"What are you doing, Amanda?" The curious voice of Daniel Grayson startled the 9-year-old who sat on the ground of the newly painted room going through the pile of presents Victoria had received for the birth of her daughter. Conrad had ordered to have the room remodeled to use it as a nursery once Victoria would bring Charlotte home from the hospital. That was why the smell of pastel-pink paint and new white furniture was still stinging in the air.
"Why are you spying on me?" Amanda snapped back angrily. She had been living with Daniel and Conrad in the city for the last month and although the Graysons' Manhattan duplex was far from being small, she found it more difficult than in Grayson Manor to hide from the others. While Conrad was occupied with more important things than bothering the girl, especially Daniel was really getting on her nerves. He obviously took great pride in being a big brother, mentioning it in every possible situation even causing Conrad to yell at his precious son telling him to stop his endless babbling about his baby sister. Amanda didn't even know why it pained her so much to witness the 6-year-old enjoying the time he spent with his mother and Charlotte when she herself regularly visited Victoria and the baby in the hospital and was allowed to spend some time alone with her during which they also talked about her father quite often. She figured that the feeling that caused her anger was jealousy. Jealousy because little Daniel could easily be proud of having a sibling and didn't have to worry about whom he told about that. Amanda however was perceived as nothing more than a pitiable child being lucky enough to be taken in by the Graysons but having nothing to do with the newest addition to the family. Sometimes she really loathed Victoria for keeping Charlotte's real paternity from Daniel and the rest of the world.
"Those are my sister's." Like a little know-it-all Daniel pointed at the presents while he approached Amanda.
"I know that, Daniel. I'm just looking at them." Amanda was very annoyed because of his accusing tone. Quickly she got up stepping right in front of Daniel. She was still older than him. She wouldn't let a 6-year-old lecture her about anything.
"This is also my sister's room, I don't think my Dad would like to see you in here, it's only for family." Demonstratively the boy crossed his arms in front of his chest sending Amanda a mean glare. At his words the girl's jaw dropped open. He had never been that hostile towards her and she figured it had to be his grandmother's influence intoxicating the atmosphere between the children.
"You know what, Daniel". The frustration that had built up inside of Amanda during the last month now threatened to blow up. "I'm family, too."
"No, you're a liar!" Daniel screamed at her. "You're only here because my Mom is a nice person and your stupid Dad is in jail!"
"You haven't just said that?!" In that moment Amanda couldn't hold back her anger any longer. She was aware that it was an unfair fight, but nevertheless she quickly jumped at Daniel wrestling him to the ground and holding his arms and legs down so that he had no chance of getting up again.
"Let go of me!" The boy demanded trying to wriggle his body free from Amanda's grip but she was stronger. "I hate you!" Amanda saw tears appearing in Daniel's brown eyes that bore an undeniable resemblance to his mother's. He would always be her child, her own flesh and blood. Amanda realized how stupid she was to think that she could ever be as important to her as Daniel was.
"Take your words back." Amanda told him with a harsh voice.
"Fine, I'll do that. I take it back. Sorry." Daniel desperately pleaded being scared by the girl's intimidating behavior.
"You're such a weakling." The girl released Daniel from her grip and immediately he jumped up again.
"I'll tell Mom and Dad that you did that to me!" With tears streaming down the 6-year-old's face he screamed at Amanda hysterically still shocked that she had gotten violent towards him.
"I don't care." The girl hissed and wiped her blonde curls out of her face. "I just want you to know that I am Charlotte's sister, too." She simply couldn't put up with the unfair situation anymore and decided to throw reality in the boy's face, no matter what the effects of that were.
"That's not true." Daniel sniffed. "You're just a liar."
"I'm not. Victoria knows it, too. She told me because my Dad is also Charlotte's Dad and not Conrad." The 9-year-old stated matter-of-factly causing Daniel to frown in irritation.
"No. She is my sister and Dad is our Dad." Daniel obviously needed some time to process in order to understand what Amanda had suggested.
"You just believe that because they tell you that. You're an idiot. Why do you think we spent the summer with Victoria and my Dad? Because Charlotte is his daughter and they wanted us to be a family." In the boy's eyes Amanda could see that he was already in doubt and deeply confused by what she was telling him. At the same time she felt a wave of satisfaction rush through her body. She was satisfied because now she didn't have to lie anymore. She didn't have to pretend anymore and feel like she was betraying her father every time she allowed people to believe that Charlotte was Conrad Grayson's daughter. Saying the truth out loud truly had a liberating feeling even if she had only revealed it to Daniel.
"Stop it! I'll call Mom right now!" Confused by Amanda's words the 6-year-old ran out of the nursery so that Amanda followed him into the living room. There they found Maria who had stayed with them in the apartment already on the phone with a concerned expression on her face.
"Ah, here they are." She sounded surprised and waved at the children signaling them to come over to her.
"It's your mother, Daniel. She wants to talk to you." The woman smiled at him warmly and handed him the receiver. Quickly he exchanged a suspicious gaze with Amanda before he began to speak.
"Mommy?" He asked his previous tears still obvious in his voice.
"It's me, Danny. It's so good to hear your voice." Victoria sounded relieved at the other end of the line. "I just wanted to check up on you. Is everything alright?" Part of her plan to calm down and brace herself for the next fight in the courtroom consisted of assuring that Daniel and Amanda still were unharmed in their Manhattan apartment.
"Yes, I'm fine, I mean no, Amanda she…" Daniel stammered insecurely while Amanda's warning eyes rested upon him. "We fought and she said that Dad is not Charlotte's Dad and that she is her sister. But it's not true, I told her that, right, Mommy?" The boy's voice was shaking when he practically begged of his mother to confirm his statement.
Slowly Victoria let herself sink onto the chair next to the phone in the courthouse. This was certainly not the direction she had expected the conversation to take.
"Daniel, listen, I'm sorry." She sighed heavily and heard her son cry a desperate "Mom, no." into the phone. It was the first moment she crushed her littles boy's world and she already dreaded the ones that still were to come. But she couldn't lie to him any longer. She would have told him the truth anyway and lying to him in that moment would only make the revelation that was yet to come even worse. "I'm sorry, baby." The brunette grabbed her forehead and began to sob at the sound of Daniel crying. "Look, I don't have time now, but I promise you I'll explain everything to you later. I understand that you're upset, but please be strong now, okay? Be nice to Amanda and listen to what Maria says." When the child suddenly became silent and didn't respond, Victoria asked again. "Danny? Baby? Please, okay? Can you do that for me?"
"But, Mom…" Daniel really sounded like the world had slipped beneath his feet.
"I know, I'm so sorry I had to tell you this way." Sick with motherly concern Victoria longed to take her son into her arms and calm him down.
Sniffing the tears away, Daniel then put down the phone with a hanging head suddenly feeling like the weight of the whole world rested upon his shoulders.
"Hello? Daniel?" There was only silence. Victoria certainly didn't plan to reveal the truth to her sensible son over the phone but the circumstances didn't give her another choice. "I love you, Daniel." When Daniel had run out of the room and Maria had followed him to comfort him, Amanda had picked up the receiver now clearing her throat.
"Amanda?" Victoria pulled herself together wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"It's me. I'm really sorry, Victoria." The girl suddenly felt guilty for causing such pain to Daniel. It hadn't been her intention. She had simply not been able to put up with his annoying behavior anymore and had lost her temper.
"He would have learnt the truth sooner or later." Victoria stated soberly. "Just please promise me to reconcile with him. He's your brother, too, now."
"So does it mean that things are looking good for Dad? Will I get to see him later?" Excitedly Amanda took in the positive news.
"We can't be sure, it's too early to tell." It was not her intention to get the girl's hopes up now only to destroy them later. "Please, Amanda, just promise me to look out for Daniel."
"Yes, I promise. But I want to see Dad so badly." Torn between trying to be a grown-up on the one hand and being a little girl missing her father on the other, Amanda's voice sounded desperate.
"I know, Amanda. I'm doing everything possible, trust me." Victoria explained hating herself for how she had irritated both children with her phone call when she had originally wanted to make sure that they were fine. "I'm sorry, but I have to go now. See you later." With that the older woman hung up closing her eyes to pray that Amanda's wish would be granted and they would succeed in proving David's innocence today.
Back in the courtroom the anticipation of what was going to happen was even bigger than at the beginning of the trial. Victoria's confession had really shaken everything up and people were now beginning to be suspicious about Conrad's role in the whole case. His angry outbreak had only added to everyone's growing negative perception of him which made them take Victoria's side as the victim and a brave mother protecting her children. Outside the protestors that had once been pushed aside as crazy conspiracy theorists were now being heard getting more air time on the news channel so that they could spread their message that the ruthless CEO of Grayson Global himself was responsible for allowing the terrorist attack to happen.
How the tables could have turned so quickly, still left Tom Kingsley puzzled. He had never lost a case in his career. He had been prepared perfectly considering every little detail and planning everything that was going to happen beforehand. However he had to accept that he had nothing against the performance skills and charms of Victoria Grayson. With those well-practiced tears in her eyes, the trembling of her lips and the sincerity in her expression she had everyone wrapped around her finger believing every word that came out of her mouth. She was smart and her strategy very thought-through, he definitely had to admit to that. He just hadn't expected her to actually screw the Graysons and the power and money that came with being part of that family over in order to help her doomed lover David Clarke.
The fact that Victoria obviously had people who helped her unnerved Tom Kingsley the most because it meant that she had been able to hide things from them when they had all thought they had her under total surveillance. How could he had let that happen? And what else was there to come that they didn't know of? Looking at Edward's and Conrad's now calm but grim faces Tom Kingsley figured they either thought exactly the same as him or they already imagined how they would make him pay for not preventing today's disaster.
Just in time for the trial to continue Eleanor Grayson also returned taking her seat between her husband and son. In contrast to their united entrance as a family she had entered the courtroom on her own this time, her face icy and without any recognizable emotion reflected in it. Her separate appearance was a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Victoria who was now seated further away from the Graysons for her own protection. Eleanor rarely left her husband's side in a time of crisis let lone missed the chance of comforting her son when he was in trouble. Therefore Victoria had a very uneasy feeling about the whole atypical situation searching for any sign that would give Eleanor's motivation away. All she received was a frightening glare from those arctic blue eyes Eleanor had inherited to her son causing Victoria to shiver. She had no idea what this woman had in stall and before she could further worry about that Judge Barnes returned to the courtroom.
"The court has decided to allow the DNA test and personal photos and notes as evidence in this case." He explained allowing Victoria as well as Nolan at the other side of the room to let out a relieved breath while the Graysons and Tom Kingsley began to whisper nervously preparing to protest against the decision. "The DNA test proves that Amanda Clarke, David Clarke's 9-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, and Charlotte Elizabeth Grayson, Victoria Grayson's daughter born on December 13th 1993, are related. This suggests that David Clarke is indeed the baby's father and not Conrad Grayson as it was believed." Robert Barnes let his gaze wander in the courtroom looking in people's shocked faces. He couldn't stick with Conrad's plan of framing David any longer. The evidence in favor of David Clarke's innocence was too strong and he couldn't risk losing his position as a judge.
"The court has also decided it wants to hear about Mr Clarke's relationship to Mrs Grayson from himself."
Not expecting that move Ryan Huntley exchanged a quick glance with David nodding at him to show that he should do it.
"Mr Clarke, step forward please." Judge Barnes ordered and David obeyed. When he got up from his chair he let his gaze stray sideways to Victoria who locked eyes with him giving him a confirming look.
After arguing with Tom Kingsley about the authorization of the judge's decision, he could finally begin questioning David himself.
"Mr Clarke, could you please tell us when you met Victoria Grayson for the first time?" The judge repeated the question the prosecutor had asked Victoria Grayson before.
"It was on December 31st, 1991 at Grayson Manor in the living room. Conrad Grayson introduced us and we talked briefly." David answered confidently.
"And were you aware of the fact that Victoria Grayson's daughter Charlotte is supposedly your child?" Judge Barnes wanted to know straying from a chronological order of asking questions.
For a short moment David was taken aback by the question. He had not expected to be asked that any time soon but as he remembered the photo of his daughter that was imprinted on his mind, he found the determination to answer quickly. "Yes, I have been aware of that since last July."
"Then why, Mr Clarke, have you never said anything about that?" Robert Barnes leant forward furrowing a brow.
"I did. I told many people during the investigation that Victoria and I are expecting a child but no one ever believed me." Remembering the desperation and frustration he had experienced when no one had listened to his words, David felt the anger of the injustice that he was being treated with rising inside of him.
"I see." Judge Barnes acknowledged while the whole courtroom was absolutely quiet listening carefully to the examination. "We know now that you met Mrs Grayson at a party and you fathered her daughter if the DNA test is really valid. But what we don't know is what happened in between. Can you enlighten us about the time between December in 1991 and January 1994? And please include those pictures Mrs Grayson has brought in here."
David knew that the judge tried to expose him as a liar by counting on the fact that he couldn't recall how their affair had started in the first place and that he wouldn't know what was shown in the photographs Victoria had chosen to reveal to the public. Nevertheless, David couldn't imagine an easier task than to remember the day the romantic relationship between Victoria and him had taken its turn…
"I never thought a woman could actually be funny." The noisy laugh that sounded more like a pig's grunt than a human sound filled the dining room at the Waldorf Astoria. "She really has it all. You're one lucky bastard Conrad Grayson." Herbert Dixon a potential new investor for Grayson Global winked at Conrad who sat opposite to him smiling into his third glass of whiskey while the corpulent man patted Victoria's hand acknowledging her presence as if she was some trophy to possess. Shifting uncomfortably in her chair next to her husband, Victoria flashed the man whom she despised to her guts and his business partner a lovely smile while in reality she wanted nothing more than to spill her glass of Martini at him and call him for what he was- a misogynist prick. But she knew that Conrad counted on her as his most effective weapon of getting those men from Detroit to sign the deal with Grayson Global. He had promised her a two-week family vacation in the south of Spain if she played her part and the deal would be sealed. Considering the recent lack of time they had spent together as a family and Conrad's rising stress level caused by his position in the company Victoria had been willing to dress up and work her charms on those men for one evening. However she wasn't sure how long she could keep up that façade when the men's rising level of alcohol made her feel like she was losing more and more control of the situation.
Sitting on Conrad's other side David was simply disgusted by the act he had to witness for the entire evening. When Conrad had suggested he should be the one to accompany him to the business dinner to train his negotiating skills and show him how to successfully get an investor to sign a contract, he had been very excited about the opportunity his boss was giving him. What he hadn't expected however was that a big part of the strategy to convince Mr Dixon and Mr Harlow consisted of exposing Victoria Grayson to what definitely bordered on sexual harassment. David had known that it wouldn't be an easy evening for himself when the Grayson's limousine had arrived to pick him up and he had found himself sitting opposite to the woman on whom he had to admit he had more than just a crush for three months already. He had tried to appear unaffected by the ravishing beauty of her face and her long elegantly curled ebony hair and did his best to engage in casual conversation with Conrad who already sipped a glass of Bourbon apparently being more interested in the smell of money the men they were about to meet had on them than the woman by his side.
When they had arrived at the Waldorf Astoria to meet the investors and enjoy dinner before going to the Metropolitan opera to see a performance of Verdi's Rigoletto, David finally had the chance to take in Victoria's full appearance in astonishment. As Conrad helped her to get out of the car she revealed her silky dark red and floor length evening gown that fitted her slim body perfectly hugging it in all the right places. It had a neckline off the shoulder exposing her delicate collar bones and revealing more of her cleavage than David knew her outfits usually did. It was difficult for him to keep his jaw from dropping open in appreciation but he had to stay professional that night. He constantly reminded himself that he couldn't possibly stare at his boss's wife for even one second. With a proud expression on his face as people turned to look at the woman who had entered the lobby Conrad paraded Victoria around until they finally met Mr Dixon and Mr Harlow. When the older man had hugged Victoria just a bit too tight and held her close for a second too long than strangers normally did, David hadn't thought much of it. Also the compliments he payed her during dinner hadn't alarmed him enough to say something. But when he had witnessed how over a round of champagne during the act break at the opera Herbert Dixon had nonchalantly grabbed Victoria's behind caressing it with a smug expression on his face, David had almost been at the man's throat. Expectantly he had glanced over to Conrad of whom he was sure that he must have noticed the inappropriate gesture too, but instead of doing something Conrad had continued talking and acted as if nothing had happened. David hadn't been able to believe that Conrad accepted the vulgar man's verbal as well as physical attacks towards his wife until he had to realize that it was part of his plan to lure the men into signing the deal. Shortly after the incident Victoria had excused herself to the ladies' room with a sweet smile plastered across her face. It was the same smile that sat on her face after they had returned to the Waldorf Astoria for drinks and Mr Dixon kept on harassing her making it hard for David to concentrate on anything other than wanting to smash that guy's face and Conrad's probably too for choosing to put his wife into that horrible position.
David knew that Victoria's smile was not real, it was nothing more than a mask distracting the men from the fact that she couldn't feel more uncomfortable than she did in that moment. David was so sure of that because he was familiar with her real smile, her genuine smile she had begun giving him ever since they had met at the New Year's Eve party about three months ago. Every time she walked past him in the office or they met at a business event, Victoria's face lit up for a second sending David a smile that was so different from the one she was wearing during that dinner. Sometimes he even thought that she blushed when he smiled back at her, but David liked to discard that thought as only being a fantasy of his. That evening she had avoided to make eye contact with him at all being ashamed and embarrassed of how David was seeing her.
"If you would excuse me, I have to make a phone call." David felt that if he stayed at the table any longer he was going to explode so he rose from his chair. "My daughter is sick at home with the flu and I promised to check up on her."
"Mr Clarke, you disappoint me. Don't you have a wife to take care of that?" Herbert Dixon leant back in his chair challenging David with a threatening look in his eyes.
"No, I don't, I'm raising her alone." He replied confidently not letting that man intimidate him. He didn't have to lie because Amanda really was sick at home with a baby sitter and with every passing second he began to feel guiltier about leaving her for what had turned out to be an awful evening.
"You see, we at Grayson Global have strong family values and support our employees wherever we can." Conrad interfered to save the situation and placate Mr Dixon. "David is one of my best hedge fund managers and at the same time he takes such good care of his daughter Amanda. He is a very resourceful man."
"Well, if that is the case, go Mr Clarke, but don't make that call too long, I wouldn't want to miss your company." He cruelly smiled at him and David had to realize that the investor had figured out just how uneasy he felt about the situation and liked nothing more than to dwell on that.
Arriving at the reception, David could finally let out a deep breath. There was such tension and anger in his body that he hadn't been able to breathe properly at the table. Dialing the number to call home, he also couldn't stop worrying about leaving Victoria all on her own with those disgusting men. Just when he was saying his goodbyes to Amanda who had promised him that she was feeling a lot better already, he noticed a familiar figure in a red dress rushing past him in a quick pace. In the corner of his eye, he recognized of course that it was Victoria who angled for the ladies' room once more. David hung up the phone and naturally he turned into her direction only to see that she had strayed from her path and stopped in a smaller hallway turning around to lock eyes with him. David had to swallow due to her intense stare. It was not like the usual light twist of her lips but rather a determined and serious expression. Slowly she stepped to the side reaching out her hand to open a door in the hallway only for his eyes to see. Dumbfounded he started back at her when she quickly entered the room being careful not to be seen by anyone except for David. He couldn't quite believe what she was doing but he had no doubt about her intentions. So she really had been flirting with him for the last few months and it hadn't just been his imagination. It was like he had no choice but to follow her blindly. So he didn't hesitate long and found himself in front of the very door Victoria had just disappeared behind. He knew it was wrong and maybe he would regret it even, but the tingling feeling in his stomach finally made him turn off his brain and step into the room praying that he too would remain unseen.
Immediately he smelled her perfume lingering in the air of the completely darkened room. He figured it was some kind of storage room for the hotel and tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness.
"Mrs Grayson?" He whispered scared like a school kid and not daring to move. There was no answer and slowly David began to feel embarrassed. What was he even doing there?
All of a sudden he felt a hand grabbing him by the arm and pulling him further into the dark room where he saw a small lamp in one corner illuminating the dusty shelves propped with all kinds of cleaning utensils. What he could also see now was Victoria Grayson standing right in front of him devouring him with her dark brown eyes while he her bare cleavage was rising and falling heavily. He had no idea what to say to her when he had to admit that he was extremely aroused by her simply standing before him in the dim light. As he wanted to open his mouth to break the silence and put an end to the lusting views they exchanged, Victoria stepped forward and hushed him by pressing her finger to his mouth. The skin contact with her was electrifying and David wasn't sure if he had ever felt quite that way before. He wanted to touch her so desperately but didn't want to overstep a boundary either. Luckily Victoria made that decision for him when she placed both of her hands in his neck and then pressed her lips on his not having to wait long until he kissed her back after a first moment of being frozen in shock. He couldn't believe what was happening. It was like his most beautiful dream come true. Her fingers gripping his neck already made goosebumps appear all over his body and the addition of her lips on his in a frantic kiss made David lose his mind instantly. He did his best to hold himself back allowing her to lead the interaction while his whole world suddenly only seemed to consist of that kiss, of being so close to Victoria, feeling her tongue brush against his own, smelling the intoxicating smell of her hair and enjoying the feeling of her body longingly pressing against his. Not parting form his lips Victoria then took David's hands placing them on both sides of her body to lead him on. It was almost intimidating for him to being able to touch her flawless body but the moment she gave him the permission to do so David used it to the full extent. Gently he roamed both sides of her body with the palm of his hand enjoying every inch of it until he reached her behind and had to block out the images of Mr Dixon's hands in the exact same place. Slowly he encircled his hands on her behind pressing her further against him which Victoria acknowledged with a satisfied moan and began to fumble with the buttons of his shirt. Wondering how he could have forgotten about that detail, David's hand encountered the high slid in Victoria's dress that almost revealed her whole leg. Touching her soft bare skin was even more intoxicating than feeling her body through the silk fabric and quickly David got lost and let his hand disappear beneath her dress caressing that part of her precious body until he reached the lace of her panties. Feeling that his lust might have taken him too far he removed his hand placing it at the small of her bare back instead. Victoria's reaction to that was that she took a step backwards interrupting the passionate kiss they shared.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" David stammered fearing that his behavior might have caused her to withdraw, but quite the contrary happened. After a quick glance around in the room Victoria hopped onto the wooden table that stood right behind her and smiled at David mischievously. His brain was only slowly processing what was happening when he was distracted by the vision of Victoria sitting there with swollen lips, her red lipstick now smeared, her darks messy hair framing her face and the neckline of her dress threatening to slide off her shoulders. David could only stare at her when she reached to the slid in her dress fumbling with the lacy waistband of her underwear and began to slide it down her smooth legs seductively. Obviously satisfied with the effect she had on David she leant forward to pick the black piece of lingerie from the heel of her stiletto placing it beside her on the table like it was the most natural thing to do. Still believing that he was only caught in a dream David didn't move but felt all of his blood rushing downwards his body not taking his eyes off of Victoria for one second – he wasn't even sure if he was blinking anymore.
Grinning to herself Victoria stretched out her long legs managing to pull David towards her for he still stood close enough for her to reach him. She sat up straight placing her hands at the back of his head once more and guided him to lean down to her neck. Like she desired David started placing soft kisses on her bare skin working his way from her neck to her collarbone and finally to her cleavage. The moment she parted her legs allowing him to get even closer to her David had already succumbed to his lust for her completely. He had stopped thinking about what he was doing and instead concentrated on enjoying roaming her body with his mouth wanting to pleasure her the way she deserved. Apparently he did do something right judging by the number of moans that escaped Victoria's lips and the way she heavily breathed into David's ear turning him on all the more in return. She let her heels brush against his legs when she moved her legs causing his knees to tremble by the desire she stirred within him. Nevertheless the cloud of lust that was blocking his rational thinking began to clear when he suddenly felt how Victoria had already managed to open his belt and opened his trousers with determination.
"No." His head shot up from her body grabbing her hands to stop them from further pulling down his clothing. Because of that he earned a confused look from her which turned into an angry one when he also kept her from reaching into his boxers.
"Stop." He told her and quickly buckled his belt again. "I don't want it. Not like this. Not in here." David explained to Victoria who struggled to deal with his rejection and tried adjusting her dress. The fact that she hadn't uttered a single word since they had stepped into the room irritated him and at the same time supported his realization that their unexpected sexual encounter was fueled by the anger about the evening in her head and the alcohol in her veins. Although her behavior told a different story, David was aware that she didn't feel fully comfortable in the situation with him either. He didn't want to prey on her vulnerability and would never act on the way she offered herself to him. To him, she was worth so much more than that, he had fallen in love with her and he would never use her in any way. So that was why he stopped Victoria and began to button his shirt instead.
"Victoria." He whispered with his voice still spilling with lust calling her by her first name for the very first time. "Don't consider this my rejection." He carefully cupped her face with his hands. "I want you. So much you can't even imagine. But not on this table in this dirty room." Surprised by his clear words Victoria's eyes widened but she remained silent. "Those men out there at the table, I want nothing more than to crush them, to stop them from what they are doing to you. I am not like them. You have to know that. Do you understand? I don't want to take advantage of you, that's why I held you back." Hesitantly Victoria nodded fascinated by David's explanation. "Trust me, I want nothing more in this world than to be with you." As if to support his words he pressed another kiss on her mouth having a hard time parting from her lips. "So, please, consider this my way of telling you that we're saving it for the right time and the right place."
"Okay." She whispered after clearing her throat which caused David to smile at her.
"I'll see you around then." He let his finger trail along her cheekbone one last time before he turned around to leave the room. Stepping into the bright light of the restaurant it was like he snapped back to reality. And with that came the worries about how long they had stayed away from the table or if anyone had seen them. What didn't plague him however were feelings of guilt or regret or losing the confidence in his promise of seeing Victoria again. Even when he returned to the table taking his seat next to Conrad his decision to be with Victoria properly didn't suddenly disappear. Rather David was surer than ever of his crazy fantasy to love Victoria and become the only man in her life.
During his description of the events in the courtroom, David made sure to include the right amount of details to convey his message that Victoria and him had really fallen in love but made sure to exclude the details of their intimate encounter. Attentively the whole room listened to David's story and when he had finished he glanced over his shoulder locking eyes with Victoria in the audience who sent him a genuine smile signaling him that she was okay with what he had revealed about their private life. Both of them weren't scared anymore. They no longer feared other people's reactions to the revelation of the true nature of their relationship. They had one another and the truth on their side and that was enough to for them to put all cards on the table in court.
If it hadn't been for his father telling him to stay calm, Conrad had almost jumped up from the seat shutting David Clarke up when he told everyone how he had been intimate with his wife even presenting himself as the hero who saved her from her own husband. He had never known when exactly their affair had started and to hear that it had been Victoria who had initiated the sexual contact fueled his hatred all the more. Balling his fists Conrad closed his eyes attempting to block out the panic rising within him. How could they have let it come to the point that his freedom did seriously become endangered? And where was that transaction he ordered to be forged which would prove David's involvement once and for all?
"And as for the photos you refer to, Victoria and I soon began to meet secretly at my beach house and we spent some weekends together when her husband was away." It astonished David how easy everything seemed once people actually listened to him and he didn't have a whole system rigged against him. Sharing his story in front of the court made him feel like he had a real chance to win this fight.
"Can you tell us what is shown in the photographs, Mr Clarke?" Judge Barnes broached the subject narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I'm guessing Victoria chose her favorite ones." David was nervous but at the same time he also had to suppress a smile thinking about the good memories. "There definitely has to be the one in which I spill the pasta sauce all over my apron." His words sounded ridiculous in the serious situation and Judge Barnes kept a straight face flipping through the photos so that David didn't know if he was guessing correctly. "And the one which shows both of us and I wear that scarf on my head. I'm not so sure about the others. There are so many we took and shared…"
"Mr Clarke" Judge Barnes began dramatically. "I have to say that you are right about those two photographs." He turned them around to show them to the audience and the jury. "I've heard enough. You can return to your bench."
With new hope filling his body and giving him strength to continue David sat down and watched as it was now Roger Halsted's turn to testify.
He was apparently terrified of the situation but mustered all the courage he had to answer Ryan Huntley's questions. He could still feel the pain Conrad Grayson's henchmen had caused him and it required a huge effort to speak up against a man who had already threatened his life. But Roger Halsted did it. He did it for David. He did it show that the good in the world could still win. Roger Halsted recounted how he noticed the beginning of Victoria's and David's love affair and the moment David told him about it asking for his advice. He also admitted to helping them escape with fake IDs and being taken hostage by men hired by the Grayson family who beat him up and threatened him to be killed if he didn't cooperate. Roger made sure to include Conrad Grayson's corrupt ways of making business hinting at his knowledge that Conrad regularly payed people to lie in his favor and a court case was no exception from that.
When he finished giving his testimony it was quiet for a second before Tom Kingsley finally got up to make a last attempt follow their original strategy.
"Your honor, may I mention that the court hasn't looked at the evidence of the financial statement yet? I think that this will show that all of the previous testimonies are nothing but confusing words to conceal the truth: that David Clarke helped launder money for terrorists. The bank statement clearly proves that." Straightening his shoulders Tom Kingsley approached Judge Barnes determinedly. "I also have to present another witness, Mr Bill Harmon. He is a long-term employee at Grayson Global and worked closely with Mr Clarke as well as with Mr Halsted."
"Mr Kingsley, excuse me if I have to interrupt you." Judge Barnes raised his hand in disbelief cutting the prosecutor off. "But to be honest I have already been wondering how that evidence you mention should help your case."
Shaking his head in confusion Tom Kingsley waited for the judge to go on.
"This financial statement clearly states that it was Conrad Grayson who accepted Americon Initiative's money as an investment in Grayson Global." Robert Barnes pulled the piece of evidence out of a folder. He had no idea what went wrong with the Grayson's plan of faking the evidence and presenting credible witnesses, but he sure as hell wouldn't work in their favor anymore.
"What?" Convinced that the bank statement would be the inevitable proof of David's guilt, Conrad jumped up while the noise in the courtroom began to rise. This couldn't be happening. He himself had checked the evidence Edith Lee had forged for him perfectly. He had approved of it and they had handed it in. He had personally made sure of that. So what had just happened? Why was Judge Barnes holding the original financial statement in his hands?
"Mr Grayson, there's no need to rise." Judge Barnes scolded Conrad who couldn't believe what was happening. "This piece of evidence undoubtedly proves Conrad Grayson's responsibility for laundering money that belonged to a terrorist organization. David Clarke's name however is nowhere to be found."
All of a sudden Bill Harmon rose from his seat and turned to leave the room.
"Mr Harmon, you are not allowed to leave, the court still needs to hear your testimony." Robert Barnes explained but knew that Bill had understood the full weight of the previous revelations.
"No, I'm not doing it." He said firmly and immediately Tom Kingsley went towards him to save the situation.
"No." Bill Harmon pushed the prosecutor away who wouldn't stop whispering to him. "I am not lying under oath. I am not testifying."
His words echoed in the silent room before their meaning slowly sank in. Simultaneously everyone's heads turned to stare at Conrad and his father. The corrupt scheme of the Graysons was becoming more and more obvious and more and more people started to doubt the Graysons' innocence while they started to see David Clarke as a victim.
"If that is the case I call for Mr Kingsley and Mr Huntley to present their closing statements."
First of all, I apologize to all of you that it took me so long to update. Thank you for your patience and your comments and PMs that keep me motivated and give me strength to go on. :)
I hope this chapter was worth the wait and you enjoyed the Vivid flashback which I hadn't planned to be that long but once I got to writing it I couldn't stop myself.
Also you should check out my amazing writing partner DDLJ's story "Im Not going anywhere". Reading her fanfic is really inspiring to me and I learn a lot from her and her story telling.
Please don't forget to leave a review and bear with me if I keep you waiting for the next chapter too long.