Bait

Rhi did not gather the strength to pick up the phone and try to figure out the password, but she felt cold and her stomach started hurting.

- There must be an explanation. - She thought.

Just then, Lee came rushing in and took his phone quickly. He must have seen the flashing light and he eyed his fiancée. Rhi lifted one eyebrow and murmured.

- Last night was great?

He made a puzzled face and left the phone on the table again.

- What?

- I thought it had been boring. Jo seems to think otherwise.

Realisation washed over him and he blushed, then he looked to his left and shrugged.

- Well, apparently me cracking a joke can make some people's night. - He opened the message and laughed nervously. - Joanne Dreyfuss, remember her?  Youngest of the mining family?

Rhi knew who Joanne Dreyfuss was. It made sense to think a smile from Lee would have made her think life was wonderful. She felt more relaxed. She needed to believe in her husband-to-be. She smiled and nodded.

- Rhi you're not thinking... - He said in a shaky voice, he had gone pale as a sheet of paper. She lifted her hand to stop him.

- I'm not thinking. - She declared, and continued drinking her cappuccino.

-

Paul winked at her from across the court in a sarcastic "all good in the hood" way during the second hearing. They had managed to schedule it the first day of October. She widened her eyes to scold him, but smiled afterwards. He was in the witness stand during the Cross-Examination and he was doing everything she had advised him to. He had just explained how the writing process usually works for him and clearly stated how nobody, certainly not Wilson, was present when he wrote songs. The plaintiff attorney didn't manage to make him hesitate or contradict himself. Rhi was proud.

She interviewed Wilson afterwards and as the interrogatory began, she was fairly confident that she'd find a way to exasperate him and prove he was just an impulsive, detestable little man. 

- Mr. Wilson is plain out lying on his allegations. - She said, facing the jury. - He was never present at the moment in which my client was song writing. I, as any confessed enthusiast of his music, know that he writes his lyrics alone, and only when the music is all set. The vocabulary, the construction, the stylistic identity Mr. Banks has is continuous throughout the whole of his body of work and not a single alien element can be recognised in the songs subject to complaint...

- So you're a fan, too? - Wilson interrupted her unpleasantly.

Paul shifted his weight on his seat. Rhi bit her lower lip. Bait taken.

- Yes, I am. - She answered, turning to see him, defiantly.

- So you think it's OK to steal money from a poor man like me just cause you have the hots for this piece of shit? - He yelled.

Rhi smiled triumphantly, but Paul stood up, slamming the table with his open hand.

- How dare you talk to my attorney like that? - He called.

Rhiannon eyed him, shaking her head and made a gesture for him to sit back down.

- I request that is erased. - She said confidently.

- Granted. - The judge mumbled.

- As you may see, Mr. Wilson has both a voluble personality and an obvious animosity towards my client. I have no further questions...

She went back to her seat. Paul ran his hand through his hair, he was seething. Rhiannon waited for the judge to call the hearing over to turn to him and smile.

- That was exactly what I wanted him to do. - She put all the papers that were on the table inside her briefcase and stood up.

Paul shook his head, following her out of the room.

- Well it was horrible, I wanted to bite his fucking head off... Sorry. - He added as he realised he had cursed in front of her.

She sniggered as they walked to the door where they usually exited now, one that had no access from the street. He had brought his car this time. A beautiful navy Bentley. The weather had changed and the wind blew cold from the river. Rhi crossed her arms as she walked and Paul lifted the collar of his jacket.

- I was provoking him and he bit. Everything went according to plan. - Rhi explained.

He stopped walking with a confused face.

- So you're not really a fan? - He asked, seeming overly offended.

Rhiannon cackled, but kept walking.

- Is that what you're going to make of it? - She laughed, not turning to see him.

- Well, yes. - He said, trying to keep a straight face, but Rhi could see the smile playing in his lips. - It is of the utmost importance for me.

She walked back to his side.

- I am. I listened to the whole album, for the case at first, because I loved it afterwards. Then I listened to the others. Happy?

He grinned, assenting.

- Very. - He answered.

- Good. - She said. - I liked how you defended your attorney, by the way. Film-like chivalry.

- Well it was kinda foolish of me, wasn't it? You don't need defending.

- Yeah, you may have got the roles mixed... inside that court nothing happens without me wanting it to, remember that. But... like I said, I liked it. - She whispered, putting her hand on his chest and tiptoeing to kiss his cheek, very close to his mouth. She then quickly left his side to walk to her car and opened the door.

Paul gulped, surprised, but didn't dare comment. 

- How many more audiences do you think we'll have? - He asked instead.

- Two, tops. One of them this very month. - She answered. - Then you'll be rid of my company.

She got into her car before he could retort and left quickly. Paul was left dumbfounded wondering what exactly had just happened.