ARIANA’S POV~
We left the hospital soon after and instructed the driver to take us to the courthouse.
I didn’t know a single lawyer, but I knew I’d find one there.
I begged Mateo to stay back in the car, he was reluctant at first but after agreeing to go with the bodyguard, he obliged.
I always wondered what happened to Alfonso I liked him, but I never saw him again.
“every bodyguard I’ve ever had has either died or gone missing, are you sure you want to go with me,” I asked him, and he gave me a warm smile, before gesturing for me to lead the way.
As I entered the courthouse, I was met with chaos, there was absolute chaos as gavels banged as we moved along the busy hallway.
But one particular voice caught my attention, I opened the doors to the courtroom and joined, my bodyguard sat beside me.
“Maam?” he asked confused as he looked around the room assessing for danger.
“I just want to listen” I replied, the lawyer defending the case was a tall English man, he had blond hair and he reminded me of Silvio.
I hadn’t thought of Silvio in so long, I would always wonder what happened to him and if what I saw that day in my father’s estate was real.
Is he still alive? If Mateo could survive is there a possibility that he could have too?
The judge banged his gavel bringing me back to reality
“Order! Order in the courtroom!” he yelled loudly.
The defence attorney smiled as his counterpart growled in frustration.
It seemed that his client had lunged at the defense attorney and he had been held in contempt of court.
As he gleaned in pride he turned to look back and that was when our eyes met.
I was the first to break away from his uncomfortable gaze.
Soon the court was over and the defence had been awarded custody as well as a good sum for alimony.
We left the courtroom and I headed for the bathroom, I’d been holding the pee in all the while.
After I was done I headed back out hopefully I’d meet the blond-haired lawyer who was so clearly good at his job.
As I stepped out, I didn’t see him anywhere, I groaned in frustration and decided to take the loss and head back to the car, better luck next time.
I could see the car in sight, with an impatient Mateo waiting for me and that was when I heard someone touch my shoulders lightly.
“Hi,” he started before welcoming me with a warm English smile.
I smiled back and extended my hand to him out of courtesy.
My guard quickly put himself between us but I gestured for him to wait for me down the stairs.
“Sorry about that” I smiled, placing my hair back in place as I started.
“We um… had a moment back there,” he said.
A moment? ” I think I may have left you with the wrong impression, it’s nothing like that”
He readjusted his steps and shook my hand.
“Sorry, I’m Atlas Shelby, first name Atlas, divorce Attorney” he announced clearly.
“Hi I’m Ariana, and I came with my husband” I replied gesturing to the car where Mateo sat, his eyes bloodstained with jealousy as his jaws clenched, he glared murderously at Atlas hoping to snuff the life out of him for reasons that baffled me.
“Yeah, I think getting a divorce might do you some Good” he replied.
I gave a small laugh, and that seemed to have irritated Mateo.
“As exciting and life-saving as that would be, I’m not seeking one yet, I’m here because I need some help, I have a case with the authorities. I was advised to get a lawyer” I continued.
We talked about my case for a long while before he said.
“My ex-wife handles cases like this, she’s a very competent attorney. But I’ll give you her contact only after you let me take you out on a date tonight” he smiled, I was shocked by his offer.
I looked down at my belly.
“You do see that right? And I’m married” I replied. Who the hell is this bold man, Mateo was just an earshot away.
“I’ve got one of my own, I don’t mind, just a small dinner nothing fancy, I don’t care about that, im a divorce attorney” he smiled again, he stretched his card out to me and I took it
“Call me after you are done sorting whatever you have going on with… with this,” he said, gesturing to Mateo in the car.
“I’m more than happy to share her contact with you”
“I’m not sure my husband would be happy to hear about a date” I retorted.
“I don’t care, he should learn to take better care of his gold, because I’m Mr leprechaun
I laughed, “Sure” I replied playfully and waved.
I turned to leave when I saw my stepmother walking up the stairs to the courthouse.
“Mrs Rinaldi, I didn’t think I’d meet with you here. Was Rita not able to take your message?” I heard Atlas ask.
My stepmother glared at me before turning to Atlas,
“It’s urgent, it’s about the matter we discussed last time,” she replied.
“Maria” I started before lowering my head in shame.
“I don’t care if you tell your father you saw me in the courts today, I’m done with him, and I’m taking my children and leaving this God-forsaken country” she said before turning to look back at Mateo.
“He was nice to me once, in the beginning….” she started before turning back to me.
“Your father, then he started demanding, and he became too possessive” she continued.
“ill advice you to get yourself out of this game before he sucks your soul, and the life of your child” she added.
As she walked with Atlas she turned back to me, “Your friend, the one who comes to ask you of you” she started, and I couldn’t hear my heartbeat quicken.
I turned to face her, “Fiona…”
“Yes that one, tragic what happened to her no?” she muttered with a small smile.
“I don’t understand. What happened to Fiona?” I asked, my eyes stung with tears.
“There was a freak accident, unfortunately, she died, she had been volunteering at the animal shelter” she started.
“She was?”
“She was your friend and you didn’t know this? Some friend you are!” she snickered.
“What the hell happened Maria!” I exclaimed, fear choked me as I spoke
She gave a small laugh.
“I’m glad I got to give you this news, so you can understand my pain when I found out you betrayed your promise to Serena” she said, as she walked slowly to where I was.
She placed her hand on my shoulder and made sure she looked into my eyes when she said.
“She was mauled to death by a bear, in front of so many witnesses, a very gruesome death” she finished.
“That’s enough Mrs Rinaldi, let’s go” Atlas cautioned before gesturing for her to follow.
“Call me” I heard Atlas mouth before walking off with my stepmother.
Leaving me standing there in a state of terror.
My hands shook anxiously as they started to sweat excessively, I could feel everywhere start to turn, and my eyes suddenly felt heavy from the image of Fiona being mauled to death.
How scared she must have been.
Is this the plan Fiona? Or are you dead?
What the hell did I get my friend into?
I felt my body betray me, suddenly it was like a switch turned off in my head and I felt myself slump to the ground on the courthouse stairs.
The last voice I heard was Mateo’s baritone shriek.
“Ariana!!!”