Fractured Bonds

10 -Jacob (Part Three)

Contd from Three Years Ago.

I was seated behind Mike and Emma's table, but in the audience. Emma called Louise Williams to the stand and brought up that woman's arrest record, which in my opinion was probably grounds for insanity and could've been used to get her to drop this case. That kind of move should've been done on the day of the settlement negotiation. She started hyperventilating and showing signs of some kind of panic attack. She's escorted out with a medic while the judge calls for a one-hour recess. Shit.

This is the kind of thing I'm prepared for. I rush to Mike's side and overhear him telling Emma how great she was and that he couldn't have chosen a better lawyer. Here I was, standing behind Mike, about to tell him to fire his lawyer that he really appreciates.

I clear my throat and both Mike and Emma turn towards me. "Uhh, Emma, can I speak to you for a second?" She looks at me in confusion, but then tells Mike she'll be right back before she follows me out of the courtroom into a private room.

I close the door and blinds as she enters. I take a deep breath, trying not to scream because what she did in that courtroom today might as well have told the jury to side with the crazy woman.

"So," I start, "Did you really have to abruptly bring up her arrest record? That was very underhanded. Because of this, I think the entirety of the jury will now have sympathy for that woman." Great job, Jake, keep going. Stay calm, you cannot start a shouting contest here.

"I know it was abrupt, and I know that this wasn't the best time to bring it up," Emma admits, her voice steady but defensive. "But it was a calculated risk. We needed to challenge her credibility."

I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. "A calculated risk? You saw what happened. Now the jury sees her as an even bigger victim. We need to rethink our strategy before we lose this case."

Emma's eyes flash with anger. "You think I don't know that? I was trying to do my job, Jacob. Maybe if you trusted me a little more, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

I step closer, the tension between us palpable. "Trust you? How can I trust you when you pull stunts like this? This isn't just about winning, Emma. It's about doing what's right."

She crosses her arms, her expression hardening. "And you think I don't care about that? I care, Jacob. But I also care about winning."

I roll my eyes. "Of course you do. Winning at any cost, right? Well, this time, your 'calculated risk' might have just cost us the case."

Emma glares at me. "Fine. You think you can do better? Be my guest. Your company's legal team is at your disposal. Have them defend Mike's case."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my frustration. Fuck, I just got bit in the ass because of my pride. "Look, I'm not saying you're a bad lawyer, just that your calculated risk might have been a bad decision. My lawyers are just backup. We need to work together on this. For Mike's sake."

Emma nods, her gaze still challenging. "Fine. You're right. Let's regroup and come up with a new approach."

We step back into the courtroom and call Mike and Eleanor into the room. As they enter, I can see the concern etched on their faces.

"What's going on?" Mike asks, looking between Emma and me.

"We need to discuss a new plan," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "Emma and I have some ideas, but we need your input."

Eleanor nods, her expression serious. "Alright, let's hear it."

Emma takes a deep breath. "We need to shift our focus. The jury might now see Louise in a more sympathetic light. We need to counter that by subtly highlighting her irrational and rash decisions."

Mike looks skeptical. "And how do we do that without coming off as heartless?"

I step in. "We need to be strategic. Emphasize the facts that show her actions were not just unfortunate but also reckless, without directly attacking her character. We can tie this into her decision to sue you, Mike. It shows a pattern of irrational behavior and impulsive decisions"

Eleanor nods thoughtfully. "That makes sense. We need to be careful, but firm."

Emma glances at me, a hint of grudging respect in her eyes. "Agreed. Let's work together on this and make sure we're all on the same page."

As we start brainstorming our new approach, I can't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. This case just got a lot more complicated, but with a solid plan and a united front, we might just have a chance.

Emma's secretary, Alex, hurried into the room. "Alex, what is it?" Emma asked, rushing to her side. "Mrs. Williams' son, the researcher, Dr. Nathan Williams, is here. He says he needs to urgently speak to you," Alex replied.

Emma looked perplexed. "What does he want?"

"I don't really know," Alex admitted, "but he says it's urgent and extremely important that you and Mike meet him."

Emma exchanged a glance with Mike and me. "Well, bring him in here," she said, her voice steady despite the surprise.

A moment later, Dr. Nathan Williams entered the room, his expression a mix of frustration and urgency. Emma extended her hand. "Dr. Williams, thank you for coming. What's going on?"

Nathan shook her hand firmly. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice," he began, his voice tense. "My mother, Louise, filed this suit on a whim, because our father didn't leave anything for her in his will. The truth is, he didn't because she was practically insane."

Mike frowned. "What are you saying?"

"Some days before his accident, Dad called both my brother and me," Nathan continued. "He told us he was planning to divorce Mom and help her get treatment, even if they were divorced. He loved her, but he was tired of living with her erratic behavior."

Emma's eyes widened slightly. "This changes everything. If we can prove her instability and the reasons behind your father's decisions, it could significantly impact the case."

Nathan nodded. "That's why I came. I thought you should know the full story."

Emma took a deep breath. "Dr. Williams, would you be willing to testify about this in court? Your testimony could be crucial in establishing the context and your father's intentions."

Nathan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I can testify. It's important that the truth comes out."

Emma glanced at Mike and me, determination in her eyes. "Alright, let's figure out how to use this information effectively. Thank you, Dr. Williams. This could be crucial."

Nathan left the room and, we all knew, the case had just taken a dramatic turn. The challenge now was to navigate this new information carefully and strategically.

Emma turned to me. "Jacob, we need to inform Judge Clayton about this new testimony and the witness. We should also notify the plaintiff's lawyer, Mr. Smith, to ensure everything is handled properly."

I nodded. "I'll make the meeting happen."

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