Chapter 21
Fuck the Patriarchy
? The Man - Taylor Swift
Ruby
“Country music darling, Ruby Lynn Hayes, is expected in court today. She’ll be facing off with her former label, which has accused the singer/songwriter of breaching her multi-million dollar contract at the close of her U.S.
Tour last spring. In a countersuit, Ruby alleges she endured years of abuse and manipulation from label executives and the management team at C I savor the feel of his fingers as they run over my scalp and down the length of the wet strands.
He works the shampoo through first, rinsing and repeating before smoothing the conditioner through the ends. My lips part on a sigh as he washes every inch of my body, massaging my muscles as he works the soap into every dip and curve.
“You keep making sounds like that, and we’ll never make it out of here.”
“I can’t help it. You’re too good at this.”
He chuckles and kisses my temple. “Go get dressed while I finish up.”
I slip into my Abby-approved little black dress and black chunky heels, giving myself one last look in the full-length mirror. My hair is pulled into a low bun with a few messy strands framing my face, and I’m wearing a deep red lipstick that feels like a giant middle finger to the patriarchy.
When I look up, Liam is standing behind me, fixing the cuff of his white dress shirt with the two top buttons undone, his tattoos peeking out of the collar, and a grey suit coat and matching slacks.
He runs his hand through his slicked-back hair, one strand escaping over his forehead.
He looks dangerously handsome, and it’s not good for my heart.
He glides his palms up and down my shoulders in a soothing motion just below my dress’s puff sleeve. “You ready to give ‘em hell?”
I inhale a deep breath through my nose and blow it out through my mouth. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Liam
The courtroom looks just like a scene from the movies, with dark wood benches and a raised platform at the front of the room where the judge will take their place.
Ruby, looking like a badass woman ready to take down an entire industry, sits behind a desk.
She’s flanked by her lawyer, Adam, on one side, and Abby on the other.
I find my place in the row directly behind her, wishing I could be by her side for this.
Across the aisle, a lawyer digs through a briefcase, and a smug-looking bigwig in a suit that I assume is someone from the label.
He’s tall and slender, and if I had to guess, I’d say he’s in his late fifties, but it’s hard to tell with the amount of shit he’s injected into his expressionless face.
His blank stare is fixed on Ruby, but she’s deep in conversation with Abby, unbothered by the attention.
“Please rise. Court is now in session. Honorable Judge Henderson presiding.”