Chapter 89

As soon as I saw the message, I wanted to bury myself in my mattress and suffocate myself, but I couldn't just not reply to him.

How had Neil even had a chance to talk to him? Had he known that he would even before we sat down for lunch?

I went to find Arielle, and found her still hanging out in the kitchen. She was more dressed now, seated at the island. Mr. French Toast was now packing up containers of food that smelled like good.

"Hungry?" Arielle asked. "Dev made extra, and it is incredible as always."

"Help."

Arielle snorted laughing as I explained what had happened and showed her the message. My cheeks flaming, arms crossed tightly over my chest. She didn’t even bother trying to pretend not to laugh. Mr. French Toast-- Dev, apparently—kissed her on the temple and slipped past me with a travel mug in hand, looking cheerful.

"Save lives babe! You have incredible thighs." He let out a withering groan. "Are you coming back with Zeke?"

"Probably."

"Video or it didn't happen."

"Nothing will happen!"

"We both know that's not true, darling."

"Good bye," he groaned, and Arielle laughed as the door closed behind him.

She looked at me. "While an incredible cook, he's more suited for the ER. Can't wait to take his cute self back to Mountainhowl permanently."

"He's… a healer?"

"In training," she said. "Dr. D for now." She snickered to herself. "And what's wrong?"

"I can't believe Neil told him!"

“Don’t be mad,” Arielle said, setting her coffee down. “He's being proactive! You’re lucky they’re talking to each other without growling or pissing in corners. They might even learn to like each other before they fuck.”

My jaw dropped. "What-- that’s a disgusting metaphor and -- and--” I dropped into the barstool like my legs had given out.

“Or at least fuck you. And it’s an accurate one,” she said with a shrug, biting into the corner of her toast. “And you’re getting a much easier start than I did, so count your blessings.”

I eyed her as she pulled the plate I hadn't even noticed Dev making for her toward her. I thought about Zeke leaving after that kiss and…

“I don’t want to think about your start,” I said quickly, suddenly aware of the distinct smell of sex still clinging faintly to the air. “I’m not even sure I want to think about my start.”

Arielle grinned, wiggling her brows. “You should. You're doing fine. Besides, it’s better that they’re talking it out than you having to be the main facilitator. You’re not the one who should be managing their egos. That’s their job.”

I considered asking her more, but the words didn’t form. Not with heat still crawling up my neck and into my scalp. Instead, I pushed up from the stool and backed toward the hallway.

“I need to lie down before I get more secondhand information about your personal life.”

“Sleep well, princess,” she called sweetly. "But, you're not going to eat first?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Not for food, at least."

I scowled and left, her cackling following me down the hallway. In my room, I flopped back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling for a long second before unlocking my phone.

Two unread messages.

Dominic: When are you planning to have this meeting of yours?

I groaned.

Neil: Just so you know, he brought you up first.

Another groan.

I started with Neil.

I can’t believe you told him what I said. Do you have any idea how mortifying that is?

He responded within seconds. He asked. I answered. Besides, it wasn’t embarrassing. I'm being proactive. He laughed. Good sign.

Me: It's embarrassing.

Neil: Are you actually embarrassed or just caught off guard… I told you I want to support you. Shouldn't we be hashing this out sooner rather than later?

I sighed and switched over to Dominic

Can we talk about this after the court case? My brain’s too fried to figure out how to set that up.

He didn’t answer immediately, and honestly, I was grateful. I didn’t want to talk about anything else that night.

Neil sent another message. Get some rest, Renee.

I scowled, easy for him to say.

The morning of the court case dawned cold and gray, colder than usual for this time of year. It was like even the world was not happy this was happening.

I stared at myself in the mirror of the bathroom, adjusting my clothes. My blazer was straight. My blouse was pressed. I looked professional, put together, even though I didn't feel it. The red looked nice on my skin.

Soon, I stood outside the Court building, arms crossed over my chest to keep from fidgeting.

Arielle stood beside me like a dark flame: powerful, collected, wearing a tailored black and red dress suit that hugged every curve and made even the guards take a second look. Her sunglasses hid her expression, but her aura burned with one purpose.

War.

Inside, the courtroom buzzed with energy. Lawyers, aides, family members, guards, and them. Mountainhowl’s legal team was already setting up stacks of binders and notes, the small team stood at attention as we entered. Arielle walked ahead of me, her presence magnetic in that dangerous way of hers. I felt like a shrinking violet behind her.

Vivian was there flanked by two of the Panel's bailiffs and dressed in a pristine white suit like she was attending an awards ceremony. Her expression was composed until it tightened upon seeing me.

Tyler and his parents were seated behind her, whispering furiously in each other’s ears. His mother sneered at me when I passed, but I ignored her. She had never liked me, I knew that wouldn't change even in this lifetime. In the past, she'd been the worst mother in law.

Dominic was seated near the front with Brightclaw’s legal team, his expression unreadable. He didn’t look at me as I passed, and I didn’t let myself linger.

I didn’t need his attention right now.

I needed to be calm.

Neil arrived ten minutes after the room settled, wearing a dark gray suit that somehow made him look more dangerous than ever. His hair was perfectly styled, and his expression was stern, all jokes set aside. When his eyes found mine, something gentle passed between us. He nodded at me before sitting in the witness area.

I sat with Arielle at the Mountainhowl legal table. I didn't think she's be serving as the main lawyer for me, but it seemed like she was. The Panel filed in, looking uncomfortable as they took their seats. The lead judge addressed the court quickly and then they begun. Arielle's assistant lawyer called the first witness. It was the woman from IT. They presented my internship logs, the sabotaged keycard entries, footage from the elevators, and had her explain the process of her investigation. Then, they called the head of the internship program, the head of HR, and several others.

I wasn't sure if it was on purpose that there wasn't much cross examination going on, but I supposed that was why Arielle had the reputation she did in the courtroom. I expected to be called up sooner rather than later, but they had other experts testify about the validitiy of my recording and all the other evidence I passed to Arielle.

When the recording of her threatening me played, a ripple went through the courtroom. Vivian’s face went red. Dominic’s face remained completely blank and his legal team didn't even stir. Arielle explained that this was just the preliminary hearing where Arielle was working to get as much evidence as possible admitted and as many charges on the books as possible.

I could see Tyler's family seemingly coming up with a plan when Arielle stood. The air went out of the room.

"The plaintiff calls Lord Neil of Blackfang to the stand."

Neil took the stand, his expression calm as he took the oath and allowed them to put him under truth spell as all the other witnesses Mountainhowl called took.

He spoke about the fight first before getting to the harassment he'd seen and reported at the company only for it to be lost from HR logs before the IT head had done a full recovery of it all. Dominic shifted in his seat. Regret flickered behind his eyes, but Neil plowed on, just as he said he would, not flinching, not wavering. And everything he had to say, everything he could prove not as "hearsay" but things he observed was damning no matter how the other lawyers attempted to interrupt or discredit him. Arielle wasn't questioning him, I supposed she was going to be questioning all of the opposing witnesses, maybe Vivian and Tyler specifically.

The cross examination was short-lived, given all the evidence that he was tied to. His father, Lord Blackfang, took notes with a calm expression, every once in a while glancing at me.

My stomach jolted. Had Neil told him about me? Us? This mess of a relationship that wasn't even established?

I could hear Philip hissing from the back of my mind.

I can't believe I raised a whore.