Tempted (A Player Brother Romance Book) (A Standalone Novel) (Player Brothers Book 1) (17 page)

"Would it have been like this back in high
school?" he asked with a leer in his voice.

At that my anger bubbled over.

"You know what, screw you, Aiden!"

I pushed his hands off of me and marched away eager to
get as much distance between myself and him as I could. I continued walking
even though I still heard him call after me.

"What the hell is the problem now!" he
shouted.

I didn't even flinch but just kept moving. I didn’t
stop until I made it back to the road. I had called a taxi as soon as my phone
showed that I had service, almost back to the parking lot. I ran to the edge of
the highway, hoping that I had lost him. By the time I made it to the road I
clutched my side, nursing a painful stitch.

The taxi pulled up, as I had given meticulous
instructions on my location. Once inside I pulled the door shut behind me and
breathed a sigh of relief. I decided I didn’t have time for this kind of stuff,
when there was a murder case to take care of. The rain pounded on the window of
the cab as the driver pulled forward onto the freeway.

Chapter
Eight

The trial date had arrived once again. This time it
seemed as if everything would go according to plan. We had spent the morning
selecting a jury which had gone largely without incident. The prosecution had
apparently tried to get another continuance, but this time it had been denied.

Aiden had apparently given up on trying anything else.
We had fallen back into our pattern of trying to outdo each other, while
simultaneously making each other look good. I felt okay working with him, but
after he had insinuated that I hadn’t been attractive enough for him in high
school I was perfectly fine with not speaking to him outside of work. We had
developed a cordial professional manner which seemed to work for both of us.

I couldn’t deny that his words had hurt that day. I
had known back in high school that I was a late bloomer with not much of a
figure. My beauty remained hidden behind glasses and braces until junior year.
With the advent of contacts and the removal of braces I started to notice the
change in the way people treated me, especially the guys. Even the popular
girls started inviting me to the party’s right around that time.

I had no interest of hanging out with the same people
who had teased me relentlessly before then and I made no secret of it. Usually
if someone did muster up the courage to ask me out, I would remind them of the
names that they had called me during our freshmen year.

I found the attention rather annoying.

It made me angry to think that Aiden might be in that
same category as those one dimensional block heads.

I had still felt like the awkward girl.

I hadn’t known how to react.

In retrospect I could see that he had only one thing
in mind. I felt relieved that all of it was now behind me, and all I had to
focus on now was the trial.

We filed into the courtroom, shown by the bailiff
where to sit. Aiden and I had the seats along the defendants table. Across the
aisle the prosecution lined up placing their files on the small table, a mirror
image to our own. Aiden and I sat on the end, while the senior partners had the
seats closest to the client.

We had agreed that I would give the opening
statements, since it had been my discovery which we used as the foundation of
our defense. I took a breath to calm the nervousness of my stomach. In the
audience sat the family of the defendant, a young woman that I believe to be
his sister, with a young child, a thin girl with neat braids no more than nine,
sitting next to her. I wondered if that could be Mr. Shaw's daughter. He had
never mentioned having one, but then again no one had asked.

The jury filed in next, a diverse group, most of them
with their eyes cast down until they took their seats. I found some small
amusement that the tattooed biker had made the cut. He settled in between the
clean cut old man and the young thirty something woman with the pony tail. As
soon as they all settled many of them looked around the courtroom, soaking in
as much information as they could.

The security guards escorted in Darius Shaw until he
took his seat at the defendant’s table alongside Mr. Mahoney.

"All rise! Judge Walters presiding," the
deep voice of the bailiff rang out over the courtroom.

Everyone grew silent and stood with bits of shuffling,
eyes forward.

"Court is now in session."

The judge entered from his chambers, moved across to
the bench and took his seat. He looked like a cordial gentlemen, gray hair. He
kept his face serious as he looked out over the courtroom. The placement of his
bench, about a foot and a half higher than everything else in the room always
made me feel that the courtroom was the embodiment of justice. Each section had
meaning, every segment of the room was marked out with a purpose.

I relaxed back in my seat as the judge made his
announcements, instructing the jury to listen but not to make any decisions
until all of the information had been heard. The trial would take about one to two
weeks, he said. During that time they were not to talk about any part of the
case, make any posts online about their involvement. Doing so could end in a
mistrial. He gave them a stern look before turning to the prosecution.

The other head of the other law team stood and began
his opening remarks. While he spoke, I watched him like a hawk. No one here
knew that my part coming up next would be the first time I had done this.

Why hell would they trust me to do this on a murder
case for my first time?

Probably because the client couldn’t pay for the big
dogs at the firm, I told myself.

I needed to get my head straight.

I wanted to see what fine points I could pick up
before I took my turn.

He moved around the courtroom, presenting the
beginning and main points of their upcoming arguments. He came across as
charismatic and dynamic. I watched members of the jury as they leaned forward
to take in what he was saying. If I wanted them to listen to me in just the
same way, I had my work cut out for me.

Finally he wrapped up, thanked the jury, and took his
seat. I realized that my turn had come. Every eye in the courtroom had turned
towards the defense table. I stood and picked up the notes I had prepared,
stepping out from between the table and my chair. I glanced towards Aiden, and
he gave me a confident nod.

I took a deep breath and began.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Darius Shaw
was found standing over the body of his wife, Rita Shaw, seen there by the
first responders of an anonymous 911 call. One could say this is an open and
shut case. But every case depends on the production of evidence to piece
together the events of any crime. Without judgment I ask each of you to hear
out the details of the trial until you have heard all of the evidence." I
walked as I spoke, placing myself close to the jurors and making a point to
look each of them in the eye. My voice rang out across the courtroom. I had
felt nervous up until the moment I began speaking. Then all of my training and
preparation took over. Perhaps I didn’t match the charisma of the prosecuting
lawyer, but I felt more than anything that I had the attention of the jury.
That was all I needed. As I spoke I walked over to Darius Shaw to draw the
attention of the jury to him. "Lastly, I simply ask that you listen with
an open mind. Look at the facts. Let the information presented guide your
decision as the fate of one man rests in your hands. Thank you."

I returned to my seat and Mr. Mahoney stood.

I exhaled.

Aiden leaned over to whisper in my ear. "That was
amazing,” he said.

I glanced over at him and saw the sincerity in his
eyes.

"Thanks," I said.

I agreed but I suppressed the grin that threatened to
break out across my face.

I would celebrate later.

When we won the case.

I hoped.

For the time being I kept my cool professionalism at
the surface and waited for the remainder of the trial to unfold. Even though
this was a murder case, and we were fighting to keep this man out of jail for
the rest of his life, I had to admit I found this kind of fun. I had waited my
entire life for this and had worked hard to achieve it.

It did feel strange to have Aiden here.

My emotions to him had shifted drastically since that
first day he had set foot back into my life. I had felt everything from
excitement to annoyance, infatuation and disgust. But in that moment, sitting
in the courtroom, having just nailed the first time I had given opening
statements, I couldn’t help but feel a small thrill that he remained sitting
next to me. Having him there made it a little bit better somehow.

I couldn’t deny it.

The day continued and the first details of the case
were presented to the jury. Aiden and I worked in tandem, feeding off of each other
while continuing to compete. Each time he stepped forward, I found a reason to
up my game and with every point that I made, he brought up another. At one
point, while Aiden and I had both had taken the chance to question to one of
the first responders who had been called to the stand, I glanced over and
noticed Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Klein exchanging a significant glance, both smiling
and nodding.

I had just taken my seat and Aiden stood to present
his questions, so I had no way of knowing which of us the gesture referenced. I
carefully kept my eyes averted, but continued to be aware of how they followed
Aiden with their eyes as he moved around the courtroom. I wondered if I had
held their attention in the same way, something I couldn’t have seen as my attention
remained on my tasks.

Being a lawyer, I began to realize, was just as much
about charisma and likeability as it was about presenting facts, and it seemed
as if I wasn’t the only one who noticed that Aiden had this ability in spades.
When I glanced towards the jury, their faces confirmed my suspicion. They all
seemed rapt by Aiden's presence, which meant good news for our client. I
watched him though out the day, taking mental notes on how to apply certain
details to my own delivery, always seeking to improve and learn as much as I
could.

The day came to an end after what seemed like more
hours than the day could hold. The bailiff led the jury out first, in single
file out the same door in which they entered. Then Darius Shaw was escorted out
with security on either side. I noticed the family members in the audience
slipped out the main doors at the same time, and I assumed that this was the
sister to which he had been remanded.

The bailiff called for us to all stand as the judge
exited back to his chambers. After he disappeared, we were directed that court
had been adjourned for the day and we were all free to go. Again I marveled at
the specificity of it all, the timing and clockwork. If only the rest of life
could be so definitive, things would be a lot easier.

We would return to court on Monday, with a brief
refresher meeting with the partners Sunday afternoon. Mr. Mahoney had scheduled
this for us to brush up if we needed it. I had to admit, the day had gone well
for all of us.

Mr. Mahoney stepped over to us as Aiden and I gathered
our things.

"I wanted to commend you both on your performance
today,” he said. His rare smile created small crinkles around his eyes.
"Ms. Klein and I have been very impressed with both of you."

Aiden and I exchanged a glance, and I perceived the
small smile dancing at the edge of his lips. The compliment wasn’t undeserved
for Aiden and to be honest I felt for myself either.

"Thank you, sir,” I said. "That means a
lot."

"I have to be honest," Mahoney continued.
"The other senior partners in the firm were unsure how the two of you
would do, working together as partners in this case since you’re vying for the
same position with our company. But you have both surprised us. You work so
well together. You have both really been able to pull it off. Good work, both
of you."

He clapped Aiden on the back and gave me another
smile, nodding as he walked back to pick up his briefcase.

I felt ecstatic at Mahoney's words, and the look on
Aiden's face indicated that he may have had a similar inclination.

The senior partners walked out together a little way
ahead of us, but not before Ms. Klein gave me a nod of confidence from the
door. I felt good, better than I had in a long time. Regardless of what else
happened, today had been a victory, my first steps into the courtroom and I had
nailed it.

The tiniest inkling of worry entered my mind that the
compliment had been aimed at both of us. I had hoped that by now there might be
a clear front runner and that it would be me. I pushed the thought aside,
wanting to relish in the victory of the day.

"You know what," Aiden said as he held the
courtroom door open for me. "We should celebrate."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked warily
but internally leaping at the thought.