“I wanted to ask you the same question, Mrs. Schultz.” Leaning on my chair, I pinned her with my gaze. “Why would you do something like this? I thought you have a reputation to hold.”
“Stop it,” she hissed. Gone was her nervousness. Heat blazed in her eyes. “You’ll not pin this on me.”
“I’m not.”
“But your lawyers are. Now the media think I have something to do with the leaked photos. You’re tainting my name. Our families are devastated and our reputation is at stake. What kind of game are you playing? Do you not have enough money already?”
I wanted to laugh out loud. Apart from their uncanny resemblance they were a lot different now that I saw her. Her vocabulary was a lot different from my wife's. “It’s not money I am after, Mrs. Schultz.”
“Then what do you want?”
“You’ll know when we meet again for the hearing.” I was tempted to say more. But Benjamin’s warning rang loudly in my mind. I revealed more to Brian than I should have. Well, can you blame me? I just wanted the guy to put one and one together and realize who his wife really was. It appeared Brian really had no brain.
Alana’s chin jutted up. “Well then. I have pressed charges on you for attacking my husband twice.” She threw an envelope on the table which I made no move to pick. “You shouldn’t have touched him. I’m not letting it go this time.” She stood, her fierce gaze cut into mine before she turned and walked. She stopped with her hand on the door. “I feel pity for you, Mr. Cortez. And I wish you see her for what she really is.”
“I saw that already, Mrs. Schultz. It’s your husband, who’s blind. But I’m sure we’ll rectify that situation soon.” Words tumbled out of my lips before I could stop them. But the nerve of that woman. Did she think a legal notice would stop me? That was barely a mosquito bite compared to what I had in store for her.
Anger flashed on her face, but strangely she wasn’t denying my claim. “I’ll see you in court.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
***
Time flew and the date of our hearing came soon. I wanted to save Arianna from this, but I had no choice. As the distance to the court shortened, the knot in my stomach grew tighter.
Arianna fiddled with her overcoat for the umpteenth time. I took her hand in mine to stop her. After Alana’s meeting, the media went crazy with more photos going viral and with the amount of attention it was garnering from the society, the defense requested an urgent hearing on the issue, which the court accepted.
Mike, Enrique and Rosalinda accompanied us to the court with their pairs in separate cars. As expected, the media waited for us when we arrived and Marcus’ security team was ready. I turned to my wife. “Do you remember everything we discussed?”
“Yes.” Her voice trembled just like her hands. She kept moving as if she sat on pins and needles. The comfort of our car wasn’t enough.
“You have nothing to worry about. I’ve got it covered.”
“I know.” She gave me a small smile, nervousness and anxiety written all over her face. “I just hope I don’t go pulling her hair and rolling on the floor when I see her.” She laughed nervously.
“I’m not stopping you if you did that. She deserves what’s coming her way.”
“So confident?”
“Yep.”
“Orlando…” she paused. Our car stopped and the reporters surrounded us, cameras flashing.
“Yeah.”
“Would you have believed me if I wasn’t a virgin or had an ass tattoo?” Her gaze searched mine and I gave her a tight smile.
“I would,” I replied, cupping her cheek. “Because I know you, Arianna. I’ve known you since you were a baby. I might have had trouble telling apart you both, but I’d have believed in you. And I’d have never jumped into conclusions.”
She nodded, satisfied. “I’m ready to go now.”
Taking a deep breath, I slipped out of the car first. Arianna climbed out after me. Cameras flashed furiously as she came to stand beside me. The security team surrounded us, forming a circle, keeping the reporters away.
Arianna looped her hand through my elbow, following me through the stairs and then into the courtroom. My gaze swept through the room, finding them. Their gazes alarmed upon our entry, but a frown marred their features when they saw my wife.
Brian’s brows shot up and his eyes widened as he noticed my wife. The Swanson and Schultz family bozos mirrored his expression and my smirk widened. Guiding her to our seat, we waited patiently for the hearing to begin.
***
Arianna Swanson
“You might not like what happens today. But I hope you understand it’s necessary.” His words kept swirling in my head.
Benji briefed me over the phone and then this morning in person on how things would go and what they’d discuss.
The tremble of my hands has stopped, but my heart still raced. The court hearing began and everyone took a seat. Benji was in front of the court, arguing my case, listing the evidence. I risked a glance at her and noticed she’d gone ghostly pale.
Swallowing the bile that threatened to rise, I held my husband’s hand in a tight grip. Beside me, Rosie, placed her hand on my thigh, squeezing gently. Mike and Rosie would confirm Benji’s claims if needed. So would the others. I was glad to have them here and their unconditional support was making me emotional.
I breathed through my mouth, blinking to clear my vision. Orlando leaned toward me, pressing a soft kiss on my forehead and patted on our joined hands. Two defense lawyers stood in the front, one for Alana and the other on behalf of the media.
“Your honor, in terms of the allegations, I have set up an exhibit that clearly proves my client is faultless. The defendant had negligently published content that reflects negatively on my client’s character, morality and integrity.”
Benji handed over a few papers and photos to the judge and I bit my bottom lip, my grip tightening further on Orlando.
“Six photographs marked with numbers one to six,” the judge observed. “Tell us which is which.”
“Your honor, number one would be the photo of my client. It was taken at her birthday party seven years ago. Number two would again be my client while she has drunkenly gotten a tattoo in her body.” I heard a gasp from my left and didn’t bother to see who it was. “Number three, four, five and six are the photos that sports a lookalike of my client.”
“Has the defendant seen these pictures?”
“Considering it was all over the media, I assume they did. And their presence here today only proves my claim,” Benji said.
“Exhibit one and two are plaintiff’s photos. Exhibit three to six are defendants,” The judge observed.
“You’re right about Exhibit one and two. I’m not sure about the identity of the person in Exhibit three to six,” Benji replied
“It’s not my client, Your Honor,” Alana’s lawyer said. “Her name is purposefully dragged into this issue with an aim to taint her reputation in this society,”
“We never dragged Mrs. Alana Schultz in this case, your honor,” Benji said. He handed another set of documents to the judge. “The newspapers and magazines published these scandalous photos with my client’s name, thereby bringing distress to her and her loved ones.”
“We received the photos in an email and the unknown source confirmed it was indeed Ms. Arianna Swanson,” the lawyer, attending on behalf of the news agencies argued.
“Its Mrs. Arianna Cortez now,” Benji corrected him with a smug grin. My heart skipped a beat despite the situation. That sounded so good. I leaned on Orlando’s shoulder. “The first set of publications is the photos of my client from the party she hosted seven years ago. The second set is the photos of her lookalike.”
The judge looked up from the document he was perusing. “I’ll call this Exhibit A and this Exhibit B,” he said.
“There is one more set of the exhibit that shows my client isn’t the one on the publication.” Benji handed another s
et of photographs to the judge. “Exhibit marked from seven to nine are taken during the same timeline as these scandalous photos on exhibit ten to thirteen were taken.” I remembered the photos. Seven to nine were the photos taken at my office during a birthday celebration. I had dyed my hair black by then. “It clearly proves that my client and this person are different, considering my client has dyed her hair black around the time she joined Ace Events.”
The judge looked at both the photos. Then his gaze peered over his glasses to where I sat. He nodded. “It’s clear from these exhibits that the person on publication is not the plaintiff. Do the defendants argue that it’s not?”
“By claiming that it wasn’t Mrs. Arianna Cortez, the plaintiff is directing the blame on my client Mrs. Alana Schultz, who has a good reputation in this society,” Alana’s lawyer spoke.
“Does this mean that Mrs. Arianna Cortez doesn’t have a good reputation?” The judge cocked his head to the side and I almost wanted to laugh, but the nervousness rendered me motionless. “I see that the plaintiff and the defendant are twins. What makes you think it's okay to claim it was the plaintiff who’s on these photos when you have no proof?”
“It’s because of the plaintiff’s choice of lifestyle, Your honor, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson, her parents are proof of her partying ways and Exhibit one and two proves she isn’t new to parties and drinking.”
“May I interrupt for a second? Your honor, I’m not sure if I agree with that. Mrs. Cortez was a teenager when she hosted that party. She hasn’t touched alcohol since that party. Her close friends and family can assure this. It’s not acceptable to slaughter her character because of a party she hosted as a seventeen-year-old.”
“I agree.” The judge nodded. “Does the defendant has anything else to prove that it is the plaintiff in these photos?”
“The photos itself are a proof,” Alana’s lawyer replied.
“We tested the photos at the labs before publishing them and they’re the real ones. The woman isn’t ao lookalike. It is the plaintiff in those photos,” The lawyer of the news agencies claimed.
The judge shook his head. “You said you received the photos from an unknown source. Did you contact the plaintiff to confirm your claim?”
“No.” The lawyer defending the media shook his head.
“Did you contact the defendant two, the Swansons or the Schultz to confirm your claim?”
“No.”
“I find the defendant one guilty for publishing unsolicited information about the plaintiff. The media admitted the exhibits three to six aren’t tampered. The lookalike doesn’t have the tattoo and their hair colors do not match. It is clear that the plaintiff isn’t the one in the scandalous photos from the evidence submitted to the court. The plaintiff hasn’t mentioned, nor claimed it was the second defendant in these photos. So, I don’t see why the second defendant’s petition against the plaintiff is relevant. Mrs. Cortez is no longer in the case.”
Silence washed over the courtroom and my shoulders slumped. That’s it? A relieved breath left my lips and I leaned on Orlando’s shoulder.
“However, the second defendant may file a case on the first defendant, the media and we’ll take it from there.”
When I looked at her again, her face was ashen. All color had drained from her face and not even the blush she’d applied compensated the lack of color. Our gazes locked and my jaws clenched. All this while I suffered because of her. Now it was time for her to face reality. My gaze shifted to my parents, who had their eyes on the lawyers.
I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they learn what their golden daughter had done. Good luck with that, mom and dad.
Chapter – 26
The tension I was experiencing for the past couple of hours ebbed away as soon as the judge said those words. He saw no point of me being in the case while it was clear I wasn’t the one in the photos. The defense had no proof, apart from the lab reports. Since they received the photos from an unknown source and couldn’t validate the information, the court refused to consider that as evidence.
Benji argued that someone, who held a grudge in Orlando or me, could have done that to tarnish my image. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the courtroom with a wide grin on my face. Benji had nailed it. It wasn’t worse like I feared it would be. He had turned the case around without even mentioning her name.
“It’s not over yet.” Benji approached us. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to come again. I’ll handle the rest from here,” he said noticing my frown.
I nodded. Orlando was right beside me. His hand rested on my lower back. Our friends flanked our sides. The reporters blocked our way and my husband stopped the security from moving them out of our way. A smile breached my lips at the thought. My husband.
My thumb unconsciously traced my wedding band as the first reporter shot the question.
“Mr. Cortez is it true that you both are married?”
“It is,” Orlando answered with a grin.
“Why did you keep the wedding a secret?”
“Is she pregnant? Is that why you tied the knot so urgently?”
“Is it the reason you canceled your business trip early?”
“Why did you change your appearance?”
“Is it your twin on the photos?”
“How do you feel about this?”
Questions shot to us from all the directions. Questions directed to him and me. These people must have a lot of time on their hands to poke their noses around someone’s business.
Orlando kept his cool. “Can you blame me for falling for her?” he redirected the question to them. “Look at her, she’s amazing, isn’t she?” His grin grew wider. “To answer your questions, I would’ve married her sooner if it wasn’t for my business trip. And yes, she’s pregnant. No. It’s not the reason for our secret wedding. I simply couldn’t wait to make her mine. We’ll have a big wedding of her dreams soon. I’ll send you all an invitation.”
“Mr. Cortez, you said that the woman from the photos was not your wife from the beginning. Were you mentioning the tattoo when you said you knew your woman?”
My gaze cut through the crowd, identifying the tall, lanky reporter. I remember seeing him in one of the news channels. He was always there asking something out of the box.
“No.” Orlando grinned. “I’ve known Arianna all my life. When I say all my life, I have known her since her diaper days.” He laughed. His gaze fell on my face with an amused grin and heat rushed to my cheeks. “She’s far from how the others portray her.”
“Will you press charges on Mrs. Schultz if it’s proved that’s her on the photos?” the same reporter asked.
Orlando’s features hardened. “I don’t beat the dead snake and I have other better things to do. Spending quality time with my family is top on the list. Now, if you may excuse, my wife is exhausted.”
The securities surrounded us in an instant, clearing the crowd and leading us to the car. Benji climbed into the passenger seat while we slipped through the back seat. When the door closed, I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and leaned on his chest, throwing my arms around him.
His hand encircled my body and I sensed his lips pressing a feather soft-kiss on my head. With a sigh, I snuggled into his chest, taking in all the comfort. My emotions were a wreck.
“That went well, Benjamin. You were excellent.”
Benji beamed at Orlando’s praise. “Thanks.”
He confused me when he said we should never drag Alana into this. Though we knew it was her, he said that if his plan worked in our favor we wouldn’t have to prove that. He had said our focus should be on proving it wasn’t me and like he said, he’d thrown it all over them without them realizing. The look on their faces was priceless.
Once we stood from the seat on the court, I didn’t spare a glance at them. I didn’t want to. I left them a few months ago and had forgotten the life before that. They now had no place in my life and I didn’t want to bring them back by
thinking about them. I prayed this was the last time I saw any of them in person. I wanted nothing to do with them.
Emotionally exhausted, I adjusted myself in the seat, lying on his lap and sensed him run his fingers through my hair. The gentle hum of the car and his fingers lulled me to sleep. Shoving aside the thoughts about her and the family I walked away from, I gave into the welcoming arms of sleep.
***
Orlando Cortez
The ride to the mansion took longer than usual. Sure enough, the reporters flocked the front gate. Marcus’ team cleared the path for our vehicle to slip inside the gate while I typed a text to our PR to release a press statement.
Arianna didn’t stir from her sleep when the car braked at the entrance of the Cortez mansion. A servant rushed to open the door for us. Carefully lifting her, I carried my sleeping wife to the bedroom, lowering her on the bed. I removed her shoes and overcoat, gently, without waking her.
Boxer climbed into the bed, snuggling to her. He’d been overprotective of her for the past week and I often walked in on them to see him resting his head over her stomach. Once he growled low at our maid, who approached Arianna with food when she was asleep.
“Look after her, will you?” I brushed his fur. Boxer gave me a soft whine with a thump of his tail. Pulling over the sheets, I pushed the hair out of her face before exiting the room.
“Is she all right?” Gabriella’s worried face came into view. She’d been caring for her more than a mother would.
“Yes. A little exhausted, that’s all.” I unbuttoned my suit. “She didn’t sleep well last night.”
Gaby nodded. “Mike told me what happened. You did well.”
“Are you going to leave her like that?” Uncle Frisby came behind her. His narrowed gaze reflected my anger.
A smirk lifted the corner of my lips. Benjamin loomed behind them with a knowing smile. “What kind of man would I be if I let them treat my wife like shit and walk away unscathed?”
Resisting Her (Moving On Duology Book 2) Page 21