else's possession yet.
Judge Austin asked, "On what grounds?"
"Relevance."
"I believe he was just getting to that, right counselor?"
"Yes, you honor," Alex smiled.
"Overruled, then. Proceed."
"Certainly. Before I do... I'd like to address opposition counsel. May we approach the bench?"
"Yes. Approach."
The two lawyers made their way to the front of the court. He strode confidently, conveniently leaving the paper he'd held on the table next to his briefcase. Ashley was visibly shaken, and tenuously walking with her document still in her hand.
"What's going on, Alex?" the judge asked, switching off his microphone as he leaned forward.
"I'm sure Ashley... it's Ashley, right?"
"Yes," she replied, knowing she couldn't make a scene about having already met.
"Right. Anyway, I'm sure Ashley is fully aware that our attempt to get the email directly from the server in Maryland was unsuccessful."
"She's not on this email, Alex. It's directly from the client to Mr. Patterson."
"I'm aware. May I see it?"
