For You, Anything

Chapter 11

Autumn POV

She's been up there longer than she usually is. "Hey Kayla. Is there anything I need to take up to Mrs. Montez?"

She nods and hands me like 20 sheets of contracts needing to be signed. I take them and head up to Miranda's office. I make it up there and when I get to the door I hear laughter. I don't hear Miranda's voice though.

I open the door and a woman is hugging Ava on the couch. "What's going on here?"

This caused them to jump apart. "Oh hey Autumn." Ava said nonchalantly and a smile like I didn't just catch her hugging a random ass woman in her mom's office. Which rings up the question.

"Where is your mom Ava?"

"She's in the boardroom taking a call. What's up Autumn did you need something?"

"I just had these contracts that needed to be signed. What's going on here? Who are you?" I say looking at the woman who is sitting by Ava.

"I'm Devorah Crenshaw. It's nice to finally meet you Ms. Brown." The woman said, standing up to shake my hand.

"Am I supposed to know who you are?" I say refusing to shake her hand til I get answers.

Ava stands up and stands between us like to defuse the tension. "Devorah is Josh's lawyer Autumn." This makes me snap my head to Ava. Why the fuck is she so calm about this? The other day she was about to go on a rampage when she found out he got a lawyer.

"And you're hugging her because?" She looked at the woman as if asking for a position to tell me.

But the woman took over. "I was in your position 10 years ago,  Autumn. It's why I became a lawyer. So I could help domestic violence cases and win."

"And yet you're a defense lawyer for the abuser." I said with narrowed eyes.

"It was the only way I could be apart of the case. Me and Miranda are actually college friends. I'm not trying to help him. I'm just trying to make sure the case goes your way and have him take the best deal that you and Miranda give me to work with."

"Is he not fighting?" She nods.

"He's trying to but I'm convincing him it won't go the way he will hope. Because there's so much proof and now with Ava's statement we have a witness who saw you at your lowest and breaking point." She says smiling at Ava.
She gave a statement. "Ava was just hugging me to give comfort. We were talking about my story. I didn't mean to cause any problems." She said which made me furrow my brows.

"What problems?" I asked confused.
Ava and Devorah look at each other.

"Oh well I just assumed that you two were-" she's interrupted by Miranda coming back into the room from her phone call.

"Ah. Autumn. I see you met Ms. Crenshaw. I guess she's explained everything." She said releasing the tense moment.

"Um yes. She did. Thank you Devorah." I say reaching my hand out to shake. She takes it quickly with a smile.

"Of course darling. I do have to go now but it was a pleasure to meet all of you. And Miranda and Autumn next time I see you will be in court." She said walking out.

"Well now that that's settled, Autumn how are you feeling?" Miranda asks when I stand there stuck after she set court.

"Autumn?" I hear Ava's voice calling me. "Autumn." She said tilting my head to her eyes. The eyes that I never want to leave.

"Um yes? Yes I'm fine." I say shaking my thoughts.

"Are you going to be ready for court next week?" Miranda asks behind her desk.

"I'm not sure. I don't- I wasn't expecting this to go this fast." I say seeing Ava's eye narrow at my answer. I know that's not what she wanted to hear. It's not what I wanted to say. But it's the truth. I don't know. I don't know if I can sit and face him.

"Ava give us a moment please." Miranda said but Ava is still staring at me with those intense eyes. "Ava it wasn't really a request. Baja!"Miranda yelled causing Ava to not even flinch but she walked out instantly slamming the door.

"Autumn. Sweetheart. Are you scared to face him" she said, guiding me to the couch that Ava and Devorah was occupying before I came in.

I just nodded. I didn't trust my voice to not sound shaky. "Ok. That's fine. We will work with Devorah and see if there's a way for you not to have to." I nodded. "But I do have to ask Autumn." I looked at her in concern. I already know what she's going to ask me. "Can you testify against him?"

Ava pov

Wasn't expect it to go that fast? Did she think we were just going to bullshit around? Why is she so hesitant? She's not going to want to testify against him.

After my mom kicked me out of the office, I ran down to my car and went to Maya's house.
I opened the door after seeing her car in the driveway. "Whoah! You scared the shit out of me batman! I thought we were meeting at your place?" Maya said from her desk in her office.

"I had to come here before I did something irrational Maya."

She stood up and grabbed me to stop pacing. And grabbed my face to face her. "Hey. Hey! What's going on V? Talk to me."

"She's not going to testify Maya!" I say with anger filled in my throat and tears running down my face.

"Wait what? Why not?"

I shrug with her still holding my face to keep my eyes on her. "The defense lawyer came to my mom's office and told us how everything is going to go down and when my mom asked Autumn how she was feeling, Autumn hesitated." Maya's eyes furrowed in confusion. "She's not going to testify Maya." I say removing my face from her grasp.

Maya's eyes scan the floor. "I don't understand. Did she say she wasn't going to testify V?"

I shook my head and shrugged. "Not exactly but the fact she hesitated is all I needed to know she wouldn't. She's not ready Maya!"

"Ok calm down." I scoff.

"Calm down!? How when that guy is going to be out freely within the week and more pissed at her. Who knows what he will do!"

Maya's eyes trace me pacing and I can tell she's pissed I'm yelling at her. "I get your upset I am too but don't go do anything stupid! I'm your lawyer so if you even think for a second to do what I think you're going to do let me stop you there! Sit the fuck down and stop fucking up my floors with your pacing!"

I sit down on one of the chairs in front of the desk with my head low but breath still fast and shallow. She stands in front of me with her arms crossed. "Now. The way I see it. Is that you don't even know her decision yet and you're freaking out because you care about this woman but like I said doing what I think you're going to do will only complicate her life and yours more. You don't need this."

I look up at her and nod my head in agreement. "So what do I do?" I say calmly.

"Wait for her decision. And I'm not stupid. I know you and Marcus talked to her about doing it and you've got it in her head now. I'm good but I'm not that good."

I nod again and then stand up to hug her. "Thank you Maya. I almost fucked up."

"Mhm. Thank you for coming to me first. Marcus would've influenced you more and Liz probably just would've slapped the shit out of you. I was close to do that one."

I laugh knowing she's not lying. "Can we chill here instead? I don't want to be home right now."

"Of course. There's groceries in the fridge. Go cook something. That usually takes your mind off things." She says sitting back in her chair and going back to work.

I went to leave the office but then a thought hit. "Hey M?" She looks up. "If it comes to it and she needs me to make that decision for her, can I?"

"I'll figure it out Ava." She said going back to her work. I nod in understanding. Now to cook. I'll make a rigatoni to get back in her good graces. I internally laugh.