Heirs To The City: The Quartet

Chapter Thirty Four

When the P1 rolled to a stop curbside emblazoned by white florescent flashes, I glanced over to Adrian with his head resting back on the alcantara head rest while he glanced out the tinted windows at the crowds waiting for us to get out though I could tell he didn't want to. He'd been up for almost thirty hours yesterday, and him getting nominal sleep wasn't a good basis for a court proceeding. He'd not slept before his first major business deal, one that was fifty three billion dollars of funding, and almost uncanny in the city of New York for a starting company to have that kind of opportunity. He'd won the contract outbid the others hoping to get it and finally had it finalized after three weeks, but that was the side of Adrian that just took what he wanted, and I pitied anyone who got to see that side of him directed at them.

This morning it was the true version of the man beside me that was here. I'd gone to bed and he was working on the situations he'd been found in. It was one of his best qualities though also the one I wished he didn't have. He'd work himself into the ground long before he ever admitted defeat which gave him everything, he didn't quit, unless I told him too.

Because of course the most stubborn man I'd ever met only listened to the woman he lived with.

The unfortunate side effect was that I now had a sleep deprived, and mildly aggitated Adrian Winters in the seat next to me.

"What are you thinking?" I ask and he rolls his head over to look at me.

"This case, nothing is ever simple or straight forward when it comes to any association or event regarding Winters Group. It makes me wonder if it'll be like this forever. Two centuries of infighting, and horrible choices that led to the creation of one of the most powerful shadow dynasties of the twenty-first century. One of us dies every two born sons, and I don't want to see it continue after me. My family has experienced enough death to last a millennia," Adrian says almost whistfully.

I'd heard of people who were bothered by their significant other having the same long term worry and not truly caring to help them, or giving a crocodile tear reply to get them to stop. He'd never done that with me. Adrian often made us tea and we sat on the carpet of the living room and talked about anything going on in our heads or anything bothering us. He also had an open door policy at work which was why Kaylee and others often just knocked and stuck their heads in to tell him things. If by work alone, Adrian had twenty-five hundred people that knew of him, and I was aware that many of them graduated high school or college and despite their unwitting nature at being in such a big place and working for such a large corporation, he accepted them because everyone at Winters Group International had at best six years experience prior and that was mostly due to the fact Adrian had made plenty of well connected friends, and had strengthened bonds by having friends of associates, or other people they knew to come work for WGI. I'd even Interviewed people that had come from the better off families of New York to come work here, and they'd found that they had the best chance of success here because of the same principles being applied to clients as the staff.

 Everyone knew that when a client was given the high handed treatment it meant that Adrian didn't actually plan on having a business deal with them, he was taking from them, though that knowledge wasn't public, and much of the behind closed door dealings regarding this trial was also not public.

"I think that there will come a day that you've proven that you're not to be bothered long enough, and you will end up seeing the pattern in your family end. Now we have to go inside," I say and he nods steeling his features before lifting the driver door.

I too pushed the passenger door open and climbed out before the typical chaebols of reporters that surrounded the courthouse. I'd almost gotten used to them all crowding around the building. I'd gotten used to the questions that got thrown at us. They hadn't even really gotten to me since I'd attended more and more events. But the legal side of the shaded public image was more then what I'd suspected. Especially in a high exposure case like this.

Climbing the stairs we entered the courthouse, and walked in just as the doors to the courtroom opened and we were cleared to enter the space that we'd spend the rest of the week in, listening to the evidence about a case that Adrian had submitted thousands of pages worth of information.

Taking seats at the front of the courtroom, I watched Adrian cross his legs at the ankle and fold his hands as he listened to the words of the lawyers, and the judge, all while the court seemed almost entraced by the exchange. Adrian on the other hand just seemed relaxed which had become a key statement in court even after everything that had happened over the weekend it was a massive deal that Adrian was making an appearance in court at all especially since I knew that he would much rather either be sleeping, working, or at home not in the publics eye.

"Your honour, I'd like to call Adrian Winters to the stand," the defendants attorney calls and Adrian calm as ever stood and buttoned his jacket before taking the stand and sitting in the chair repeating the process of unbuttoning his jacket, and placed his hand on the bible.

"I vow to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," he said in only the way that he could before sitting and the attorney set the bible down before turning to him.

"Adrian Winters, I understand that you have been apart of the original set of witnesses who coroberated evidence against my clients, correct?".

"Yes," Adrian replies as he lifted the glass of water he'd brought with him and took a slow sip from it.

"Was any of the evidence exaggerated to align with the motives of connection to these eleven men, you are after all known for misguiding people in the past," the attorney continues and Michael goes to stand but a slight hand gesture from Adrian told him to stay put.

"No, the evidence wasn't exaggerated, as for your leading statement, any contract was well written and detailed, though I have no personal business connection to these men," he says his eyes daring the attorney to try and lead him again.

"So the extensive background information regarding bank accounts in Lichtenstein you refer to, isn't apart of evidence you fabricated, to benefit the procescution?".

"No evidence provided was fabricated, I know of the bank accounts as does the rest of the court room," Adrian says placing two fingers on the side of his head.

"Tell me Mr. Winters do you have any accounts in Lichtenstein?" the attorney turns to the courtroom as if expecting a ghastly truth.

"No, I do not," Adrian states, and he didn't. He has swiss bank accounts but none that were in Lichtenstein.

"So you don't have any accounts that could be possibly linked to a benefit to you seeing these eleven men no longer having financial access in the region?".

"No, I see benefit to my close friend Hunter Ambrose getting back the money that these eleven men stole from his company, that he is owed by right, a matter that this very court approved last year," Adrian says, and his ability to remain calm and unfazed seemed to annoy the attorney standing in front of him.

"No more questions, you're honour," the attorney says and Adrian stood before returning to his seat where he could return to watching Evan and Michael. He looked amused at best and the expression that the attorneys gave him spoke to the fact that they knew Adrian wasn't going to lose, and I had to cover my mouth to hide my amusement to their squaller, and the looming reality that this wouldn't result in them winning.
    
    
Alrighty that is all for this one, its not even one so I'm on a good path for today, I hope you all have a great day, comment, vote, and share. Anyways

Peace✌️