“Come on,” I said evenly.
He took one look at my face and hurriedly rose to follow me.
“What happened?” he asked.
I quickly explained the situation to him.
“Well, that’s easy enough,” Adrian said confidently. “We’re going to win the appeal anyway, so that’s all taken care of!”
I laughed despite myself. I forgot how Adrian always had a way of making me feel better. I looked over at him and found him staring back at me.
“It’s, uh, almost time for Jack and I to leave,” Adrian said suddenly, breaking eye contact. “Don’t forget, we still need to find out how Victor got those files in the first place.”
In the moment Adrian’s eyes held my own, I had completely forgotten about the appeal and all of my problems.
Except for the fact that he was with Sally.
Would I ever be able to move past my love for Adrian?
Chapter Seven
I didn’t understand what was going on.
Two weeks ago, my PR handler, Darius, had a waiting list of potential clients for me that was as long as my forearm.
Today, I had received four notices of withdrawal of interest from clients on that list. That was in addition to the two notices I received yesterday, and the one I received the day before that.
Not only that, but I couldn’t even get Darius to call me back. I had left him a message two days ago and had yet to hear from him.
The thing that worried me most, however, was that I hadn’t heard from Andris either. Andris was an inscrutable businessman. Every Tuesday and Friday, he sent me reports on the X4000. It was Wednesday and I still had not received a status report.
It would be almost five in the morning in Australia right now, but I knew Andris was likely awake already.
“Dammit, Andris, pick up the phone,” I growled.
The call went to voicemail. I hung up and called again. Voicemail. I called again. I was ready to do this all day. Hell, if need be, I would fly to the Outback and kick his door down.
“Adrian,” he said simply when he finally answered.
“Thank God! I was beginning to think something had happened to you, Andris!” I exclaimed.
“I have decided to terminate our contract for the X4000, Adrian,” Andris said abruptly.
I was in complete shock. Where was this coming from? I had no idea, but I felt as though this was somehow connected to my rapidly shortening client list and Darius’s disappearing act.
“But…why? At least tell me that, Andris,” I demanded. I was going to find out who was behind this once and for all.
“I have always considered you honorable, which is why I did business with you and not people like Victor, who lie and manipulate. But neither do I do business with people who bandy about my company’s secrets in front of their mistresses.”
“I don’t have a mistress!” I was utterly flabbergasted.
“So, you didn’t invite your little girlfriend to sit in on your deal with Victor?”
I was silent. Obviously, Victor had contacted Andris. Nothing Danisha had overheard during the negotiations with Victor would threaten any of my clients’ businesses, but that was beside the point. Also, I doubted excuses were what Andris wanted to hear right now.
“Confidentiality agreements are in place for a reason and they are not to be taken lightly, Adrian. Your signature is your bond; that’s what separates us from people like Victor. You have voided our contract. My business with you is finished. Good day.” Then, the other end of the line went silent, and all that remained of Andris was the dial tone.
I stared at the phone in my hand with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I should have expected a backlash from Victor. He was a vengeful person. It was likely that Victor had somehow persuaded Darius against me and obtained my client list in the process.
My personnel files, Danisha’s work files— how was Victor getting his hands on all of this information? I almost considered calling Andris back to ask for more information but decided that was probably a bad idea.
Being able to prove how Victor had initially come to possess the files was crucial to Danisha’s appeal. Without that knowledge, I was concerned about the strength of our case.
The first step was to succeed in the appeal process. Iraja had filed a PPA, which was essentially like calling “dibs” on an idea. If Danisha won the appeal, it would put a freeze on any and all pending patents on the item in question, giving Danisha and I time to come up with more evidence that Victor stole the EyeRead from her.
In order to win the appeal, however, we needed to prove that Danisha had come up with the idea first. In order to accomplish this, we had to create a timeline of her work on the EyeRead.
The next step would be to actually determine who the rightful owner was. Each side would present their evidence and a judge would decide who would be granted the patent. Danisha had a decent amount of evidence in her favor, but we needed to connect Victor to her stolen files. Once we did that, the entire case would be blown wide open.
I needed to talk to my contacts and see what they had found out about Victor since I’d been gone.
An hour later, I was ready to throw my phone over the balcony. Not a single one of my contacts had answered. I knew Victor had somehow gotten to them as well.
I called Jackson, and, to my relief, he picked up almost immediately.
“Jack!” I exclaimed. “I need your help. Something is going on, Victor…”
“He's blacklisted you, Adrian,” Jackson said. “I’ve been talking to my guys since yesterday, and no one will say a word to anyone asking around for you.”
I let out a low whistle. Victor must be handing out a lot of cash and other incentives to make that happen. He wasn’t concerned about money; he was confident he was going to defeat Danisha’s appeal and rake in the profits from the EyeRead.
“Thanks, Jack.” I hung up.
I took a deep breath. The fate of my business rested on a favorable outcome of Danisha’s appeal. Along with MIT, Victor had used the contesting claims on the EyeRead to convince clients and contacts that I was helping my “mistress” steal inventions. Once the judge ruled in our favor, I knew my connections would flourish again.
It was just one more reason to work harder.
In only three days, we were to submit our evidence and complete the claim for the judge to make a ruling on.
Chapter Eight
I tapped my fingers nervously against the thick binder that rested in my lap. Adrian sat next to me. He reached a hand over to cover my own, capturing my overactive fingers and holding them still with his. I immediately stilled, calmed by his touch.
I marveled at his ability to do that to me, even here and now, as we sat outside the private courtroom. In ten minutes, Adrian and I would enter to make our appeal to the judge.
I was beginning to wonder where Ms. Iraja Puri was. Adrian had told me not to expect to see Victor, as that would be like him admitting he stole the EyeRead. Instead, Iraja would most likely appear on his behalf.
One minute before we were to be called into the courtroom, the doors swept open and a woman I could only assume to be Iraja stepped in.
She looked classically chic, with a sharp pencil skirt and an easy silk blouse that beautifully offset the thick, wavy hair that fell past her shoulders.
“You must be Danisha,” she said, extending her hand to me as she approached.
I didn’t take it.
“Well, I can see how you’re going to be about this,” Iraja said, looking at me. “Adrian?” She said, offering him her hand this time.
He didn’t take it either and my chest glowed with warmth. It felt good to have someone back me in a situation like this. My entire future was riding on this appeal. There was no one I would rather have beside me.
The three of us filed into the courtroom and settled into our places in front of the judge’s bench.
“Good afternoon,” The judge said when he made his entran
ce. “I’m Judge Thompkins and I will be overseeing the evidence to Ms. Carter’s claims regarding the invention known as the EyeRead,” he announced for the court stenographer.
“First, I will hear from Ms. Carter, and then I will hear rebuttal evidence from Ms. Puri. Afterwards, I will deliberate for two days before giving my ruling. Does everyone understand?” Judge Thompkins asked as he sorted through his files.
We all murmured our agreement.
“Excellent. Now then, Ms. Carter, please, whenever you’re ready,” he said, gesturing for me to begin.
At first, I stammered slightly as I explained the history of my work on my invention. I gave an anecdote complete with dated references within the files of how I had labored over the EyeRead. As I handed over my latest work on the EyeRead, however, I began to feel more confident that the judge would see my advancements as further proof of my claim and I felt my voice grow stronger.
I flashed Adrian a smile when I finished presenting my case. I was certain now more than ever that the judge would rule in my favor. Adrian smiled back and squeezed my leg under the table in encouragement after I returned to my seat.
The judge spent several minutes writing before he finally looked up.
“The floor is yours, Ms. Puri,” he announced.
Iraja lounged in her chair. She looked as though she could be watching a mildly interesting documentary about the migration pattern of bears, rather than refuting a potentially multi-billion dollar appeal.
“My client finds it impressive that Ms. Carter has found ways to improve the product. He would have offered her a job if she hadn’t stolen from him. The fact is, though she may have enhanced the design, that doesn’t prove she created it. Ms. Carter has no innovation of her own. She can only work off of the ideas of others,” she began.
My jaw dropped. I was thoroughly insulted. The number of hours I had put into the EyeRead was staggering. How dare she try and insinuate I would piggyback onto someone else’s work?!
“Her tale of the years she spent working on this invention could have easily been concocted using the dates written on the files she stole,” Iraja continued.
My heart began to sink. I could tell the appeal was not going my way. The judge was listening to Iraja intently.
“Ms. Carter’s entire appeal rests on the theory that somehow my client managed to magically get a hold of her files, yet she has failed to prove how that happened.”
Something clicked in my brain.
“Then how did I get his files?” I interjected.
“Ms. Carter, you had your chance to speak,” Judge Thompkins warned me.
“If my case relies on proving how your client stole my files, then doesn’t your case rely on proving how I stole his?” I asked excitedly, ignoring the judge.
“Ms. Carter!” the judge exclaimed. Adrian cleared his throat loudly and shook his head ever so slightly.
“I have heard enough. We will reconvene in two days’ time to hear my ruling. Dismissed.” Judge Thompkins banged the gavel and the three of us filed out of the courtroom. Iraja swept out the door without a backwards glance.
“I’m right, aren’t I, Adrian?” I asked excitedly. “They can’t definitively say it’s mine or Victor’s if neither of us have proof of how the other got the files, right?”
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess we’ll find out.”
The next two days were the longest of my life. I barely slept. Adrian had thankfully stayed in town to offer his support. I longed for him to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay, but I sufficed with his brief touches of encouragement.
When we were back in the courtroom to hear the judge’s verdict, I instinctively grabbed Adrian’s hand when Judge Thompkins entered the room. Adrian did not let go.
“I have thought carefully about this case.” Judge Thompkins began. “Justice is not always clear-cut, which is why we have the law to guide us in times when our decisions are difficult ones.”
My heart was beating so hard, the blood was rushing through my ears and I could barely make out what the judge was saying.
“The law gives precedence to those who have demonstrated a claim over the invention in question. As Ms. Carter has no earlier files to prove prior ownership over the invention, I do not feel as though she has provided enough evidence to substantiate her claim to the EyeRead. I rule in favor of Ms. Iraja Puri’s employer. Ms. Carter, you will withdrawal your claim to the EyeRead within one week’s time. Dismissed.” With that, Judge Thompkins banged his gavel and effectively ended my life.
I felt Adrian gently take me by the elbow and lead me out of the courtroom.
That was it. MIT—gone. The EyeRead—gone. Now that the case was over, Adrian would be gone as well.
There was nothing I could do.
I had lost everything.
The Billionaire’s Dark Escape Book 7
Bella Rayne
Chapter One
I was utterly shocked that the judge denied Danisha’s appeal.
I knew that Danisha and I didn’t have enough evidence to accuse Victor directly, but I was so confident the judge would put a hold on Victor’s patent application, I assumed we would have the time to find the evidence later on.
I knew Victor had somehow gotten the files from my attic, but I didn’t know how. Victor hadn’t been seen in the U.S. in almost five years. Wanted by the authorities for several crimes and by people like me for his other wrongdoings, Victor had fled the country.
Safe from extradition laws, Victor had a nasty ability to manipulate others into doing his bidding from the other side of the world. Worse still, he always managed to keep the trail from leading back to him.
Months ago, he had kidnapped Danisha, and now he was actively working to destroy my business and steal Danisha’s invention. I just couldn’t figure out how he was getting his information. Neither Danisha nor I were careless when it came to our work, sharing it only with those we trusted.
I looked over at Danisha. She hadn’t said a word since we left the courtroom. I had brought her back to her apartment and she had simply lain on her bed, staring at the ceiling. That was almost two hours ago.
“Danisha?” I said softly.
She didn’t move.
“Danisha, my dear.” I got up and sat down on the bed next to her. “I know this is a silly question, but are you okay?”
A single tear leaked from the outer corner of her eye and trickled down her smooth, dark skin, disappearing into her curls. Without thinking, I reached out and wiped the tear from her face, feeling her warm cheek beneath my palm. She turned to look at me, leaning into my touch. It broke my heart to see her this way.
The front door opened and then slammed harshly. Startled, I pulled my hand from Danisha’s face.
“Adrian!” Jackson yelled. I heard Marisol mutter something and Jackson replied. Heavy footsteps reverberated against the floor and Danisha’s door flew open with a hard push.
“Jesus, Jack!” I said, standing up. I looked back. Danisha had curled into herself, turning her back to the door.
His eyes flicked to Danisha, then back at me. “We need to talk.”
I grew somber. Jackson must have something incredibly important to tell me to be acting this way.
I looked at Danisha. She was silent.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her. She didn’t respond.
Jackson and I walked out into the living room. I shut Danisha’s door softly behind us. Marisol was sitting on the couch, flipping channels on the TV.
“Um, Marisol, would you mind giving Adrian and me a minute alone?” Jackson asked her.
Marisol rolled her eyes and got up. She went into her room and shut the door perhaps a little harder than necessary.
I raised my eyebrow at Jackson.
“That’s just her,” he shrugged. “Listen, I heard back from a contact of mine.”
I was instantly alert. “Go on.”
“There’s chatter about a potential s
uit being brought against you for business fraud,” Jackson said.
“What?!”
“Stealing patents, breaking client confidentiality, an affair with a woman half your age…” Jackson lowered his voice. “Some people think Danisha’s led you astray and they want your business license revoked.”
“Of all the—” I began, outraged.
“I know, I know,” Jackson swatted the air in front of him. “It’s bullshit propaganda spread by Victor, but it’s happening. If you want to stop it, we need to leave. Now.”
I looked at Danisha’s door. She was so fragile right now. She needed someone by her side to help her through this.
“Staying will only fuel the rumors about you two. That’s bad for her case as well,” Jackson reminded me.
He was right; it would be best for the both of us if I left.
I lightly knocked on Danisha’s door before entering. She was still curled up in the same position as when I left her.
“Danisha, something has happened back home. I’m being sued and Victor is likely the one behind it,” I said, sitting next to her on the bed.
“Are you leaving?” she asked, her first words since she had heard the judge deny her appeal.
“If I don’t, then we will both most likely lose to Victor. If I win my case, it might help you win yours,” I explained.
She took a deep breath and sat up. “Then go. I won’t let Victor sink the both of us.”
I was awestruck by her resilient spirit. I stood up, bending to kiss her forehead. She looked up at me with huge, dark eyes.
“This isn’t over, Danisha,” I promised her. “I’m going to make Victor pay for what he’s done.”
I left her room before I could change my mind. The image of her eyes burned into my brain even as I got onto the plane with Jackson, and while I fitfully slept, they floated in my dreams, watching me.
I attempted to call Sally once we landed in Colorado, but she didn’t answer. I guessed she was probably on a run. Once I arrived home with Jackson, we immediately went upstairs and into my office to get to work.
Hang Em' Up: A Bad Boy Sports Pregnancy Romance Page 79
