VEGAS

Four

"I can't authorize this." said the judge to the present lawyer—the lawyer Reah had been blindsided with when her connection suddenly fell through. Creating a rocky start to an already exhausting meeting. Reah was seething on the phone when she got the call. "It better be life or death or I'll make it be." Reah spat to the unreliable source, who in turn flustered reassured her it quite literally was. Not that Reah cared. She had mashed the end button on the call mid his blabbering just to get the irritant man out of her ear. She'd have him dealt with one way or another regardless. No one flakes on her.

"What the hell do you mean you can't authorize this?" Reah exclaimed as she sat on the edge of her seat, her hands clamored together with a tyrant of a grip. "Reah!" scolded Victoria wearily to the obviously agitated woman. Though Victoria was just as frustrated at the current events she revered the judge at least a little, if only in recognition that their futures were quite literally in her hands.

The judge paused at the women's reaction  before continuing to look through the paperwork in front of her. "I'll let that slide because I understand how frustrating this news can be." The judge reassured Victoria, her eyes momentarily flickering up to the woman's face from over her glasses. "But as I said, I can't authorize this. You two don't have a reasonable cause." The judge said with a small shrug of her shoulders before folding her hands atop of the paperwork before her.

"We were shit-faced drunk in Vegas, what more of a reasonable cause do you need?!" Reah shouted, her hands tossing in the air as her temper continued to escalate. She was more upset at the fact that she would've make good on her promise to Victoria than the fact that they couldn't get divorced. If there was one thing she took great pride in it was her reliability. It was probably also why she was always so offended when people didn't return the same energy and respect.

"That isn't grounds for an annulment." The judge said as her eyes drifted over to the angry woman, unmoved and unsurprised. "That's some bullshit!" Reah exclaimed. "Ms. Royales" their 'lawyer' pleaded. Victoria tugged lightly on the raging woman's bicep in attempt of getting her to sit back and calm down. Though she was successful Reah still let out a few choice words as she defensively crossed her arms. The judge sighed in annoyance as she shuffled their file back together and set it aside.

Victoria's face was laced with concern. Not only concerned at how awful this was going and how Reah's attitude was making it far worse but also worried about how John was going to take the news, if they didn't find a loophole or solution and fast. Deciding to take the meeting in her own hands, since their lawyer obviously wasn't any help, Victoria chewed on her lip  in thought, trying to figure out ways to persuade the judge to change their verdict. She glanced over at the furious woman beside her but knew she was going to be as much help as their quirky, under qualified lawyer.

"What are the legal grounds for an annulment?" Victoria questioned, turning her attention back to the judge. The judge sighed again as she monotonously answered "Insanity, harmful addictions, undisclosed sexual orientation or preferences—"

"Well there! I have a boyfriend and a child with him, so I like men!" Victoria said nodding at Reah and the judge. The judge refolded her hands, her head tilting as she asked "So you two have never kissed or been sexually involved in any way?"

"N-no! Nope, never. " Vic sputtered flustered and unconvincingly as she unconsciously glanced Reah's way. An unimpressed and incredulous look painted the unyielding judge's face. "Quite frankly, I find that hard to believe, Ms.McCant. So if you two are done with your charade, as I've said before, I can't grant this annulment. You'll have to go through the authorized divorce process."
"How long will that take?"
"If you make it to court today? Mmm, 2 to 3 months. Otherwise, I'd advise you two to get comfortable checking the married box right below the box you'd usually check on your taxes and other documents."

•••

"Fuck!!" Reah shouted in anger, kicking the air after they all exited the building. One thing Victoria had noted about both Reah and John was their short temper, especially, when they didn't get their way and Reah was in full tantrum mode... reasonably so.

"I-I'm sorry about this ladies." The useless divorce lawyer said as they now stood back out in the sun. The sky painted a vibrant blue, cloudless, and radiant completely contradicting their current mood. Reah's foot tapped erratically on the sidewalk as she grumbled "You sure are sorry. Didn't do shi—" Vic elbowed Reah before she could finish, plastering a tense smile onto her face as she turned to the awkward looking gentleman and offered a hand. "Thank you for your help." The lawyer gave a polite closed mouth smile shaking her extended hand. "Y-You know it-it's funny cause people fought so hard for legal rights for same sex marriage and-and you two have for the opposite problem" he said hiccuping a laugh. Victoria's eye twitched as she stared at the guy, her own patience beginning to run thin. "Stop talking" she quietly breathed as her eyes darted to Reah's scowling face. With an uncomfortable half smile her grip momentarily tightened on his hand causing him to glance down in surprise at the unexpected pressure. "Have a good day." She gritted before dropping it.

"You as well! And-and call me if you need any other services!" He chirped. Reah scoffed loudly without apprehension and Victoria hurriedly blurted, "We'll keep that in mind!" in attempt of blocking out any additional smart remarks Reah was feening to say when she noticed rude woman open her mouth to respond. Victoria waved at the retreating man, her eyes immediately closing in exasperation when he finally rounded the corner and disappeared.

"Well that's just fucking great!" Reah exclaimed throwing her hands up. "Now what are we gonna tell John?" Victoria lets out a deep breath, racking a hand through her hair as her own trepidations finally begun to surface. "I don't know."

—————————————————————

Thoughts?

How do you think John is going to react?
Would you have stayed calm in this situation like Victoria or went off like Reah?

—————————————————————