"My dad's lawyer wants to brief me later on in the evening," Victoria spoke as she sat down next to Andrew in the college canteen. She dropped her satchel to the floor by her feet before her hands rested on the top of the table and Andrew coughed awkwardly.
"And you are sure that you don't want me to come to the trial?" Andrew asked from her and she shook her head, doing her best to remain composed as he sat across from her, his knuckles white as he gripped onto the coffee cup he held.
"I'm sure," Victoria promised him. "I can cope with my dad and Ana. I think my grandparents want to come, but dad doesn't want to turn it into a media circus."
Andrew nodded in agreement. If Christian Grey didn't want something then it didn't happen. He had enough money to do whatever he wanted. It was his priority. Andrew didn't resent Christian. He merely continued to fear him, and he didn't think he would ever have stop, even from California.
"I understand that," Andrew said. "But I am there in case you need me."
"Not for much longer," Victoria blurted out before thinking. She winced inwardly as soon as she said the words and Andrew took another moment to cough into his fist and looked around awkwardly. Never before did he think that conversation with Victoria would be so awkward. He still loved her deeply. He knew that wouldn't stop.
"I have to call and accept the job offer tomorrow," Andrew informed her and she cocked her brow, slowly nodding over to him as he sipped on his coffee and she twiddled with her thumbs in her lap, doing her best not to look Andrew in the eye, knowing that she would crack if she did so.
"Right," Victoria nodded her agreement with him. "It really is a fantastic opportunity."
"Maybe you can come out and see me one day?" Andrew suggested, still clinging to the last residue of their relationship. "That's if you want to try a long distance relationship?"
Victoria took a deep breath and shrugged. "Is that what you want?"
Andrew also shrugged back to her. "I think we shouldn't rush into anything. The chances of me meeting someone in California are slim anyway. I'm going to spend most of my time studying rocks."
Victoria smiled at that and then heard her phone vibrate once more in her blazer pocket. She pulled it out and remained neutral as she saw that it was Dominic who had sent her another message. She didn't know what was wrong with the man, but she could guess that he was trying to pursue her for ulterior motives other than fancying her.
"Who is it?" Andrew wondered from her and she dropped the phone back into her pocket.
"Ana," Victoria lied. "She wanted to remind me that we're supposed to be meeting the lawyer this evening...as if I could forget with dad sending me hourly reminders."
"Still as protective as ever, I see," Andrew said and Victoria scoffed, making a move to stand up, picking her satchel up with her as she did so. Andrew watched her for a few moments as she ran a hand through her hair and then straightened out her blazer.
"I should get going. Taylor's waiting outside to take me home," she said to Andrew and he stood with her, leaving his cup on the table as he adjusted the bag on his shoulder, his sweaty palm holding the strap of it. "Anyway, I will probably see you before you go."
"Yeah," Andrew replied and Victoria moved to kiss him on the cheek. His breath caught in his throat as she made the motion and she moved her hand to run over his shoulder in a tender motion.
"So we'll just see how the relationship turns out," Victoria concluded. "Who knows; one day I might come over to California to see you?"
"I'd like that," Andrew promised her and watched as she smiled to him and then walked away.
...
"The defence will try to prove that she didn't administer the sleeping pills. You need to set them straight on that record; that part is important, Victoria."
Victoria had sat on the sofa for the past hour, listening to her father's lawyers as he sat in the chair to the side of them. Christian was stood with his hands in his pockets, his gaze moving between his daughter and the lawyer as she answered his questions and he urged her not to change any aspect o her story.
"But I didn't take them," Victoria said. "What more evidence is needed? She was there. Taylor and my dad saw her. How can they try to pin any of this on me?"
"Not on you," Christian answered his daughter and Ana sat up straight next to Vicky. "They are trying to blame Jack. They are saying he was hell bent on revenge on me for having Ana. Elena was merely a pawn."
"Bull-"
"-Yes," Christian interrupted his daughter before she could swear. He looked at her sternly as she stood up and commenced her pacing around the room, tugging at the ends of her hair with her hands.
"Their case is weak, but they are merely trying to have Ms Lincoln portrayed as innocent in all of this," the lawyer continued, checking his watch and realising that his time was up. He closed the lid to his briefcase and stood, nodding curtly to Christian. "As I said, her case is flawed...regardless of how crazy Mr Hyde appears."
"Good to know," Christian said. "And will Ana and I be required to take to the stand?"
"It would do the case a world of good. You were the one to find your daughter. I highly doubt a judge or jury will go against the word of a father who has single handily brought his daughter up," the lawyer responded. "Of course...the media surrounding your relationship with Ms Lincoln...well...they may have a field day with it."
"I know that they can do the math," Christian slowly nodded and walked with his lawyer towards the elevator, both of them lowly conversing. "They are already loving this story."
Victoria continued to pace up and down the floor length window, looking over at the view which Escala held. She didn't think she had ever appreciated how scenic it was. Ana stood up and slowly walked, stopping a few metres to the side of Victoria and folding her arms over her chest.
"It's all a mess, isn't it?" Victoria complained and Ana allowed her lip to pull upwards.
"You could call it that," she nodded to her and Victoria glanced back over to Ana, her gaze lowered as she did so.
"Elena will soon be gone though," Victoria remained hopeful of the situation. "She will be gone and we will-"
"-Victoria!"
Christian's voice echoed through the apartment and both women turned around to see him storming back into the room, his phone in his hand as he did so. His eyes were narrowed and glaring at his daughter as Victoria wondered what she could have done in the past two minutes of his absence.
"What?" she demanded to know and Christian stood before her.
"Have you seen Dominic Chattel today? Have you been replying to his messages?"
Startled, Victoria shook her head, her eyes wide and full of innocence as her father's glare continued to burn through her. "No, we discussed this earlier. I have no interest in him."
"Then why is it all over the internet gossip websites that you and him are slowly becoming an item?" Christian asked from her. "Barney just sent me the message. Chattel said the two of you can't stop messaging each other and you're slowly falling for him."
"Excuse me?" Ana asked, knowing full well that the rumours were a load of rubbish. Victoria looked between the pair of them, her mouth gaping as she did so.
"You know I am not. Why is he lying?" Victoria wondered.
"I don't know," Christian replied, "but I will soon find out."
...
A/N: Thanks to everyone reading and anyone who reviews!
