Chapter 35 THE FEAR OF SEEING KIMBERLY SLOANE MORE THAN A ROOMMATE.
35.
~RAFAEL~
"Are you okay?" Rowan whispers at me the moment I occupy the seat beside her, facing the opposing counsel directly.
"Yeah." I huff, drawing in a long breath.
Soon enough, Baxter's lawyer sets up the camera and brings out a file from the brown carton.
"So, Mr. Rollers. Do you recognize the name of this company?" He asks, passing the paper to me.
Rowan snatches it immediately and spreads it out in front of us.
It's the shell Company we used to transact with Dad's company, shit.
"I don't know anything about it."I deadpanned, suddenly feeling stuffy.
He grins back at me knowingly, as if there's something up his sleeves.
"But the IP address used in operating the company online traces back to your name?"
Shrugging, I fold my arms under my chest."Anything can happen, it could be a malfunction and..."
"Why are you avoiding the main question? The problem isn't you setting up a company that only exists on paper, but borrowing a legitimate company money through a shady source and claiming the ownership of the company after." The lawyer cut me off immediately, throwing me off guard with his question.
"You won't cut my client off when he's talking." Rowan snaps.
Baxter's lawyer presses his lips in apology and flips the file again.
"Check the terms and conditions of the contract. It says that the money borrowed will be paid in full after six months, and during the six months of grace, stocks tanked to the bottom rock, making it hard for sales to be smooth and running, and your father wasn't able to pay the money."
My throat cracks slightly at the mention of my father, they're trying to corner me and fuck, they're already succeeding.
I hate intense conversations, it feels like I always run out of breath anytime I'm having one.
"Business was bad then I think."
"But you didn't experience the situation then, your company didn't?" Baxter throws in, jealousy written all over his face.
He just hates my guts, he hates that I built myself from nothing, he hates that I picked myself up over and over again. It fucking infuriates him.
"Well, I can't be too humble about that, I have the best partner." I throw in sarcastically.
"You mean your lackey?" Baxter chips mockingly, referring to Rowan, his shoulder heaves in pride.
"The one who sponsored your incessant lifestyle years ago?" I snickered, leaning towards Rowan who's trying so hard not to burst into laughter.
Silence governs the room immediately, punctuated by Baxter's growl.
"Why can't he help your fucked up brain too? I mean, why are you still crashing every time things get too intense and you run away like a fucking pussy!"
"You son of a bitch!" Rowan growls, smashing the camera immediately over Baxter's face.
His loud yelp consumes the room as he holds his bleeding face, groaning.
"You will be sued for this!" Baxter's lawyer threatens, pointing his finger at us in anger.
"This deposition is fucking over, the moment you exposed my client's personal life that didn't relate to the lawsuit, you fucking lost." Rowan yells, marching towards the two of them in anger across the table but I dragged him back immediately.
"Too bad that you smashed the camera,I mean..."
"You're such a sore loser, the whole board room is fucking tapped, try acting any funny." Declan teased, ushering his associates out so they won't witness more of this.
They already know about my messed up head, all thanks to my fucking brother.
"Call the fucking ambulance." Baxter groaned out, his face soaked in blood.
"You don't have any concrete evidence to prove that Rafael manipulated the stocks or bought the company unlawfully, even if you do, I will make sure I render them useless, you hate my tenacity, Baxter, and you sure as hell know what I'm capable of." He added.
Words evaded me, the shock of Baxter ousting my mental issues still leave me reeling, I didn't expect him to come down so low to the fucking ground just to drag me.
I thought he would still have some dignity in him, knowing that our mother went through the same thing? Nah, he went too far this time around.
"The two of you are going to patiently wait and you will treat that messed up face of yours until I call for you." I point to the two of them before walking out of the boardroom, texting Wendy to block all ambulance from entering the building.
He should writhe more in pain, this is little compared to what I went through all my life, it won't break him.
Getting to the office, I crash into the seat, my bones writhes in exhaustion.
It's just a deposition that didn't last ten minutes and I'm this spent?
The door creaks open quietly and Rowan walks in, his face still reeling in anger.
"Hey, you're good?" He asks worriedly, closing the door behind him.
My heart tugs at his gesture, because he still cares about me first even in this situation.
"No, are you?"
"Fuck no." He huffs harshly, his breath still laboured."But I feel so good about smashing that camera on that son of a bitch face."
I chuckle lightly, rubbing my face."I didn't expect him to do that to me."
"You still hold him in high esteem."
"Not anymore." I mumble.
Baxter can't have his cake and have it, he did that to me, he should pay for the consequences.
Rowan picks up some of my tasks to ease up my burden for the day which I'm fucking grateful for and he leaves the room.
I wonder what Mom would have said if she is still alive. Would she have chided Baxter or blame me for taking things too far? She would have supported her, because Baxter was her whole world, the reason why she crumbled.
And it hurts like hell, because Mom only looked at me after she messed up and needs someone to clear it up. Everything seems so unsure.
But Kimberly would have probably pounced on Baxter the way Rowan did, she would have supported the hell out of me and cower later.
I don't know where the urge to tell Kim about my mental issues came from but I suddenly want to talk to her, tell her about my therapy sessions and my fears.
And the realization that I might see Kim more than a fake wife and housemate soon scares me, the urge to be vulnerable around that round woman who acts flush around me. It's scary. I shouldn't feel like this.
But I can't help it. I can't.