You are always on my mind

Chapter 97

"Keep strong, mom! Go. It's gonna start."

Everything was ready, so Stefania told Leah:

"Bambina, are you ready, amore mio?"
"Yes, aunt Stef  "
"Good, because it's going to start, okay?"
"Sì. (Yes)

The little girl's answer melted the italian's heart.

"When all that is over, we're gonna play, aunt Stef?"
"Of course! Now, I need you to pay attention, Leah."
"Okay..."
"Look, from now on, you'll stay with aunt Monica, because I need to go to the room where the judge will talk to us..."
"B-but can I g-go with y-you,  aunt Stef?"
"Little bug, listen to me. Aunt Monica is a great friend of mine. That's why I asked her to take care of you while I can't be here. But I trust her blindly. I know she's gonna protect you until it's time for you to go and meet me, okay?"
"Okay... but when I get there, can I sit on your lap, aunt stef?"
"Oh mio angioletto (Oh my little angel), unfortunately not inside there. But aunt Monica will come in with you and if you want, you can sit on her lap. But I promise that when it's all over, I'll carry you to dad and mom Stef, okay?"
"Deal!" The little girl said excited. "Aunt Stef.. "
"Yes, little bug?"
"Will mr Dixon and mom Irina be there?" Leah asked scared.

Stefania took a deep breath, knelt down in front of the little blue-eyed girl and said:

"Unfortunately Yes. But I will be there too, remember?"

Leah just nodded completely terrified.

"Do you remember what I promissed?"
"Sì (yes), you promissed you would protect me, and that no one else would hurt me or dad or mom Stef."
"Exactly! And do you trust me, little Leah?"
"Sì, mi fido, zia Stef" (Yes, I do, aunt stef).
"Excelent. Because I am not going to let anyone do any harm to you, my little italian!" The hazel-eyed girl stated proudly.
"Deal aunt Stef."
"Look, mr Dixon will be very hard on you. He may shout and put you under pressure. But I don't want you to let him intimidate you, okay? There's nothing to be afraid of, I promise! He's a bad person, like you said, and he's going to jail. So you don't need to be afraid. I'll be there protecting you, but besides me, you'll also have the judge and several guards, okay?"
"Okay, aunt Stef."
"Now promisse me you're gonna tel the judge all the truth, no matter what mr dixon or mom Irina says."
"I do, aunt Stef  "
"Then everything is gonna be ok, bambina. Come here, give me a hug now. We'll meet again in a while, right?"
"Okay aunt stef." The blonde girl said hugging the brunette.
"Aunt Stef."
"Sì?"
"Can I have some more ice creams?"
"Hahahaha. Okay, just one more, right? Otherwise your mom Stef is gonna kill me. Hahahahha."
"And chocolate?"
"You can have whatever you want, amore mio! Then I'll resolve it with your mom Stef." The hazel-eyed girl said winking at Leah.
"Thank you, aunt Stef. "
"See you soon, little bug. Be brave. I'll be there and I won't let nothing bad happen to you nor to your dad nor mom Stef, okay?"
"Okay aunt Stef.  See you soon."

_____________________________________________

Everything was ready.  The hearing  was about to start.

"Everyone stood to receive the honorable judge, Mrs Samantha Klarkson."

When the judge entered, everyone sat down and the woman summoned the both lawyers to come to her. Stefania glanced surreptiously at Karen, who assured her with a look and a slight nod that judge Klarkson was already aware of everything.

When Stefania and Dixon approached the judge, she immediately said:

"I want to make it clear that I won't tolerate trickery or attempts of manipulations in my court! Don't waste your time making unnecessary protests, because it will be denied. Are we clear?"
"Yes, your honor!" The italian replied politely.

Dixon just shook his head slightly, which irritated judge Klarkson even more.

"Mr Dixon, when I ask a question, I expect you to answer me with words, not nods."
"Yes, madam." The man said completely grumpily.
"The right answer is Yes your honor, Mr Dixon." The woman said demanding due respect.
"Yes, your honor..."
"Good. Let's start."

The hearing began and Dixon tried to question Stefania's capacity, insinuating that a foreigh lawyer wouldn't be familiar with american laws, and that therefore she should be dismissed. But before anyone could say something,  judge Klarkson said firmly:

"Mr Dixon, I'm afraid that you haven't yet understood what your role is here. So I'll refresh your memory. You are here solely and exclusively to defend your client's interests, not to tell me what I should or should not allow to happen in my court. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's not up to you to judge Miss Spampinato's knowledge. let this be the last time I have to warn you, please!"

The man was speechless. He didn't expect to find a judge as severe as Samantha Klarkson.

💭 Shit. This bitch is gonna give me trouble...

And the hearing proceeded. First, Dixon made his considerations, saying that a singer's house wasn't a family environment.

"Promiscuity, certainly prevails in that den that Gaga dares to call home!"

And that was the first time that Stefania spoke out:

"Objection, your honor. Is the honable colleague judging my client for her career choice? This, besides being prejudiced, is ridiculous! Miss Germanotta never showed herself to be frivolous or promiscuous as my noble colleague claimed!"
"Accepted. Mr Dixon, measure your words!"

After a disastrous oratory by Irina's attorney,  which Stefania had no difficulty in contesting, it was the italian's turn to speak. And when the hazel-eyed lawyer started speaking, everyone was impressed.

The brunette mastered the language perfectly, knew the american laws in depth and was unquestionable in her words. Even judge Klarkson was impressed.

Irina, who initially had an ironic and sarcastic smile on her face, now seemed nervous and Dixon couldn't believe in what was happening.

"Bradley, my dear friend, now we come to the moment where you will have to be strong and controll yourself, for Christ sake." Stefania advertised her friend when she came back to his side.
"Okay... what is up to come?" The actor asked.
"Now Leah will be called. Please. Don't forget about anything we agreed on and hold back your emotions, whatever Dixon says or does, because, believe me, he will be disgusting!"
"Ok. I promise I won't do anything stupid."
"Great! Here we go!"