Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 28

A week later Allie and Daniel arrived at the annual Bar association dinner with Robyn as Jeremy had offered to drop them all off. Jack was strapped in his car seat and Jeremy joked, "I should get an invitation since I'm like a pseudo lawyer these days." Robyn had kissed him and grumbled, "To be honest I'd have rather swapped places with you. These things are not the most exciting of nights and worse when you're fat, pregnant and can't drink to pass the time." Jeremy leaned over to the passenger side and kissed her, "You look amazing to me." Allie and Daniel exchanged a smile and thanking him for the lift got out of the car. Max was waiting for them with Chris and Landon, so they grabbed drinks from the trays laid out and made their way over. Max beamed as he saw them approach, "Here they are Landon, my dream team." He kissed Robyn and moved to Allie as the former said, "I see you've had plenty of the free champagne already Max." Dan laughed and clapped his boss on the back before shaking hands warmly with Landon.

Whenever the event rolled around Allie couldn't help think back to the first one she'd attended, when she'd been so nervous she had Susan and the glam squad timed her arrival with the start of the meal to avoid having to mingle. That night held mixed emotions. It was the night she'd met Landon, the first time she'd bonded with Carly and the night she kissed Michael for the first time. But it was also the night Stuckey's attentions caused her and Michael to leave early and when she felt all eyes were on her as she endured Stacie and Nicole's hostile glares. Looking back Allie always felt like that night sowed the seeds for all that came afterwards.

Carly and Chris had arrived and Carly reminded Allie of their longstanding tradition of allowing her to eat two desserts. Allie laughed and pointed to her black dress with its white satin details and pointed out there was little room for any food let alone dessert so she was welcome to it. Robyn added she would have no such issue but laughed and said, "I'll pay for it with indigestion tomorrow though." The event's photographer arrived and asked he could take a photo of them as a group. The meal passed pleasantly enough and Daniel watched his wife carefully, mindful of the attention they always attracted. She leaned into him between courses and said, "I'm okay you know. I know people look, but they're too polite to say anything and we're old news so it's fine." Despite being at the table Daniel took her face in his hands and kissed her, "If you weren't so damn beautiful they wouldn't look so much." Allie grinned, "And if you weren't so incredibly handsome they wouldn't look so much." Chris was sitting on the opposite side of the table and looked up grinning, "Get a room!" Allie blushed and Max laughed.

When the meal and the awards section of the night was over Allie was making her way over to see Landon and catch up with Shelley when she saw Bob Ellis coming over smiling. He took her hands and pecked her on the cheek. Allie broke out into a smile, "It's so nice to see you again." Bob smiled, "I spotted you with Max earlier and I guess the guy the other side of you is your husband?" Allie lit up, "Yes, come over, let me introduce you." Bob nodded smiling, slightly dazzled by the girl leading him across the room. As they made their way Allie said, "Chris is with us. You know it turned out he was really sick when all that situation with Shannon happened. He had to go into hospital, but once he got treatment he's never looked back. I just wanted you to know that because he's a really lovely person, and I didn't want you to think badly of him." Bob stopped and looked sympathetically, "Hey, I'm sorry to hear that. Best warn you, Shannon's here tonight." Allie nodded, "It's okay, there's so many people I doubt our paths will cross. Come and meet Daniel."

When they reached the HRM table Max shouted in surprise and shook Bob's hand. Allie crossed to Daniel and said, "This is my husband Daniel. Dan this is Bob Ellis." Daniel had looped his arm around Allie's waist but he released her to shake hands and said, "Hey Bob, it's nice to meet you." Allie had moved slightly to stand next to Chris who had blanched at the sight of his ex-girlfriend's boss. She put an arm around his back for support and Bob turned and said, "Hey Chris, nice to see you. Can I borrow you for a minute, maybe we could grab a drink?" Chris looked nervously at Max who rubbed his shoulder in encouragement and he nodded leaving with Bob. Daniel looked at Allie and Max, "What d'you think that's all about?" Allie glanced at them, "I think he just wants to let Chris know he doesn't hold what happened in their office against him."

On the other side of the room Shannon spotted her boss walking with Chris and wrinkled her nose in confusion. Glancing behind she saw the direction they were coming from and realised they'd been with Allie, Daniel and Max. Narrowing her eyes she seethed watching Daniel lovingly holding Allie at the waist and Max talking to them. Until that moment she'd been enjoying herself. She knew she looked good wearing a shimmering olive green form fitting dress which was low cut, had a split almost to the waist and complimented her newly dyed to auburn hair. She'd had lots of male attention on her side of the room and yet in an instant she felt like her night was ruined and she went to get a drink to recover.

In the foyer Chris and Bob had grabbed a couple of drinks and were leaning against one of the high tables dotted around. Bob took a drink and said, "I just wanted you to know what happened that day in my office is all forgotten. We've all lost our minds over a girl at some point." Chris sighed and looked anguished, "Thanks, I really appreciate that. I'm ashamed of how I behaved. It's not an excuse and I don't know if Shannon dumping me was the trigger or the way I was over her was a symptom, but I was sick afterwards with a thyroid problem which escalated into a mental health issue. I don't remember much about it but Max, Allie and a friend who's a doctor had to get me admitted to the hospital. I had to go stay with Max and his wife for a while to recover." Bob felt a wave of sympathy, "Christ son, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll let you into a secret of my own. On a personal level I can't stand Shannon and I'd be happy if she left. You dodged a bullet." Chris couldn't help but smile, "It's weird but as soon as I was more myself I realised she was only using me, but I just couldn't see it at the time. I've not given her a thought for months and I've met someone really amazing." Bob grinned, "Well I'm real glad to hear that. I'll let you get back to your firm. I tell you what, I've known Max a long time but our paths don't often cross. The good that came out of this was catching up with him, meeting Allie. She's a very lovely girl and she cares a lot about you Chris." Chris smiled and nodded, "She is. We all love her."

Back at his table Bob waited to catch Shannon. As soon as he got an opportunity he manoeuvred her slightly to one side of their group and said "Hey, I just caught up with the folk at HRM. Their table is right at the top right hand side. Keep your distance Shannon. I don't want you anywhere near them." Her face clouded with fury and she bent closer to him and said, "Why would I want to go anywhere near my stalker and the British witch who steals other people's husbands?" Bob's tone turned cold, "Just make sure you keep away. This is a work event, you represent my firm and I'm telling you not to go anywhere near them." He walked away and Shannon seethed with outrage. She left for the bathroom, sat in a stall and took out her phone. Typing furiously she told Candice what had happened and pressed send. She could see Candice typing and she waited for the response. When it came she replied, "Let's do it. We can send it from your flatmate's account. They won't be able to prove it's us." Feeling calmer, she came out of the stall and re-applied her lipstick, smiling at the result in the mirror.