Everyone in this story is 18 or over. Well its another installment of the adventures of the Roberts clan. This one is very much a non consent so if that's not your thing, click away now!
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When he saw the name on the court docket, followed by a meeting notice from Sandy, his paralegal, he did a double-take. Then he checked again. Yes, it was David Brewer on the docket, and Ashley Brooke Andrews wanting to meet. Who are these two, and for that matter, who are we talking about? Well the he is Johnathan Roberts, one of the up and coming lawyers in the Southeast; at least, according to the recent feature article (complete with cover photo) featuring the man himself, on the cover of 'Esquire' magazine.
Besides being a rising star, Johnathan's built quite the reputation when it came to legal defense, having crushed the competition in several well-profiled cases, even getting national exposure. Locals referred to him as a 'power-player', and he fashioned it well. Standing a solid six feet, muscular and lean, with a red Porsche Cayenne SUV and an active lifestyle, Johnathan's tailored Brooks Brothers suits and Italian shoes made an impression. But it wasn't always that way.
Growing up, all the way through school, he was a terribly geeky kid. Thick 'bottle-bottom' glasses, wiry hair, and a moonscape of facial acne, made him the kid that got picked on. And his main tormentor, was Ashley Brooke Andrews. Ashley Brooke was absolutely stunning, even as a kid. She lived just one street over from him, and Johnathan had a crush on her before first grade, and she knew it. Rather like that show 'The Wonder Years', but without the happy ending.
All the way through school, Ashley had her pick of boys, and as a woman, her pick of men. Ashley Brooke was skilled at bending men to her will. The only attention Johnathan got from her was when it came to being a bully. She shamed him at school and on the bus; she got boyfriends and random guys to beat him up. Her 'steady' in school was David Brewer, the local football hero, and he was particularly tough on him. She and David made my childhood and my school years, hell.
After graduation, Johnathan lost track of where schoolmates were and NEVER went to reunions. Why go? To get picked on yet again? Instead, he worked hard to become not just a lawyer, but the best and most feared, and to date his career had been stunningly successful. There they were, adults in their early thirties, his paralegal, or 'para', who also went through school with them, was saying that Ashley Brooke was calling, and in a terrible panic. Johnathan told her to set an appointment for today, and after Sandy left, he took a minute to contemplate.
All the bullying he had taken, and all the hard work, everything he had pushed and worked so hard for, was working to bring Johnathan's past, full circle. Confirming the appointment, he got to work on background information about these two, and realized he had an errand to run. If he played my cards right, and Johnathan Roberts ALWAYS played his cards right, this could be the best payback ever. The thought of it made him do something very out of character, something he never did in court or even for Esquire magazine...he smiled.
Entering the firm's conference room, he played nonchalant. It was not hard to see that, although it had been a bit more than a decade since graduation, Ashley Brooke Andrews was, if anything, even more attractive. Five foot two, maybe one hundred thirty pounds, so she has a wonderfully-curvy body with ample breasts. Ashly Brooke had just a slight tinge of American Indian to her skin, dark-brown, straight hair, with a slight upcurl to her nose, and naturally sexy, puffy lips; she was a stunner for sure.
Johnathan was ready for this, and had time to steel his nerves. Thinking of her just as he did with any other client, he kept it cool and professional, especially in front of Sandy. "Okay. So from what I am seeing here," he said, "David has had some recent arrests, looks like drug-related, oh, and a gun charge, too." Holding up a finger he said, "It's okay, Ashley Brooke, just answer, has he done any rehab or pre-trial programs?"
Ashley Brooke responded "No, he hasn't gone yet, even though the court requested it." Putting her best sad face on, in her best pleading voice, she continued, "John...he knows we were tough on you...he knows he have no right to ask," Ashley said, being sure to keep her arms under her breasts to 'jiggle' them as much as possible (They were clearly pierced, he had to note), "but I LOVE David with all my heart, we were about to get married when this happened. Johnathon, we need you, and if anyone can do it, you can." And finished with a melodramatic, well-timed sniffle and sigh as she cast her eyes downward.
Sandy rolled her eyes and Johnathan pursed a smile. "Okay, Ashley Brooke..." he said.
"Call me, A-B" she replied meekly, trying to set the hook.
"A-B then," he responded. "So a public defender (PD) is just going to talk jail time, but we have some material we think we can work with. My normal rate is three thousand dollars upfront, and one thousand dollars per hour, but I am going to do this pro bono; I do a certain amount for the city each year, so I'll dismiss Ms. Sandy and we'll talk as we walk across the street to the courthouse."
Ushering A-B out the door, he took his briefcase, and he could tell by Ashley-Brooke's stride and smug attitude, that she thought she had him. "So A-B, I think you'll agree that with a public defender, you are sunk. I mean, David is looking at real prison time here; as in years."
"Yes, he and I are aware," she responded. "Do you think you can prevent that?"
"Well, it's going to be a challenge," Johnathan said, as he opened the courthouse side door for her, and ushered her into a small room meant for client-attorney exchanges. Shutting the door, he then said, "So IF I decide to help you, I am sure he can kick the gun-charge, and there is a way for David to see little to no jail time, maybe even a pre-trial program...IF I decide to help you two."
Ashley Brooke's face visibly fell. "Wha-What do you mean, IF?" she asked, incredulously.
"I said if, and I meant IF," he responded. "You two had some real 'fun' with me over the years. I still carry a scar over my right temple where David sucker-punched me, and your friend that stood me up on a prom-date, Taylor? Well, I guess it was 'fun' for you to torment me, so IF you can tell me why I should help, I am all ears." Johnathan was the one with the smug look.