Tempted

There comes a moment when no matter how long you've tried to push it away, it comes back to bite you fiercely. She stood still at the entrance of Mclaughlan Law Offices in the humid Miami heat, pondering about that particular moment in her life. She could watch it all crumble down and stand by as her boyfriend, Jackson Wheeler, was taken to prison for felonies he had taken the fault for but did not commit, absolutely certain his attorney was double-crossing him per his own father's schemes; or follow her gut and fight for him the only way she knew how: by being a pain in the ass.

-Thanks for agreeing to see me, Mr. Holloway... I know you're not in Jackson's case, yet- she walks in front of the dark-haired lawyer, to sit on the chair across his desk. He follows, unbuttoning his blazer to sit as well. He hides a side smile as he now looks at her in the eye.

- Yet? Are you hoping we'll be seeing more of each other, Miss Roderick? - he lays back on his rolling chair in a smirk. The redhead doesn't welcome the comment and arches an eyebrow as she flicks her hair to the other side of her neck in a scoff.

- I'm hoping my boyfriend will come around and you'll get him out of there- she clarifies in a stern voice, with no hesitation. He bites his inner cheeks and nods.

- Of course, it's my pleasure. - he stands to reach for the decanter near the bookshelves to offer a drink. - Scotch? - he asks but is already pouring for her.

- It's 3 o'clock- she says with an incredulous look. He smiles sideways. - Do you always assume your clients will have a drink with you in the middle of the day? - she rolls her eyes.

- You're not my client- he counters before gulping his drink and slides hers over the crystal desk, but she looks at it uninterested. - I looked at all the documents Ms. Wheeler shared... it would take around six months to lower his sentences and he can get out on good behavior... if that is the case- he shares, amused by her silence and twisted red lips. She tightens her jaw and looks down. - I know it's not what you want to hear... but you're not going to find a better deal than that one, anywhere else. There's a reason you came to me- he arches an eyebrow. She breathes in as she stands up.

- Fine. You'll hear from me... us- she clarifies quickly to his amusement but she dismisses his smug smile to walk towards the door, him following her again.

- Oh, you can come any time- he says sulkily, opening the door for her, his green eyes a shade darker as they slide from her neck to her toes, her red mane walking away an image to hold onto.

A couple of weeks later, when his secretary called him to notify him that Miss Roderick was there, he was surprised. Nevertheless, he agreed to see her, and after visiting Jackson at the facility for the day she's now waiting for the secretary to let her in, looking troubled with the hearing coming close.

- Mr. Holloway will see you now, Miss Roderick- says the assistant and she stands up changing her expression to her usual unbothered one.

- Mr. Holloway, I apologize for coming unnoticed, I won't take long. - she walks in, to wait by the door when the assistant closes it behind her.

- Miss Roderick, it's quite the surprise, your presence here, but please do not apologize for coming - a smirk forming on his lips as he stands to greet her - how can I help you? - asks walking towards her with his hand stretched out to lead her way to the chair - please take a seat - he kinks his eyebrow as she doesn't seem to follow his commands; she wasn't sure what it was but he made her feel uneasy so she keeps her hands clenched together.

- It's fine, I'll be quick- she dismisses- My boyfriend...he still wants to be represented by his current lawyer, Holly Harrison. - she seems frustrated by the fact, rolling her eyes- I do appreciate all your guidance. He shrugs and keeps his stance near her.

- I understand - he nods looking at her with more intentions than needed. She looks at him in the eye and her lips part momentarily.

- But, the hearing is on Friday, and if... if he does go to jail then... I don't care what he says, I'll hire you myself- she seems to have made up her mind about it. Her cherry lips tighten.

- Oh well, in that case, I'd like to be at the hearing if you don't mind. - he fishes the phone from his pocket and checks his schedule for Friday. She squints as if trying to decipher him and nods slowly.

- Right... uh sure, I will let your assistant know the time. Thanks for... understanding- fixing her maroon eyes on his.

- You are making the right decision, Miss Roderick - his eyes sparkling with amusement at her.

- I uh... better get going- clearing her throat and taking a step back since she could feel him too close. He takes a step forward and smirks. He stretches his arm to open the door but in the process of doing so, he brushes her side on purpose.

- My pleasure, Miss Roderick - The sudden touch makes her look up to him, she swallows, but he enjoys the electricity flowing around them and the fact that she gets so uncomfortable when he closes the distance.

- Have a good evening- she says under her breath.

-Until Friday - he mutters letting her walk away from his office.

The rest of the drive home she kept going back to their conversation, the electric touch, and his piercing green eyes on hers.

******

The tension was palpable as the hearing was one day away and even when she tried to keep a poker face with Jack, she was terrified and expecting the worst. Truth was, that two-hour drive back and forth to Miami daily was taking a toll on her, especially since she hated driving, but she wouldn't leave Jack hanging. She left the detention center with her head already banging, and she's walking down the strip with an iced coffee in hand, absorbed in her own mind.

That same day he had to go downtown to turn in some documents for another case he's working on and as he steps out of the building and onto the sidewalk the first thing that catches his eyes is the redhead walking completely lost in thought and starts walking towards her, his intentions clear to bump into her, and when he does, the drink flies over her outfit and she screams.

- What the...- she looks up. - You... you might want to watch where you're going! - still mad as she realizes it's him.

- I believe you were the one distracted who bumped into me, Miss Roderick - he smirks, his words pure bullshit but he likes the way she gets all worked up - but please let me pay for the cleanup of your outfit - he eyes her up and down, the high school look she's wearing makes his cock twitch in his pants. She frowns all flustered.

- It's going to stain anyway, and I have to drive all the way to Cove Haven with this smell- her jaw clenching as she takes off the green checkered blazer that matched her short skirt, the white blouse underneath soaked, but the way she looked at her finally catches up to her and sighs heavily- I was not distracted- her lips twisted. He kinks an eyebrow amused by her denial.

- Well, if you weren't you should have seen me coming your way. - he points out with a contained laugh as his eyes dart back and forth between her face and the soaked white blouse - but I'm betting next time, you'll see me coming, Miss Roderick - he winks at her. She rolls her eyes in a huff.

- Whatever. See you... tomorrow..- confused at his expression and covering herself up before continuing her usual catwalk to her car, she eyes him from the distance, and a smile curves her lips.

*****

She got to the courthouse earlier and merely waited, she was nervous and nauseous but her face remained emotionless as she stared at the clock above her. By the time they opened the door to the courtroom, Clayton Wheeler and Holly Harrison were there, and Celeste, Jack's mother, seemed out of it as she had her sunglasses on and reeked of vodka. Jack's sister was nowhere to be seen.

Since he wasn't involved in this case yet, he didn't have to take a seat in the front row with the defendant. He searches the room for that particular hair color among others and when he finds her, he sits next to her.

- Mr. Holloway, thanks for coming- she mutters, and exhales giving him her profile.

- Miss Roderick - greets in a low voice and nods. They stand as the judge comes in and the process begins, he takes a little notebook out to take some notes.

Jack is brought in handcuffs and his uniform, and her breath sharpens, her hand grabbing his wrist in a tight grip out of instinct, which distracts him briefly for a moment. She looks at him out of the corner of her eye as she realizes and quickly retrieves her hand as if nothing happened, but he smiles inwardly at her touch.

The hearing goes as predicted, it goes by quickly as they read the charges, and the inevitable happens: Jackson Wheeler is found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 2 years at Miami-Dade county jail. Celeste sobs, Clayton hugs her sideways. She stares blankly, as Jackson is now escorted out and she stands up to get closer while he walks through the aisle- I'll get you out, I promise, Jack I promise...- she gets to grip his sleeve before he's gone.

He looks at her sympathetically as the room clears out; she can't hear a thing, a pool of tears blurring her vision but they stubbornly remain in her eyes.

- Willow - he calls out her name for the first time, his voice bringing her back, knowing that they'll have a lot of work to do together from now on.

- Kaden - his name rolling off her tongue at last, the loud high pitch sound ringing in her ears dissipates as she looks into his eyes.

- We'll get him out - using the same words as she just did with Jackson, he assures her with a confident smile.

- Yes. We will. - she echoes, but she couldn't smile back. She felt sick. - I need to go... I ... need to get out of here- her voice low. - Thanks for being here and taking the case, I'll schedule with your assistant for Monday- she wasn't asking, she wasn't used to. As she keeps holding back her tears she squeezes his forearm as a sign of goodbye and as soon as she makes her way out the doors she rushes to the restroom, almost crawling to a stall, and throws up, the burden and reality of it all sinking in, the tears flowing freely. It was a rough road ahead but she felt confident with Kaden's help they'd turn it around.