Chapter 33
VAL
The morning of the trial felt as if it was happening to someone else.
I went through the motions of getting dressed and eating breakfast, and before I knew it, Carter was pulling the car into a parking lot a few blocks away from the courtroom.
I was sweating bullets. My palms were damp, and so were the hair roots at the back of my head.
I tried my best to listen to everything Carter was saying, but my frantic panic made my pulse jackhammer in my ears, blocking out most of his words.
I knew by heart everything he was saying anyway.
We’d gone through the agenda for the day many times.
“Val,” Carter said softly once we were out of the car. “Listen to me. It’s going to be all right.”
“How can you be so calm? You have a lot at stake here too. Your business partners are unhappy with you.”
“I don’t give a damn if they’re happy with me or not.”
“How? How can you not give a damn?”
“Because I focus on what’s important. And right now, you winning this case is important. You are important to me, Val. The rest is just background noise. I’m a very good lawyer. I’ll find solutions. Just try to focus on the positive side. You have your family behind you. And you have me, Val.”
I melted in a puddle at that. He was rationalizing everything.
I tried to do the same, but in all honesty, I’d always been rather emotional in these types of situations.
All I could think about was that if things went south, my business’s reputation would be tarnished.
I stood to lose contracts and orders, and I’d be letting down my employees.
Not to mention, I would take an enormous financial hit if I had to drop the skincare line and the judge decided I had to pay damages to Beauty SkinEssence.
Carter would lose a lot too. I couldn’t believe he was putting his skin in the game for me like this.
“It’s not working, is it?” he asked.
I shook my head. Next thing I knew, Carter had captured my mouth with his, pressing my back against one of the concrete walls in the parking lot. Holy shit, this wasn’t your usual have-a-good-day-kiss. It was so sensual and hot that I nearly climbed him.
“What are you doing?” I demanded when we paused to breathe.
“Taking your mind off everything while we still have time.”
I laughed. “I’m afraid not even your excellent kissing skills can achieve that.”
He narrowed his eyes, and then slipped a hand under my shirt, cupping me over the silky bra.
“Did you just fondle me?”
“I did. And if you keep this up, I’ll do worse.”
Oh my…. Judging by that delicious glint in his eyes, I had a pretty good idea of what worse meant.
“You are devious, you know that?” I pushed his hand away halfheartedly, then immediately wished I hadn’t, because all my worries slammed back into me. But it was time to put on the big girl panties and face the music.
Carter kept a protective hand on my back all the way to the courtroom. My family was waiting just outside, and I smiled.
“I can’t believe you’re all here,” I muttered, taking in the clan. Landon hugged me particularly tight.
“It’ll work out, munchkin,” he whispered. I pinched him playfully. That had been Dad’s nickname for me.
“I know it will,” I said with as much strength as I could muster. I didn’t want to disappoint my twin.
Again, I went through the motions for the next half hour. Inside the courtroom, I barely glanced at Beauty SkinEssence’s representative and their lawyer.
I sat as straight as possible, holding my chin high. I’d been through so much worse than this. I wasn’t going to let them sense my fear. I wouldn’t be intimidated.
The lawyer for the plaintiff spoke first. As expected, he was ruthless in the presentation of the “evidence” and depiction of my intentions. Then Carter rose from his seat. Clean-shaven, with those sharp eyes surveying the jury and the judge, he effortlessly dominated the courtroom.
While the opposing counsel questioned me, I made a point of looking him straight in the eyes and keeping my voice as neutral as possible.
“As mentioned countless times before, we all follow trends and market demands and strive to meet them. Simultaneous product development is not unusual. This has been a campaign to intimidate me from the very start,” I finished. I caught Carter glancing at me from across the courtroom.
I’d never felt as loved as in that moment. I felt his gaze wrap around me like a soothing hug, and for the first time today, my anxiety felt manageable.
Carter went on to present exhibit after exhibit to showcase the integrity of my company, as well as the timeline of the events. This was the culmination of weeks of work on his part, on top of what my previous lawyer had prepared. After countless case hearings, this was the final act.
Our proof was all circumstantial, just as the opposition’s had been. The product wasn’t patentable. In the end, it would be up to the judge to decide.