Trial & Tribulations

by Rachel Dylan

  “Maybe you should’ve looked more closely.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ll see all the evidence outlined in the supporting brief.”

  “So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?”

  “Just business, Olivia. Nothing personal.” He could tell she was trying to keep it together but a little red blotch on her neck let him know that he was clearly getting to her.

  “I think you’ve said everything you’ve needed to say. You can see your way out.” She turned her back on him and walked away to take a seat in front of the computer.

  It was just the reaction he wanted. He had her frazzled. And the hearing on the injunction would no doubt be highly contested. This could be a turning point in the case. He couldn’t help whistling as he walked back down the long corridor toward the front of the building.

  He was so preoccupied he could barely come to a stop before running right into Nina Marie.

  Her big brown eyes flashed in surprise, and then her mouth turned into a frown. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to talk to Olivia.” He took a step back. “I was just leaving.”

  “You know that your client is crazy, right?” She took a step closer to him edging him back toward the wall.

  “I’m sure that’s going to be a topic on which we disagree.”

  She reached out and touched his shoulder. He flinched.

  “You’re a cute one, you know. Too bad you’re the enemy.”

  He had to be professional, so he kept his mouth shut.

  “I know you’re not totally innocent when it comes to Layton’s tactics. So I’ll say this. Even though I have no reason to dislike you personally, since you’re Layton’s lawyer you’re caught in the crossfire.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  She laughed. “I think you understand exactly what I’m saying. We’ll use every means at our disposal to fight this lawsuit.”

  “I think it’s time for me to go.” He turned around and started walking toward the lobby, but she grabbed his arm.

  “You’ve been warned.” Her brown eyes now held no warmth but were ice cold. She let go of his arm and walked back toward her office.

  He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. By the time he started his car, he was ready to speed down the road. Nina Marie’s threat wasn’t exactly thinly veiled. But c’mon. What could that woman actually do to him? Just because she was crazy and believed in witchcraft didn’t mean he did.

  Although she could certainly use other more traditional means to come after him. Especially after she talked to Olivia and found out why he had been there. The filing of the injunction paperwork was likely to start a real war between the two companies. He’d known that when he came up with the idea, but it was something they needed to do.

  And it wasn’t like it was a waste of time. They actually had a chance of winning. When he’d read those emails between Nina Marie and Layton, it definitely changed his opinion on the strength of the case. Had Olivia missed them in her review of the documents, or did she just have a great game face to not give away that there were some smoking gun documents in the set she turned over to him?

  Either way, those documents changed the landscape of the case. He knew it. And she’d know it soon.

  **

  Olivia stared down at the pages sitting on the large conference room table. How could she have missed these documents in her review? They were labeled for production so they were clearly in the set that was supposed to be turned over to Optimism.

  But Olivia had personally read every single email that she gave Optimism. Or at least she thought she had. She didn’t make mistakes like this. The end result of all of this would still be the same. She would’ve had to have turned over the emails to Grant because there was no reason to withhold them—like attorney client privilege. But it sure would’ve been nice to have not put them in the first production. To have had more time to strategize a response.

  Now she had an even bigger problem. How was she going to explain this complete blindside to Nina Marie and Clive—and ultimately Chet. This would make her look really bad. Like she was being sloppy.

  Taking a deep breath she read the email exchange between Nina Marie and Layton again.

  Nina Marie,

  You won’t get away with this. You’re a thief! You stole the technology for the app and I can prove it.--L

  **

  Layton—you’re obviously upset because I broke up with you. You need to move on and stop harassing me.

  **

  What about the files you removed from my laptop? I know you have them on your computer. Including the designs.--L

  **

  I’m not an idiot. Those files are long gone. Have a nice life.--NM

  Ugh. That last email was basically an admission by Nina Marie that she’d stolen files from Layton and then deleted them after the fact. Things like this would not play well in front of the jury.

  And the strangest part was that it didn’t even sound like something Nina Marie would say. Why would she have ever put something like that in writing? Was she just letting her emotions control her?

  The only thing she could do now was talk to Nina Marie. That was the first step. She picked up the conference room phone and asked Nina Marie to come down.

  Within a minute, she was walking through the door with a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

  “I saw Grant on his way out. I think I got into his head a little bit.”

  “Well, don’t get too cocky. When you hear why he came by here, you probably won’t feel as good.”

  Nina Marie walked all the way in and took a seat beside her at the table. “What is it? You’ve got a very serious lawyer look going on right now.”

  “Grant was here letting me know that he was filing the papers for an emergency injunction with the court.”

  “What is that?”

  “Basically, he’s going to ask the court to stop Astral Tech from selling and marketing the Astral Tech app.”

  Nina Marie sucked in a breath. “Based upon what exactly?”

  “That’s the thing. I have to apologize up front.”

  “For what?” Nina Marie asked cutting her off.

  “In the first set of documents that were produced to the other side in the litigation, there was an email that I didn’t see. I believe I reviewed every document myself, but it’s possible that I could’ve made a mistake. Anyway, here’s the email exchange between you and Layton. They’re going to use this as an evidentiary basis to support their argument for an injunction against Astral Tech.” Olivia pushed the piece of paper in front of Nina Marie.

  Nina Marie pushed her glasses up on her nose and started reading. The further she read, the deeper her frown became and her eyebrows narrowed. Then she shook her head. “I never wrote that last email. The one time stamped at five fifteen p.m.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m absolutely positive. How dumb do you think I am?”

  Olivia sighed. “Before we even get any further into this, I guess the first question I should ask, even though I asked it initially, is whether there is any factual basis to Layton’s claim against you.”

  Nina Marie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I’m offended that you would even ask me that at this point, Olivia.”

  “Remember, I’m your lawyer. Whatever you say doesn’t go out of this room. But I need to know to be able to defend you properly. I can understand you being hesitant when you first met me to tell me everything, but we’re way past that point now.”

  “Let’s say hypothetically even if I reviewed the technical specifications for Layton’s app, there is no way I would’ve revealed it in an email. But that’s just a hypothetical. I think you realize I would never engage in theft. It’s beneath me.”

  Olivia wanted to groan. Nina Marie was walking a fine line. But her job wasn’t to make value judgments. Her job as a lawyer was to zealously defend her client. Everyone deserve
d a defense under the American judicial system. And she wasn’t going to let this derail her efforts. “So any idea how this email appeared?”

  “You said yourself you don’t remember seeing this. What if they hacked into our system once they got the documents and changed this particular email? Layton and his people have very strong technical skills.”

  “Let’s pull up the original email on your computer from the archives.”

  “All right.” Nina Marie stood up, and Olivia followed her down the hall.

  Nina Marie sat in front of her computer and started searching her mail archives for the email in question.

  “Do you think Layton and his team have the ability to not only change the document but to also make it untraceable?”

  Nina Marie nodded. “Unfortunately, probably so.”

  “Although if we hire the right expert they can probably detect any edits. Everything done on a computer is traceable in some way.”

  “Unless you’re so good that you can erase it.”

  “Unless he has former NSA employees on the payroll, I highly doubt they’re that good.” She paused. “But I need to make sure before we go down this path that you are one hundred percent above board with me. Because if I make the representation to the court that this email is falsified and you in fact did write it, then that will result in huge problems for both of us. Do you understand that?”

  Nina Marie nodded.

  “No, I need more than a nod. This is my career on the line here. I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me you didn’t write that email.”

  Nina Marie looked up. “I didn’t write that email.”

  “Okay.”

  “This is a lot more aggressive side of you, Olivia. I like it.”

  “Thanks, I guess.”

  “I do have one other question though. Given my hypothetical statement earlier, how will you handle my testimony?”

  Olivia blew out a breath. “We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it.”

  “I told you it was better for you not to know.” Nina Marie took off her glasses.

  “We’re in this together right now. I need to know what you know.”

  Nina Marie reached out and grabbed her arm. “Given your religious beliefs, I find it hard to believe that you’d want to know everything.”

  “What do you know about my beliefs?”

  “Enough to surmise that you don’t want any part of what we’re actually doing here at Astral Tech.”

  “If it’s at all relevant to the lawsuit, then I need to know it. Beyond that, you’re right.”

  Nina Marie stood beside her. “What are you afraid of, Olivia?”

  “I’m not afraid,” she said quickly.

  “You say that but your eyes indicate otherwise.”

  “I’m solid in my faith. I have nothing to fear from you.”

  “Your strength and dedication is admirable. Even if it is misguided. You could do and be so much more on this earth than what you are. I could help you with that.”

  Olivia shook her head. “It’s not this earth that I’m concerned about.”

  Nina Marie cocked her head to the side. “You truly believe in the heaven and hell scenario, don’t you?”

  “I do. And given the nature of your work, I would’ve thought you do to.”

  “I think the notion of hell is greatly exaggerated.”

  “And yet you believe in the devil.”

  “Yes, the evil one. I do. But I don’t adhere to many of the biblical prophesies of the future. Unlike you, I’m much more concerned about the here and now. The one life I have to live and living it the way I want.”

  “It doesn’t have to be like that,” Olivia said softly. Dear Lord, was there any way she could reach Nina Marie? Or was it far too late?

  “Don’t even think about trying to convert me.” Nina Marie chuckled. “It’s just not gonna happen. I love my life too much. And I’ve seen what people who claim to be Christians can actually be like.”

  Olivia knew she was taking a risk in what she was about to say. But she went ahead anyway. “Are you really that happy, Nina Marie? Or are you lonely and unsure? Using Astral Tech and its activities to cover up the deep wounds of your past.”

  Nina Marie took a step back. “Don’t talk to me about old wounds you know nothing about.”

  “I know enough to tell that you were hurt badly before. You were hurt by someone who supposedly was a Christian.”

  Nina Marie didn’t respond.

  “I can tell you that Christians aren’t perfect. We make mistakes like everyone else. But if someone really hurt you, Nina Marie, I can guarantee that wouldn’t be something sanctioned by the God I worship.”

  “Enough. Let’s get back to the real issue here. And that’s not you psychoanalyzing me. Remember I’m the one approving your legal bills.”

  She’d pushed enough for now. The reaction from Nina Marie told her a lot. “All right. If you tell me that you didn’t write that part of the email, then our next step is to hire an expert who can prove it.”

  “Do it. I know we have a tight budget, but on this issue, spare no expense. We want the best.”

  “I can’t reiterate how important this is. If the judge grants the injunction, you won’t be able to sell or market the Astral Tech app. An entire chunk of your business will be put on hold.”

  “We cannot allow that to happen. You cannot allow that to happen. If you need more lawyers working on this, then so be it.”

  “Thanks. I’m on it. I have to draft our response right away. With these type of emergency court filings, the court date could be as soon as day after tomorrow.”

  “We can’t lose this, Olivia. I’m putting my trust in you.”

  Olivia nodded and wondered how in the world she was going to handle this challenge.

  Chapter Ten

  Stacey had made up her mind. As she walked into the Optimism office, she was confident in her decision. The further away she had gotten from the event, as she was thinking of it in her head, the less afraid she was. After the event, she’d called in sick for the rest of the week. Different church members had called, emailed, and texted her. She had assured them all that she was doing fine.

  Yeah, she still believed she saw something although now she wasn’t as sure that it wasn’t in a dream. At any rate, she could kill two birds with one stone. By keeping her internship, she’d have that to add to her resume. She’d also be able to help out the church by reporting back anything she found out at Optimism.

  Now she hadn’t quite figured out the logistics of working with Morena and making her believe that she was still on board. But she could do it.

  As she walked down the brightly lit hallway she came face to face with Layton. His blue eyes widened slightly before going back to normal. He broke into a big smile. “Stacey, you missed a few days. Morena told me you were out sick. Are you all better now?”

  “Yes, thank you. Much better. The tea she suggested really helped my sore throat.”

  He cocked his head to the side measuring her statements carefully. Could this man see right through her? No. No man was that powerful.

  She smiled trying to put on a happy face. “I’m excited to be back at work. Thank you again for this internship. It will really be a huge boost for my resume. Before I left, Tony had suggested I could shadow him in finance for a bit. I’d be really interested in that too.”

  Layton nodded. “Of course, of course. There’s plenty of time for you to become acquainted with all aspects of the business. And I must tell you, Morena has spoken very highly of your natural skill when it comes to the New Age arts.”

  She felt her cheeks redden. “She’s just being nice.”

  He huffed. “Morena is never just being nice. It’s not her style to compliment when there is no merit to do so.”

  “Thank you.” She took a step back, and he grabbed onto her shoulders.

  “You’ve got a lot of potential, Stacey. I know there will be doubts, self-doubt and
otherwise, that creep in, but you need to stay the course. You have an amazing future ahead of you.”

  Was he talking about as a businesswoman or specifically about the New Age angle? “I’m glad you have faith in me.”

  “Faith isn’t the right word. It’s more like confidence. People like you don’t come along every day, and I’d hate to see you squander this opportunity because you can’t handle certain aspects of the New Age lifestyle.”

  It was like he was staring into her soul and could see that she was a fraud. He was testing her, but she wasn’t going to back down. Not now anyway. She had to give this a shot. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  He smiled. “Yes, you are. I’m sure Morena will want to work with you this morning. Let’s go see if she’s in yet.”

  “Great.” While she said that, that was the last thing she was feeling. Nervous was more like it. She’d spent more time with Morena than Layton, and she feared that Morena would notice something was off. That she’d tried to start praying again. She’d been very successful right after the event, but less so over the past few days. Everything seemed so jumbled up in her mind. She had turned down an invitation to a prayer service Sunday night at church.

  “Morena, hello,” Layton said.

  Morena stood up from behind her desk. Stacey still couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. Today her long curls were pulled partially back from her face. Her skin was flawless, and she wore only a touch of pink lip gloss. She was the last thing Stacey would’ve ever pictured if she were thinking of someone who worked with the devil. She shuddered just thinking about it, and reminded herself that looks were so often deceiving.

  “Stacey, I’m so glad you’re back. How are you feeling?” Morena walked around to the front side of the desk to greet her.

  “Much better. The tea you suggested was really therapeutic.”

  “I can show you how to make it yourself instead of paying the outlandish price the store charges.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Well, I’ll let you ladies get to work.” He turned to her. “Stacey, if you need anything at all, or just want to talk, my door is always open to you.” There was actually a warmth in his bright blue eyes. The thought occurred to her. What if she was totally wrong about them? What if she was just delusional the other night and these people were completely normal and running a flourishing business?