Ch. 2 Beta Fish and Confessions

“Hello?” My voice echoes slightly as I look around the car.

What was once full of people and noisy is now barren and eerily silent. The small child with the fishbowl is gone too, but his fish is still in my hand. I begin to move from where I’ve been glued in place, as I do to my left appears the fishbowl full of water.

“What on earth?”

I walk to the fishbowl and gently place the Beta back in the water. Thankfully, it seems to resume swimming like it was never out of water. I stare at the fish while it swims around the small bowl. Its beautiful blue and purple fins float around so elegantly like they’re made of organza.

“Beautiful creatures aren’t they,” says a man’s voice from behind me. I spin to see who spoke and there he sits. The man from the coffee shop. He’s no longer in the green sweater I saw he was wearing earlier; he’s since changed into a well-tailored navy suit. He looks just as comfortable sitting in this empty subway car as he did in the coffee shop. Like he belongs here.

He doesn’t look at me, instead he’s looking at a file. “I know you’re wondering who I am, Eloise. And for now, I think it may be best we keep our interactions to a minimum, but I’ve been around for a while. You don’t want me to be around.”

He looks at me when he says that. His face is handsome but cold. His dark green eyes shadowed with anger and his mouth is set in a small frown. He blinks at me slowly, waiting for a response from me, I’m sure. When I don’t say anything, he rises from his seat and starts to walk toward me.

His stride is long, and it only takes a few steps to get to me, but he doesn’t stop until my back is against the door of the subway car. He looks down at me, his green eyes still dark.

“Who are you?” I finally utter. “How did everyone disappear? What do you want with me?”

“I’m someone you shouldn’t want around...” He says like he’s being tortured by being near me.

“You say that like I invited you here. I don’t know you! I’ve seen you once, in the coffee shop this morning. How did a FISH pull me here? WHERE AM I?” I exclaim annoyed.

“Nowhere.”

That’s the last thing he says and then he’s gone, the subway is once again full of people and the fish is back in my hand. Looking around I don’t see him and it’s like he was never here. Knowing I won’t see him again, I reach out and put the fish back in the small child’s bowl and grab a water bottle from my bag to fill the bowl.

The subway comes to a stop and the doors open. I hear the child say thank you as I run out of the car. I feel like I can’t get away fast enough. I rush through the turnstile and up the stairs. I’m greeted by the sounds of the city and the smell of construction. My office building isn’t far, so I quicken my pace to get there faster. I’m not running late but seeing the man from the coffee shop in a daydream on the subway was unsettling. I want to be in a place I’m comfortable in. That will help stave off the thoughts of him.

I walked in the front doors to the building and was hit with a nice blast of cool air. I didn’t realize I was sweating until now, but it is a warm day and running from the subway didn’t help. I make my way to my office, shrug my own sweater off and place it on the back of my chair. The dusty pink of my sweater matches a lot of items on my desk. My custom keyboard and mouse are similar colors, and my water bottle is too. I look at it all and suddenly hate the color.

“Ugh,” I sigh as I grab my water bottle to go refill it.

I enter the breakroom to see my Managing Partner, Mei Chen, sifting through the assortments of bagels and spreads. Her long dark hair styled in loose waves, old Hollywood style. She’s always beautifully dressed and today is no exception, with a cream silk blouse and a taupe-colored skirt, it makes her already tall frame even taller.

“Good morning, Mei,” I say to her with a smile as I fill my water bottle with ice and water. I really should’ve eaten at Lucy’s coffee shop this morning; I think to myself after stealing a glance at the bagels.

“Oh, El! Morning! Bagel?” Mei asks as she takes a big bite out of an Asiago bagel.

“Thanks, I’ll get one later! Prepping for that meeting with your new client?”

“Yes, we’ll see if they stay with us after hearing our retainer f*e,” she says between chews. Covering her mouth she continues, “Also, Stampton’s representative and Mr. Arren will be coming in soon to begin the depo. After looking at the submitted documents, you have a solid case, but it’ll be a tight win. Think you can do it?”

I don’t phase at her question, “Thank you, Mei. You know how I am. I’ll get what I want.”

The dickhead from Stampton’s we’re dealing with is nothing compared to me. I got a reputation after law school for being ruthless after being handed my ass on a silver platter. I was never going to let that happen again. And this extensive sexual abuse case that we were fighting against Stampton’s wasn’t going to get any farther than this depo this afternoon.

Robbie, a junior partner at the firm, walks in then with an empty company mug and a tired expression on his face. He tosses his lunchbox into the fridge and starts toward the coffee machines. Robbie is a good guy. He’s been with his wife for about fifteen years, and they just adopted a baby after having a hard time conceiving on their own. I was surprised to see him take on so many new clients right now, but from what Mei has said, he’s pushed through and done well. But, when your lifestyle changes in an instant I can see why he’d want to make some more money.

“Hi Robbie! How’s Katie and the baby?” I ask as I take another glance at the spread of bagels. Theres a poppy seed one that has caught my eye. Robbie doesn’t answer me for a while, and I wonder to myself if I asked the question.

I look in his direction after grabbing the poppy bagel I spied. He’s staring at me like he’s entranced.

“Robbie?” I ask. I put my bagel down and take a step closer to him. “Hey, are you ok?”

My step toward him seems to have broken his stare.

“Yea, El. Sorry. They’re great! Thanks for asking.”

Without another word Robbie grabs his coffee and leaves the breakroom. I watch him walk to his office to make sure he’s alright. He struck up a conversation with his intern before entering.

“That was strange,” Mei says. I forgot she was still here and when I look at her, she finishes her bagel then continues, “maybe he’s sleep deprived. He was working overtime to finish research for his new case. And then to go home to a new baby and a tired wife? I should probably encourage him to take a day or two to recover…”

I resume making my bagel opting for plain cream cheese and a little bit of honey. I look to Mei to see if she’ll elaborate more but she doesn’t.

“I agree he seems like he could use the rest… Anyway, I’ll see you after the meeting later. Thanks for the bagel!” I say as I gather my items and head back to my office.

~

The day passes like most others—paperwork, client meetings, prepping for this afternoon’s deposition with Stampton’s representative.

“El, Arren’s here. He’s in the conference room,” says Halle, my secretary.

“Sorry—what was that?” I ask, looking up from the file I’m reviewing.

“Stampton’s client.”

“Oh. The dickhead. Got it. I’ll be there in a moment. Can you offer him coffee or water? Let me know how he’s acting.”

“Of course.” Her lips curl into that wicked little smile I love.

Halle gets me. We twisted sisters get shit done in this office. I’ve never minded being feared if it earns results—especially when it makes space for women to be fearless. I don’t thrive on ruthlessness, but sometimes it’s survival. That doesn’t mean I don’t love my cozy coffee shop each morning. That softness keeps me grounded.

I reach into the bottom drawer of my desk and pull out my spare makeup bag. If I’m going to take this man apart, I need to look sharp doing it. Touching up my lipstick, I check my lashes, fluff my hair, and lift the mirror to scan for flat spots—then freeze.

A flash of green in the reflection. Familiar.

My mirror slips from my hand as I whip around.

Nothing.

“I could’ve sworn—”

“El, he’s sweating like a whore in church,” Halle says as she returns. “Shirt’s soaked. Looks like he’s going to melt out of his jack… et… Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I can’t catch my breath. I did see him. Those eyes—he was here.

I stand abruptly, eyes scanning the window. No sign of the sweater from the café or the tailored jacket from the train. Just the echo of those eyes, burning in my mind. Who the hell is he?

Frustrated, I grab the file from my desk. Halle’s staring at me differently now—like she’s unsure whether to be concerned or scared.

“El? You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Let’s go take this bastard down.”

She nods, jaw set. She grabs some documents, passing them to my intern—his name slips my mind. I grab my cardigan. Softer look. It’ll disarm him right before I sink my teeth in. Watching a man like this squirm? That’s something I’ll never get tired of.

Arren is already sweating through his suit when I walk into the conference room—more of a mewling puddle than a person. I don’t bother hiding my disgust.

I sit. The intern turns on the camera.

“Mr. Arren. I’m Eloise Sulley, lead counsel on this case. I see you’ve brought representation. Mr…?”

I turn to greet the other attorney—and my breath catches. Those eyes. Again.

He smiles slightly, extending a hand. “Jensen Parker. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Sulley. I’ve been looking forward to this.”

I shake his hand—then pull back fast. A spark. Not metaphorical. It felt like a live wire. My skin tingles. Burns. I glance down, expecting to see a mark.

Nothing.

He’s watching me. Curious.

“Right,” I say quickly, regaining composure. “Mr. Arren, do you understand why you’re here today?”

Focus. Get through this. Ignore Jensen. Do not look at Jensen.

Jensen.

He has a name now. A name for those damned eyes. Snap out of it, El.

I wait. Arren says nothing. Won’t even look at me. I glance at Jensen, trying to gauge his angle.

“Mr. Parker? Your client came here under the premise of answering questions today. What’s going on?”

No response. Just Jensen watching me. Like I’m something he plans to eat.

“I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS!” Arren yells.

There it is. The crack.

I calmly open the folder of evidence. It’s already been shared with opposing counsel, but there’s no burying this.

“Okay, Mr. Arren. Here’s the deal.”

I lay out the photos—bruises, lacerations, the aftermath of his so-called play.

“These are the women you’ve hurt. Strangled with ligatures. Stabbed. Penetrated with foreign objects—some to the point of permanent damage. Some may never have children.”

His face crumples. Good.

I glance at Jensen. He’s still watching me, like he already knows the outcome.

Arren sobs. He was a monster with his victims, but in the light of consequence, he’s a pathetic wreck. I pass the file to Halle, who rises and leaves without a word.

“Mr. Arren, the women you hurt are seeking financial compensation. After this meeting, you’ll be turned over to authorities. My job is to make sure they’re compensated for the trauma you caused.”

I straighten the settlement packet and slide it across the table with a pen.

“You’ve stated on record you don’t want to do this—so let’s not. The seven women who’ve come forward are asking for $4 million each. With your net worth, that’s spare change. If you’re ready to accept those terms, sign here.”

He looks at Jensen. Jensen nods.

Arren signs, still sobbing, ink smearing as he flips through each page. Once he’s done, he passes the stack to Jensen for review.

I rise, smoothing my skirt. I’ve won—though I never count on it until the ink dries.

Pressing the button to end the recording, I close the camera and catch Jensen’s smug smile.

I ignore it.

Walking out, I pass two officers waiting outside. Arren won’t be going home. I already sent the DA everything they need to put him away.

Back in my office, I close the door behind me and lean against it for just a second longer than I should. The hush of the room settles over me like a heavy coat, muffling the echo of Arren’s sniveling and the electric buzz Jensen left in his wake.

I toss the camera and file onto my desk and peel off my sweater, suddenly too warm. There’s still a faint pulse in the center of my palm where we touched—no mark, no sign of anything unusual. Just that lingering, impossible heat. Like a bruise under the skin.

I shake it off.

There’s still work to be done—follow-ups to draft, a statement to prep for the DA’s office, and Halle will want a rundown for documentation. I walk to my desk and start flipping through the remaining paperwork. But my eyes keep skipping to the edge of the desk where my mirror lies, closed.

I don't pick it up.

A soft knock comes at the door. Halle pokes her head in without waiting.

“He’s gone. The officers took him about five minutes ago. Cried all the way into the elevator.”

“Of course he did,” I say, rolling my eyes.

She steps further in. “And Parker?”

I pause, not looking up from the papers in my hands. “What about him?”

“He left right after. Didn’t even look back. Just said, and I quote: ‘You were right to put Sulley on this. She’s sharper than anyone I’ve met in a long time.’”

That catches me off guard.

I finally meet her gaze. “He said that?”

She nods. “Yup. Then winked at me, which I hated,

and left.”

“Sounds about right.”

She studies me for a beat too long. “El… you sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I almost laugh. Not quite. I just nod. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Halle doesn’t push. That’s another reason I keep her close—she knows when to let something lie.

“Well, I’m grabbing coffee. You want your usual?”

“Please.”

As soon as she disappears down the hallway, I drop into my chair. The adrenaline from the deposition is already wearing off, leaving behind that strange buzz in my chest. The case is settled. Arren’s going down. It should feel like a win.

Instead, my mind keeps drifting back to a pair of green eyes and that smile like he knew something I didn’t.

I exhale hard, grab a pen, and try to focus.

Because I’ve got bigger things to worry about than some smug-eyed attorney.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.