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“How do you not know the last name of the person you are dating?”
“Look, it’s a long story, and not relevant right now. What do I need to do?”
Luke took a deep breath, glancing over at Alexa. “Is there anything you’ve told her that she can use against us?”
“I don’t think so. We never spoke about work—that’s why I didn’t know who she is. I’m such an idiot. Why did I never realize that every time I had a work emergency was the same time she had one? We were working opposite sides of the same emergency!”
“Nothing to be done about that now,” Luke said briskly, recovering quickly from the unpleasant news. “Don’t lie about your relationship if asked, but don’t bring it up unless you have to, either.”
“Right.” Victoria shot another glance at Alexa, who still wasn’t looking at her.
The case started, but Victoria had a hard time concentrating. She was inwardly fuming. She couldn’t believe Alexa’s nerve, letting her walk into this case blind. Did Alexa not owe her at least that much—some small warning? Did she really care for Victoria at all?
It all went well until Victoria was called to the stand.
Then, everything went to hell very quickly.
Luke questioned Victoria first. That part was easy. They had rehearsed the questions beforehand and Victoria had her answers ready.
Of course, they had no way to know what questions Alexa’s lawyer would ask.
The lawyer—Jared, Victoria thought she had heard someone call him—strode up to the stand, looking as smug as if he had already won the case. It was not a look that boded well.
“Miss St. Clair, I believe you know Miss Rossi on a personal level, is that correct?”
So, that’s the line of questioning he was going with, was he? Well, if he hoped to catch Victoria lying on the stand then he was dead wrong.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“May I ask how you know Miss Rossi?”
“We are—that is, wewerein a romantic relationship.”
Now, Alexa finally looked at her. Victoria caught hurt flickering across her girlfriend’s—her ex-girlfriend’s—face. She couldn’t help but feel a small surge of vindictive pleasure. Alexa had blindsided her, and it felt good to blindside her right back.
On the heels of the nasty thought came remorse. Victoria certainly didn’t trust Alexa enough to be with her anymore, but she doesn’t want her to hurt, either. She suppressed the urge to apologize. What could she say? She meant what she said, and she wasn’t going to take it back.
“I see. And how would you say that relationship has affected this matter?”
“It hasn’t. We never talked about work. I honestly didn’t know who she was until I walked in here.”
“You expect us to believe that you were in a relationship for—Miss Rossi informs me—several months, and you didn’t know who she was?”
“If you’re looking for something incriminating, perhaps you should look to your own client. I didn’t know who she was until I saw her here today. Somehow, I doubt Alexa can say the same.” Victoria should stop there, but her roiling anger and hurt got the better of her.
“She’s a liar and a sneak, and if you fall for her crap then you’re stupider than—”
“What the hell was I supposed to say, Victoria?” Alexa stood up, much to the disapproving murmurs of the rest of the court. “How exactly do you tell the woman you—you’re dating that you’re actually her arch nemesis?”
“Not the way you did, that’s for fucking sure!” Victoria shouted. “You’re a fucking coward, Alexa!”
“And you’re a fucking hypocrite! Like you would have done it differently!”
“Hell yes, I would have!”
“Who’s the liar now?”
“Silence! Order in court!”
