Chapter 11 - Taylor

Hearing TJ's voice after leaving him this morning is a shock.

His voice was weak and cracked on his own name.

I have no clue how he got my number, but I hoped I wouldn't see him again until the trial.

"Who was that?" Dylan asks me from across the desk we are currently sitting at, going over evidence.

"Spam."

Dylan believes me and hands me a manilla envelope with the evidence that he has compiled for me.

"This is everything we have on them. According to everything in that file, we should have enough evidence to bankrupt Druk Technologies and gain sole access to the app."

"Good, I can't wait to see their faces as they are found guilty."

"You read my mind. I just cannot wait for this case to be over."

I smile.

I rushed the court date up so that I can get out of New York, ASAP.

"How long have you been working on this case?" I ask Dylan.

He smirks. "Honestly, since about a month after they brought us on. The app seemed way too good to be true, so we kept an eye on every step of the process."

That startles me. They really must have been wary to have been gathering evidence since then.

"It's good that you did that."

"Very good," Dylan's smirk grows. "Well, I'll leave you to go over the file. If you need anything I will be in my office."

I nod to Dylan before digging into the evidence.

It is weaker than I was first led to believe, but there is still a case.

KobiTech is mainly suing Druk Technologies over using the app to stalk its competitors and with the evidence they have, it looks like mainly one's word against the others.

I trust Dylan, as he's given me no reason to doubt him, but this case is turning icky in front of my own eyes.

Not only did I sleep with one of the defendants, but now the case may not be as strong as I originally thought.

Part of me feels like I should drop this case. I slept with one of the defendants, and not only did we sleep together, but I enjoyed it.

It has become clear to me that TJ doesn't care about me and is just using me to make me drop the case, which is the whole reason why I rushed the court date up.

Shaking thoughts of TJ away, I look back at the evidence.

The accusations are strong, but the evidence is weak. My job isn't always easy, but I am determined to win this case.

I do my best with what I'm given, and I'll just have to make the judge believe the accusations.

I can do this. I will bring TJ and Druk Technology to their knees.

***

My phone has been ringing off the hook for the past two days. I block the numbers, but new ones keep on calling. I can only assume it is TJ trying to reach out.

"Who is calling you now, dear?" my father asks, interrupting me from my thoughts as I sit on a bench on our deck in our backyard.

"Could be anyone," I respond.

I know it is TJ, but who knows, maybe he and his cronies have gotten people to blow up my phone to try and stop me from taking them to court. Or to keep me up at night, as I've been getting calls at all hours.

"You've seemed down this weekend," my father says. "Tell me what's going on. You know I will always be here for you."

I look up to my father.

His hair is graying and there are wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. He has gotten older over the years, but he is still the same man I grew up with. We used to be close, and since I've returned home there has been something disrupting our bond. I know I am mostly to blame for leaving the family behind to go to D.C., but it still seems as if they don't understand why I left. Especially my father.

"I'm not sure I believe that, Dad."

His entire body stiffens.

"I'm sorry for whatever I did to cause this rift between us," my father whispers, but I hear him.

My eyes widen as I look up to him.

"I love you and I only want what's best for you. I know these past ten years we have been distant, but having you home has been a blessing. I'm not sure what I or your mother will do once you leave again."

Tears brim in my eyes as they do my father's, but I stay silent, not wanting to interrupt his speech.

"I am here if you need anything, sweetie, and right now, it seems like you need me."

I let the tears fall and my father joins me on the bench as he wraps an arm around me.

"It's awful, Dad," I cry into his shoulder. "I did something horrible."

"What did you do?"

I freeze.

How much do I tell my father? He knows now about the court case, but he doesn't know exactly who I am suing. TJ and Shane are still friends, so I'm assuming my father still sees him from time to time.

"Honey, just let it out. I won't judge."

I believe him. So I tell him everything, from TJ bullying me all those years ago at the beach to me giving in to a night of passion with him. My father listens from start to finish while keeping an arm around me.

It feels good to get this all off my chest, but it also hurts. Reminiscing about my time with TJ fills me with conflict. I hate to admit it, but the sex was electric, and I did feel my heart bursting every moment we had together. But once I saw the photo, reality hit and guilt and regret flowed over me.

I tell my father all of this, and once I'm done, it is as if an elephant-sized weight has been lifted off my back.

"Taylor, listen. No boy—or man, for that matter—is worth this much heartache. You did nothing wrong by giving in to your passions. You are a grown woman and are allowed to dabble in your desires. I am thankful you left out the gory details," my father jokes, and I roll my eyes. "But it seems you should really have this talk with TJ. He's the only one who can give you closure."

I hate it, but I know my father is right.

"Thank you for listening, Dad."

"Thank you for sharing. It isn't every day I get to be there for you, but I intend to for the rest of my long life."

We hug and I spot Shane watching from the doorway.

"So, you slept with my friend," Shane deadpans.

"Shane, you be nice to your sister and don't sass her," Father speaks up for me.

I am thankful to know he truly does have my back, just like he did when I was a little girl.

"What? She comes to town, sues the guy and then sleeps with him. I think she deserves a little sass."

Shane turns around and walks inside.

"Don't let him bother you."

"I won't, but I should talk to him before he runs and starts some drama with TJ."

I get up and leave my father on the deck.

"Shane! Wait up," I call out after my brother as he heads up stairs.

"What do you want? To tell me all about how you slept with my friend?"

"Grow up."

"You're one to talk. Isn't like the number one rule of being a lawyer not sleeping with the enemy?"

His words hit me in the chest.

He is right, but it doesn't mean he has the right to talk to me this way.

"It wasn't like that."

"Explain it to me then. Why did you fuck TJ Rubens behind my back?"

Swallowing, I wring my hands.

How am I supposed to explain this to my brother?

"I was drinking, and it just happened."

At my words, my brother's face and tone changes, "He didn't force you, did he? I'll kill him."

"Of course not, Shane. It was completely consensual."

Shane relaxes before muttering, "Good. I would fight him even if it meant losing."

"I'm sorry I slept with your friend, but if it's any consolation, it won't happen again."

Shane looks at me before grumbling, "It better not. TJ always had a crush on you, anyway. I am surprised it took this long for something to happen, but I guess disappearing from New York for ten years will do that."

I freeze at his words.

TJ Rubens had a crush on me?

Me?

Shane had to be joking.

"If TJ had a crush on me, why was he so cruel?" I question aloud.

"Because he liked you, duh. It was stupid, but TJ always looked at you and I figured he was mean to you so that I wouldn't notice his wandering eyes."

"Why didn't you ever stop him?"

Shane shrugs, "You had thick skin and that's how he was. I just thought it didn't affect you."

I'm overcome with the urge to shove my brother. He admitted to knowing TJ was mean to me and doing nothing, but how was he supposed to stop TJ? I shouldn't blame my brother. He was just a kid, too.

"Well, it did."

"I got that from the conversation you had with Dad."

We are both silent for a minute.

"Why didn't you tell me about first?" Shane asks, leaning against the stairwell.

"You wouldn't have wanted to know."

"True, but now that I do know, I would have rather heard it from you directly. Like come on, you told Dad you had sex with TJ, and not me?"

I start to giggle and Shane laughs.

I really did tell my dad I had sex with his son's friend.

It is a weird thought.

"I guess you always were Daddy's little girl. That always annoyed me. Watching you run to Dad any time I teased you when we were kids."

"What else was I supposed to do? Just take it?"

"I mean, that's what you did with TJ. I don't remember you ever tattling on him, but now I see that's because you liked him, too. Oh, goodness, if you two end up together, I am going to vomit."

This time, I do shove Shane.

A loving shove, though.

"We are so not ending up together. After I win in court next week, he's going to hate me almost as much as I hate him."

With that, I walk past Shane and go to my room.

I had two good encounters with my family today, and I reflect on that as I get ready for bed. It beats reflecting on my night with TJ.

My father and I are closer than ever, and Shane doesn't hate me for having sex with TJ, even if I hate myself a little for that.

Here I go, thinking about that night again.

Will it ever stop? I ask myself as I stare up at the ceiling.

I gave in to my hormones, and now have to live with that. I regret that night, I really do, but part of me also cherishes it. I am thankful that my first time itself was pleasurable, even if the aftermath is a mess.

In three days I will be face to face with TJ again as I sue him and the rest of Druk Technologies.

I've been preparing ever since our scandalous night together, and even though just earlier today I was determined, there is something in me that is filled with fear and regret for how the case will turn out.

TJ will surely hate me, and I'm not sure if I can live with that for the rest of my life.