Chapter 298
SIERRA.
The courthouse feels bigger and colder than it should. Like it was built to swallow people whole.
My flats tap against the stone steps as I walk beside my lawyer. My palms are damp and my heart won’t slow down.
Adrian called me an hour ago.
“I wish I was there,” he’d said, voice tight with frustration. “I wanted so much to show my support p>
“I know.” I’d replied. “But you can’t miss this conference p>
The conference was supposed to help in expanding his clinic. He wanted to stay behind so he could come to my hearing, but I couldn’t let him do that. Not when this was supposed to aid in his career.
“But still,” it felt like he was practically whining.
“It’s okay Adrian… We can celebrate my win when you come back p>
“That’s the spirit… and remember, no matter what happens, you have people who love and support you p>
“I’ll remember p>
I repeat those words in my head as we climb the stairs, because right now they’re the only thing that’s keeping me from falling apart.
Halfway up, someone calls my name.
“Sierra p>
I turn to find Lilly standing a few steps below us.
She begins to walk up, but when she catches my lawyer, for some reason, she freezes for a second, staring at her with wide eyes.
She looks between me and Kerry before quickly regaining her composure and hurrying up.
“Good morning,” she says politely
We begin walking and Lilly gently grabs my arm, then leans closer.
“How did you land a Whitmore lawyer?” she whispers
I blink at her. “What p>
She nods subtly toward him. “Do you know who she is p>
I don’t and honestly, I don’t even care. What I care more about is if she is able to get me out of this mess, though Adrian did assure me that she can.
“I barely slept last night, Lilly. I don’t care who she is, as long as she does her job p>
She exhales slowly. “Right. Not the time p>
We reach the courtroom doors and immediately my stomach tightens.
We enter, and once inside, I immediately spot the company’s legal team. They sit confidently at their table, Bio-Renew’s logo printed on thick files stacked neatly in front of them.
Jocelyn is seated behind them, smirking at me. Almost like she’s confident that I’ll be going down soon.
My team sits further back. Benji tries to give me a small smile. My mother sits rigidly beside Aunt Ava and Aunt Harper while Uncle Gabe and Rowan sit like silent guards.
Lilly squeezes my hand once before moving to sit behind me just as the doors open again and Noah walks in.
He scans the room until his eyes find mine, but his expression is unreadable.
He takes a seat in the back and a few seconds later the judge enters.
Everyone stands before we sit back down and the clerk begins reading the case number.
The judge adjusts his glasses. “This is a preliminary criminal hearing in the matter of Bio-Renew versus Sierra Meyers. The defendant stands accused of corporate espionage, unlawful distribution of proprietary research, and financial gain from intellectual theft p>
The words feel like they belong to someone else and I have to fight the urge to scream that I didn’t do any of what they’re accusing me of.
The company’s lawyer rises. An older guy, probably in his sixties, with cold, cutting eyes.
“Your Honor, Bio-Renew presents substantial evidence that the defendant accessed confidential research files without authorization and transmitted those files to competing organizations p>
He gestures to a stack of documents.
“We have digital logs showing unauthorized downloads and illegal transfer of research material. We also have an internal witness testimony confirming suspicious behavior p>
My fingers curl slightly on the table as anger and bitterness take root.