I shut the book to open it again, my curiosity winning over the sensibility in me. By giving it a flash read I knew I needed this book! Because it did spark a little excitement down there, which I never thought I could get. A dark ball furled inside me, tightening it’s edges urging my hands to grab the book and run and never return, and as pathetic as it sounded I pushed the thought aside. Yep, a twenty six years old, crime journalist cum host of a respectable show turning into a little book thief wouldn’t work well with my reputation. The hunch for criminal stuff called for my name but I rushed back, a small this did grab my attention but I was focusing on running away instead. I quickly arranged the book along with my papers I was away from the crew members who made their way out of the library, preparing for the next shoot.
If pathetic was a person that would be me today!! Because as I stuffed the book inside my heart was filled with nothing but post theft guilt, and now I knew how those criminals must’ve felt. With a resolve to keep It back where it belonged Mr. Busybody appeared bursting any resolve I mustered into thin air. This is work based and you’ll return it soon. I told myself.
With little time on our watches, we settled in the car, with me and Alanis in the back seat and a cameraman along with the driver. “Are you okay?” He asked probably noticing the ecstasy resting on my cheeks I looked away since the moment I found the book I wasn’t in my proper sense “ I know the pancakes were amazing but you shouldn’t eat above your appetite.”
“No I ju-“ I gasped at his chaff comment, any earlier friendly vibe just jumped off the road. While he pressed his snicker.
“I did not eat that much, you didn’t leave much for us.” My reply was just as his comment, hiding his annoying smile, he gained an eyeroll from me. “let’s get over this soon.” I set my hair plastering a fake smile on my face, giving a thumbs up to the cameraman, and another session was on.
On our way , I noticed a silhouette in a complete black attire as with just lens peeking out from hedges camouflaging himself, Alanis followed my gaze too sighing in exhaustion. We drove past him understanding those were paparazzi “It would’ve been tiring, watching people follow you around literally everywhere.”
“I just believe in closing my eyes so I won’t be seeing them.” He chuckled dryly. “It’s like-“
“The cameras are engraved into your life.” The words slipped out of my mouth unconsciously.
“Exactly.” Alanis nodded in agreement, we did see something with the same lens, by noticing a caste of exhaustion upon his face I felt bad but at the end of the day, it was their fate. A cruel truth curtained with a flashy life, I then continued with my questionnaire
“This makes me wonder why didn’t you choose acting? I mean this was the easiest path with the looks you’ve got you can rule the industry.” It couldn’t get any cringer than this, insects crawled upon my tongue as I said those words. His lifted brows read my mind too.
“Trust me my acting skills are a big O.” He laughed in a dejected tone. “My mother did try to drag me into acting stuff but it’s somehow not connecting enough, the energy doesn’t match.” He answered with a smile of a rebellion, those knuckles cracked sexily in a noiseless car.
“Suits you.” I smiled.
We took a bicycle ride, through the waterfront road of Riverside park. With a beautiful display of crab-apple and the pale blue waters flowing besides and the pale sunshine curtaining the morning. Alanis’ sculpted muscles peeked through the sporty fabric as he rode besides me. “So this is how you burn calories?” I smirked tailing him behind.
“Yes, careful Ames pedestrians might get hurt.” He smirked back gaining an eyeroll from my side. I pushed him off track, taking a long ride as he chased me from behind. The team huffed as recording our little ruckus was a task in itself. We soon decided to take a halt and have a mini break.
“Hot dogs?” Alanis waved a fresh mustard hot dog, straight out of the stove I possibly couldn’t say no to. We ate in silence while I observed him quietly the way his jaw clenched, his Adam’s apple bobbed while he swallowed the bread. Those eyes reflecting the dazzling river ahead. We stayed on the bench before reaching our next destination.
“You seem to be a regular here.” I smiled. “Let me guess, watching people read, birds fly, soft music in the background.”
A soft smile lingered around for a bit making his mole pop out even more strikingly. “Yeah, and seeing water just flow brings me ease, there’s just this thing with water I love seeing it whenever and wherever possible.” Alanis answered and I could see why he spoke about water this poetically because right now I was seeing the depth in his eyes. “You don’t like parks?” he asked me back.
“Lets just say, I’m a little bit of a street walker person than a park jogger.” I spoke. “You see my line of work doesn’t have a routine, it’s a case you’ve given and jump right in.” I answered, though I liked the vibes of parks, it was difficult to maintain a routine. A small knot in his brow showed he felt something but didn’t say much.
“Why did you choose it?” the question I always got. Since I knew Alanis from the past few years, it seemed I could give him an honest answer, he was sharing his life all this time.
“Its just the highs I’m chasing, I want to feel content by what I’m doing and when I see people getting justice or a criminal proven guilty, it really makes me content.” An honest but short answer. “The life of monotony and routine is just overrated for me.”
“Wow… that’s a great approach to your living. But don’t throw yourself in dangerous situations, there are people who care for you.” My head snapped as he pressed upon the word care, for once I thought he included himself amongst those who cared for me. He is just stating a common fact. I knew it but my stomach still fluttered at the thought of it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I spoke wiping the crumbs out of my face. “And I think it’s time we should be leaving for our next session.” As peaceful as it felt I needed my work done before evening.
The next few questions were to be asked in Alanis’ firm, our last destination for today. The place he held dear to his heart, although we did stop for a quick stroll in central park, with many early walkers it seemed a bit awkward shooting outdoors.
‘A.C Firm Headquarters’ Stood majestic in it’s might, it wasn’t my first time seeing the building but I was in awe. Alanis had a touch of his own in the structures. He stood with dignity, resembling the holder of justice, with white and black co-relating perfectly.
He was a head turner but many gazes where locked upon me instead. The office was well cleaned and less people pestered around. Sophisticated grace dripped from every corner of his place, from the floor to ceiling windows to his huge table and a chair situated in the corner. Alanis introduced us to his secretary and Ashton who were as professional as him. “This place is soo you!” I chuckled peeking through the windows. We walked across the corridor with a cabin right opposite to Alanis’. Stoic stance which couldn’t even be hidden from a distance, every hustle quietened around him, the people who were all chatty turned into motionless stones. Denver Casper, co-founder of A.C firm scrutinized everyone with his disdainful stare. His eyes softened at Alanis. The man nodded and vanished inside his cabin giving back the rather chirpy vibes which felt lost.
“Soo how’s your work personality?” I ignored the off vibe and continued with my questionnaire. When he gave me a confused look I explained. “Like how do you differentiate between work and when at home.”
“I become whatever the situation demands” He shrugged.
“And as working in the court since soo many years you must have seen it all, murder, assault , grief, injustice. It’s overwhelming enough, how do you deal with it?” my fingers outlined his glass table.
“Hmmm..” he took a long pause, searching for a perfect answer out of many options “Well I’ve also seen people saving lives, content faces when the victim is proven innocent, and I’ve also seen justice. So yeah it has it’s two sides. I stick to the good ones.” If anyone asked me about the best answer I would choose this…
“Then how do you defend sinners, which you might have given justice.” A crisp question of my own. He clicked his tongue in response.
“Well, I believe we’re all sinners in this pure world, we do things which might be breaching of rules in someone else’s perspective. We lie, we bend principles for our convenience, in short everyone sins, the only difference is they choose their sins.”
A brief description, one practical answer which came whooshing upon my perspective, trying to change it’s direction with force. I was spellbound. Completely! This was the only question I didn’t mention yet the answer was better than anything answered today.
I turned to my next question, as no proper thought came in my mind. “What changes have you seen through your years in court? Did the court revolutionize?”
“The court is the same it’s just mind-sets and a few laws that are and will keep changing.” He answered.
“Any particular case, which has impacted your life?”
YOU ARE READING
RED HOPES
General FictionIn the world of right and wrong he has everything under control but looses the balance when it comes to her. Two Cs, charming and cunning which goes hand in hand with his personality, Alanis Carter is a well established lawyer known for his reputat...
