Thank you everyone for the positive feedback and encouraging words. It made me want to write even more so I'm updating sooner than I anticipated. I'm happy to see readers from my previous stories reading as well. You guys rock! :)


Bella POV

"Thanks for the ride home."

"It's no trouble, Bella. I do like spending time with you. So how was today for you?"

"Um..."

"Indescribable?"

"Yes. I don't know how much more of it I can take."

"Don't worry, you'll get through this. I promise."

"Have you gotten any texts from Alice?"

"No."

"Do you think he had something to do with this? I don't want Alice to get hurt because of me."

"I'm sure she's fine, Bella. Masters doesn't work that way, he would negotiate first. Then if he doesn't get what he wants, that's when you start to worry. What's strange is that there's no record of Alice being signed in and when I got back there the Judge was already gone. Don't worry, if Masters has her he will contact you. I'll have one of my friends down at the station file a report."

Rosalie pulled up to the new apartment Alice and I had been relocated to, she entered the security code then drove through the gate.

"Thanks again for getting us such a nice place."

"It's fine, two girls like you and Alice shouldn't be kept in some raggedy motel. I knew Alice would like this place."

"Yep, she's the stylish type. She went to one of the top design schools in the country on a scholarship."

"I can see that by the way she dresses. What I didn't foresee was her cussing out the Judge." Rosalie said with a laugh.

"I still can't believe she did that."

"The best part of it was the look on Emmett Armold's face."

Rosalie and I were giggling too much to address the officer standing a few feet away from us.

As I pushed the key into the keyhole the knob started turning on it's own. The door flew open and I was knocked to the ground.

"Bella!"

"Alice, you're squeezing me too tight! For someone so small you have a lot of strength."

"What happened earlier?" Rosalie asked her.

"Ohh, I saw the Judge and apologized. I wasn't fined or anything, he let me go."

"I'm happy you're here and safe." I said as I squeezed her as tightly as she was squeezing me.

I noticed Rosalie was eyeing Alice strangely.

"What's the matter?" I asked Rosalie.

"Nothing. Let me help you two up."

"So how did it go?" Alice asked eagerly.

"The trial has been adjourned for two weeks then Masters takes the stand. After that the defense will present their case." Rosalie explained.

"I can't wait for this whole thing to be over and him put in prison." Alice said.

"Me too." I agreed.

"Come on, I'll pour us all a drink." Alice said in her usual cheery voice. Though she seems extra happy today.

"No, thanks." Rosalie declined.

"You're not staying with us?" I asked.

"No slumber part-I mean trial prepping tonight. I'm going to be really busy and I need to work at home. If I stay here I'll be tempted to slack off." Rosalie said as she hugged us goodbye.


Rosalie POV

Today was long and tiring but I think Bella held up well.

That damn Armold thinks he's so damn crafty. I know what he's up to.

And that damn doctor should have warned me about that mistake in her past. Damn lying woman. I wonder where Armold got that dirt on her.

No doubt he's digging up dirt on Alice and trying to make some on Bella. Someone like her doesn't have a spec or flaw in her past that could have any impact on this trial. Her friend Alice on the other hand, I know she was being dishonest earlier. I need to get to the bottom of this. I hate being blindsided and I refuse to let Armold get the upper hand.

He's probably going through all of my witnesses' past.

I can't wait to put that piece of garbage, Masters on the stand. I hope he's ready for me and that Bella will be strong enough. Getting a guilty verdict on Masters would send my career soaring even further than it already is.

I turned through the final corner before I reached my gorgeous mansion. No place like home, sweet home.

"Hmm". I said as I noticed the familiar new model, midnight blue Bentley parked in front of my gate.

I drove up to my gate and honked my horn for the driver to move it out of my way.

I watched as the car slowly drove out of my way and got out my remote and pressed the open button.

I hit the close button as soon as I entered and parked my baby in for the evening.

"How many times have I told you not to come to my home?"

"You've been ignoring my calls and returning all of the gifts I send you so I assumed you want to see me in person."

"Not even close. I wasn't interested then and I'm sure as hell not interested now. Could you have at least not park your car directly in front of my home?"

"Two years of professing my undying love and affection for you and this is how you treat me?" Emmett said with a smile as he shook my gate.

"You know you shouldn't be here, someone might see you and get the wrong idea."

"I don't care. You know you want to let me in." He said as he molested my beautiful black and gold gate with his fingers.

I eyed him suspiciously.

"You know you want to see what these fingers can do." He teased

"The only thing I want to see is the look on your face when I beat you for the second time, Armold."

"Tsk tsk tsk. I went easy on you that time, don't forget that."

"Yeah right. Shouldn't you be trying to get your girlfriend to eat a lettuce sandwich, I heard she got thin as a rail hoping Givenchy would accept her as the face of their new line. Anorexia will do that to a person, poor girl."

"You know you're the one I want, I keep telling you that."

"What about Nadette?"

"Say the word and I'll send her packing." Something in his eyes told me he was dead serious.

"Sorry, I'm not interested. I haven't been for the past two years and I'm not now... But if you'd like to discuss a deal..."

I heard Armold chuckle.

"Still ambitious as ever I see. You know I forgot what it was like to go up against you in court. I'm glad our paths have crossed again, though it's under the most unfortunate circumstances."

His sexy German accent was clouding my mind, hearing him talk does things to me. Things I'd rather not feel...

"What do you say about that deal, Armold?"

"Call me Emmett and we can discuss."

I slowly walked over to the gate while swaying my hips, enticing him.

I lean forward and whisper seductively in his ear, "Emmett".

"Mmm, Ms. Smith what do you have in mind?"

"I lower the charge, eight years in a minimum security prison."

"My my my, go big or go home I see."

I shook my head yes as I licked my lips at him.

"I was thinking more along the lines of no charges and a six or seven-figure settlement for both you and Ms. Adams, we wrap this little legal mess up and take a vacation, just you and me."

"Come on you can do better than that." I told him.

"Eight figures?" He asked innocently and it made me smile.

"Nope. You know what I want."

"Ah, that's right. You want my client sitting in a cell."

"Pretty please." I begged seductively.

"You know I can't accept that."

"Pity." I said as I turned around and headed for my front door.

"Don't walk away from me, Rose. Do you want me to shout how I feel about you so the neighbors will hear?" He threatened from the other side of the gate.

I quickly spun around.

"Don't you dare! I already told you people will get the wrong idea, I don't need anyone peeping out their windows seeing you here."

"That's exactly what I'm hoping for." He said then winked at me.

"If you do that I'll hit you with harassment and stalking charges, a restraining order and a lawsuit! Don't think I won't!"

"Cut the crap and stop fucking around with me. We both know if you really wasn't interested you would have done that sometime in the last two years. Now invite me up so I can see what's under that tight skirt of yours."

"The only thing you're going to see is inside of a jail cell along with your client for witness tampering. I'm going to have that Captain's badge and his pension!" I said as I poked my finger into Armold's chest. The fucker had the nerve to laugh at me.

"So you think this is funny?"

"What's funny is your pride and reputation is about to take a serious hit and you don't even see it coming."

I folded my arms across my chest waiting for him to elaborate.

He did the same, mimicking my actions.

"Well, it seems we're at a standstill."

"I believe we are, Ms. Smith."

"Fine." I sighed. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Dinner."

"There's a soup kitchen seven miles from here." I told him.

"Don't play with me."

"Fine, if the info is worth anything I'll go to dinner with you." I said reluctantly.

"You do know your 'victim' is lying, don't you?"

"That's it, I've heard enough of this."

"One thing Edward doesn't do is rape."

"Oh and I definitely believe that because he's such an upstanding guy." I said sarcastically.

"Edward is a murderer but he's not a rapist. What do you know about this Isabella character?"

"I've already done my homework on her, nothing out of the ordinary showed up on her. And to tell the truth, I believe her."

"Of course you do, her innocent act is very believable. Has it crossed your mind that your search turned up nothing because you weren't looking in the right place and with the wrong name?"

He's caught me off guard, I'll admit that.

"For the first time in history Rosalie Smith has been rendered speechless. I wonder what other ways I can make you speechless."

"What name should I be searching for?" I asked as sweetly as I could.

"You must remember sweetheart, we're on opposing teams. What fun would it be if I revealed the strategic plan we have in place. I'll pick you up tomorrow night at 10pm." He said then took off.

I picked up my red Prada briefcase and headed inside. I smiled at the memory of Alice knowing the brand at first glance of it.

She knows the brand of everything I wear. A girl like that sure wouldn't settle for being middle class for too long. And Bella, the thought of Emmett being right. I really hope he's just trying to distract me and throw me off my game.

The thought of him being right about Bella... I took out my cell and made a call.

"Rose...?"

"Marcel, I need you to do some digging for me. I'll email you the files in an hour, leave no stone unturned."

"Your wish is my command."

I couldn't press the end button fast enough.

I quickly stripped off my clothes and got into the shower. I turned on the warm water and quickly reached for my handheld shower head.

Time to finish what Emmett had started...


Rosalie is hot for the enemy, Alice is keeping secrets and what's this about Bella's past!?. This can't be good!

Rosalie and Emmett have a mutual understanding that they won't use anything shared with each other while out of the courtroom against each other in court.

We're going to follow all events of Bella and Edward's relationship up until the trial. After the trial... Well it's secret. :P

*SNEAK PEAK FROM UPCOMING CHAPTER!*

"Mr. Masters, I'd like you to meet our newest volunteer, Isabella Adams."

I held out my hand for a handshake, but the attractive stranger took it and kissed it instead. He looked into my eyes as his lips lingered on my hand longer than they should have.

I felt a tingly sensation inside of me and I was frozen still.

"It's a pleasure Mr. Masters."

"Call me Edward and believe me, the pleasure is all mine." He said while his eyes intently bore into mine.

I'm NOT done with the chapter this sneak peak is from or any of the other chapters yet. I hope to be soon tho.

Questions? Ask me! :)