As soon as Skye exited the SUV, the other car doors opened.
Skye felt tears threaten as she faced all the people filling the entire area. There were more than thirty of them standing quietly all in matching black skirts or pants suits. The only difference was the color of the shirts they wore.
A woman separated herself from the pack and reached for a hug. “I hope you don’t mind that I invited some more friends.”
Skye felt the first tear run down her cheek. “Gina, Mason! I don’t know what to say.” Skye hugged her friend Gina Toussaint, the A-list actress who was the first to stand up for Skye in her fight against Tony and his horrid film, and then Mason, her frequent co-star and friend.
Skye looked over the group and saw writers, camera assistants, producers, actresses, and actors ranging from the top-earning A-listers all the way down to the D-listers who were struggling to break out. Skye took a moment and went to each person, thanking them for coming today.
Gina waited until Skye was done before turning to the group. “Ladies, let’s show Hollywood we’re tired of being taken advantage of, from degrading directors to unequal pay and representation behind the cameras.”
Mason nodded and picked up from there. “Gentlemen, let’s show them Hollywood’s men support them in their goals.”
Together they all walked into the courthouse. Tandy and Henry led the way and with Karri and Gina on each side of her, and Mason and Blythe behind her, Skye walked onto the battlefield.
Tandy called Karri’s phone as soon as she walked into the courtroom. The phone sat on the defense table open so the group could hear the court proceedings from the holding room they were in. Jim’s attorney, Bernie, argued that the bench trial should be delayed since Olivia Townsend was unavailable. Then they tried to challenge Tandy’s standing in the court. Finally, there was a challenge to Henry’s ability to participate since he didn’t hold a New York license.
The judge ruled in Skye’s favor and the trial went on. Tandy worked hard laying out affirmative defenses on why the contract was invalid on its face and called several expert witnesses. Tandy examined them and Henry questioned another expert before Jim and Lenny were called as defense witnesses. Skye listened with building anger while they lied about her signing the contract, about her excitement to do Tony’s movie, and about how she gave them full authorization to sign her name for them. They tried to tell the judge that lifetime contracts were the standard with unproven actors since the agent and manager were investing so much into their young careers.
Then Tandy was up. Skye listened as her whole life depended on what happened next. Tandy started off slowly as if lulling Jim to sleep. She asked him about other clients, about other roles, about how and when he met Skye. Then she asked Jim how about this so-called authorization and Jim showed the power of attorney Skye had supposedly signed. “Did she tell you she wanted to do the Tony Ketron movie?”
“Of course she did. It’s the role of a lifetime. Lenny heard it and testified that she wanted to do the film.”
“Your honor, my co-counsel has some questions if you don’t mind,” Skye heard Tandy say.
The door to the holding room opened and Skye turned, expecting to see Aiden ready to lead them all into the courtroom, but what she saw brought tears to her eyes.
“So, you ready to shove his balls down his throat?”
“Olivia!” Skye gasped as she rushed forward. Behind her, Aiden was holding onto her wheelchair. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault. How are you feeling? You shouldn’t be here.”
“Everything hurts like a bitch with PMS but I’m here to have some fun. Aiden, let Skye push me in,” Olivia ordered. “All right ladies and gentlemen, let’s do this.”
Aiden gave her a sexy little grin, and Olivia winked back at him with the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. “Too bad you’re married. All the good men are unavailable.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Gina muttered and the women all laughed. The men didn’t seem as amused but stood up straighter as if they were ready to audition for the role of boyfriend.
Skye took a deep breath and hold of the wheelchair handles. If Olivia could come here today, then she could hold her head high and tell the truth to a roomful of people if necessary.
Aiden went first and very dramatically pushed open the double doors to the courtroom. Skye was rewarded by the gasps and smartphones suddenly pointed at her. There were no flashes, which meant they were live-streaming this to the world.
“What the hell is this?” Jim hissed at no one in particular as Skye, Olivia, and the rest of the Hollywood entourage surprised the entire courtroom with their appearance. The few reporters in attendance were instantly on their phones and texting frantically. The courthouse would be packed with journalists within minutes.
“What’s this?” the judge asked as he couldn’t stop looking at Olivia.
“I’m Olivia Townsend, lead attorney on this case. I’m here to question Mr. Hexter.”
The judge looked back at Skye as she wheeled Olivia right up to the witness stand while everyone else silently filled every remaining seat in the courtroom. “And who are you? For the record?”
“Skye Jessamine. I am the plaintiff, Your Honor.”
The judge’s expression didn’t give away a thing as he cast a glance at Jim who was trying very hard not to look nervous. “Skye! Thank goodness you’re okay. After getting that note, we thought you were in danger.”
“You mean you thought your jobs were in danger after I started firing all the people you forced me to hire?” Skye shot back. The judge banged his gavel and pointed for her to take a seat. Skye walked toward her table and Henry winked as he pulled out the chair for her while Tandy smiled serenely. Skye took a seat between them and was sure she hadn’t taken a breath since she entered the room.
“Mr. Hexter, what is Star Power Private Security?” Olivia asked.
“They’re a very well-known security company in Hollywood that protects studios, top actors, and industry personnel,” Jim replied.
“Have you ever hired them?” Olivia asked.
“Yes. I’m sure everyone in Hollywood has at some point.”
“What have you hired them for?”
“Objection!” Bernie said, standing. “Star Power Private Security holds no relevancy to Miss Jessamine’s contract with Mr. Hexter.”
“Your Honor, I ask for a little leeway. I think I’ve earned it after all I’ve gone through.”
Skye waited for the judge to rule. He looked down at the bruised and battered Olivia and then nodded. “Overruled. Go ahead, Miss Townsend, but get to the point.”
“Thank you,” Olivia told the judge before turning back to Jim. “Now, why have you hired Star Power?”
“Mostly as bodyguards.”
“Do bodyguards assault people, Mr. Hexter?”
Jim shook his head. “Not unless someone is a danger to one of my celebrities or myself.”
Olivia nodded and glanced back at Henry who got up with a folder and walked it over to her. He stood at the ready and every eye was on the red folder he had in his hand. “Are lawyers a danger to you or your clients, Mr. Hexter?”
“I don’t understand,” Jim said with his eyes glued to the folder.
“Why then did you hire Star Power Private Security to assault, attempt to kidnap me, and steal my electronic devices, Mr. Hexter?”
The room gasped and the judge ordered everyone quiet.
“I did no such thing!” Jim yelled as Skye blinked with confusion. Olivia knew something she didn’t. What was it?
Henry handed the judge the folder as Olivia spoke. “I’d like to enter into evidence the picture of the driver who kidnapped me. This is from my law office’s security camera. I’d also like to enter into evidence the video of my assault from The Thirsty Taco’s cameras that had been installed that morning. Pictures are included in the folder. Further, I’d like to enter into evidence the financial trail of digital currency from Mr. Hexter’s private a
ccount to Star Power’s VIP account the day before my attack.”
“That proves nothing!” Jim argued. “I hired them for personal protection since I was worried after Skye’s kidnapping, but apparently that was all a hoax for her to get the media’s attention. I’ll admit Morgan Davies is better at PR than Skye’s old firm. There’s no reason for me to hire someone to beat you up.”
The judge looked them over as Tandy gave a copy to Bernie who objected, but the judge overruled him and allowed them into evidence.
“Henry,” Olivia said as Henry picked up a remote and turned on the television to a blank screen. “Your honor, I’d like permission to enter into evidence this video that directly disputes Mr. Hexter’s claims. May I play it?”
“Objection!” Bernie tried again.
“I need to see it before I can rule on it. Go ahead, Miss Townsend.”
Skye clasped her hands together so tightly her knuckles turned white. The video started with a black screen and then suddenly showed Jim and Lenny staring at the camera. Bernie objected. Jim started yelling. Lenny went white.
“What is this, Miss Townsend?” The judge sounded angry and Skye didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Your Honor, I was attacked by those two men hired by Mr. Hexter for the purpose of finding out what evidence I had regarding this case and destroying it. Specifically, the affidavit I had told them I had from Miss Jessamine appointing me as her legal counsel and denying that she ever granted Mr. Hexter power of attorney when, in fact, Miss Karri Hill was and still is Miss Jessamine’s sole power of attorney. This video is proof of that, Your Honor.”
“Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible, Miss Townsend,” the judge censored, but Olivia just smiled with her swollen lip.
“Oh, I know, Your Honor. But this isn’t illegally obtained. Henry,” she said as Henry handed the judge a piece of paper. “This is an affidavit from the SA Tech analyst I hired the moment I was conscious to log in to my computer remotely and film whoever opened it. Not only that, but you’ll see the SA Tech analyst set up dummy files that the defendants thought they were deleting.”
The judge’s brow creased. “Are you saying this is video from your personal computer that was stolen?”
“Yes, sir. You’ll see my desktop in a moment if you’ll allow me to continue.”
Over Bernie’s objections, the video went on. It showed Jim and Lenny talking about the documents, searching for them. In the end, they deleted the entire hard drive.
“This should stop them until we can find Skye and fix this. She’ll fall in line once we can talk to her,” Lenny said on film before Jim reached out and closed the laptop.
Olivia cocked her head at Jim. “Mr. Hexter, would you care to revise the statements you’ve made under oath or would you prefer I file perjury charges now?”
Skye was so on edge she reached out and grabbed Tandy’s hand. She leaned forward, her heart pumping hard and fast as she waited.
Jim’s jaw was tight as he thought it through. “Fine. You’re right. I forged the power of attorney and thought all you had was a digital copy. With Skye still missing, I wanted to keep control over her empire that I built. Me. This doesn’t change the fact that the contract is still enforceable.”
“Actually,” Olivia said, holding up a finger to stop Jim, “section twenty-one, subsection C, paragraph 8 says criminal activity can void the contract at the request of the other party. So, completely ignoring the affirmative defenses my co-counsel has already proven, the contract itself leaves both parties able to void it upon proof of criminal charges.”
“That’s so I can void the contract if Skye becomes a junkie,” Jim sputtered.
“Ah, but your attorney didn’t do a good job writing the contract and didn’t make that clear. It very clearly states that either party may do so, and I’m putting you on notice that the assistant district attorney is here and ready to charge you with forgery. Further, my client is here and is hereby enacting her right to cancel the contract based on your criminal activity. No further questions, Your Honor.”
Henry grabbed the wheelchair and wheeled Olivia over to the desk as Jim stepped down from the witness stand. The judge looked over the evidence and then at the assistant district attorney sitting directly behind Tandy. Skye watched him study the inch thick contract she’d signed and then the evidence Olivia and Tandy had submitted.
“I’m ready to rule,” he said after several tense minutes.
A hush fell over the courtroom and Tandy held Skye’s hand just as tightly as Skye held hers. Henry reached over and took Skye’s other hand and caressed it. Skye smothered a shocked giggle because it tickled. “Always look as if you know you’ve won,” Henry whispered.
“I’m not going to address the criminal charges,” the judge began. “I found the contract to be invalid based on its indefinite clause for the period of not only the plaintiff’s life but even after her life to control her image. Secondly, I find the contract invalid on the basic ground of it being unconscionable. It seems clear that Mr. Hexter preys on women to induce them to sign these contracts that are grossly unfair. Therefore, I order the contract null and void. Miss Jessamine is free to hire any agent or manager she wishes from this moment forward. I’ll write up a more specific order and email it to the parties.”
He rapped his gavel and that was it. Skye was free.
Skye walked down the ramp of the courthouse with her friends surrounding her as Henry pushed Olivia’s wheelchair down the ramp. The front of the courthouse had been empty when they’d arrived but now it was jam-packed with news vans and reporters.
Gina and Mason each took one of her hands as Morgan and Miles joined her. “You ready?” Morgan asked.
“I am.” Skye took a deep breath and stepped before the cameras, and with her friends behind her, she broke free of the Hollywood spotlight and turned them to focus on predatory agents, directors, and unfair pay. Then she stepped away from it all as Gina took over, speaking for the female actors in attendance before handing it off to the next speaker.
Skye was ready to go home to Shadows Landing and begin her time away from the spotlight.
“Skye.” She heard Mason say her name and turned to see him join their group. He hugged her tight. “I was so worried about you. Are you okay?”
Skye finally had her answer. “I’m free to do the movies I want and I’m madly in love. I’m wonderful.”
“Ah, so that’s where you’ve been. With your woodworker?”
“Yes and all we needed to do was talk it out. Even going through this nightmare, I have had my dreams come true,” Skye said before hugging him tightly again. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”
“I’m always here for you. Now, get ready to hit the road with me for some press tours. I’ll see you soon.”
“Skye?”
Skye’s jaw dropped in surprise before she schooled herself. Marie Lockend, the director of the drama she wanted the lead role in, stood there with Gina beside her. “Ms. Lockend!”
“Gina told me you’d be here. She also just told me you’ve been spending time in South Carolina. You know my drama is set in Charleston.” The director of Skye’s dream movie handed her a business card. “I wrote my personal cell phone number on the back. Send me a clip of your best Southern accent. I’ve emailed Karri the script. And, Skye, good job in there today.”
Skye watched Mason give her a thumbs-up from where he stood among the crowd of supporters as Ms. Lockend walked away.
“Oh my gosh, Gina!” Skye happily cried to her friend.
“Sorry, I know you told me not to tell anyone where you were staying, but I knew that was your dream role, so when she met with me just now to tell me she was going to cast me as the sister, I told her about you. I hope you’re not mad.”
Skye hugged her friend and smiled, knowing she now had the freedom to pick and choose her parts. “I’m not mad. It would be amazing to be in a movie with you. Thank you for all you did in such a short amo
unt of time to help me.”
“Women help women. It’s what we do.”
Gina headed back to stand with the speakers and Skye joined her Keeneston guardian angels. “Let’s get out of here. I’m ready to go home to Shadows Landing.”
25
Trent felt as if he could finally take a breath when he saw the media coverage finally show Skye getting into the SUV and leaving the courthouse. She’d won and she’d be in his arms soon. The reporters were showing Gina Toussaint and Mason Hemming speaking, along with other industry leaders. They also commented on the fact that famed director Marie Lockend was seen talking privately to Skye.
It had been tense in the luxurious tower. Goodness knows how much money it was going to cost to repair the wall Granger punched a hole through when Olivia was wheeled into the courtroom.
Trent couldn’t sit still. Excitement bubbled up. They could finally move forward. They could finally look to the future. “I’ll be right back.”
Trent headed out onto the floor and found the assistant. “Where’s the back entrance?” As soon as he was told, Trent was off. He wanted Skye in his arms and he wasn’t going to wait a second longer than he had to.
Trent shoved open the back door to SA Tech and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. The second the first black SUV stopped, the door was open and Skye was flinging herself into his arms. A town car was next, but Trent wasn’t paying attention. He had Skye and that was all that mattered.
“Skye.”
Aiden and Blythe were already in motion. Aiden had Jim pinned against the car with his hand at Jim’s throat and a gun digging into his stomach. Blythe was a little rougher and had flung Lenny to the ground and had one high heel digging into the middle of his back as she stood over him.
“So you like it rough, babe?” Lenny asked crassly.
“You’re so not my type,” Blythe said with a little dig of her heel.
Broken Shadows: Shadows Landing #5 Page 19