to make people admire us, to like ourself more, to spare someone’s feelings. Or we lie to manipulate, to get out of trouble, to break the law. Some lies aren’t a bad thing, but some are detrimental. Avery’s current client didn’t fit into the white lie kind of category.
He was an absolute monster.
She stood, walking with confidence in her two-thousand-dollar, three-inch deep blue Valentino heels, and her four-thousand-dollar black Armani suit with a crisp baby blue blouse beneath to highlight those heels. She looked like the epitome of success because she absolutely was.
There wasn’t a hair out of place in the perfect bun on the back of her neck. Her slim gold necklace sat exactly where it was supposed to with the clasp lined up on the back of her neck and a blue sapphire drop dangling just above her modest neckline. Her simple gold hoops were the only other jewelry touching her skin. Her philosophy had always been that less was more.
She stepped closer to her client who was leaning back in the witness stand as if he didn’t have a care in the world, his cocky attitude clear on his face, his clothes rumpled, and his hair in need of a trim. She gave him one sharp look and he shifted, his back going straight and his head bowing. When he looked back at her, he was a new man, still rumpled, but now his expression showed humility and fright. It really did boggle her mind at how easy it was to manipulate people, especially a jury of your peers.
While he looked like the rumpled kid next door, she looked as immaculate as a statue. Her olive skin was nearly flawless, allowing her to put nothing more than lotion on it. She added a touch of light pink lipstick, a swab of blush, and a swipe of mascara to highlight her already outrageously thick, long lashes.
This trial was nearly over. She just had to bring it home. She loved calling her witnesses to the stand. A lot of lawyers didn’t, as they weren’t confident their clients would do what they wanted them to do, and they didn’t know what the other side would ask, so they couldn’t prepare ahead.
Avery was the opposite. She studied her opposing council before a trial ever began, watched them in the courtroom, reviewed their cases, and got to know as much about them as humanly possible without violating their rights. She might push that to the edge though.
She then watched them during her trial, saw how they examined witnesses, studied up on the experts they chose, and was rarely surprised or wrong about how they’d cross-examine her people. That meant she could have them fully prepared, solidifying her case.
“Are you comfortable, Mr. Sputfield?” she asked, the first words spoken in at least five minutes.
“Not really,” he said, his voice coming out slightly choked, his eyes downcast.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked, showing just the right amount of concern.
“I just want to go home,” he said, looking younger than his twenty-four years.
“I know. These trials can be so hard on you and your family,” she said as she turned and pointedly looked over at his mother who let out a wail, drawing the jury’s attention. Beautifully timed like her very own puppets, her client’s father wrapped an arm around his wife to console her.
Perfection.
She snuck a glance at the jurors, a couple of which were holding their hands against their hearts. Yep. Nothing got to a mother like seeing the pain of another mother worried about her child.
“Objection, Your Honor, this is all a dog and pony show,” opposing counsel said as she knew he would.
Before the judge could interject, Avery looked toward the jury. “I apologize if this seems like a show. I assure you, it’s not. The kind of pain this family is going through is very real, but the district attorney wouldn’t know that as he’s not a father.”
The gavel slammed down. “Council, to the bench, now,” the judge thundered. She had to fight a smile as the other lawyer practically stomped to the judge’s bench while she glided over.
“I’ve seen your work before, Ms. Klum, and I’m unimpressed. If you try that crap one more time in my courtroom I’ll have you found in contempt of court, and I think a few days in jail alongside some of these men and women you keep getting freed would do you a world of good.”
It wasn’t often Avery was shocked inside