Taylor vs Reid (GxG)

Part 1 - {Pilot}

I glanced at my watch before turning my attention back to the road. My fingers were tapping anxiously against the steering, waiting for the traffic light to change. It was quarter to eleven, and I had a committal hearing at eleven fifteen. I didn't like to be late or even just on time. I liked to be early. I like being ahead of all potential pitfalls. Going against Reilly Reid in and of itself was the biggest obstacle of my day...and perhaps why I was uncharacteristically anxious.

She makes me nervous...in the courtroom. Makes me second and third-guess all my moves before I make them. I didn't use to do that. I just used to shoot all my shots and be confident they would hit. They used to all hit until Reilly came. A witch with the ability to dodge everything I throw at her. Not to mention she doesn't see me as a threat, even going as far as to tell me I'm not a real lawyer.

I used my left middle finger to re-adjust the glasses on my face as I went through the scattered papers of my prepared arguments on the table before me. The hearing would be started in a couple of minutes, and I knew by this point everything was as good as locked in and unchangeable. But I'll be going against Reilly and since I lost against her with the Steven castration case, I'm a bit bothered that I'm getting sloppy. That I'm no longer good at anticipating my opponent's moves. Because why else would she win? How could I have lost? And since she won that trial, did that mean I would now start losing to everyone?

The thought was a scary one and I would make sure that didn't happen. It took me way too long to come out of my parent's shadows and make a name for myself just for it all to be ruined so easily. Just when people started taking me seriously. I hate more than anything how easy it was for her to do. It had been just a walk in the park.

That trial lives in my head rent-free despite being a few months ago. Other than the few professional things we discussed, I hadn't had a conversation with her or knew her for that matter. I knew as much as she was young and had recently moved here. I knew she was good, but I hadn't anticipated she was better than me. I had judged the book by its cover and was utterly surprised at the end of it. And boy, have I learned from that mistake.

During my cross-examinations for that case, it was the first time I really saw her. I had to really pause and look at who the fuck was going to make me lose my first-ever trial. Because at that moment, I could feel it in my bones. The jury would side with her and not me. This woman, this underdog, this... She made me lose my first case and I didn't want to lose another. 

"Do you ever stop working?" I heard making me almost jump out of my skin, gripping the papers in my hand until I made a visible dent at each side.

I turned my eyes to Reilly, my gaze sharp and unamused. She stood a few feet away, leaning against a set of file cabinets. Her hair was just about shoulder length and well polished, not a single strand out of place. She had her arms folded across her chest as she watched me, a look of slight amusement on her face.

I turned my eyes back to the papers, deciding to ignore her jab. It barely worked. My concentration was broken not to mention, I could feel her green eyes on me the whole time, making every hair on my skin stand up. Goosebumps filled my arms and back beneath my jacket and overall, I just felt...uncomfortable.

"Did you want something?" I asked, lowering the paper and gathering all my things from the table to pack in my briefcase again.

"Nope. Was just checking in."

"Well, thank you, but I don't need checking on."

"Hmm, I don't know. I mean, you seem ill-prepared," she concluded. "You're cramming your brain like a student who hadn't studied before a test. Makes me wonder."