"The Truth"

A/N: This may be the longest chapter of this story because of the confrontation and all. But hope you guys like my idea on how this confrontation goes. Reviews are all welcome and thank you for reading this. :D

After going to court, Alicia went back to the office to report and get some leads about the case. They were in the conference room when her phone rang, she look at it and see Eli Gold calling. She ignored it and continued listening to Kalinda, a few second later she got a text message from Eli saying "I know that you're busy right now, but we need to talk". She stared at her phone for a few seconds after reading it, thinking what he wants to talk about with her. Maybe it's about Peter's campaign but whatever his reason, she's gonna talk to him anyway. After the meeting she walked out of the office but Kalinda asked her about the call.

"Who's that?"

"Who?"

"The one who called that you ignored"

"Oh..that's Eli."

"Eli? Why he's calling you?"

"Well, he said he wants to talk to me."

"About?"

"I don't know, he didn't tell me"

"Ok..but you will talk to him anyway, right."

"Yeah."

"Good luck"

Alicia smiled at Kalinda and she called Eli. They both agreed to meet at Eli's office after Alicia finished doing her case work. She's been busy the whole day because of the case that she forgot about Eli. She look at her watch, it's 5pm Kalinda knocked on her door.

"Hey, I thought you're gonna meet Eli today."

That's the time Alicia remembers about their talk.

"Oh…yeah. I forgot about that. I should go now."

She started packing her things and went out of the office to meet Eli. His assistant was the one who welcomed her and she accompanies her to Eli. This is not the first time that she's been there so she's familiar about everything. Eli was talking to someone on the phone when she entered his office. He saw her and signaled to wait for a second.

"Ok..ok..fine. Just call me for some updates. Yeah, thank you. Bye." he hang up the phone and faced Alicia who is still standing. "Mrs. Florrick, I'm glad you came. Have a seat."

She sat down and looked at him, but that time she's thinking to what's he wants to talk about and on how she gonna ask him about the voicemail.

"Do you want anything, a drink? Coffee?"

"No, I'm fine Mr. Gold"

"Ok."

"So, why did you call? What do you want to talk about?"

"Oh yes..about that. I want to talk about something…important."

Alicia is now getting a little nervous when he said the word "important".

"Ok..what is it?"

"It's about Peter."

Alicia felt relieved about that.

"Ok, what about Peter?"

"He was insisting of attending the anniversary of Lord and Christ Church."

"So, what's the problem with that?"

"The problem is that he doesn't need to attend that event. His obligation on that church was already done"

"I don't get it, what obligation?"

"Well, it's a long story but let's just say that it's all part of Peter's campaign."

"You mean your plan of making Peter being religious?"

"Well, it's not like that..as we planned to do but…it's like this..."

"I know Mr. Gold. It's all just an act to get people's sympathy for Peter"

"Yeah, kinda like that"

Alicia didn't answer.

"I know what you've been thinking, that I'm bad for doing that. But that's not my real intention."

"Then what's your intention Mr. Gold?"

"My intention is to make people know that Peter has changed and that he's not a bad person like what they think he is"

"Really? Like not using a church as a front?"

"Look Mrs. Florrick…"

"Look Mr. Gold, I don't care about whatever plans you have for Peter, because the truth is I don't care about the campaign or the politics. So, I don't think you need me here."

"Alicia…"

"What do you want Mr. Gold?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. What do you want from me?"

"Ok..well, I want you to talk to Peter. I know that he listens to you, tell him that you don't want him to attend that event. That he doesn't need to go there or just stop him from going"

"And what if I don't?"

"What if you don't?"

"If I don't do it, what you gonna do?"

Eli paused for a moment and think.

"Well, you will do it"

"What makes you think that I will do it?"

Eli just smiled at her and Alicia stared at him, thinking "What the hell is he planning?"

"You will do it Alicia, whether you like it or not. You're gonna do it"

"Why, what are you gonna do if I didn't?

"We all know what's gonna happen."

"I don't know, tell me"

"Only two things, either Peter will be converted to that religion or just continue being him…a politician."

"I don't see anything wrong with those two"

Eli rolled his eyes and said "Come on Alicia, you don't want Peter to be religious. I saw it, when he's talking to Pastor Isaiah, you don't like it. You're not comfortable with it."

He's right, she doesn't want it.

"So?" he asked

"I'll think about it"

"Ok..but think faster because the event is on next week"

Alicia gave him a bad look.

"So, that's it. That's the reason why you called?"

"Yup, that's it."

Alicia shook her head.

"Thank you for coming today, Alicia"

Alicia looked at him, she's going to leave but she remembers about the voicemail. She's thinking if that's the right time to talk about it, but she's going to talk to him anyway about it so she decided to open the issue.

"There's one more thing I want to talk about with you, Mr. Gold"

"Ok..what is it?"

"It's about…" she paused, "it's the…uhmm…" she's hesitating to tell, she took a deep breath before she continues.

"Remember Peter's announcement of candidacy?"

"Yes, of course. What about it?"

"When he called me on the stage"

"Yes."

"I had a phone call…and you got my phone in order for me to join Peter, right?"

Eli already knows what she wants to say, "Yes"

"The phone call is from…" she paused, "from Will"

"I know"

Eli sits back on his chair, Alicia is thinking the right words to say.

"He left me a voicemail…because I didn't answered his call..or should I say calls"

Eli is still listening.

"Because according to him, he left me two voicemails" she paused and swallowed "but I got only one"

That time Eli's face changed from being calm to someone being caught in the trap.

"And as far as I can remember that day, there's only one person who held my phone…and that is you. So tell me Mr. Gold, what did you do?"

Eli started to get nervous.

"Did you touch my phone? Did you delete one of the voicemails, huh?"

Eli's face turns red because of Alicia's accusation.

"Answer me, Mr. Gold!"

Eli took a deep breath and said "What if I did?"

Alicia was a little surprised that he somehow admit it

"Then why did you do it?"

"I just have to"

"Why?"

"You know why"

Alicia knows what he means, it's because of Peter especially knowing what's on the voicemail.

"Yes, I touched your phone and yes I deleted the voicemail but it wasn't my intention to delete or even touch your phone. I just got curious about why your boss is calling you when you already talked to him and also, he left you two voicemails. Isn't that suspicious? Calling you on the time of your husband's public announcement?"

Alicia didn't know what to answer, thinking.

"Look Alicia, I don't know what's going on between you and your…long time friend who is now your boss. And I don't want to know, but you know that it's not gonna work out, whatever you two are working out"

"We're not doing anything wrong"

"Yeah, yeah..I know, just like on some soap on TV. I heard that a lot of times already, worst line ever especially when you got caught cheating"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. We both know what I mean"

Alicia cannot believe what she just heard, now she's the bad guy.

"Listen Alicia…"

"No Mr. Gold, you listen. I'm not doing anything wrong and if you're thinking that I'm having an affair with Will, well you're wrong…because I'm not. And I will not do the same mistake that Peter did to me…never! And I will not give my children another pain that they already suffered from their father's mistakes."

Tears started to form in Alicia's eyes, but she stopped herself from crying especially in front of Eli.

"I love my family…and I love my kids. They're my life, so I will not gonna do anything that will hurt them. And I will not let anyone hurt them."

Alicia stopped for awhile to control her emotions.

"I am not a bad person Mr. Gold and I am not a bad wife. I tried everything that I could just to ease the pain that Peter caused me. I stayed beside him after all the humiliation, I stayed. I never left…I'm not a bad wife"

"I know Alicia, I'm sorry. I know what you've gone through that's why I admire you for standing up with Peter, you got my respect for that."

"No, you're not. Because if you respect me you shouldn't touch my phone and deleted the voicemail."

Alicia's mood changed from a crying lady to being fierce.

"You have no right to delete my voicemail or even touch my phone. Who gave you the right to do that? Peter doesn't even touch any of my things most especially my phone, and you. You touched it and deleted my voicemail because what…because you got curious? What the hell's with your curiosity that you didn't even think that it's none of your business!"

Eli felt that he was being questioned in court

"Yes my husband hired you, but that doesn't mean you already have the right to invade our lives especially our private lives. No one is allowed to invade my family's lives, not even my mother-in-law nor my brother and most especially not to a stranger like you. What you did is unforgivable!"

"Look Alicia, I know what you're thinking. I know that you think I'm a bad person because of what I did but I'm not."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Alicia shook her head.

"Look, I'm sorry for what I did. I know I should have not done that but I already did, so I'm sorry. I know you can't forgive me for now, but one day you will. But you have to understand that I'm doing that to protect you, to protect Peter and most especially to protect your kids."

"You touched my phone and deleted my voicemail to protect my family?"

"Yes"

Alicia can't believe all that she's hearing at that moment

"When I heard what that man said in the voicemail and saw you and Peter on stage, there's only one thing that's on my mind…trouble. You guys have been in so much trouble because of the scandals and all, and I don't think it's good to have another one especially that things are starting to go back as it were before. That's why I have to do what I think is right, even if it's wrong but I had to do it. I had to get rid of that trouble."

Alicia started to understand his reasons which she think was right.

"Like what you said, you don't want another pain on your family especially your kids and that you will do anything to protect them. So, do it. Protect them, as their mother. I don't think it's a good idea that you'll be the one causing their another pain."

Alicia realized that he's right, she should protect her family especially her kids.

"I know what I did was so off the limits and I know that I'm a bad-ass for doing that but I don't have any bad intention for you and your family, you have to remember that. I'm not your enemy here, I'm here to help. And yeah, maybe you think that I did that because of Peter, because of the campaign. And let's just say that that's my motive but it's not wrong. Peter loves you, Alicia. He loves you so much and I can see that. He do anything for you to forgive him, he loves his family."

"I know"

There was a moment of silence.

"I'm really sorry Alicia, I really am. I promise I will not gonna do it again, I'm not gonna invade your private life. But you have to think of your family, your kids' sake. I know that it'll be very hard for you but think about this, what your kids gonna do if they found out that you're having an affair with another man."

"I'm not having an affair"

"Ok..fine, I believe you. But what if the public founds out about you and your boss, that you're having this…I don't know what to call it..fling. You know what the public do and how they can ruin life…your life, your kids' lives. So, stop this. Stop whatever it is."

"You're not in the position to tell me what I'm gonna do"

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry but…"

"Mr. Gold, I know what I'm doing and I'm in a right mind to know what's right and what's wrong so you don't need to lecture me. I know what I'm gonna do with my life and I know what I'm gonna do with my family. Sooner or later I will make a decision that may be the people will or will not understand, but I will do it. I still do it because it's the best for my family. Whether you agree or not, I don't care because it's none of your business anyway."

They both looking at each other like enemies.

"I know that your most concern is Peter…and his campaign. But don't worry, I will not do anything to ruin your plans. So, you don't have to scare me or use me. Just mind your own business, Mr. Gold."

Alicia gave him a last look before she stands up to leave.

"By the way, thank you for being honest with me. Now I know if I still have to trust you."

And she walked out leaving Eli thinking about what she just said and worried about Peter and the campaign.