014

Sophie

“Where is your client?” The judge asked angrily.

Heads turned, including mine. Hayes was no longer sited next to his attorney. 

His attorney reached for the documents on his table and pulled it to himself. He looked visibly anxious; like it was an act he couldn’t control. 

“Your honor, my client seems—” he paused and groaned. He tapped his chest repeatedly as he searched for what to say next. 

I wouldn't blame the attorney at all. Hayes couldn’t care less about this divorce. He had probably thought it was a prank and when it got too tough, he left. 

If only life awarded me such grace; to easily leave when things got too tough.

“Your honor, my client had something urgent to attend to,” His attorney explained. Immediately after he spoke, he avoided the gaze of the judge. 

His eyes met the jury’s judging eyes. They all had a frown as they questioned their judgement. 

They whispered between themselves and I guessed the question that worried them was where was Hayes? He was just about to win custody of Noah. He was about to get everything he wished for. In the eyes of many, he had won so why had he left. 

“Does your client know the gravity of his actions?” The judge questioned. 

“M-my client is not aware—" Hayes’s attorney cuts his words with a groan. He hit his chest again, feigning a cough. 

The judge grabbed his gavel. “This hearing is hereby postponed. The next date would be deliberated on then sent to the involved parties.”

The judge slammed the gavel on his desk before he pushed himself to his feet.

“All stand”.

We did. 

The judge exited. 

I sighed, my hands pressing against the table in front of me to steady myself. 

Hayes wanted everything his way and it annoyed me. 

A vein was probably popping in the middle of my forehead breaking the plain expression I tried hard to keep.

“We’ll have to discuss our next move,” my attorney informed me. 

Finally, I took a breath. 

I turned to her and nodded. 

“That would be another time,” I replied before I pushed to my feet. 

I walked past her chair and was about to head for the door when Olivia stepped in front of me. She had a smug smile on her face. She was enjoying this. 

“I’m so sorry for what happened today,” she said, feigning concern in her voice. 

What does she want this time?

I gave no expression because Olivia seemed to feed off my reactions.

“I have no time for this, Olivia,” I told her. “If you have nothing better to say, step aside so I can be on my way”.

“I’m in no way mocking you,” she assured me. 

In every way, she was. 

“You’re always coming up with something to delay the custody process after pretending not to care,” Olivia cocked her head to the side, her eyes practically begging for a reaction. 

“That’s the thing with you, Olivia. You make me wonder whether you ever think before you speak”.

She blinked. 

She looked like she had been slapped across her face. 

“I do understand that you're in a tough spot but you don't have to be so rude”. Her smug smile cracked. Her forehead folded into wrinkles and I couldn’t help but smile. 

“I would love to stay around and chat but I have things to do. You have a job too so you must understand,” I answered. 

She clenched her jaw. It annoyed her how I didn't react the way she wanted me to. 

Eyes fixated on us.

She let out a short laugh to hide her annoyance. 

“Look, Sophie I’m only looking out for you”.

She reached for my shoulder but I waved it off. 

“You’re my husband’s personal assistant. Your job doesn’t require you to look after me”.

She scoffed. “Why are you pissed? Is it because you couldn't have your way in court?”

It was funny how one minute she'd attempt to be concerned to please the eyes around us then the next she would fire accusations at me. 

“I’ll repeat myself because I think you didn’t hear me the first time,” I smiled wider. “If all you want to do is ramble about things that do not require your concern, then step away from my way”.

“Sophie—”

I brushed past her, my shoulder hitting hers. 

She gasped. 

If I stayed there any longer, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep my cool. 

As I walked out of the courtroom, I saw no sign of Noah or Hayes. It was as though they had completely disappeared. 

It made me wonder why he had actually left. Did whatever he had to do require his presence? Or did he just wish to piss me off?

I should have glanced at him. I should have turned when I felt his gaze. Maybe then I would have been able to decode his reason from his expression. He never really knew how to hide how he felt. 

I sighed as I arrived by the sidewalk. I pulled out my phone and decided to order a ride. I searched through the app to see no car was available. 

There was some traffic somewhere that stopped the cars near my area. The only free ones were the ones hours ago and I wasn’t willing to wait that too. 

Fine. I’ll take a taxi. 

Luckily, I saw one speeding my way. I held up a hand to signal the driver. 

The car slowed before swerving in my direction. 

I released a breath. 

The air around the courthouse seemed suffocating for some reason. I needed to get away from here. 

Fast. 

I took a step back as I waited for the cab to stop in front of me. Once it did, I made my way to the door of the back seat. I reached, gripped and pulled it open. 

I was about to climb in when a hand gripped me. 

I froze. 

My eyebrows furrowed. 

Was it Hayes? He hadn’t left?