Chapter 13 - Taylor

I get to the courtroom early, as I want to see what my playground will look like. The judge is sat staring down at papers in front of her as I look around the court room. It is large, and a camera crew is setting up in the corner. This is a high-profile case and it will be televised. That hits me in the gut. This case is going to be live.

I sit there shaking as I think about what I am about to do and what I am about to risk.

"Are you ready for this?" Dylan startles me as he approaches me.

Dylan is wearing a black suit and glasses, which I find funny as I've never seen him wear them before.

As I look to Dylan, lead fills my stomach. What am I doing here?

"I have to use the bathroom," I lie through my teeth before rushing out of the courtroom and to the ladies room.

Thankfully no one is in the bathroom as I lose my breakfast in the toilet.

My eyes burn and I have no clue if it is from vomiting or the case.

It hits me then, that I can't go through with this.

I could lose my job. I should lose my job for all that I've done.

I slept with one of the men I'm suing and then I hurried up the court case.

Why am I such an idiot?

The second I had sex with TJ, I should have backed down, but instead I doubled down and am now in a predicament.

I feel stupid knowing I put myself in this position but I also have to blame TJ, he knew what we were doing is wrong too.

"Taylor?" A voice breaks me out of my negative spiral and it sounds just like TJ.

I must be thinking too much about him but someone must have followed me into the bathroom to check on me.

"I'm fine!" I yell back, throat scratchy.

I hear a click of the bathroom lock and a cold sweat forms over my body.

Who is in here with me and why did they just lock the door?

Standing up, I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand and straighten my spine.

"Who goes there?" I call out with my back facing the toilet now as I try and peak through the crack on the door.

Blue eyes stare at me and I take a step back, almost falling into the toilet. I would know those eyes anywhere.

TJ Rubens has followed me into the ladies room and locked the door.

Gosh, what could he want?

Annoyance floods me as I flush the toilet before shoving the stall door open.

"What are you doing here?" I grill him with anger flooding every bone in my body.

TJ runs a hand through his hair. He is wearing a dark navy blue suit that makes his eyes blaze. Eyes that are rimmed in dark circles, as if he hasn't slept in ages.

"What's wrong with you?" I ask in a softer tone.

"Taylor," TJ's voice cracks and I feel for him for a moment before my spine stiffens.

"Don't Taylor me," I stomp towards him. "You don't get to say my name."

TJ just looks at me and I get fed up and head towards the door.

"Why did you leave?" TJ asks me.

"I'm leaving because I don't want to talk to you right now and I have a court case to win."

"No, why did you leave me alone after we made love?"

Made love.

Those words run wild in my mind.

We so did not make love of any kind.

We had sex, yes, but we did not make love of any kind.

"First off, we did not make love. We fucked. Second of, I left because you are a liar."

TJ tsks, "A liar, how?"

My eyes widen as I throw my arms up.

"How? How? You acted like you didn't know me when we met and then used me to drop this court case."

"Taylor, I honestly didn't recognize you at first. Not until your brother told me his sister was in town and I connected the dots. Plus, I would never use you to drop this case and if I did, it obviously didn't work."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because I love you. I love you with everything I have," TJ stares deep into my soul.

Did he really just confess his love to me in a bathroom?

Do I even believe him?

"I need a minute," I say before unlocking the door and fleeing.

I almost trip on my feet as I run out of the bathroom and collide with Dylan.

"Whoa, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

I look up into Dylan's eyes before hearing the bathroom door open again.

"Taylor," TJ says and I stiffen in Dylan's hold.

"What is going on here?" Dylan asks and I shake my head before taking a deep breath and composing myself.

"Dylan, I can't do this case. You need to find someone else," I decide.

There is no way I should have stayed on after what transpired between TJ and I. And now TJ claims he loves me. I just need time to think and be alone. A courtroom is not where I am meant to be right now.

"Taylor, we are here at the courthouse, you can't back out now. Just tell me what's going on."

There is no way I can tell him. He'll hate me and could ruin me if he found out.

"I don't think you'll want me to tell you here…"

Dylan nods before he grabs my hand and leads me out of the back of the courthouse.

There are a handful of cars there and Dylan opens the door to one before helping me inside.

"Listen, I have no idea what is going on but I feel like I know you well enough to tell when something big is going on. I don't know what Mr. Rubens said to you in that bathroom, but it was enough to spook you. I will talk to the judge and see if we can push the case back."

"Thank you, Dylan, I'm so sorry."

Dylan smiles at me before closing the door.

Sniffles fall from me and tears overwhelm me.

Today has just been too much.

***

Behind the courthouse

Green eyes meet silver gray eyes in the rearview mirror.

The girl crying evades eye contact with him as she sobs into her designer jacket sleeve.

His long, unkempt beard is newly trimmed, and his dirty-blonde hair is tied back in a knot at the base of his skull.

He feels accomplished as he starts driving out of New York City and towards the girl's home. She never told him her address, but he knows where she lives, as he has been keeping an on her for days.

Joy fills him as he knows that he will keep her safe.

Her mate won't be able to hurt her as long as he is around.

She won't be crying any longer once she knows that he has her back.