Shit. Shit shit shit.

I watch guiltily as Hayley races out of the courtroom, looking like she's seen a ghost. She's so drained of colour she almost looks green under the fluorescent lights of the courtroom, like she could vomit in at a moment's notice.

To be fair, I don't blame her for her reaction. She trusted me and I've gone and fucked it up. As soon as I looked up from my papers I was looking over as I walked into the courtroom and I saw her stunning brown eyes staring back at me in horror and welling with tears, all of the pieces fell into place and I knew I'd made a huge mistake. 

I should've done more research or pushed Liam harder to find out who his ex was which is truly just poor form on my part. Normally, I would have been more thorough. But Mr Campbell had said it was an easy case and I was over everything at that point so instead, I left it to fate and now it's ruined everything. Especially because I thought Hayley and I might've had something going on between us.

Yes, she kind of broke things off between us due to what happened the last time we saw each other, but that doesn't mean this is over. I was hoping to try and get back onto her good side by reaching out in a couple of days and apologising again and seeing if I could take her to get coffee or something. But now that plan is definitely down the drain. 

I've made things worse than they already were, all just by doing my everyday job.

Normally, I've never been above defending the bad guy in the situation - hell it makes me a shit tone of money and it's not like I really get a choice when cases are given to me. But this is probably the first time in my career where I have regretted my decision and wished I was in any other job but this one. Because this time it's personal. It's a fucking conflict of interest is what it is.

I give Liam a brief side eye and clock him swiping on a dating app whilst he waits for the recess to be over. He quickly swaps to Snapchat, opening a photo of some woman with her cleavage on display before swapping back over to the other app. 

God. He beat her. I heard him harass her on the phone. I watched her break down in my arms. I saw the bruises in person and now I have to represent the vile asshole that did that to her whilst he sits across from her and talks to multiple unsuspecting women at once. 

She deserves to win this case, to get some kind of closure because Liam is one hundred percent guilty and yet I'm expected to win this for him. To save him face. 

Both Octaiva and Hayley's friend have already exited the courtroom in pursuit of Hayley by the time I have turned my attention back to the rest of the room and all I want to do is follow them, to check for myself that she is only. To fix what I ruined.

But I can't. 

I'm stuck in this stuffy courtroom with her piece of shit ex and a judge who can't seem to take her eyes off me. Highly unprofessional and unfortunately expected after the amount of times I've worked with this particular judge. 

As if on cue, she gives me a wink and I pray to all things holy that she can be civil enough to remain unbiased when court resumes. 

Hayley going to need everything she can get if she's going to win this thing. Hell, I need to fix this. I need to make sure she wins. I need to get off this case.

I suck in a sharp breath, standing abruptly and turning to look at Liam, who regards me with a slimy sense of curiosity.

"If you'll excuse me," I start cooly, my professional mask still perfectly intact. "I need to go make a phone call."

"Right..." Liam replies, narrowing his eyes on me. It's almost as if he can sense my sudden discomfort, causing heat to prickle the back of my neck.

I regard him once more before swiftly leaving the courtroom, trying to keep my gait as even as possible. I have less than five minutes to try and make this as right as I can. She may not have wanted my help, but it's the least I can do after everything I've already done. Especially if I want to have any chance of ever getting back in her good books because, fuck, I think I might have feelings for her.

I know it's soon but there's just something about her and I definitely don't want this to be the end for us.

Quietly ducking into an empty office, I whip out my phone and press the call button on Robert Campbell's contact card. He doesn't leave me waiting long, answering in his usual charismatic tone, all be it a little surprised.

"Clark! I didn't expect to be hearing from you until later today. Aren't you meant to be in a trial right now?"

"They've called a recess. The plaintiff looked like she was about to vomit," I start, an ache settling in my chest. My mind flashes to Hayley, willing for her to be okay. "But, I think need your help."

"Why?"

"I believe there's a conflict of interest. I need-"

The door to the office opens and I turn to see Liam walking in, his expression dark, stopping my sentence it's tracks. He glares at me and it's obvious that he's started to put some of the pieces together.

"Theo?" Robert questions on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, um, sorry. Gimme one moment, I'll call you back" I blurt out, keeping my eyes on Liam as he stalks his way over to me and begins to back me into a corner.

"Liam, can I help you?" I ask cooly, my back brushing up against the wall.

"Yeah, you can," he grunts, entering my personal bubble and trying to get up in my face. Although, I don't think it's as intimidating as he was hoping it would be considering I'm quite a bit taller and more broad than he is.

"You're going to call your boss back and tell him the conflict of interest was a mistake and then you are going to go back in there and do everything in your power to win my case."

"And why should I do that?" I ask, venom seeping into my tone as my mask starts to falter.

"Because if you don't, I'll make sure you never practice law again."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Hmm, didn't think that would scare you," he smirks, backing away from me slightly to pull out a wad of cash and shove it into my chest. 

"If you don't, then Hayley, Tessa, Octavia and that smoking hot judge are all going to get seriously hurt and I will make every single one look like a fucking accident. Don't cross me, I don't care who your conflict of interest is. I paid for you, now do your fucking job," he spits, eyes narrowing like he's looking for a reaction and unfortunately, I give him one.

That sentence alone makes my blood run cold, my mask finally slipping and it takes all my willpower to not deck him right then and there. I close my eyes and suck in another sharp breath, trying to school my features before shoving the money back into his hand.  

Threat or not, I can't take my chances, so I pull out my phone and dialling Robert Campbell back. 

Liam's playing dirty and he knows he's going to get away with it. 

"Theo. Everything okay?" Robert questions when he answers the call.

"Yes, sorry. My mistake," I start, a shiver running through me as I try not to gross myself out with what I'm about to say, Liam carefully watching my every move. "I thought I might've slept with the plaintiff's attorney but turns out it's a different woman, so everything is okay. No conflict of interest here."

"Gross, Clark. Didn't need to know that," Robert sighs through the phone.

"Sorry sir. Thanks anyway. I'll see you later when I'm back in the office."

I quickly end the call and turn my attention back to Liam, who seems to be satisfied with what I've said.

"Good, now let's go win my case" Liam smirks confidently, before exiting the room.

A tired and frustrated groan escapes from my throat as I rub my hands over my face, tipping my head to the ceiling. How the hell did I end up in this mess? It must be karma for what happened the other day at the bar. Serves me right.

Reluctantly, I go to walk out of the office when I spot the security camera in the far corner of the room, its red light blinking back at me.

Jackpot. 

There's not a lot I can do about anything right now, but I can sure as hell make sure to get a copy of everything that just transpired here because the was blackmail point blank. If Octaiva can't win this case for Hayley with their evidence alone, then I will call a conflict of interest with a call for a retrial and the evidence to prove it.

Two can play at this game Liam.

With a new backup plan in place and the ache in my chest the tiniest bit duller, I make my way back to the courtroom, the judge yet again making eyes at me as I retake my seat and wait for the end of the recess.

Oh, how I really hope the girls can win this damn case so it can be over with and I can try to win Hayley back. 

Quick and easy, just like Robert Campbell had anticipated this case would be... and by some absolute miracle, Octavia and Hayley won the case. I tried my fucking hardest, everyone could see that, and yet their evidence was damning. However, part of me thinks the judge sided with the girls pretty quickly once she found out why Hayley wanted a restraining order. Girls helping girls and all that. But hey, I'm not complaining.

Liam was pissed at the outcome and I couldn't be more proud to have lost a case. I was truly relieved when the judge's gavel hit that sound block and her verdict rang supreme, I think I finally let go of the breath I had been holding since I reentered the courtroom. 

Hayley, Octavia and Hayley's friend Tessa all seem relieved about the verdict too, chatting quietly amongst themselves whilst waiting for the courtroom to be dismissed. I keep trying to catch Hayley's eye but between the girls celebrating and Liam grumbling in the seat next to me, I don't get the chance and soon find myself being whisked away to witness Liam officially receive the proceedings of the restraining order.

A frustrating thirty minutes later - due to Liam being so pissed off and argumentative - I find myself wandering the mostly empty halls of the courthouse in search of Hayley so I can apologise to her. I just really hope she hasn't already left yet.

"Hey, Frank!" I call out as the friendly attending officer crosses the t-intersection of the hallway in front of me, clearly doing his rounds of the building.

"Clark! I'm sorry about your loss in there buddy" the older gentleman calls back, stopping to give me a sad smile.

"Ah, it's okay. She deserved to win anyways," I shrug as I make my way over to him. 

"That she did. All of them are such sweet girls, too young to be having to deal with the justice system in my opinion."

"I agree" I reply, a pang of guilt rushing through me. "Speaking of which, have you seen any of them?"

"Yeah, Ms Anderson and Ms Brighton just left. I walked them out..."

Damn it.

"Something about going out to celebrate Hayley's new freedom" he smiles. "Ms Murray is still around here somewhere if that's who you were looking for. I imagine she's probably getting all her paperwork sorted. I can help you find her if you'd like?"

"Nah, it's okay. I wasn't looking for Octavia, but thank you anyway," I give him a warm smile, feeling mildly deflated that I didn't manage to catch Hayley before she left.

Frank gives me a nod, smiling, and goes to continue his rounds when I suddenly remember the altercation with Liam from earlier.

"Actually, Frank" I start, praying that he might be the right person to help me with this. "I was wondering if I could ask you for a favour?"

"Depends," he smirks, raising an eyebrow at me. "Will it get me in trouble?"

"Nah, it shouldn't," I chuckle. "I was just wondering if you would be able to help me get a copy of the security footage from consultation room six of the five-minute recess in that trial?"

"'Course. May I ask why you need it?" He ushers me down the hall and I follow alongside him as he takes me to the security room.

"My client threatened and blackmailed me" I reply quietly, trying to contain my frustration. 

"Oh shit."

"Yup."

"Compromising? Damning?"

"Very. But because Hayley won the case, I think I'm just going to hold onto it as evidence, if that's okay. Just in case I might need it at a later date." 

What Frank doesn't need to know right now is that in that same recording, you'll be able to hear me stating a conflict of interest to Mr Campbell and that could very well suspend or even end my career. So if I'm going to go down with that ship, it better be worth it and it better be for Hayley.

Five minutes later with no more questions asked, Frank hands me a copy of the footage on a USB without even looking at it - because he knows well enough to not get caught up in other people's business - and sends me on my way.

I manage to get some quick paperwork done and have a brief chat with Octavia before I decided it is probably best to just head back to the office to debrief with Mr Campbell. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to convince some of the guys to go out for a drink after work, because lord knows I could use one.

Maybe I'll finally be able to pluck up the courage to tell them how much of a mess I've gotten myself into and maybe they'll be able to help me think of a way to fix it and win Hayley back over.

Whatever happens, I refuse to believe that things are done between Hayely and I. The universe seems to keep bringing us together and I'm not going to let it pass me by anymore. She deserves someone who will love her and treat her right and I fully intend to be that person for her.

I've just got to make her not hate me first.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey Guys,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please vote and comment and feel free to leave me your feedback as I always appreciate it.

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I hope you all are well and having a good day wherever you are in the world and I will see you all in the next chapter!

Love,

Allamy xx