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Client Meeting
Tanggal publikasi:
2026-04-17 17:51:40
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SECOND VERDICT Chapter 17: Lunch with Maya/ Jessica
Present Day - Thursday MorningAlex barely slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she heard her father's voice. We need to talk. Four words that had haunted her entire life. Four words that usually meant disappointment. Failure. Not living up to the Richardson family standards.She'd told him she was busy. That she'd call him back. He'd insisted. Told her he was flying to San Francisco next week. That they would have dinner whether she liked it or not.Alex had agreed just to get him off the phone.Now it was Thursday morning. She had lunch with Jessica in three hours. The strategy session with Emma in eight hours. And somewhere in between, she had to pretend to be a functional human being.She dressed carefully. Navy suit. White blouse. Hair pulled back. Professional armor.In the mirror, she looked composed. Successful. Together.She felt like she was falling apart.At the office by seven, Alex tried to work. Reviewed deposition questions. Made notes on case strategy. Checked her ema
SECOND VERDICT Chapter 16: Old flames
The door opened. Maya walked in wearing a red dress that show her perfect figure and also probably cost more than most junior associate make in a year. Her dark hair was perfect. Her smile was bright."Surprise!" Maya spread her arms. "I know I said tomorrow but I finished my meetings early and thought we could grab an early dinner.""Maya. Hi." Alex tried to smile. Failed. "This isn't a great time.""When is it ever a great time with you?" Maya perched on the edge of Alex's desk. Too familiar. Too comfortable. "You're always working. That's why we didn't work out, remember?""I remember.""So take a break. Just one hour. There's this amazing sushi place in the Mission. My treat."Alex wanted to say no. Wanted to stay here and stare at Emma's dark office and wallow in guilt.But maybe dinner with Maya would help. Maybe spending time with someone uncomplicated would remind her that there was life beyond Emma Parker."Okay. One hour."Maya's smile grew. "Perfect. Let me just use your bat
SECOND VERDICT Chapter Fifteen: Watching
Present Day - Wednesday AfternoonAlex stood in Morrison's office trying to focus on what he was saying.Something about the Henderson case. Emma's deposition strategy. Budget considerations for expert witnesses.All Alex could think about was the stairwell.I'm still in love with you.She'd actually said it. Out loud. To Emma's face. After eight years of silence, Alex had finally told the truth.And then Marcus Hall had walked in and ruined everything."Alexandra? Are you listening?"Alex snapped back to the present. Morrison was watching her with those sharp eyes. Emma stood beside her, rigid and professional. Neither of them had looked at each other since stepping out of the elevator."Yes, sir. I apologize. Long day.""I'm sure it is." Morrison's gaze moved between them. "I wanted to discuss the deposition schedule. Emma's proposed timeline is aggressive but doable. However, I need to know you're both on the same page.""We are," Alex said."Completely," Emma added.Morrison leaned
SECOND VERDICT Chapter 14 What does he know?
"Oh. Ms. Richardson. Ms. Parker." His eyes darted between them. Taking in Alex's red eyes. Emma's flushed face. The tension thick enough to cut. "Am I interrupting something?""Not at all," Alex said smoothly. Professional mask back in place. "Ms. Parker and I were just discussing the Bennett case.""In the stairwell? You know the current in here is so charged, if not that you both are ladies, I could swear you were both making out”. He said jokingly."I needed to return some books to the library. Ms. Parker happened to be here." Alex's voice was ice now. Cold and distant. "Was there something you needed?""Just heading down to lunch. Taking the stairs. Trying to get in shape you know." Marcus smiled. Too interested. Too curious. "How's the case going?""Fine," Emma managed. Her voice sounded strangled. She cleared her throat. "Very well. We're preparing for depositions next week.""I heard you two worked really well together in the client meeting. Bennett was impressed." Marcus was st
SECOND VERDICT Chapter 13: Stairwell Confrontation
Present Day - Wednesday AfternoonEmma stared at Alex's hand on the door above hers. Their arms almost touching. Alex one step higher, close enough that Emma could feel the heat radiating from her body."How long are you going to run from me?" Alex asked again.Emma's throat was tight. "I'm not running. I'm walking.""You're sprinting. You've been avoiding me since I got here." Alex's voice was rough. Raw. "And I get it. I do. But I can't chase you anymore, Emma. I'm exhausted.""Then stop chasing me.""I can't do that either."They stood frozen. The stairwell was concrete and metal and cold fluorescent lights. The air smelled like cleaning supplies and old coffee. Somewhere below them, a door slammed."Let me go," Emma said quietly."No.""Alex.""Not until you actually talk to me. Not just work stuff. Not just polite nothings. Actually talk to me."Emma's hands were shaking. She pressed them against the door to steady herself. "What do you want me to say?""Anything. Everything. Wha
SECOND VERDICT Chapter 12-Running
Emma took the stairs.She'd been taking the stairs for two days straight. Four flights up every morning. Four flights down for lunch. Four flights back up. Her calves burned and her lungs protested but it was better than risking the elevator.Better than risking running into Alex.The text message haunted her. I lied. It does matter. All of it. Every moment.Emma had read it fifty times. Maybe a hundred. She'd typed responses and deleted them. She'd started to call Alex three times and chickened out each time.What was she supposed to say? It matters to me too? I think about you every day? Seeing you again is breaking a heart I didn’t know I still have?No. Better to say nothing. Better to avoid it altogether.So Emma took the stairs instead.Wednesday morning, she was halfway up the third flight when her phone rang. Sarah.Emma answered, breathless. "Hey.""Did I catch you running again?""No, taking the stairs. At work.""The elevator broken?""Something like that." Emma reached the
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