“Wait a second, wait a second.” The judge snarks, looking at me and then back to Riker with a frown and narrowed gaze. “You’re telling me that you’re engaged to be married to Jane Gordon, the woman to your left and also your lawyer?”
“That is correct, your honor, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He looks over at me with a dreamy smile that I’m not sure how he managed to look so convincing in all of this, and I just sigh and keep my eyes forward, still unsure of how the hell I’m going to explain this.
“Okay, so if you’re actually engaged, then why the hell were you gambling at a casino, consorting with groupies and making an ass of yourself?”
I manage to bite back the smirk that wants to make itself known when the judge makes that comment and I can see that Riker isn’t exactly pleased with the judge’s assessment of the situation, but much to my surprise he still remains calm and composed.
“Judge because my beautiful fiancé is so amazing and understanding,” He says with a grin in my direction, blowing me a kiss, “She understands that my lifestyle has been… different than what our future holds. The weekend was actually her idea!”
My eyes go wide and I look over at him with a glare, shaking my head subtly. Of course he ignores it and keeps going, and a single look over at the judge tells me that he’s not exactly buying it and is as confused as I am.
“And why should I believe that Ms. Gordon suggested that you go and do any of this?”
“She proposed it as a last hurrah of sorts, your honor. A way to get my partying out of my system so that she and I can start fresh on the life that we want to build together.”
The judge looks at him like he’s got three heads and then he looks at me, giving me a questioning glance as I continue to keep my eyes forward. Riker looks at me with a chuckle and then back to the judge, nodding.
“To be clear, she only suggested the gambling and having a good time bit, not the whole…. Inciting a riot. That was admittedly an unfortunate and unintended accident on my part.”
The judge is shaking his head and he drags his hand down over his face with a sigh, obviously still not buying a single word of what Riker is saying. And honestly, I can’t blame him. Who comes up with something like that on the fly and runs with it? I can tell that this is going to end badly and I look over at Riker, who is silently begging me to go along with it. There’s a pleading look in his eyes, almost panicked, and I can’t believe that I’m actually considering backing up his story. Though, what choice do I really have in this situation but to do just that?
My career is barely hanging on by a thread, and if I get one more loss in court, I’m done for. Not to mention the fact that Riker is a huge paying client. Even if I were able to find another firm to take me on after Terry inevitably fired me for losing, one look at the fact that I lost a billionaire client would ensure me that no one would take me. No one wants a lawyer who fucks up and loses the firm’s highest paying client.
So when the Judge turns to me with a sigh and raised brows, a silent prompt for me to either go along with it or end the farce, I know that I’ve only got one choice.
“It’s true, your honor. Riker Lord and I are secretly engaged, though I suppose it’s not so secret anymore now that it’s on public record. I gave him one last weekend to get all of his partying and misbehaving out of his system before we settle in as an engaged couple, and go public with it.”
The second the words come out of my mouth the judge’s jaw drops and the press starts going wild in the courtroom, snapping photos and gasping out in disbelief. I can’t say I blame them really. Riker and I are possibly the least compatible match in the entire world, not to mention this is just one big giant scandal.
The judge orders for order and once everyone is quiet, he leans forward on the bench and shakes his head, cocking his brow at both of us as he speaks.
“Well…in light of this new information, I suppose that I can find a reason to grant Mr. Lord bail, and have him come back for sentencing.”
I hear a hushed celebration next to me as Riker grins, nodding at the judge in thanks. As we’re getting ready to leave the judge stands and looks over at us both with raised brows, his tone sharp.
“Congratulations to the happy couple, but let me be clear on one thing folks: I’m letting Mr. Lord out on bail right now, but if I find out that you two are deceiving the courts, it’s Riker’s ass in Riker’s Island, got it?”
We both nod and then the judge leaves, and we make our way out of the courtroom and into a private conference area, completely unsure of what our next move is.
What the hell did I just get myself into?
7 Riker
Well fuck me sideways and call me Rachelle, that actually worked!
I can’t believe that not only did Jane go along with my on the fly plan, but that we both managed to keep a straight face and convince the
