Chapter 52: Chapter 52

CHAPTER 9

"Do you have an appointment with the judge?" A woman who I presume to be the Judge's secretary queries me.

"No. I don't."

"Well, judge Lahey doesn't see anyone without an appointment. Would you like to book one? You can see him on Tuesday."

"Tuesday?"

"It's a Sunday, ma'am, and I'm usually not here on Sundays."

"Look," I say in tinniest voice possible, "If you don't want to lose your job, you'll go inside and inform the judge that Natalie Richardson is outside waiting for him."

Her face is pale. She looks shocked. "Y-yes, ma'am" She stutters.

**

"If it isn't the famous Natalie Richardson.” The older man says, looking at me from above his glasses and pouring himself a glass of whiskey. His home was vintage.

"Judge Lahey. May I?" I inquire if I can have a sit.

"Most definitely."

"Thank you." I say, smiling. He pours me a glass of whiskey. He hands it over. "It's been a year since we last saw. How are you? You were with child, yes?"

"Yes, I was. I'd like to get straight to the point, if you don't mind."

"Absolutely, please, do."

I sip my whiskey. "You helped me get part of Luke's assets. I got what I wanted thanks to you."

"Yes. I'm aware."

"Whatever you did then, I need you to do it again. Help me win, again.” I say to him. Judge Lahey always had on a calm expression, a gentle one, but in reality, the man was nothing but a corporate crook. A criminal in a legal coat.

"In clearer terms, Ms. Richardson."

"Luke tried to rape me. The police is involved. I want to push the case to court."

"What are you aiming at?" He asks.

"I want the case to be sent to your court. Once that's done and the trial begins, I want you to stir up the case, make him believe that you're displeased with him as your court is a sympathetic one. Make it seem as though he'll get a high sentencing. 5 years, 10years, just something to scare him, but I don't want him in jail."

"So what do you want exactly? It's all a ruse?"

"Yes, it is. I want a settlement."

"A settlement? Why go through all the trouble of going back and forth in court? You could always reach out to his lawyers and tell them what you want. Why do you want to go this far?"

I sip my whiskey. I place the cup on the table. "For my pleasure. For my pleasure alone."

"I must say, you've become scary. I worry for you."

"Worry about what you've been asked to do, because, if you fail to do what I've asked of you, when I come after you, you'll have yourself to worry about." Something tells me to record the conversation, so I stealthily open my clutch and begin to record.

"I can refuse to do this." He says.

"You won't, because I'm paying you to make your ruling in my favor as you did a year ago."

"Double. I want double of what you paid me before. You're sending me into the lion's den, yet again."

"Is this how you charge all your clients? So aggressively?"

"Double or nothing, Ms. Richardson."

I chuckle. "Hmph. I'll go with nothing, your honor." I say. I bring out my phone from my wallet. "Our conversation has just been recorded. I have enough resources to manipulate my voice, so no one recognizes it. You, on the other hand. . . I'm sure you know what would happen to you." I say. I smile as I see the frown on his face. The smug smile he had on his face a moment ago had disappeared in a split second.

"How dare you record me in my own home?"

"How dare you threaten me?" I ask, furious. I got really worked up when people tried to play with my intelligence or cheat me. I was done with that. I'd had enough. I would do the manipulating and cheating now. I continue, "You will get the case thrown to your court, I don't care how you do it. You'll do as I've said or else, I'll leak this recording to the press, and it won't end well for you." I get up and turn to leave.

He speaks, "Don't you forget, you've gained an enemy today. I will come after you." He says.

I turn to look at him. "I'm not very forgiving, your honor, so careful now, with your words, because I tend to destroy my enemies completely. I don't spare those who try to harm me. Have a good evening." I say as I walk out. I pause by the door, "And oh, have a lawyer sent to my office tomorrow by ten. I'll be expecting one."

I can't sleep. My heart feels heavy. I keep rolling on the bed, hoping a particular position would make me fall asleep, but I was wrong. I didn't think I was going to get any sleep. Why couldn't I sleep? My mind flashes back to the police station, and to the Judge's home. Was I going too far? It wasn't like I was murdering anyone or abducting someone. The only illegal thing I'd done was bribing and coercing judge Lahey to do my bidding.

I get up and head to the kitchen. I don't turn the lights on. I walk to the counter and pour a glass of water. I gulp it down. I run my hand through my hair as I sit. I was tired, exhausted. I knew that somewhere deep down, I desperately wanted to ignore the entire issue and just move on with my son. I wanted to bury the events that had made become so vengeful, but forgetting wasn't an option. Forgiveness wasn't an option either.

I couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if Laurel hadn't placed that call. She'd placed the call to my father out of spite, wanting to see me humiliated. Her one action that she might've considered trivial, cost my father his life. Regardless, if Laurel didn't place that call, I wouldn't have been motivated enough to discover everything that Luke had done behind my back. He would have destroyed my family either way because that was his plan from the get go. I just needed to find out the exact reason why he hated my family so much to go to such lengths.

I get up and head to Louis' room. I turn on the lights, and I see my baby wide awake in his crib. "Oh! Hi, baby!” I say, as I carry him out of his crib. Why was he awake? It was odd. He has his hand on his pacifier.

"You love your paci, don't you? Can you give mommy a kiss?" He takes the pacifier out and gives me a kiss. I giggle, holding him tight. Louis smelled so heavenly. "How long have you been up, huh? Let's go to mommy's room. I can't sleep too.”

**

Patting my child's back, I enter my room. The window is open and it's a bit windy so I walk ahead to close the windows and adjust the curtains. I smile as Louis begins to play with my hair. I play with his. As I am about to close the windows, my eyes fall on a black mini bus. I'd seen that bus a few days ago. It was odd. Did it belong to the residents across the street? I close the windows and the curtains.

Louis and I lay on the bed. I take out my phone and take selfies with him.

"When are you going to say mama? Say mama, say mommy.” I say, as I kiss his tiny fingers.

"Da-da.” He says, and my smile disappears.