Lessons Learned (The Gifted Realm Book 2)

by Jillian Neal

  Rainer hated that he was doing this to her. He brushed her hand with his own as she passed, and she turned and smiled before being sworn in.

  “Miss Haydenshire, how long have you and Rainer been involved in a romantic relationship?”

  “I guess that depends on what romantic means to you. I mean, like my mom said, I’ve wanted to marry Rainer since I was four. I told him he was my boyfriend when I was six. He kissed me when I was seven. We called each other boyfriend and girlfriend in elementary school, so at least sixteen years.”

  “If I may, I’d like to ask Miss Haydenshire and Mr. Lawson a battery of questions about one another to prove the depth of their commitment, even if the questions themselves don’t pertain to the case at hand.”

  “As the trial hinges on whether or not we believe Rainer should have obtained a pre-nup, then I’ll allow that,” Governor Carrington agreed.

  “Thank you, Governor,” Stariff moved back to Emily.

  “Objection! How does this prove anything? These questions were rehearsed,” Mulligrew huffed indignantly.

  “Okay, how about this? I’ll allow Mr. Mulligrew to ask any question he’d like, as long as it pertains to how well Rainer and Emily know one another. The Governing board may ask as well.”

  He offered the questioning up to the court just as he’d told Emily and Rainer that he would. Mulligrew delightedly agreed and began.

  “So, Miss Haydenshire, what kind of car does Mr. Lawson drive?”

  Stariff was a genius. This was precisely how he’d told Rainer this would work.

  Emily was trying not to laugh as she readily supplied, “A 1965 Ford Mustang; well, technically, it’s a 1964 and a half, as it was released early in 1965, but it’s a Shelby Cobra GT350 convertible. It’s crimson, not red,” she huffed at Samantha, “With Le Mans stripes.”

  “Rainer installed an enhanced screaming V8 and then installed an air conditioner and an FM radio, because I asked him to. He put in ivory leather seats that I picked out, and it has an ivory soft-top.”

  Rainer’s heart swelled with love and pride. He beamed at her.

  “Wow,” Stariff commented as Mulligrew looked thoroughly shocked. Mulligrew moved to the table where Rainer was seated.

  “May I see your phone, Mr. Lawson?”

  “You submitting that for evidence? It wasn’t in the docket,” Stariff chided.

  “Fine; Rainer, would you mind giving your phone to your lawyer for just a moment?”

  Rainer shrugged and handed his phone to Stariff.

  “Now, Emily, could you tell us which phone numbers Rainer has called recently?” he quizzed with a ‘gotcha’ grin.

  Emily loved this. She tittered on the stands.

  “My cell, about a dozen times, Logan’s cell, Garrett’s cell, and probably Mom and Dad’s house.” Stariff beamed as he held up the call list for the Governors to see.

  “What was Mr. Lawson’s worst subject at the Academy?” Mulligrew huffed furiously.

  “Creative writing,” Emily came right back.

  “What music was Rainer listening to the last time he listened to music not in your presence?”

  “He’s been worried about the trial, so I’d say Radiohead. If I had to guess, either “Creep” or “House of Cards”.”

  Emily glowed in her knowledge as Rainer laughed. Stariff held up the phone again, displaying the Best of Radiohead album cover and pointing to “Creep”, which was highlighted as the last song played.

  “Don’t we believe that a woman after a man’s money would make it her business to know everything about him?” Mulligrew returned to his chair dejectedly.

  Stariff stood again.“I don’t believe so,” he stated firmly. “These two people are in love and have been since they were too young to even understand it.”

  Stariff turned back to Emily. “Miss Haydenshire, remembering that you are under oath, please tell the courts if you have any intention of divorcing Rainer and taking the money in his estate.”

  Emily looked appalled. “No! Never!”

  “You see, folks, I don’t believe that we’re so callus, that we’re so full of scorn, that we can’t recognize love when it stands right in front of us. For all that Rainer has been through in his relatively short life, I’d still call him very lucky to have what he has in Emily, and for her to have the utter love and devotion she has from Rainer. No further questions for Miss Haydenshire.”

  “Mulligrew?” Governor Carrington urged.

  Mulligrew leapt up with a sickening smile.

  “Do you and Rainer ever argue, Emily?”

  “Sometimes, not very often, though,” Emily’s voice shook slightly.

  “Has Rainer ever done anything without your knowledge? Gone anywhere that you weren’t aware of?”

  “Um, well only for work. Sometimes I’m not allowed to know where he’s going until later, because he’s an Iodex officer, but I trust him completely.”

  Her vow soothed Rainer’s soul, and her quick thinking had saved him once again. The only place he had ever gone without her knowledge was The Tantra.

  “Have you ever spent money without Rainer’s knowledge?” Mulligrew continued.

  “No, not that I recall, except maybe for a gift for him. I don’t always tell Rainer if I purchase food or a cup of coffee or something. I do have a job, Mr. Mulligrew. His inheritance aside, I actually make more money than Rainer.”

  Stariff had instructed Emily to point that out any chance she had.

  “So, you would say that purchases are made without Rainer’s knowledge?”

  “Donald,” Governor Carrington reprimanded before Stariff could object. “Stop being argumentative. Withdraw that question and move on.”

  “That’s all I have for Miss Haydenshire,” Mulligrew simpered.

  “I’d now like to call Rainer Lawson to the stand,” Stariff stood.

  Rainer was sworn in, and sat down. He was feeling somewhat calmer. He could now look into Emily’s eyes as he was seated in front of her.

  “Rainer, would you please tell the court the last three major purchases you made with money from your inheritance?

  “Let’s define major, Jack,” Governor Haydenshire demanded.

  “Yes, Governor. How about over $250?”

  The Governors nodded their agreement.

  Rainer swallowed. “I purchased Emily a Hummer H3, before she started work. I financed the remodel on a guest house on the Haydenshires’ property. And I gave a friend of mine some money a few weeks ago. I can’t think of another purchase over that amount other than we stayed at the Gansevoort hotel a few weekends ago, but Emily and I share a bank account. She’s on a professional Summation team. She could’ve just as easily been the one paying for that.”

  “You have millions of dollars, Rainer. Why live in the Haydenshires’ guesthouse? You could buy a mansion anywhere you want.”

  “I didn’t want to take Emily away from her family. I didn’t want to be away from the Haydenshires. We’re just starting out. We don’t need a big mansion.”

  Stariff shot a goading grin at Mulligrew. “Sounds almost thrifty to me. And have you and Emily ever fought about money, Rainer? Has she ever spent more than you were comfortable with?”

  “No,” Rainer shook his head. “Usually, I can’t get her to buy anything.”

  “Sounds like a gold digger to me,” Stariff quipped.

  “Watch it, Jack,” Governor Carrington admonished.

  Stariff asked him a few more questions before turning him over to Mulligrew. Rainer felt momentarily like he’d been thrown to the wolves.

  “Mighty expensive automobile for your girlfriend, Mr. Lawson. Care to explain that?” Mulligrew sniped.

  Rainer drew a deep breath. “Emily was very nearly killed in a car accident just after her sixteenth birthday. Photographers were chasing her, and they ran her car off of a bridge. As the press seems to be ever-present in my life, I wanted her in something safe.”

  “And you felt a Hummer would keep he
r safe?”

  “I offered to get her a Porsche Cayman, but she felt it was too expensive and wouldn’t allow me to spend that much on her,” he narrowed his eyes and smiled. Mulligrew had no comeback for that.

  The Senteon was visibly impressed, and Rainer felt his chest unfetter slightly.

  “Could you elaborate on your and Miss Haydenshire’s physical relationship please, Rainer?”

  His eyes goggled. Stariff hadn’t mentioned anything like this.

  “Uh, no, I couldn’t!” Rainer snapped furiously as Stariff leapt from his seat. “Objection!” he screamed.

  Mulligrew turned his snide grin to the Governors.

  “Wouldn’t we all agree that men can often be turned by a pretty head and a little promiscuity?”

  “Are you calling my daughter promiscuous?” Governor Haydenshire demanded hatefully.

  “Do I need to get the photos back out, Governor?” Mulligrew came right back.

  “Crown Governor, please,” Stariff huffed. “Rainer and Emily’s physical relationship has nothing to do with his ability to manage his assets, and is certainly no one’s business, save Rainer and Emily’s.”

  Governor Carrington considered for a moment.

  “Objection sustained. Stick to the topics at hand, Donald.” Governor Carrington looked disgusted as Mulligrew huffed indignantly.

  “Any future purchases in mind, Rainer, say, if you win here today?” Mulligrew tried again.

  “Objection, subjective!” Stariff called again.

  “Sustained.” Governor Carrington was getting impatient.

  “Mr. Mulligrew, do you have any further allowable questions, or can we proceed?”

  “I would like to ask Rainer about the ring that he so flippantly gave to Miss Haydenshire. Some believe its value to be priceless, yet he decided, just one day after receiving his inheritance, to use it as an engagement ring. I think we would all agree that something of that value should be sealed away permanently for its safety.”

  “What is the question?” Stariff demanded.

  “Do you feel that giving Miss Haydenshire the Lawson family ring was irresponsible?”

  “No,” Rainer huffed, “As far as I know, every wife of a Lawson for the past several generations has worn that ring, my mother included. And as I have every intention of making Emily my wife, then I wanted her to have the ring.”

  “To my knowledge, the ring isn’t priceless. Other than its antiquity, it’s a diamond engagement ring and nothing more.” Rainer tried not to think that he’d just perjured himself.

  “That’s it, Governor,” Mulligrew spat and then returned to his seat.

  Stariff went on for thirty minutes in his closing arguments about what a fine man Rainer was, and urged the Senteon and the Governors to think of what Joseph would’ve wanted them to do.

  Mulligrew continually referred to the photos of Emily’s belly shot, and stated that Rainer had pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes, including the Governors. He insinuated several times that Emily was nothing more than a gold-digger. Rainer ground his teeth in his fury.

  “Well, we’ve heard Mr. Lawson’s character be both defended and attacked, and now it’s time for us to level our wisdom mindfully and with awareness of the gravity of the task at hand.” Governor Carrington instructed. “Does any member of the Senteon have a question for either Rainer or Stan?”

  “Rainer,” called a middle-aged man seated in the second row of the Senteon.

  “Yes, sir,” Rainer answered respectfully.

  “I’m Ben Hendrix, the Senteon Representative from Iowa, and I would like to know if you have any reaction to the photographs of you and Miss Haydenshire at the party over the weekend. I’ve never seen such a thing. What would you call that, exactly?” He did look thoroughly confused.

  Rainer stood, swallowed down his shame, and explained. “I would call it a mistake, sir. My dad used to tell me that we are more than the tally of the mistakes that we’ve made, so I guess I’m hoping that you will all give me this one, because we both know we screwed up. I really can’t tell you how sorry I am or how ashamed I feel.”

  “Well said, son,” the Senteon member complimented.

  Rainer offered the man a kind smile and sat back down. Stariff slapped his shoulder in a gesture of approval.

  “Any other questions?” Governor Carrington urged. Silence fell over the courtroom as Governor Carrington gave anyone a chance to ask either Rainer or his uncle a question regarding the case.

  “Then we’ll have the Senteon vote. The Governors will take their recommendation into account as we decide the fate of the Lawson family estate.”

  Rainer’s pulse raced as he waited. He shared a desperate glance with Emily.

  “Crown Governor,” Governor Haydenshire drawled, “I’ll be recusing myself, due to an obvious conflict of interest.”

  Governor Carrington agreed. The motion surprised no one.

  “Members of the esteemed Senteon of the American Gifted Realm, in the case of Lawson vs. Lawson, if you deem Rainer Emory Lawson unable to properly attend to the estate willed him by his father, Governor Joseph Lawson, and believe that his uncle, Stan Leroy Lawson, should be given half of the current value of the Lawson estate, including the Lawson family ring and any additional assets, please say ‘aye’.”

  Five people out of the fifty on the Senteon said “aye,” and Rainer allowed himself to breathe.

  Governor Carrington turned to the Governing board.

  “With the recommendation of the Senteon, we’ll adjourn for a few minutes and then return with our decision. Governor Haydenshire, we’ll bid our farewells to you now.”

  Governor Haydenshire removed his long black robe, and went to take the seat beside Mrs. Haydenshire.

  The Tally

  Rainer couldn’t recall a time when the clock had moved slower. His fate hung in the eerie stillness that permeated the silence of the room. His stomach churned as he willed the Governors to return.

  He decided that he just wanted to know. The waiting was unbearable. No matter the decision, he just wanted the answer.

  It felt like he was in some kind of nightmare where he could see and talk, but everyone around him was unaware of his presence. The silence loomed. It pressed in around him.

  Finally, the Governors returned and everyone stood.

  “Please remain standing for the vote,” Governor Carrington ordered. Rainer’s heart raced as his body cinched tightly, as if he’d been preparing for battle.

  “Governor Vindico…?“

  With a kind smile, Governor Vindico soothed, “I vote in favor of Rainer Lawson keeping the estate fully and intact.”

  “Governor Willow…?”

  “I too, vote in favor of Rainer Lawson keeping the estate fully and intact.”

  Rainer had to place his hand on the table as relief washed through him. That was four.

  “Governor Peterson…?”

  “I vote for the estate to be divided between Rainer Lawson and Stan Lawson,” he stated defiantly.

  “And Governor Sapman…?”

  Governor Sapman studied Rainer for what seemed like an eternity before he drew a deep breath and cleared his throat.

  “I vote in favor of Rainer Lawson keeping the estate fully and intact.”

  Rainer heard Emily’s gasp of relief.

  “And, as the Crown Governor of this Gifted Realm, I, Regis Carrington, vote for Rainer Lawson to keep the Lawson family estate as a whole and intact.”

  Governor Carrington completed his final act as Crown just before he moved to shake Rainer’s hand. Emily pushed through the crowd, descending on Rainer, and leapt into his arms. He lifted her off of the ground in the exuberance of his embrace.

  “This isn’t over,” Stan sneered. He glared furiously at Rainer as he was escorted from the courtroom.

  Things to Come

  Despite his utter elation, chills shot down Rainer’s spine. He wrapped Emily up in an all-encompassing embrace. He was desperate to shi
eld her, but from what, he wasn’t certain.

  People surrounded them. They wanted to shake his hand, but he refused to let go of Emily.

  Something in his uncle’s threat had him reeling. His Uncle Stan had never sounded so determined or so vengeful.

  Emily studied him. “You won, Rainer. Don’t let him get to you.” She leaned up and kissed his jaw. He stared after his uncle and watched him until he’d disappeared onto the elevators. He kept a firm hold of Emily’s hand while he shook Stariff’s and thanked him profusely.

  “Jack, you’re coming for dinner, yes?” Mrs. Haydenshire urged.

  “Oh, please join us, Mr. Stariff,” Emily added.

  “Well, as much as I hate to turn down both of the Haydenshire women, I have a late meeting tonight, but,” Stariff leaned in as Rainer, Emily, and Mrs. Haydenshire all followed suit. “I did hear that I should start kissing up to the new Crown Governor.”

  “That’s not out yet, Jack,” Mrs. Haydenshire reprimanded, but she was unable to hide her broad grin.

  “Well, I’m in, and I’d say this trial could be very useful for your upcoming campaign,” Stariff insinuated.

  Everyone nodded, though they tried not to look too pleased. Lockland Peterson voting against the Crown Governor, and against Joseph Lawson’s last wishes, had the potential to be very detrimental to his upcoming vie for Crown Governor.

  After a few more congratulatory handshakes, the Haydenshires moved as a unit towards the front of the Pentagon.

  “All right, Rainer,” Stariff directed, “Here’s your chance to show a little class. Perhaps erase some of the damage from last weekend.”

  “Okay, anything.” Rainer was very pleased to hear there was something he could do to make up for all the damage he’d felt he’d done.

  “There are several reputable papers out there. If you and Emily answered a few questions politely, you could show a great deal of maturity,” Stariff explained. “Don’t say anything about being pleased you won. Show concern for your uncle. That kind of thing.”

  Emily and Rainer glanced at one another nervously. Rainer’s policy had always been to ignore the questions entirely, but that was before he had pictures of him licking Emily’s stomach in the papers.