Chapter 71 SUED

Chapter 71 SUED
LAURA'S POV

"Mommy, you're doing it too tight."

I loosened the band. "Sorry, baby."

She turned around and planted her hands on her hips. "Are you sad mom?"

"No, I'm not sad." I said softly, brushing a few loose strands from her face.

"But you have a sad face."

I crouched to her level and fixed the collar of her school uniform. "Mommy's just tired. Big party last night."

At that her face beamed. "Did you sing?"

I nodded. "I sang."

"Why didn't you take me along mom?"

"You were already sleeping and it was an all grown ups party." And I wasn't sure, I wanted my daughter to witness the scene last night with Evan. I pushed up to my feet. "Now get your backpack. Brian's waiting in the car."

She ran off. I turned around and caught my reflection in the hallway mirror. There was a faint stain on my collarbone, I rubbed it off gently and was still rubbing at the spot when my phone rang.

Ryan's name flashed on the screen. I frowned, my manager never called before eight. I clicked the answer button and lifted the phone to my ear.

"Laura." His voice filtered through, urgent and sharp.

Something in his tone made my stomach drop.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Mr. Jaxon’s girlfriend, Evan has just filed a lawsuit against you this morning. The chargecount is ringing from Defamation, Alienation of affection and so many bullshits. She's claiming you intentionally destroyed her relationship with Jaxon Fallon."

I gripped the phone tighter. "How could she file a suit against me on such a despicable matter? She literally threw a glass at me and Gwen last night. If anyone should be doing the sueing, it should be me.”

"I know. Gwen's already called me three times." He exhaled, heavy. "It doesn't matter what she did last night. She filed first. We have to respond before it blows up in the papers, you've been trending on the media for a while now, this will just make things worst. How fast can you get to the courthouse?"

Ria ran back into the room at that moment, bouncing her backpack. "I'm ready! Brian says you're being slow, mom."

I forced my voice to remain steady into the phone. "I have to drop my daughter at school now, Ryan."

"Drop her and come straight here. Don't talk to anyone. Don't post anything. Just get here."

The line clicked and went dead.

I stared at my phone.

Defamation.

Alienation of interest!

She had the effontery to sue me for Jaxon? The pervetuous jerk!
She had humiliated me in front of half the industry, and now she was suing me for it.

Good God!

"Mommy, let's go!"

I grabbed my keys.

The drive was a blur. Ria chattered about her friend Maya and a hamster named Pickles. I said "mm-hmm" at all the right places. My hands were tight on the wheel. Every red light felt like a countdown.

At the school gate, I kissed her forehead too fast. "Be good."

"You're doing it again," she said.

"Doing what?"

"The sad face."

I fixed the smile back on. "I'm fine. Go learn something."

She ran toward the building. I waited until the doors closed behind her, then I pulled out my phone and called Gwen.

"How are you doing, Laura. I heard what happened," she said immediately, she picked up "Ryan called me. I'm already on my way to the courthouse."

"You are sure that's okay?—"

"Of course, why not. I have even got the video from last night. I'll show the judge if I have to." Her voice went hard. "She's not going to do this to you. She doesn't get to do this to you."

“I know, Gwen. Thank you.”

“Meet me in the courthouse babe.” She said and ended the call.

I hadn't told Brian about the court case yet for two reasons. Knowing Brian he could do something crazy that would only make matters worst and that was the very last thing I wanted.

I climbed back into the car and was about starting it, when my phone buzzed again.

The caller ID flashed Brian.

I sighed. Speak of the devil!

“Brian—"

"Are you okay?" His voice came through the speakers, low and barely audible.

"I'm fine." I replied.

"Ryan told me what happened last night, why didn't you tell me?” he asked, his voice cracked on the last word, then hardened again. "She threw a glass at you. In front of a room full of people."

"Brian, I'm handling it."

"Handling it." He laughed bitterly. "She assaulted you, Laura. She humiliated you. And what—you're just going to walk into court and let her lawyers tear you apart?"

"I have Ryan. I have a case."

"She's suing you!" His voice spiked, then dropped again. "She attacked you, and now she's suing you. That's insane. That's—infact, I'm coming down there."

"No. You're not." I shot back immediately.

"The hell I'm not. I'll be at that courthouse in twenty minutes."

"Brian, stop." I started the car up but I couldn't drive and fight him at the same time. "Listen to me. If you show up angry, that's gonna makes things worse for me, You know that."

"I don't care."

"I do." I gripped the phone. "I need you here. I need you to pick Ria up from school at two. I need you to keep things normal for her. Can you do that?"

He didn't answer immediately, but I could hear his slow breathing through the phone.

"Don't use Ria to shut me up, Laura."

"I'm not. I'm telling you what I actually need." I said in a softer tone. "I can't fight Evan and worry about you getting arrested at the same time. Please, Brian."

He didn't say anything for a long time and if I didn't hear his hard breathing through the phone, I could have thought he already ended the call on me.

"I don't like it when you always do this, Laura. I don't like it when you always carry everything alone."

"I'm not alone. Gwen's already at the courthouse. Ryan's handling the legal side. I just need you to handle home."

Another pause.

"Two o'clock, right?” He asked, his voice was still tight, but the fight had bled out of it. "I'll get Ria. But Laura?"

"What?"

"You call me the second it's over. And if that woman even breathes in your direction wrong, I don't care what I promised. I'll be there."

"I know you will."

"I mean it."

"I know." I exhaled. "Thank you."

"I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know. I love you too."

He hung up.

I sat there for a moment, hands on the wheel, staring into the distance before I pulled back onto the road.

Twenty minutes later, the courthouse came into view. Gwen was standing at the bottom of the steps, arms crossed and behind her was Ryan, who was talking animatedly into the phone pressed to his ear. I parked and got out of the car.

Gwen pulled me into a hug immediately. "Brian called me twice. He was losing his mind."

"I talked him down. He's picking up Ria."

"Good." She pulled back and studied my face. "You ready?"

"No."

She nodded. "Me neither. Let's go anyway."

Ryan hung up and walked over. "Evan's inside. Her lawyer's pushing for a fast hearing. We've got maybe ten minutes."

"Then let's not waste them."

We climbed the steps together. The courthouse doors swung open and beneath the doors, was something I could not fathom.