Reluctantly, Peter opened his eyes.
He would have to return to Springfield shortly. Although he had been making this trip for months, he still wasn't used to leaving his family for days at a time. Peter wanted his family to live under one roof again, but that wasn't an option anymore. Perhaps had this been years ago and he hadn't been caught with his pants down, things would have been different, but this was the present and he had been caught.
Grace and Zack weren't kids anymore and a move this big would upset them. They had made new attachments after being forced to give up their old lives and comforts. Peter wouldn't put them through that again after the initial turmoil he put them through. He couldn't put them through that again.
Most importantly, Alicia had business ties to Chicago now. She and Cary had opened their own law firm and she was steadily making a name for herself. Practicing law seemed to give a new life to Alicia. Not only did she enjoy being a lawyer and running her own business, but also the law seemed to really stimulate her.
Peter rolled over to face Alicia and saw her side of the bed empty. These days, it didn't surprise him not to see in her bed. Alicia was busier than she had ever been and, between running a business, managing employees, juggling current clients, scouting for new clients, and arguing cases, Alicia had a lot on her plate. It continued to amazed Peter that she still found time to be a wife and mother as well. He wondered if she made time for herself. If Peter was honest with himself, he didn't think Alicia ever thought of herself. She may have had her own business, but what about outside of her work life? Was she happy simply being a wife and mother?
Experience told the governor that his wife's side of the bed was cold. A quick touch of the covers confirmed his suspicion and, after briefly glancing at his watch, Peter went to the bathroom to get ready for the day
"Good morning," Alicia greeted her husband as she perused a case file. Momentarily, she looked up and received a kiss before continuing to read the file in front of her.
Gently, Peter squeezed her shoulder. "Good morning to you, dear." He smiled warmly before sitting down, and then pouring himself a cup of coffee. "When everything settles down, we should do something together as a family…go on a vacation or leave for a weekend. Whatever works best for you."
"Sounds like a good idea," she agreed. Alicia wrote down a few notes before rubbing her forehead. Peter massaged Alicia's shoulders and she groaned appreciatively.
While Alicia continued to write, she placed her other hand on Peter's hand. They may have encountered many hardships in their marriage, but they could overcome it. Despite his past transgressions, her husband was a great man. She would stand by his wide no matter what. She loved Peter and took her vows very seriously. It was hard to say that about most people these nowadays. They would rather leave than stay and work on their marriage. Alicia believed that there wasn't any point in getting married if both spouses weren't fully committed to make their marriage work—through thick and thin.
They would get through this.
They are getting through this.
Peter gently squeezed Alicia's hand, and then placed a kiss on her forehead. He whispered into her hair, "I don't deserve you."
"You're right, you don't," Peter laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. "Peter, you are a good man. You may have made some mistakes, but don't think for a second that you don't deserve me.I decide who deserves me and I chose you."
The kids later joined them at the table and the family of four sat and ate breakfast while they chattered animatedly. They reminisced over the past and made plans for the future. Zack stuffed his face with pancakes as he smiled at his dad.
"When will you be back?" Grace's voice was filled with excited as she spoke to her father before sipping her orange juice. Peter had promised that they would go to the Navy Pier together when he came back into town.
Peter broke apart his bacon and took a moment to think about it. "Two…maybe three weeks." He threw the meat into his mouth and smiled at his daughter.
Grace looked upset at the answer.
"Kiddo," her father began. "I'm the governor of Illinois—I have to do my job. But, I promise you that we'll go to the Pier together. The whole family will go."
A black pen scribbled as Cary knocked on Alicia's office door while he let himself in. Alicia doesn't acknowledge his presence as she sifted through the papers on her desk. In a deliberate manner, he seats himself in the chair across from Alicia and his facial expression is a mixture of mischievousness and frustration. For a moment, Cary rested his head in his hands, and then sat up.
As he crossed his legs, he announces, "Beaumont has hired Gardner and Associates as his legal representation."
The black pen ceased to move. Alicia stared at her desk for a few seconds before looking at Cary.
"Gardner and Associates," she repeated.
"Yep," Cary ran a hand through his hair, and then cleared his throat.
"We can beat them, Cary," Alicia declared as she closed her file, and then sat it to the side. "We know how they think, especially Will. This won't be easy, but it isn't unwinnable."
"Yeah, and Will knows how we think as well. He helped hire all of us and conducted performances evaluations that listed our strengths and weaknesses," Cary stated matter of fact. "I'm not afraid of losing, which I know won't happen. I'm afraid of underestimating them thus undermining our case and not getting out client the settlement he deserves." As the younger man spoke, he wore a contemplative visage. "We're going to win, but I just want you to understand how difficult this will be."
Alicia slightly smiled. "Don't you think you are giving Will or even Gardner and Associates too much credit? Their backs are against the wall and they aren't in much of a position to fight," she reasoned. "Despite all of this, I know what you already told me and I don't understand why you are so afraid of our old firm."
In disbelief, Cary stared at her and burrowed his eyebrows.
"Not to be disrespectful, Alicia, but I don't think you do understand," Cary said in a way that sounded as if he was listing points to be made. "Gardner and Associates may not know how to spend their money, but they do know how to win cases, especially when they are on a mission." The male partner got up and straightened his tie before he began to pace. "Let's not forget: Will hates us and he hates to lose—what a lovely combination. Considering that he does not lose all that often, we can't lose focus on the case whether or not we are giving them too much credit."
After Cary left, Alicia groaned in disbelief. The last thing she wanted to do was face Will in court. She was still trying to get the hang of managing a business, employees, clients, and all of that other miscellaneous work that came with her new position. Of course, she knew that she would have to face Will eventually, but she wished that she could have been more prepared professionally and emotionally. The way things ended the last time Alicia saw him was still an en open wound. Alicia tried to actively avoid thinking about it and him. Truth be told, she tried not to think about Will at all, which only worked for the most part. But, overall, Alicia was too busy to think about anything not related to work or home.
One of the best ways to prepare was to anticipate. Alicia knew Will the lawyer—she's worked for him, Will the friend—the man who gave her a chance, Will the lover—gentle and kind, but she was unfamiliar with Will the enemy. Luckily, she knew Will well enough to know how he approached his enemies. The case required a little re-strategizing, but it was theirs to lose.
Regardless of the case, Will had a tried and trusted way of litigating. HE would appear non threatening and to lull the witness (and lawyer) into a false sense of security, ask a series of questions that seemed harmless, and then attack or put the witness' credibility then put into question. It sounded simple enough, but it wasn't. Will had perfected the technique in law school and has only improved it since then. He liked to call it the 'Bait and Switch'.
The kids were staying with Owen for the night and Peter was in Springfield, so Alicia could burn some midnight oil without feeling guilty. Carefully, she mapped out how she would argue the case against Will and the ways in which she would utilize the evidence to prove her case. Cary added some constructive criticism as they decided to be co-chairs on the case. Not only would this case be a statement, it would also garner them some recognition as well.
The two days between finding out that Will had the case and the impending court date had arrived quickly. It was decided that Alicia would be first chair since she had more experience with Will.
In low tones, the lawyers conversed with their client as they explained the strategy.
A pair of heels echoed in the courtroom as Will, Beaumont, and Laura Hellinger strolled down the aisle. Will and Laura exchanged a few words before Will sat on the bench behind the divider and Laura and Beaumont sat at the table.
"What is going on?" Cary whispered to Alicia as he looked over to Will, and then Laura.
"It's a bait and switch," she mumbled. Cary gave Alicia a perplexed look for her to explain. "Will likes to make the opposing client and/or attorney believe one thing and making them go after that in order to trap them before pouncing by using his real strategy."
"I've never seen him do this," Cary said as he opened is suitcase.
"You have," Alicia disagreed. "You've seen variations of this or you didn't know what you were witnessing, but it happened. Will has been doing this for year—it's not obvious that he has been doing it, but he has."
"So…Will knew that we would expect to face him and prepared our case based on that 'bait' and put this other lawyer on the case instead?"
"Yup," Alicia confirmed.
"It's smart." The two said in unison.
"Even though Will's no longer on the case or, never was, we can still argue it." Alicia glanced over to Laura and saw seriousness radiate off of her face as she spoke to her client. "The argument is still sound."
Cary looked a Will again. "Score: 1 for Gardner and Associates. 0 for Florrick, Agos, and Associates." He did a mock salute before turning to Alicia. "What to expect from her? What's her name?"
As Alicia looked at Laura, she gave her answer some thought.
"Her name is Laura Hellinger. She used to work for the military before working at the State's Attorney's office for a brief stint, apparently." Alicia wondered how long Laura had been working for Will. "Not to say that Laura is above it, but she's not one for games or tricks. She's pretty honest and straightforward with her arguments and tactics. Basically, what you see is what you get." Laura turned slightly in her seat and listened to Will as he spoke before laughing at his joke. "Also, she is very observant and will use it to her advantage if need be."
"If that is true, then what is she doing at Gardner and Associates?" Cary speculated.
"Who knows?" Alicia stared at the opposing lawyers again before placing her full focus on the strategy she made with Cary.
The case began in Cary and Alicia's favor, and then Laura gained momentum before being neutralized. Despite Florrick, Agos, and Associates having a stronger argument, the judge, and jury leaning towards their side, Laura looked unfazed and Will was completely indifferent to the proceedings. He seemed to be merely an observer rather than a named partner—someone who was deeply invested in the outcome of this case. Furthermore, Will was the ultimate competitor. He hated losing and cared about winning cases to, what could be at times, and irrational extent. He had to know something that he wasn't volunteering.
After the first day in court, Robyn was assigned to do further digging and find all the information she could no matter how trivial. Two weeks had passed, and Robyn had came up empty handed and had nothing but trivial information to give that they couldn't capitalize on.
"Will is just playing mind games, Alicia, he knew that his behavior would unsettle us," Cary voice during the recess.
"Exactly, Cary. I KNOW Will. It could be a game of him simply getting into our heads or he knows something that we don't." She laughed mirthlessly. "I can't forget how good Will was at mind games—is," she corrected herself.
A few days later, Robyn managed to find some information, but Alicia and Cary doubted that it was worth any value to the case. Still, they kept it in their back pockets and, during their argument, they incorporated the new bit of information, but it didn't elicit any type of reaction from Will or Laura.
Then the day came.
Will got up, tapped the divider between him and Laura and walked away. As Laura stood up, Alicia began to feel a sinking feeling. It was as if she was an enemy being zeroed in upon. Helplessly, Alicia watched as Laura tore their case apart and it was over—there was nothing to be done about it. Kalinda didn't provide any last minute or new information for the case. Gardner and Associates strategy was not to win, but to settle lower than the original asking price. And it was going to happen because of something their firm overlooked in the case—something Will knew that they would overlook. As Will always did, he lulled the opponent into a false sense of security and took control from there.
They settled.
It was less than their client deserved.
"Well, that was a humbling experience," Cary leaned back into the chair and loosened his tie before grabbing his drink. Alicia sat on the corner of his desk beside him. "Will knew we were going to bite the bait and overlook that information in the process. That magnificent bastard." The male partner grinned and shook his head in amazement and disbelief.
"We were arrogant," Alicia, stated the obvious, but the comment was more directed towards herself. "I was arrogant. I thought that…because they were struggling that it meant that they were weak."
Her partner shook his head. "Anyone would have made that mistake—I made that mistake."
"But, you didn't." She took Cary's cup and gulped down that rest. In surprise, Cary stared at the older woman before pouring two cups. "Not really. Laura was assigned to the case because Will knew that she could keep her cool and execute his plan."
A tightlipped smile appeared across Cary's face as he picked up his drink and sipped it before lightly sitting it down.
"Today, after the case, I spoke to a friend of mine. He left Lockhart and Gender shortly after us—before it became Gardner and Associates," he began. Alicia raised an eyebrow in interest. "He said that Will held a meeting and offered anyone an out who wanted to leave. Brent, my friend, also said the they've completely restructured how everything is being ran there."
"You're kidding," Alicia ran a hand through her hand and digested the new information given to her. "Those are some big changes."
"Yeah, they are," Cary, agreed. "But, they aren't Will's only moves. He got rid of a few associates and hired some under the radar lawyers like Trent Bogard, Elias Stevens, Felicia Compton, and Leslie Dennis." An unbelieving express formed on Alicia's face. "I know, right? We already know about Hellinger, but Will also hired Clarke Hayden."
"Clarke Hayden?" Alicia didn't know what to say. "How the hell did Will pull that off?" I thought Hayden couldn't get far enough away from Lockhart and Gardner?"
"He couldn't," Cary supplied. "Until Will gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. I really don't know the specifics," he admitted. "Except being hired as a lawyer for the firm in addition to managing the books and how the money is spent."
"As incredible as that sounds, why do we care so much?" Alicia voiced. "Yes, we got our asses kicked, but we seemed overly concerned about a firm we no longer work for."
A laugh filled the room.
"You don't get it, Alicia, do you?" Cary placed a hand over his mouth, and then slowly shook his head. "You are an incredible lawyer, but you can be very naïve."
"Excuse me?" Alicia took offense.
"Alicia," he began firmly. "I would paint a pretty picture for you, but now is not the time for that. Let's just state facts: Will hired you after a decade of being a housewife. He took a chance on you and put his ass on the line. He then promoted you to partner and asked you if any associates were planning to leave in order to start their own firm. You said no. A few months later, you leave with those associates who 'weren't' planning on starting their own firm. In addition to that, you take their top clients a few months after they just got out of financial hardship. Let's not forget that Diane was leaving as well." The room was silent as Alicia gave serious thought to Cary's words. "Combine that with partially crippling the firm with our perfect timing—Will hates us. Will hates YOU. I don't know about you, but I can firmly recall our last day at Lockhart and Gardner. Rather than recuperating from the massive blows dealt to him by several top lawyers leaving and taking his top clients, he is in a position to be a threat. He's gunning for us, Alicia. Will has nothing to lose and everything to gain."