Courting The Champion

31 - Lawyers And Jurors

Four months later

Arabelle adjusts her well fitted and bright pink suit. After preparing for court for over sixteen weeks, Kylie Porter decided decided to grant Arabelle a chance to stand in court as Smith's lawyer. Arabelle was happy and nervous when Kylie told her she deserved to take on such a case since she was the one who had come up with most of the arguments and best ways to go about the evidence they had. Sarah was the one who had pursuaded her bestfriend Kylie to give the golden opportunity to her dearest cousin Arabelle.

Of course not everyone was giddy about Julie's decision like the girls were. Andrew didn't want his then fiancée caught up in the heat between Smith and Trevor. She had suffered enough when they kidnapped her, and now she was eagerly hopping onto a huge case like it was not a big deal. Andrew thought she was naive and clueless. Daehyun, Beth and Hudson would be happy and all smiles with her before the trial, but they would blame her if their father lost the case. He just wanted to protect her from the hurt, disappointment and guilt that would soon follow after if she didn't win.

He believed in her more than anyone else but the stakes were too high, with all her friendships at risk. He ended up giving in because she was starting to think he wasn't in full support of her becoming something great. He didn't want her to think he was jealous of threatened by her becoming just as successful as he is.

Arabelle wasn't just stressed about the court but about their official wedding that she'd have to start planning once they finished the trial processes. Arabelle and Andrew had already gotten married in a court the month before, with their marriage certificate safely in the safe in their cozy and luxurious bedroom. Their new house was still barely furnished since they had just moved. Arabelle was now Mrs Johnson and a lot of people didn't like her because she was married to the famous and legendary boxer, Andrew Johnson.

Arabelle and Andrew pull up at the court and see Sarah and Daehyun just making their way in, with Beth, Hudson and Kylie in tow. Wayne sends Andrew a text that he's already inside. They all meet up and wish Arabelle luck, telling her that she has it in the bag.

The time for everyone to be seated inside the room arrives. Andrew reluctantly seperates ways with his cute wife dressed in pink. She moves to the defendant's desk and takes a large swig of water from the bottle on her desk. An officer escorts Smith who's dressed in orange inside. He takes the seat next to Arabelle, who gives him a small smile. Smith believing in this little girl who used to be his secretary months ago. Now she was all grown up, with his freedom in her hands.

Sitting opposite them is Gilmore who's smirking in Arabelle's direction, not convinced that this recent college graduate even knows what witness means. She avoids eye contact with him, feeling nervous enough.

The judge arrives and everyone is told to rise before the presence of the judge. The corrupt judge that Gilmore had put his faith in was currently hospitalized because of a recent heartattack. Another judge was now in charge of the case. After a few more minutes the court commences.

"Darius Smith is accused of being the accomplice of human and drug trafficker Trevor Jacobs. How does Darius Smith plead?" The judge questions.

"Innocent," Smith says audibly. There are some murmurs from the court audience. The judge and looks over to Gilmore.

"The prosecution may begin," he says and Gilmore nods. He walks to the open space seperating the judge, the audience and the jury.

"Trevor Jacobs who is held at the city prison facility is being accused of drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal selling of weapons and illegal mining of oil which in reality are the acts of Darius Smith who is claiming that he is an innocent victim of Trevor. Darius Smith is the real mastermind behind all of Trevor's actions and here in my hands are documents that show the real owner of all the companies that were supposedly in Trevor's name," he says and Beth gasps lowly at Gilmore's false accusations on her father. Gilmore turns to look at the jury.