Chapter Twelve
Justice
In her apartment, Giselle tied the stretch band around the foot of the sofa, then secured the opposite end around her healing ankle.
Checking the physical therapy app, she reviewed Tony’s lesson and began a series of leg pulls, ankle rotations, and steps.
Halfway through the routine, her phone rang from the kitchen table.
She slipped off the band and hurried over to answer.
Giselle paused at her lawyer’s name. Over the past few weeks, every incoming call had fried her nerves and jolted her stomach.
Good news or bad? Had the court date been chosen?
Did her case suffer a setback? She dreaded hearing anything, and at the same time, couldn’t wait to receive information no matter how minor.
The constant flip-flop of emotions had only increased her stress.
Anxiety poked holes in her sleep and sapped her appetite.
She grew agitated, afraid, and had cried more than once which only led to irritation at herself.
Taking a deep breath, Giselle tapped the screen and prepared for the worst. “Hi, Elise.”
“Nigel caved!” the lawyer’s excited voice boomed.
Giselle’s heart leapt, her mind spinning. “What? Tell me more!”
“For all of Nigel’s boasting and threats over the lawsuit, he finally gave in and decided to settle out of court. We had him nailed to the wall, and his lawyer knew it. Congratulations, my dear! A six-figure settlement is yours. How does it feel to win three hundred grand?”
Giselle began to cry. A wild mix of emotions flooded from the shattered jar in her heart.
Relief over the entire situation ending weakened her knees as she sat hard on a chair.
Immense gratitude toward Elise, Janice, and Ralph spilled unchecked in her tears.
Love for Tony and all his support radiated from her crashing heart.
Elation over the win and justice being served fluttered in her stomach.
The financial award aside, nothing compared to the eradication of stress, removal of depression, and the sensation of finally experiencing freedom from her nightmare.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” she mumbled, wiping her eyes on a napkin. “I feel like I’m dreaming.”
“Time to wake up and start fresh,” the lawyer said in a warm tone. “This is all in the rearview mirror now. Pay your debts, register for school, and achieve your goals. You deserve it.”
“I need to take you and Janice out for a celebration dinner,” Giselle replied, her voice shaky. “It’s the very least I can do. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Dinner would be lovely, and don’t worry about anything else,” said Elise. “It’s just my job, dear. You’re the one who toiled the most through anguish.”
Trembling, Giselle listened as the lawyer explained a few more things about law procedure and the next steps for closure. Only some minor clean-up remained, but Elise would handle most of the work. She again reiterated that Giselle had nothing else to worry about.
That weekend, she threw a party at her place.
Tony, Ralph, Janice, her mother, and the Rapids packed the apartment for some rowdy fun.
They ate until bursting, laughed, and spoke at great length about anything and everything.
Afterwards, Tony spent the night, and Giselle thought she had the best sleep in her life.
***
Two years later, Giselle sat next to Tony in bed while she worked on a laptop.
Smiling, she tapped the mouse pad and completed a digital advertisement on the website for his newly opened physical therapy clinic.
Over the past month, her marketing campaign using a specific graphic design had worked to attract more customers.
Elated to grow his business, Tony’s phone didn’t stop ringing as clients booked appointments for treatment.
He had also earned enough to finally move out of his parents’ home and rent a cute little place of his own.
“Your ads for my clinic are spot-on,” Tony stated, leaning over to kiss her temple. “You’re a genius.”
“Nah, I’m just an associate’s degree recipient for marketing,” she replied.
“Wait until I finish my bachelor’s.” Despite only holding an initial degree, her inbox had recently blown up with offers from companies looking to hire her.
Several organizations had been impressed by her online portfolio and graphic art concepts for business.
As for the auto dealership, Giselle kept in contact with her good friend Ralph.
He had stated Giselle’s settlement represented a victory for the entire dealership.
In the aftermath, a shake-up had occurred from the top down.
Nigel had been fired by the board, and several of his gray-haired backers had also been forced to retire or resign.
Tony draped a loving arm around her shoulders. “Where would I be without you?”
“Handing out paper flyers and begging for customers on the street,” she responded.
He laughed. “You know me too well.
Giselle closed the laptop and placed it on the nightstand. She reached up and clicked off the lamp, then rolled over and snuggled into Tony’s awaiting arms.
“I do know you,” she said softly, kissing him. His erection stirred against her petting hand. “And I realize neither of us will sleep for at least another hour…or two.”
THE END