Chapter 101
As I got home and was greeted by Cuddles, wanting food, I felt it had been the right decision to turn down Seymour’s offer. I had planned ahead and had left overs I could just heat up. But I wasn’t hungry, it could wait. I gave Cuddles his food and planted myself on the couch. I had barely relaxed when my phone chimed.
W: Hi, babe. How did it go? Was it your turn today?
The message from Wictor made me sigh. I hadn’t told him about Hunter and me. But I needed to talk to him.
Me: Can I call?
He was calling me seconds after I had sent the message.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked.
“I need to talk with you,” I said and then a massive sob.
“Hana?” he asked, sounding worried. I told him everything between sobs. “I’m coming over,” he said.
“No, no. I’m not nice to be around and I just want to curl up on the couch and feel sorry for myself.”
“You can do that when I’m there as well. I’m already heading out the door.” He arrived half an hour later and gave me a long hug.
“He is crazy for letting you go,” he told me and kissed my temple. I shrugged.
“I think we let each other go,” I said.
“Don’t do that. You are allowed to be upset. I’m not saying Hunter is a bad guy. I think he’s a decent one. But if he lets you slip away, he’s a moron. I get it, but he’s still a moron,” Wictor told me. I tried to smile at him.
“Thank you.”
“Always. Now lets get you to the couch, I bought strawberry ice cream and chocolate syrup and marshmallows.”
“I love you,” I told him and he chuckled as he made me snuggle up on the couch before making two big bowls of ice cream. We sat on the couch, stuffing ourselves full and talking. Cuddles joined us and when it was time for bed, Wictor stayed. It was nice not being alone. I knew the next day would be a tough day, full of questions.
I woke up the next day to the smell of bacon cooking. I smiled and got up and saw Wictor in my kitchen.
“Are you making breakfast?” I asked.
“You bet your ass I am. You can hop into the shower and then we can eat.”
“Aren’t you in a hurry if you are going to make it home and change before heading in for work?”
“I would be if I was going to work. But I’m going to the courthouse and I can wear what I have on for that,” he told me.
“Why are you going to the courthouse?”
“Because you need someone there that you rely on. Hunter isn’t that person anymore, so I will be there. I have already taken a personal day off. Now shower or we’ll be late.” I hurried over to Wictor and gave him a big hug.
“Thank you. I really do love you,” I said and smacked a kiss on his cheek.
“I know, I’m amazing. Shower, then eat.” We arrived at the courthouse and stopped for a moment to talk before I headed towards the rooms for the witnesses and he took a seat in the courtroom. I saw Hunter as he walked into the room. For a moment, our eyes met and then we both looked away.
“Are you okay?” Wictor asked.
“Yeah. It’s just strange. We both know that the feelings are still there and it creates this tension. It’s just awkward and strange, but it’s ok. Go in and take a seat and I’ll talk with you at the end of it all,” I told him. He gave me a hug, and we went our own way.
Two hours later and I was sitting in the witness stand again. This time I had Wictor to look at, I had found him the first thing I did after being reminded I was still under oath and asked to sit down. It felt like a security blanket to have him in the room.
“Good morning, Miss Bishop,” Mr Steel said.
“Good morning.”
“I will try not to keep you too long today. But I have some further questions,” he said. I didn’t respond as he hadn’t asked a question. He started in on his questions again, trying to build the image of me as a gold digger with connections to the criminal world.
“No further questions,” Mr Steel finally told the judge.
“Do you have any questions?” the judge asked Tim.
“Just a few, your honour,” Tim said. “Miss Bishop, you testified that you got your husbands company in the divorce. Do you still own it?” he asked.
“No.”
“What did you do with it?” he asked me.
“I sold it to him, I didn’t want it.”
“How much did you get paid?”
“A little over six million dollars,” I said.
“Have you spent this money?”
“No, it’s still in my account.” He continued to ask about my employment.
“Taking everything into consideration, are you able to support yourself?” Tim asked.
“I do,” I said.
“In fact, most would consider you well off?”
“Objection, your honour. Hearsay, she can’t possibly know what everyone else thinks,” Mr Steel objected.
“Objection sustained.”
“Let me rephrase that. Do you consider yourself well off?” Tim asked.
“I do.”
“Do you have a need to find a rich boyfriend, or husband?”
“No.”
“Thank you, that was all from me,” Tim said and sat down.
“Mr Steel, do you wish to cross examine?” The judge asked.
“No thank you, judge. I think Miss Bishop has had enough questions hurled at her. I do ask that she remains available to be called back if I have the need to ask further questions in the future.”
“Alright, any objections?” The judge asked Tim. Tim frowned but shook his head.
“No, your honour.”
“Well then. Miss bishop you may step down from the witness stand, but you will remain secluded until both parties agree you won’t be called back or until the trial ends. You are not to talk to anyone about this trial, do you understand?” The judge asked me.
“Yes, your honour.”
“You may step down,” he told me and I stepped down and was escorted back to the room I had been in. I sighed to myself and took out my phone. I had lost hope that I would be returning to work anytime soon and sent an email to my boss apologising and asking if maybe there were some things I could do outside office hours? They had been so gracious to me and hadn’t objected once to all the time off I took for this trial. I wanted to pull my weight. Then I started surfing through baking sites and baketok. The day passed by and it was hard for me to decide if it was worse sitting back in the room, not knowing what was happening with the trial. Or sitting in the witness stand being interrogated by Mr Steel, at least I wasn’t bored senseless when he lay into me. When the day was finally over and I was let out of the room, Wictor was waiting for me.
“You were amazing, babe,” he told me and gave me a hug.
“Thank you.”
“Do you want me to come back home with you?” he offered.
“No, I’ll be fine. I’m going to bake and relax and talk to my cat,” I told him and we both giggled.
“It sounds like a good evening. Then I’m heading home,” he said.
“You are going to call your hot boyfriend and have a make-out session,” I teased him.
“I was trying not to say it,” he told me with a sigh.
“Don’t be silly, I’m happy that you are happy. At least one of us is getting hot sex. I miss it,” I told him.
“Girlfriend, shut up. How long has it been? Not even a week?”
“I know, but he had me hooked. I’m in withdrawal,” I complained as we walked arm in arm. I got home and I did what I had told Wictor. I made a batch of cherry, rum and chocolate ganache cupcakes. I was just heading to the couch with a plate of them when the doorman called.
“I’m sorry to disturb you this late, Miss Bishop. I have a Jason here to see you. He isn’t on the pre-approved list,” he told me.
“Oh. Let him up, it’s okay. Thank you for calling,” I said. I had removed both Hunter and Jason from the pre-approved list. It just felt prudent. I hoped Jason being here didn’t mean something had happened to Hunter. I was worried when I opened the door.