Chapter Ten:
Kate sat across the table from James Ford, he scanned over some files he had infront of him. A waitress walked over, 'Can I take your order?'
'Nothing for me. Thanks,' Kate said as she threw the lawyer a glare, James glanced at her, he turned to the waitress, 'Can I have your best wine?'
'Coming right up sir.' She said, and left the pair of them alone.
'Wine?' Kate asked, 'I thought you just wanted to go over some paperwork...I shouldn't even be here without my lawyer...'
'And yet here you are.' He said with a sly grin.
Kate scowled, 'don't flatter yourself.' Her remark didn't seem to throw him off, 'What d'you wanna discuss?'
'You.'
Kate blinked for a moment, 'what?'
James smiled slowly, 'Your father's death was an accident...that's what the Judge thinks...that's what the world thinks...they think you're innocent.'
'I am.' She said stubbornly, he leaned closer, his eyes drifting across her features, 'are you?' he asked in a low voice.
Kate studied him, she paused, feeling uncomfortable, why was he looking at her like that?
Before she could reply, the waitress set the wine and glasses onto the table.
Kate studied Ford as he leaned back into his chair, Kate studied him, 'If we're through here, I'm going.'
'What's the rush?' he grabbed her arm, she glanced at the silver wedding band he wore.
'Isn't your wife waiting for you?'
'I'm flattered that you took the time to notice my marital status.'
'Ugh,' Kate brushed past him, he grabbed her hand, pulling her to him.
'I don't know why, but there's something here...' he whispered, a half-sincere look spread over his face, Kate studied him.
'The only thing that should ever be between us,' she whispered back, 'is distance. A lot of it.'
With that, Kate turned and walked into Jack, who was entering the restaurant with a brunette.
'Jack?' she asked with a flustered expression. What was he doing here...?
Kate paused, what was he doing here with HER?
'Kate?'
He had an equally flustered expression on his face, 'uh, this is Achara...Achara, this is Kate...'
Achara gave Kate a cold smile, Kate frowned, James walked up behind her, he shook Jack's hand, 'You must be Jack Shepherd. I'm the lawyer having a look over Kate's case...'
'What case?' he asked with a confused expression.
'It doesn't matter-' Kate quickly replied, 'its over.'
'Is it?' James asked, Achara tugged Jack's hand, Jack looked at her.
'Jack...' she said in a sultry voice, 'we're late for our reservation...'
Kate glanced at the small black dress the woman was wearing. She turned to Jack. She didn't like this one bit.
Jack looked at her sympathetically, he would explain later, right now he had to talk to Achara.
'I'm James Ford,' the blonde man said as he spoke to Jack, he gave Kate an amused look, 'For a suspect in a trial you haven't done bad for yourself Kate, I gotta give you that.'
Jack stared at Kate, 'a suspect? A suspect for what?'
'Jack, it doesn't matter,' Kate said, 'its over. I was proved innocent...'
'Jack let's go...we're late.'
Achara tugged his arm, kate felt a pang of jealousy, what gave Achara the right to drag him about, what was she to him?
Jack and Kate gave eachother one last look as they both went their separate ways that evening, clearly, they both had some explaining to do.
End chapter ten