Toad

by Cambria Hebert

  I gasped, my hand covering my mouth.

  Nate hit pause, his mouth grim, his eyes angry. “That dirty son of a bitch.”

  Reaching out, I grabbed the shoulder of Nate’s coat. “I didn’t sign it,” I said. “Nate. I didn’t sign it.”

  “Who’s Nate?” Barb wondered from the back of the room.

  “The man on the footage, ma’am,” Nate answered without missing a beat. “It appears we got our man.”

  He turned back to me, worry lines around his eyes. “We got him,” he said, drawing me into his chest. I succumbed with a low sob. He rubbed my back, and his breath ruffled my hair when he spoke beside my wear. “I always knew you weren’t lying. And now everyone else is going to know it, too.”

  It took everything I had not to lose it right there. I couldn’t. That would just draw attention to us and the situation.

  “You say you found what you needed?” John asked, coming closer, and I stiffened.

  Nate rubbed my back reassuringly and spoke over my head. “I’m going to need a copy of this.”

  “Well, I don’t know…” John hedged, and I felt a change in Nate’s body. He might have been playing the role of good cop matchmaker, but the second he stopped getting what he wanted, I knew the side that not many saw would come out.

  “Oh, just give it to him, John,” Barb said. “He’s with the police department.”

  “You should listen to your new lady, John,” Nate rumbled. “She’s a smart cookie.”

  Barb giggled. I didn’t think either of them realized the change that had come over Nate.

  “All right, then.” John sighed. “If that’s what the lady thinks is best.”

  Ten minutes later, my bodyguards and I walked out of the chapel with the tape in my bag and a plan to never come back to this hellhole ever again. The second the dark SUV Ben was driving turned onto the next block and slowed at a red light, the automatic locks popped up and the back door opened.

  I made a sound of alarm, but Nate slid into the seat beside me and shut the door.

  “It’s me.”

  I made a sound and flung myself into his arms. Tears I’d been holding back started leaking from my eyes, and he tightened his hold.

  “Where to?” Ben asked.

  “The airport,” Nate instructed. “The sooner we’re in the air, the better.”

  After a moment, I lifted my face from his chest, tears streaking my cheeks. “What about your car?”

  “I took care of it.”

  “What if someone sees us?”

  “They won’t.”

  “You weren’t supposed to be at the chapel,” I said, unable to muster any anger about the fact he’d gone against my wishes.

  If he hadn’t, I probably would have been shut out completely.

  “I told you I was going to protect you,” he said, not a hint of apology in his voice. “Besides, you needed me.”

  “I did.” I sniffled and fell back into his chest. “Your plan was stupid,” I cried.

  “Sometimes stupid works, sweetheart, because no one thinks stupid is a threat.”

  “Thank you,” I said, clutching at him, crying harder.

  “Don’t thank me,” Nate replied. “I did that for me just as much as I did it for you.”

  “That only makes it even sweeter,” I wailed.

  He laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “I know.”

  Nate

  I wanted to be there. Unfortunately, the annulment hearing was one place I couldn’t just stand outside or hide in a plant. The last thing Aerie (or I) needed was anything fucking up the chance at her permanently separating herself from Solberg.

  Side note: I feel it’s award worthy every time I refer to Solberg by his name, like an adult, instead of the names I prefer—douchebag, douche canoe, clump nugget, asswipe, ass face—and the classic fucker—and the ever-popular dingleberry. Legit, dude was like a turd that wouldn’t stop clinging.

  So instead of lurking outside the courthouse like one of those scumbag reporters or trying to hide at Aerie’s condo (which was also staked out by reporters), I was here. At Ten’s place. It was a pretty good place to wait with its heated pool that looked like a lagoon, wine cellar, chef’s kitchen, and private gym. Not that I was enjoying any of it.

  Nope.

  Currently, I was wearing a hole in the floor with all the pacing I was doing.

  I didn’t like not being in control, especially regarding something as important as my entire future with Aerie.

  She was stressed, and I couldn’t blame her. It killed me I couldn’t make it easier, but it was out of our hands. We’d found the proof her lawyer was so adamant we find. Now all I could do was wait to hear if it was enough.

  Please, let it be enough.

  It would be. It would. As long as the dingleberry didn’t have some other rich-boy trick up his sleeve.

  Glancing at the clock for like the millionth time since I got here, I wondered if it was over yet. It should be. I checked my cell, but nothing yet.

  It vibrated in my hand, and I nearly left skid marks on the screen opening the text.

  Ten: Is it over yet?

  Me: Haven’t heard anything.

  Ten: Let me know soon as you hear. Vi is worried sick.

  Me: Will do. Tell Violet to calm down.

  I didn’t like the idea of Violet sitting at home, worrying about this. It wasn’t good for her health.

  It was just one more thing I could hate Solberg for.

  A few minutes later, there was a knock on the front door. Since I was already in the foyer, it didn’t take long for me to rush forward and yank it open.

  “Please tell me you have good ne—” I said, the words and my smile dying instantly.

  “Aww, what’s the matter? Not who you expected?”

  I blinked, taking a moment to register that it was the dingleberry himself right in front of me.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I growled.

  Instead of replying with words, he lunged.

  Aerie

  I met Walter and one of his associates on the steps of the courthouse and walked with them to the judge’s private chambers. Will was already there, looking mighty cocky and a little intimidating in a custom-tailored Versace suit and designer shoes.

  I couldn’t help but snicker to myself because he probably shined his shoes so glossy so when he looked down, he would be treated to his own reflection.

  Nate was right. Will was a douche.

  I wasn’t overdressed, like some people, but I wasn’t underdressed either. I decided to keep it classic and wear a subdued and modest black jumper with flowy pants and a faux wrap-around top. It was cut a little low, so I added a white lace shell beneath it and a few gold necklaces. I chose my highest pair of black heels because I wanted to be as tall and un-intimidatable (Is that even a word? It is today!) as possible. I blew my hair out sleekly around my shoulders, the long bob just brushing my collarbones when I turned my head.

  As my lawyers and I took our seats inside the office, my eyes searched for Nate, even though I knew he wasn’t here. I wished he was, but at the same time, this was something I had to do on my own. I felt a little ashamed he’d had to basically save the day in Vegas and get that footage, but the more I thought about it, the more I decided to give myself a break.

  I’d been alone a lot in my life. I’d handled a lot of stuff from the time I was just five years old. It wasn’t as if I were completely lacking in courage and strength. Besides, Will was a mistake. A mistake I was rectifying. One I would be rectifying even if I’d never met Nate. It wasn’t exactly something to be ashamed of that I actually had someone I could rely on now.

  The sound of a throat clearing over me made me jump and glance up. I frowned, seeing it was Will.

  “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

  “You still have time to call this off, you know. Save yourself the embarrassment.”

  “I could say the same to you.” I sniffed.


  “Heard you made a trip to Vegas.” He smirked. “Were you disappointed to find out you really had been jumping at the chance to marry me?”

  I thought back to the footage I saw, how even drugged or whatever he’d done to me, I still refused to marry him. I wondered how badly that stung his ego. If that was one of the reasons he was so adamant I didn’t get this annulment.

  Instead of saying any of that, I turned and looked at Mr. Richman, who was sitting behind Will’s team of lawyers. He saw me, and I waved.

  He glanced away, looking like he’d swallowed a fly.

  Will frowned, noting the way I acted toward his star witness and because he’d failed to get any kind of reaction out of me.

  “If you wouldn’t mind returning to your seat,” I asked, keeping my voice tart. “That cologne you drenched yourself in this morning is giving me a headache.”

  Will made a sound and adjusted his tie haughtily. “This cologne is designer.”

  “FYI, just because it’s designer doesn’t mean it smells good. Or that you need to wear half the bottle.”

  Walter’s associate barked a laugh, then pressed his lips together and coughed.

  Will went back to his seat, and seconds later, someone called, “All rise.”

  Everyone in the room stood while a man with a balding head and a long black robe entered from a door in the back. The second he sat behind his massive desk, everyone else took their seats.

  “We’re here today regarding the matter of an annulment between Will Solberg and Aerie Boone. The petition was filed by Ms. Boone the day after the wedding took place.”

  “That’s correct, your honor,” my lawyer replied.

  The judge glanced over at Will and his team. “Mr. Warren, your client is contesting the annulment and claims that Ms. Boone married him of her own free will and that the marriage is valid,”

  Mr. Warren stood up. “Yes, Your Honor. The marriage took place at a chapel in Las Vegas. My client has been very forthcoming that both the bride and groom had imbibed on some champagne, as one does on their wedding night, but that both parties were of sound mind and capable of making such a life-altering decision.”

  “I see.” The judge looked at Will. “And you, sir, would like to remain married?”

  “Yes, sir. I love my wife very much.”

  I actually think I threw up in the back of my mouth.

  The judge turned to Walter. “Mr. Bright?”

  Walter cleared his throat and stood. “Your Honor, thank you for seeing us today. It is of utmost importance to my client that this matter is resolved quickly and quietly. Given her major celebrity, you can understand why something like this could be damaging.”

  “Get on with it, then.” The judge sounded bored.

  I wanted to scream at him that this was most definitely not boring. I was over here damn near sweating through my clothes I was so nervous!

  “My client is adamant that she did not agree to this marriage. In fact, she states that Mr. Solberg had asked her to marry him a few months before the alleged wedding, and she refused.”

  “Your Honor, the marriage is not alleged. It’s a matter of record.” Mr. Warren interrupted.

  “I’m getting to that,” Walter replied.

  The judge made a motion for Walter to continue.

  “Ms. Boone does not recall the night the marriage allegedly took place. She claims to have woken up the next morning in the hotel with a ring on her finger. She wasn’t even aware of the name of the chapel until I told her at one of our meetings.”

  The judge glanced at me. “Were you drunk?”

  I swallowed and shook my head. “No, Your Honor. I think Will drugged me.”

  “That’s insane!” Will burst out.

  The judge beat his gavel on his desk. “I’ll have order in my court!”

  After everyone was settled and Will was quietly seething, the judge looked at me once more. “Do you have proof that you were drugged.”

  “No, Your Honor.”

  He made a sound.

  Mr. Warren interjected himself into the mix. “Your Honor, I have a witness here, the man who actually married this couple at the chapel. He’s taken time off work so he could be here today to testify to the fact that Ms. Boone was in fact of sound mind and that she’s now trying to get out of the marriage.”

  “Why would she want out of the marriage?”

  Will sounded pathetic when he replied, “I think she’s cheating on me.”

  I bit the inside of my lip to keep from yelling.

  “Do you have proof of this?”

  “No.”

  The judge glanced at me. “Young lady, are you having an affair?”

  “No.”

  “Then why do you want out of a marriage with a man that you—” He paused and looked at the papers in front of him. “Dated willingly for two years?”

  Will settled back in his seat as if he’d already won this thing. Anger consumed me. “Because, sir, Will hits me. He has on several occasions. And the only reason he wanted to marry me is because he thought if we were married, he could force me to sign with his father’s record label.”

  “That is not true!” Will yelled, standing from his chair and making it plummet back onto the carpet.

  The judge sighed loudly and banged his gavel on his desk.

  I was getting a headache.

  “Your Honor.” Mr. Warren stood. “I think if we just listen to what the witness has to say, it will clear up everything, and we can all go home.”

  “I think perhaps that would be the thing to do.”

  “Objection,” Walter said, standing. “If it would please Your Honor…” He began and pulled out the recording I gave him. “What I have here will speak much louder than anything the witness will have to say.”

  “What is this?” Mr. Warren asked, his voice rising. “I wasn’t apprised of this.”

  “It’s new evidence that was lately attained by my client that proves there isn’t actually anything here to annul because Ms. Boone did not sign the marriage certificate. Her signature is forged.”

  I actually held back laughter at the shocked expression on Will’s face. “Cameras!” He gasped. Suddenly, he lurched up from his seat and turned toward Mr. Richman. “You never told me about any cameras!”

  “Mr. Solberg!” the judge yelled.

  “I forgot about them,” Mr. Richman cried.

  With a roar, Will reared back and punched Mr. Richman, which caused him to crumple to the floor.

  I gasped and jumped to my feet.

  Will swung on me, despite the fact that his lawyers were trying to detain him. “You little bitch.” He started forward, and I rushed back.

  “Get him out of my chambers!” the judge ordered.

  Seconds later, two officers grabbed Will by the arms and escorted him out of the office. Mr. Richman was helped to his feet and given a wad of Kleenex for his bloody nose. I wanted to stick my tongue out at him and tell him he got what he deserved, but I refrained.

  “If we have one more outburst like that, I will hold everyone in this room in contempt of court!” the judge declared.

  I sat down and folded my hands in my lap, trying to hide the fact that they were shaking.

  “Your Honor,” Mr. Warren said, obviously shaken. “How do we even know this footage is legally obtained or even genuine?”

  “It has the chapel’s timestamp and watermark in the corner,” Walter told the judge.

  “Ms. Boone, how did you obtain this evidence?”

  “An employee at the chapel gave it to me,” I replied. “Her name is Barbara, but she told me I could call her Barb, you know, because that’s what her mother calls her. She took me back to the security room where her new boyfriend John works. He pulled the tapes up, let me have a look, and then made me a copy.”

  The judge blinked. “And, uh, did any money exchange hands for this evidence?”

  “No, sir.”

  “They gave it to you readily?”

 
; I nodded gravely. “They were just trying to be good citizens.”

  “This isn’t even admissible in court!” Mr. Warren claimed.

  “We’re in my private chambers, not my courtroom.” The judge reminded him. “And I’d like to see what’s on the footage.”

  The tape was played.

  It was just as hard to watch the second time around as it had been the first.

  When it was done, everyone in the room was silent. A moment stretched into two.

  “Bring in Mr. Solberg,” the judge instructed one of the officers at the back of the room.

  My stomach tightened, and I glanced at Walter frantically. He nodded reassuringly as Will was escorted back in.

  “Your Honor, I’d like to apologize—”

  “Do not speak unless you are spoken to!” the judge bellowed.

  Everyone was quiet.

  “In light of the footage that those in this room just witnessed, it is painfully obvious that Ms. Boone did not consent to a marriage with Will Solberg. In fact, it is clear a marriage didn’t even take place at all.”

  Will started to speak, but the judge silenced him with a single look.

  He turned to me. “Ms. Boone, I cannot grant you an annulment because there is no marriage to annul. I will, however, grant you a restraining order against William Solberg for the obvious threat to your well-being and apparent abuse.”

  “Thank you,” I said, so much relief washing over me.

  “You are free to go.”

  I nodded, wiping the tears from my eyes.

  The judge looked back at Will. “You, sir, are ordered by the state of California to remain at least fifty feet from Ms. Boone—her person, all places of her work, and residences—for a period of one year.”

  “Your Honor, this is ridiculous!” Will burst out.

  “I also believe it is in my right to bring you up on forgery charges, lying in court, falsifying a witness, and numerous other counts.”

  Upon hearing that, Will slumped and looked at his lawyer with alarm.