Will smiled pleasantly as Diane introduced him to Miss Stevenson. He had heard her name before, she was in publishing. That was exactly what the firm needed some big clients to make up the losses. The last three months have been particularly hard on the firm. Frankly, they were completely depended on David Lee and Will didn't like dancing to the tune of the cunning lawyer.
"Miss Stevenson is going to need us both Will. She wishes to file a sexual harassment complaint against a client, but there are also some financial dealings between so this might play out in civil court." Diane said.
"Of course, Miss Stevenson. I am terribly sorry about your situation." Will said politely. "We are a full service firm and I promise you we are at your corner."
"Thank you, Mr Gardner. I feel I have brought this on myself. I mean , I knew Sweeney's reputation and yet I agreed to work with him. It just, he seemed like a golden goose."
"Excuse me, Sweeney, you mean Colin Sweeney?"
"Oh yes, I am sorry. I forgot you just came in."
Will froze. There it was. The moment he dreaded had finally arrived. He would go up against Alicia in court.
"Miss Stevenson, we have everything we need and we are going to prepare for court. We will be on touch and please do not hesitate to contact us." Diane said and bid their new client goodbye.
When she went back to Will's office she found him with a scotch in his hand.
"Isn't it too early to drink?"
Will didn't bother answering.
"Will come on we both knew this day would come."
"Yes but... I don't know Diane. I don't know if I can be a professional in this case. Maybe I should abstain. Give it to Julius."
"Nonsense. You are the heart and soul of litigation and you know Sweeney. You will can take him down on the stand."
"But Alicia knows me too well. She will guess and counteract my strategy."
"And you know her very well. You taught her how to stand in a courtroom Will. You can beat her." Diane paused for a moment weighing her words "assuming you want to."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Will was getting angry. "That I don't care about this firm enough? That I would protect Alicia at the expence of the firm?"
"Would you? I need you to be at the top of your game, Will. We win this, we get Stevenson's business. That's 35 million dollar a year. We won't have to grovel at David Lee's feet. I need the cut throat lawyer I know."
Will paused. Well, here goes. It was bound to happen eventually. My days of protecting Alicia are over. This is truly, sadly the end. The end of whatever hope I had, whatever feelings we shared. Here I go against her all laced up and ready to go. I have to survive this. Bury this. Do my job.
"Will? What are you thinking?"
"I am in."
Alicia froze for a moment. Then she turned to Cary.
"You take it."
"Alicia I can't. Sweeney is your client. He won't allow you to back down."
"He will accept it, if it served his best interest"
"No he won't. You know Sweeney. He loves his little power games. If you ask him to relieve you from your duties, he will only make life harder for you."
I knew this hard on Alicia. I knew that her leaving Lockhart/Gardner was much more complicated than it seemed. Her relationship with Will was hard. Everytime we crossed paths in the court corridors Will very pointedly ignored her. I would still get the polite nod or best case scenario a Hello, but Alicia was invisible. And yet we needed to do our job.
"Alicia you knew this day would come eventually."
Cary was right. I did know it and I dreaded it.
"Ok Cary. I will continue on this case. Robyn could you please find out which attorney will be in charge?"
A/N. I had intended this to be a Will/Kalinda chapter. My muse had a different opinion. The next one though I promise. I want to thank G. , guategal (I get your reviews in my email but I cannot see them on fanfiction, I don't know why, but thanks for the support) for reviewing, and AshleyMarie2010, BloodyShow,Jess3079, L'ange demoniaque, Lakersgirls91, michellegoodall, thania.5 and twingirl1 for following this story.
Again nothing belongs to me. Read and Review.