Alex - 10 Days of Torment Ch. 10

"Is that everything?"

"Yes, your honor."

Looking in the direction of Paul and Maggie, Judge Austin asked, "Counselor, do you have any objections?"

"No, your honor. We agree on behalf of our client."

"Very well. The agreement is so entered. I'd like to thank both parties for working this out. We'll get the paperwork completed by the end of the week. This case is adjourned."

Ashley looked inside her open briefcase, eyeing the envelope that Alex had left for her. She shivered as she recalled the bellhop knocking on her door, and how she answered it naked to retrieve it and the key to her handcuffs. A rush of adrenaline ran through her as she picked it up.

"If I may, your honor," she gulped. "I'd like to meet with you privately in your chambers."

"Regarding?"

"Another one of the stipulations I agreed to. I promise I won't waste too much of your time."

"Uh, very well. Bailiff, bring her to my chambers in five minutes."

He left, and Maggie panicked. "What the fuck do you think that is all about?"

"I don't know," Paul replied. "She hit everything on the list... except the personal apology. Do you think that's it?"

"It has to be. But let me make sure," she said as she pulled her phone from her purse. Taking it off of silent mode, she sent Alex a text. All the while she stared intently at Ashley.

2:45 PM

Should we be worried that opposing counsel asked to meet with Judge Austin privately in his office?

2:47 PM

Surprised, yes. Worried, I don't know. Did she enter everything we agreed to?

2:47 PM

Everything but the apology.

Alex's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help but think she'd changed her mind about using her safe word. Then again it was more likely she just didn't want to admit she'd manipulated the system to try and gain an advantage on the record. Being realistic about the circumstances, he calmed.

2:47 PM

As long as she had the agreement entered the way we negotiated before the judge adjourned, everything is fine. The apology was just a shot at her ego anyway. It doesn't impact Emily.

2:47 PM

You're probably right. She increased the cash payment from 10k to 25k. Probably out of guilt.

2:48 PM

Wow. Didn't see that coming. I would say we won. No need to be concerned, Mag. Great job. And thanks!

2:48 PM

My pleasure Mr. Edwards

2:48 PM

For goodness sake... it's Alex!

2:48 PM

LOL. I know. Have fun with the kids. See you tomorrow.

2:48 PM

I might take tomorrow off. I'll let you know if you have to move my schedule around.

2:48 PM

It's a light load. You don't have much on your calendar.

2:48 PM

I'll let you know by the time you come in tomorrow.

2:48 PM

Ok. Have a good time tonight.

2:49 PM

I will. Enjoy your evening.

"The boss says not to worry, Paul," she said, placing her phone on the table. Still, she stared at Ashley, who was waiting patiently in her chair in a most unladylike manner. Her eyes were closed, her back stiff against the back of the chair. Her legs were spread wide, the outside her ankles butted against the inside of the front legs. She was breathing deeply, appearing to try and calm herself.

Paul was tapping his paperwork on the tabletop, straightening them before putting them in his briefcase. Closing it, he stood.

"If there's nothing to worry about I'm heading back to the office. I've got court tomorrow and I want to be prepared."

"Look at her. Isn't the way she's sitting there strange?" she whispered.

"I'd love to sit and stare at her with you, Maggie, but I'm going to have to see her in court tomorrow. And as gorgeous as she is, I'm not looking forward to it. I'm apparently not Alex Edwards, and I'm afraid I'm going to get kicked in the balls by her again in front of Judge York."

"She's that good, is she?"

"Ruthless comes to mind. Do you want to catch a cab back to the office?"

"No. I'm going to stay here for a while. You go ahead."

"Suit yourself," he shrugged as he turned to leave.

Maggie stayed at the table, although she picked up her phone to use it as a prop. She was checking her office email when the bailiff came to get Ashley. Maggie peered over the top of her phone as the blonde pushed her chair back gently and stood. She diverted her eyes, glancing back at her Samsung as Ashley stepped into the aisle between them. Maggie noticed her heels, drawn to the expensive brand. It was then that she noticed the braided rope marks indented into her perfect tanned skin.

"Holy shit... is that!?" she wondered. Opening her photo gallery, she flipped to the most recent pictures she'd taken just that very morning. Finding the close up she'd taken from her position by the breakroom window, she used her finger and thumb to zoom in further. "Fuck... that's her! Ashley was the girl in the hotel window this morning! I knew she looked familiar!"

Maggie had noticed the woman tied to her chair in the 9th floor window of the Marriott across the street from her building. It was hard not to. She was standing and gazing out at the beautiful southern California sky, spooning from her container of yogurt, when she noticed her. She watched her tie herself up. It was the hottest thing Maggie had ever seen in person, and she took several pictures, not only to prove it actually happened, but to use later that night as fantasy material. That same woman was walking like a goddess three feet in front of her, carrying her briefcase as she was led to Judge Austin's chambers.

"There's more to this. I can feel it," she sensed. "I think I better stick around a while to see what I can find out." Moving from the table to the back of the empty courtroom, she took a seat.

Opening a video she took of the woman, dancing naked in that hotel room window like a striptease artist, she nodded. "Yeah. That is definitely her."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What can I do for you, Miss Davenport?" Judge Austin asked as he unzipped his robe and hung it on a coat tree in the corner of his office.

"Not spoil the illusion of what a judge wears underneath their robe," she smiled brightly, hoping to ease the tension she was feeling.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I was just joking, your honor. We know you wear pants. And please, call me Ashley. This isn't necessarily a formal visit."

He was a bit bemused. On the one hand he was perturbed that he'd had to squeeze in the case when his docket was already full. He'd pushed back his lunch in order to accommodate it, which he did mainly because of Alex. They'd gone to law school together, choosing different career paths upon passing the bar. Still, they were good friends. They played golf together. Alex had even reached out in support after his recent divorce.

He was also intrigued by the beautiful bombshell standing nervously in front of him. There was no apparent reason for her to be there, and yet there she was. He proceeded with caution, focusing more on what was bothering him at the moment.

"Very well, Ashley. Why are you here? I've already been more than accommodating with you in my courtroom... all for the case to be dropped. Now you're in my chambers when you know I've had to move things around to get this done today. I should have been at lunch an hour ago."

"I'm here because you were more than accommodating with me. Well, my firm. I'm not taking all the blame. But I knew better. I'm still kicking my ass for not sticking with my gut. I never should have listened to that idiot."

"What the hell are you babbling on about? What idiot?"

"My boss, Mr. Walling."

"Elliott?"

"Yes, your honor."

He sat down in his plush leather chair, looking like anything but a judge. He was wearing a white dress shirt, but his Levi's belied the persona the robe cloaked underneath. The motorcycle helmet and leather jacket on the coat tree confirmed it.

"In here, I'm Jack. And yes, Elliott is an idiot. No argument there. What did he do?"

"I did it. I'm not a puppet. He didn't have his hand up my ass."

"Ha! Interesting analogy. What's going on, Ashley?"

"Look, I'm here to apologize to you personally. It's a part of what I agreed to do with Mr. Edwards as part of the settlement, but I need to do this for me too."

"What are you apologizing for?"

"Mr. Walling convinced me to use Cassie Stafford's pregnancy as a strategy. We knew when she was due, and the idea was to ask for continuances to delay the trial."

"Why on earth would you do that?"

"They didn't believe in the merits of the case. I did. I think if I would have gone head to head with her, I would have won. Especially a couple months ago. Of course, I didn't know about the fucking email then. I'm positive now that Elliott knew about it, but kept it from me. Regardless, if I had gone through with the case with what I knew, I know I would have won."

"So is this mea culpa is a way to garner an appeal for a mistrial? Are you confessing to not giving your client the best representation possible?"

"We dropped the lawsuit, Jack. The email exists. You saw it. And Mr. Patterson knows now that Miss Swanson was blind copied on it. He was fucked the moment he found that out. So, this isn't some nefarious way to manipulate the court. I'm just pissed that I didn't believe in myself. I let Elliott strong arm me into using a bullshit strategy. But he's my boss, so I kind of had to. I'm here because I knew it was wrong to use you, and I did."

"Use me? How did you use me?"

"Look, I'm just here to apologize for my use of a questionable strategy. I really don't want to get into any more than that."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Ashley. I'd hate to hold you in contempt."

"Really?" she laughed, flashing him a disarming smile.

He flashed one in return as he motioned to the seat in front of his desk. "Yes, really. I have a feeling I'm a part of this and I want to know how... and why?"

"Oh God," she exclaimed as she sat.

"Is it that bad?"

"It's... this isn't how I envisioned this going." She put her briefcase on the edge of his desk next to her and opened it. Pulling out the envelope Alex left for her at the hotel, she fondled it, trying to decide how to proceed.

"Ashley?"

She took a deep breath, gathering her nerves. Nodding, she stood and opened the envelope. She pulled out the three folded pieces of paper, putting the note Alex had written for her inside a pocket of the briefcase. She held the one for him in her trembling left hand.

"Like I said, this isn't how I saw this playing out in my head. I'll tell you anything you want to know... after," she said as she leaned seductively over his desk, holding out the letter. Her wrist came into view from underneath her suit jacket, the telltale rope marks decorating her skin like an erotic bracelet. He noticed, but said nothing. He was more bewildered by what she was offering.

He took it, questioning, "After what?"

"Read the note, Jack. It's from Alex. You have my word that I haven't read it, but from the gist of the one he sent me, I know what it says. And I'm agreeing to it."

Jack unfolded the paper and began reading.

Jack,

I know you're going to be skeptical about this. I would be too if I were in your position. Believe me, I thought long and hard about whether this was appropriate or not. You're a judge. I practice law in your courtroom. So does Miss Davenport. I can foresee all the legal entanglements that this could present. I understand.

On the other hand, I'm a friend. Ashley handed this to you, which means this doesn't have anything to do with what we all do for a living. This isn't about the case. It's been settled, thanks to me. I trust she already apologized to you like I asked her to. This is about our lives away from work; something I think you've neglected for far too long. I know, because I was in your shoes not that long ago, following in your exact footsteps, heading for a divorce. I was all about work, denying my desires. And my wife's.

I'm just lucky that I got out of those shoes before I ended up in the same place you are. It's because of where you are and because you're my friend that I'm doing this.

Ashley is my gift to you. I mean that in a very literal sense. I've given her instructions for what she is to do and how to present herself. You said yesterday that you wouldn't mind finding out what she's like out of the courtroom. I'm offering you that chance. And so is she. I'm tired of seeing or hearing about you eyeing the young women that come into your court, although I understand why you can't act on your impulses. You need something to kickstart you and get you out of the funk you've been in the last two years. Believe it or not, it's effecting your job.

If you want, she's yours for thirty minutes. You can pretty much do what you want with her, but respect her if she says no. If she says 'yellow' you need to stop whatever you're doing. That's her safe word, and it has to be accepted.

If you decide you're not comfortable with this, tell Miss Davenport you've accepted her apology and there's no need to go any further. She'll leave accordingly. But I don't ever want to hear you bitch again on the golf course about how you need to get laid.

If you decide you want to end the dry spell we both know is caused by a lack of effort and confidence on your part, she's waiting to be asked. All you have to do is put down this letter, and tell her you want to meet Kitten. She'll take it from there.

Best of luck. Don't say I never gave you anything.

Alex

He put the paper down, but he didn't know how to react. Ashley smiled sexily at him, wondering what must be going on in his head. He hadn't asked her to leave, but he hadn't requested her alter ego to stay. She didn't know what to do any more than he did. And she couldn't do anything unless he said something.

Instead, she had to. "Jack?"

"Ashley, is this... are you?"

"Am I what?"

"I saw the marks on your wrist. Is this really... are you under some kind of duress?"

"Ha! Are you asking me if I'm being forced to be here? No one else is with me, Jack. There's no gun to my head, if that's what you're asking."

"Not even financially... like blackmail."

"Are you honestly insinuating that Alex is blackmailing me? Come on, let's be real."

"None of this seems real. You shouldn't even be in here."

"True. I should have tried the case I was presented three months ago. I didn't because I listened to my boss. You wanted to know how and why? You're recently divorced."

"That was over two years ago. And what does that have to do with my court?"

"When I got this case I asked for your court. Nine months ago, so would Cassie. I had the advantage over her because she was six months pregnant and showing when we first appeared in front of you."

"I don't understand."

"Look, I'm not proud of this. I was just playing the same game every firm in town is playing in your court. And if it's any consolation, I already said I wanted to tell you this after... if you know what I mean. I'm only telling you before because I don't think there will be an after if I don't tell you. Your mind is too muddled right now."

"Please, just tell me what you have to say, Ashley."

"Fine. The prevailing theory in the legal community is if a pretty female lawyer is in front of you, she has a distinct advantage by being able to manipulate your decisions. Not regarding your application of the law. Everyone knows you're not a pushover when it comes to fair judgments. We love that about you. It's more the little things we can do. Like your willingness to grant a continuance, or to consider a ridiculous objection. Hell, I'm in here now in your chamber when there's no reason to be. We settled, and you adjourned. By all rights you should have said no. I'm here because of how I look. And if I'm honest, how I smell. I'm throwing off pheromones like I'm a bitch in heat, and I have to reek like a porn star after an all-day shoot. You can't tell me you don't smell the scent of sex on me."

"Yes, I can. It's rather intoxicating if I'm being honest."

"And you smelled it when I brought you a copy of the agreement to the bench. I knew then and there that I had you hooked and you'd agree to let me in here, just the two of us. You were wondering why I smelled like a slut. But you would have been thinking naughty thoughts about me even if I wasn't. You look at me like you're thinking about doing things to me all the time. You do it with most sexy women."

"It's... it's that transparent?"

"Okay, I can't really speak for all the women that come before you. I can only speak for myself and a few of my colleagues that I've talked to. I can feel you staring at me. I know you think about what it might be like. Again, the prevailing opinion is that your marriage failed because you're a workaholic, and because of that, all you have time for is to fantasize about a sexual encounter. We also know you aren't going to act on those impulses because you're one of the most honorable men on the bench. So, we play to those whims. We use the fact that you're single and sexually frustrated. Some are more blatant about it. I've only asked for continuances. I'm sure if you think about it, you'll figure out who among my peers have really played unfairly."

"Well fuck!" he grumbled. "I never thought Nancy leaving me would cause me to be so unprofessional. I guess I've never considered the impact it's really had on me."

"You're not unprofessional. You're human. So are those of us that have used your situation to our advantage. I'm sure if you confronted them, they would deny it, but you know you don't have to. We women work in a legal world dominated by men. Some of us compensate by using the assets we have to our benefit."

"Yeah, but I'm the one they're using it against."

"Hey, look, it's not our fault you're not having sex. I'm sure there are plenty of women that would jump at the chance to be jumped by you."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you're ridiculously handsome. Even more so when you're not in the robe. It might project an image of respect, but it's hiding a smoking hot body."

"Uh, thanks. I actually meant why would you think I'm not having sex? I've dated since my divorce."

"Yeah... we all know about you taking out Sheila Lawson. We also know that was self-serving on her part since she's gay."

"She's... really?"

"The question was never if you were dating. It's whether you were fucking. The consensus is no. And that's understandable. You can't chase a lawyer for obvious reasons, or anyone that works for you. Sheila isn't either one. She's works in the clerk's office. But she wants to transfer into the court as a stenographer... which is why she went out with you. She thinks Marjorie is close to retiring."

"But she's not."

"We're way off track, Jack. I'm only trying to inform you of the how and the why. Now you know. I'm not proud that I was a part of it, but I am happy that I'm helping put an end to it. The only thing we have to determine now is, are you sending Miss Davenport on her way, or do you want to ask a different question."

"I'm still trying to process this Ashley. You're being honest with me. You're here... willingly."

She pulled out the third paper Alex had prepared for her. Placing it on his desk in front of him, she said, "That's basically a contract. It states I'm not being forced to do anything, and that I won't use what you do to me against you in any way. No blackmail or extortion. No criminal intent. I'm agreeing to have some kind of consensual sexual experience with you for the next half-hour. After that, I won't speak of it... ever."

She pulled a pen from inside her jacket and turned the page around. Signing and dating it, she slid it back toward him when she finished it.