“Can you believe the press out there?” She laughed, checking her reflection.
“I’m sorry?”
“The press dear. They’re everywhere. Trying to get a glimpse at the little slut who killed my husband I assume.”
“Oh.” She knew they were here to see her. Was she trying to figure out if I was the girl from the club?
“I swear this case is giving me so many wrinkles my Botox doctor is going to have a field day.”
I didn’t respond.
She shrugged. “Good luck with whatever you’re here for honey. Watch out for the lawyers, they’ll eat you alive.” She cackled as she left and I considered going to the bathroom again just to put time and space between myself and her toxic personality. She was not the crying widow I had seen on TV.
Minutes later I sat in the wooden chair in the back of the courtroom, waiting for my name to be called. I was jittery, and my legs wouldn’t stay still. Monique sighed and gave me a look for the fifth time. I knew she was getting annoyed, but I was terrified. Not only could I say something on the stand that would accidentally incriminate me, but if I was proven innocent there was a band of drug dealers who might kill me. I stared out the window next to me and considered my options. Monique had a plan and I just had to follow it. And I had to pray it worked out in my favor.
The lawyer stopped talking again and it snapped me back to my current reality. They had already questioned his driver and his daughter, and both were visibly upset about his death. I worried that I would look guilty because I didn't really care about him. I certainly felt bad that he was gone, but I didn't know him well enough to be sad about it. I was afraid that I would look bitter and cold.
I leaned over and whispered to Monique, “Should I look emotional?”
She shook her head but didn't say anything.
I looked out the window that was next to me once more, and tried to think about my freedom. A lot was on the line here, and I was hopeful that it would all be over soon.
“We’d like to call Calla Hart to the stand, please.”
Monique whispered, “Follow the plan.”
I stood and straightened my skirt before crossing in front of Monique and walking up the aisle onto the stand. I had never been so terrified in my entire life.
As I passed Mrs. Paxton she gave me a steely glare. So she hadn’t known who I was in the bathroom, she wasn’t playing dumb.
“Please state your name for the court records.”
“Calla Elizabeth Hart.” My palms were sweaty. I looked to Monique for a surge of confidence but I couldn’t find her in the crowd.
The lawyer stood in front of me in a black suit with a dark gold tie around his neck. He was in his late twenties, and I was surprised that someone so young worked for the District Attorney's Office.
“Ms. Hart, can you please explain to the court how are you knew Judge Paxton?”
“Yes. I actually didn't know him very well. We had only just met.”
I heard the wife mumble, “liar,” under her breath. She wasn’t going to make this easy on me.
“And did you know who he was?”
“Not really. He had told me his line of work, but that's all I was really privy to.”
He put his hands behind his back, and walked back and forth in front of me. Monique had warned me that this was a scare tactic, and I was to remain calm. “So, you knew he was a judge?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Did he tell you he was married?”
I shook my head. “No, he didn't mention that.”
He stopped right in front of me, and looked me in the eye. “Were you going to have relations with him that evening?”
I didn't know how to respond. Monique hadn’t mentioned that question. “I don't know. I don't think so. He invited me up to his room to talk after we met at the bar. I don't think that his intentions were to get me in bed.”
Mrs. Paxton shook her head. I could tell she didn’t believe me.
“But he didn't tell you about his wife?”
“No. He didn't mention her, as I've already stated.”
He nodded, and then turned away for me again, walking over to the table where he had been sitting. “Can you tell me why he wrote a check for four thousand dollars that evening?”
My breath caught in my chest. Monique had said the money was untraceable; no one would have known that I was paid. But this guy sure as hell sounded like he knew he was talking about.
“No. I don't know why he wrote a check for that amount of money, or to whom he wrote it. We didn't talk about money.”
That wasn’t a lie, per se.
He made a face. “You’re sure? You have no idea when he wrote that check?”
I shook my head. “Definitely not. I mean we had a tab at the bar, but it couldn’t have been even close to that much.” I tried to act like I wasn’t sure, confused even. The lawyer moved on.
“There was a time when the two of you weren't together. Why is that?”
This one I was prepared for. “He invited me up to his hotel room, but I wanted to freshen up first. We had been in a smoky bar, and I smelled terrible. I went home to change, and he sent a town car for me. Then, I went to the room and I waited.”
“And where did Judge Paxton go while you freshened up?” He had a sarcastic tone to his voice.
“I don't know. He didn't say. But I assume he went home.”
“You assume?”
I tried to breathe. I looked over to the jury and I could tell one older woman was assessing me. She was trying to decide if I was being truthful. It was terrifying.
“Miss Hart?”
“I’m sorry. Yes. He had mentioned wanting to relax at home. Like I said, he didn't mention his wife.”
“Right. Why would he want to relax?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think he wanted to take something to relax?”
The plan was set perfectly, just as Monique had said at the club. She was better at this than I had given her credit for. “You mean, like a pill?” I looked at the wife, her skin was turning red. She knew what I was doing.
“Yes, some type of medication.”
His wife continued to stare me down. I could see her blood was boiling.
“I would ask his pharmacist that. Or his wife. Not me. I wouldn’t know.”
Suddenly, the wife stood up from the defense table, “Of course you would, you little bitch! You knew he wanted to sleep with you! You knew it! You’re just like all the rest. I couldn’t let it go on!”
The whole courtroom gasped at her admission of guilt. It wasn’t a smoking gun, but it was enough. Monique had been right; set off the wife, and I would be in the clear.
“Order, order in the court! Mr. Defasy, I suggest you contain your client.”
The defense lawyer stood calmly. “Yes, your Honor, I apologize for her outburst.”
The wife sat back down, but it was clear that she was the one who had ended Judge Paxton's life. She had had enough of his call girls, and I just happened to be the unlucky soul that was with him the night she ended it. Monique had heard at the club that he took Viagra on occasion, even though he wasn’t currently sleeping with any of the girls. The wife had switched the pill. We knew it. It was her fault.
The lawyer from the District Attorney's Office turned on me once more, but his questions lightened up significantly. “When was the last time you spoke to Judge Paxton?”
“At the bar. When we made plans to meet at his hotel room.”
“Thank you, Ms. Hart.” He turned to address the judge. “The prosecution rests, your Honor.”
The defense didn't even cross-examine me. The lawyer knew that he couldn't win the case, and he requested a recess instead. As Monique and I walked out of the courthouse, I assumed he was talking to his client about cutting a deal. She had no other way out. I was free.
The media didn’t even notice me leave.
No questions about the club.
My se
cret was safe.
Chapter Nineteen
I sat on the floor in front of Alexis watching the news just a few hours later. The reporters had been right the entire time; Mrs. Paxton was to blame. She poisoned her husband in her home when he stopped there after going to the club. According to all the news reporters she was a murderer and I was off the hook. I felt sorry for the judge; he had seemed like such a nice gentleman. I really didn’t even think she had anything to worry about.
But I was safe, at least for now. I still had to face the fact that Hudson working for some type of pharmaceutical mob, and that they could come after me at any moment, but I trusted Monique that my connections would keep me safe. I still didn't understand how Hudson could think that turning me over to the police would keep me safe, but, somewhere deep down, I believed that he thought it was the only way. Like maybe if he hadn’t made me so angry, and if I hadn’t left France so quickly, that they would've come after me. They would've known how much he cared about me. Alexis sat behind me on the couch, braiding my hair, and it was comforting.
“So, it's over. You’re in the clear.”
I wanted to nod, but I knew it would hurt with her fingers through my hair, so I didn't. “Yup, it's over.”
“Did you think what Monique said about Hudson is true? That he was just doing it in some weird way to protect you?”
“I guess I'll never know. I ended things last night with him at the club. I don't think I'll ever see Hudson James again. The court case is over; everything's over.”
“Maybe it's for the best. You can move on. Are you going to keep working at the club?”
I changed the channel on the TV to some reality show that was mindless. Other people's drama suddenly seemed to make me happier than my own. “Yeah, I think I might. I don't think Hudson will come back for a while. I can still work there, make really good money, and put it away for grad school.”
Alexis stopped braiding my hair. “Grad school?”
“Yeah. I'm going to become a lawyer. Everything I've ever wanted and I'm not going to let anything stop me now. As scary as it was to be in a courtroom, it was also a rush. It's what I want.”
“Good for you. At least you know what you want.”
“What about you?”
“Girl, I don't even know what I want tomorrow, let alone in four years. I do know though that I want to call Josh.”
“Oh?” I ran my fingers back and forth over our hot pink rug.
“Yeah, he’s cute. I want to give him a chance. Even if it's only for a little bit.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are such a mess.”
“Look who's talking, girlfriend. Hey, you have that economics class tomorrow right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, I forgot to mention that the old geezer had a heart attack. Supposedly, he's going to be fine, but will be out for a few weeks. They hired some new guy to take his place, but I heard that he's not a professor, so he probably can't teach. I just wanted to warn you.”
Shit. Econ was already one of my worst classes. If the new guy couldn’t teach, I was screwed. “Great. I hope that I won’t have to retake it.”
“Hopefully he's easy because he doesn't know what he's doing. But, just in case, pay attention tomorrow.”
I turned around to look at her. “You act like I don't focus in class. I’d like to remind you I have amazing grades.”
“Well, you’re whooping my ass in physics, but in Econ, I've got you beat.”
“True. I guess we'll see tomorrow.”
It was nice to just talk about school. To be relaxed for the first time since the judge had been murdered. I was really free.
I arrived to class early, on the off chance Alexis was right that this new guy really had no idea what he was doing. I wanted to make a good first impression just in case I needed to go to office hours or ask for extra help. But when I got there, he was already busy working on papers with his back turned to us. He was definitely younger than I was anticipating, which concerned me even more. I watched him from behind, his crisp gray suit outlining broad shoulders. I found a seat near the middle of the rows, and I sat down. He still didn’t look up at me or the other ten students that had already arrived. I checked my emails to see if Hudson had gotten in touch with me again, but there was nothing. I had ended it, and he listened. But there was a part of me that just wanted him to reach out. For him to touch me again… the roughness of his skin on mine. The class around me grew quiet, and I opened up my notes on my laptop just as the professor was clearing his throat. And then I looked up.
I saw his face and my breath caught in my chest.
Those chiseled features. That strong jaw and dark eyes. They always drew me in like that.
“My name is Hudson James. I'll be your guest lecturer for the next three weeks while your professor is out on medical leave. I'm a business executive and a self-made millionaire.”
It seemed like he wanted to say more. But that's when our eyes met. He stopped and looked directly at me without being able to move his lips anymore.
“Calla,” he breathed, nodding at me knowingly. Apparently he wasn’t giving up that easy.
Everyone in the hall looked in my direction.
Shit. And I thought I was free.
Chapter Twenty
I sat like a deer in the headlights, and sucked in a deep breath. How could this happen? How could my two worlds collide in such a ridiculous way? I felt, for a moment, like I was being set up.
He looked totally cool and collected, like this was completely normal. It was set up, by him. I was sure of it.
Once Hudson had me, he wouldn’t let me go.
I was shaking. Everyone’s eyes were still on me.
He cleared his throat. “So, why don’t you open your books to page 376, it appears that’s where your professor left off. I’m going to give you ten minutes to read the page silently. Then we’ll have a discussion and I’ll assign some homework. Should be an easy day for you.”
Everyone around me opened their books and began reading. I noticed a couple people pulled out their phones and were probably texting each other about Hudson and me. I didn’t move. I sat completely still as he moved around the classroom, falling behind students and watching them read. As he passed by me the whole world stopped. “You’re not reading?”
I opened my book slowly as he bent down and whispered in my ear. “You know I’ll have to punish you if you don’t complete your work on time Miss Hart.” I remember his hands on my skin, and my pussy ached for his touch once again. I tried to take a deep breath as I opened my book, but he slammed the cover in front of me before continuing his walking. It caught everyone’s attention once again. He walked to the front of the room. “I'm actually just going to give you an online assignment for this class today. We’ll discuss the homework next class.” He ran his hands through his hair, but tried to appear calm. “I mean, I’m no teacher. I have more important matters to attend to.” His eyes narrowed in on me. Everyone knew it was a lie.
He pulled out his laptop and pressed some keys. My blood was pumping so fast I was sure other people could hear it. “Yes. Here it is, uploaded. So go home.” No one moved. I could tell the other students weren’t sure if he was serious or not. “I said go home. Class dismissed. Whatever it is that professors say these days. Just get out of here.”
Everyone collected their things, and stole glances at me, with hushed whispers. I didn't move. I didn't grab my laptop. I just sat there, waiting for him to say something. When the door closed behind the last student, I expected him to turn around. To look at me, to say something. But he didn't. I watched his body hunched over the desk at the front of the classroom, deep in thought.
“Should I leave too?”
He spun around, and looked at me with such desperation in his eyes that I'd never seen before. “I don't want you to go.”
“Then I stay.”
He slowly ascended the stairs to the right of me, walking up into the seats. He
stopped just a row short of me, and moved across the aisle until he was leaning against a chair directly in front of me.
“Why didn’t you read the assignment?”
“You’re kidding me, right? Why the hell are you in my class.”
“I told you I would have you. I get what I want Calla.”
“What does that mean?”
“That you can’t hide from me.” Wasn’t that the truth.
I looked at my laptop to avoid his eyes. “Fine I can’t hide from you. So if I can’t then I want to be with you. Actually be with you.”
He bent across the chair so that he was inches from my face. “Then do it,” he whispered, sending chills down my hot skin.
I sighed. “But I want a real relationship, Hudson. I don’t want to just be your call girl anymore.”
“With me, you were never just a call girl.”
I leaned forward so that our lips just barely touched, and it sent a tingle through my body. Suddenly I was back in France with my hands bound and waves of pleasure ripping through my body. I had missed this. When we parted, a smile crossed his face, and reached his eyes. Something I had rarely seen.
“So, next time you teach my class, do you think you can handle yourself enough to actually get through class?”
He laughed as he leaned back. “Not my best first day, was it? I'm sure the Dean or whatever is going to be asking questions about that. And the other students.”
“Yes, so much for being discreet. Everyone on campus is going be talking about the hot new professor and how he dismissed class so he could talk to a girl.”
He laughed. “It was that obvious then? I thought I had played it better than that.”
Maybe he had, I wasn’t sure. I was so drawn to him I couldn’t remember. Maybe it was my imagination that everyone was staring at us.
Filthy Boss: An Office Romance Page 19
