No One Finds Out

Chapter 2

I was late for work. Okay, I was late by 5 minutes, but that's besides the point. I'm never late, either I'm here at 8 on the dot or I'm here an hour earlier to get some documents done with. I shoved open the double doors, my pace remaining even as I past Maria at the reception. 

"Morning, Bella." She gives me her usual welcoming smile, standing up and following by my side. "Heard you won your case, although I'm not surprised." 

I almost snorted. "You flatter me." I drawl. 

"I'm serious." Maria continues as we step into my office, she stops by the door frame and watches me sit down at my desk and begin to flick through files. 

I hated paperwork, but it was the only way I knew time would fly. Trying to get through the day as a lawyer was almost completely draining. I look back up at Maria, trying not to be rude. 

"Maria, with all due respect, I'm really tired. And I just need to get through all these files..." I trail off, hoping she would get the memo.

She nods expectantly, as if she knew I would say this. "Of course. Do you want me to bring you anything?" 

I shook my head. "No, thank you." 

She left without another word, and I buried myself into the piles of paper. 

𓍝

It was almost 1 in the afternoon, I locked myself in my office for almost five hours. This was a usual thing for me, most people at the firm wouldn't even show any concern over it. Once I get a job to do I will do it until it is done. Except it was my lunch break, so I reluctantly left my office and headed to the lounge where most of my co-workers were on their break too. I scanned the area, my eyes landing on a table full of our small little group. I wouldn't call them friends. I hated labels. 

Maria, Easton, Lloyd and Camilla. They all circled their unassigned assigned table, in their unassigned assigned seats. Obviously, there was a free spot that was left for me, but today I wasn't in the mood to socialize. 

Keeping my head low, I walked along the side to avoid them and headed to the coffee station to brew myself a cup. I kept my back to them, not even attempting to catch a glimpse of them. Once my coffee took a decade long minute, I grabbed it and tried to head out. 

"Grayson!" Lloyd manages to spot me, and I freeze in my tracks. 

Ugh. I turn back around, looking at the group who began beckoning me to sit down. Sighing through my nose, I cross the room and sit down, looking at each of them.

"Did you get the work done?" Maria asks me. 

"Not yet." I answer flatly. I didn't need conversation right now, I wanted to be by myself. 

The table filled with usual conversation, from past cases to what they did over the summer. I couldn't bear to hear how Easton was labelled 'The surf king' when he visited an exotic country, so I made an excuse to leave.

Just before I did, the commotion from outside finally reached our hearing. Across the street, the big dark metal fencing that surrounded the park, there was some kind of memorial. People were handing out fliers to passerbys, while some began to tie ribbons to the thin metal sticks of the gate. On the left, a giant bridge of balloons formed a rainbow over this table, where flowers were laid upon. I recognized the people on the table, where picture frames were displayed.

On the left, Gigi Parker, the middle, Will Grove, and on the right, Michael Kells.

The three were victims of Markus Evans.

My throat felt like it was closing up, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the whole scene. It was their loved ones who were organizing this.

"Jesus, weren't you defending the plaintiff, Bella?" Easton says, and I didn't miss the slight sneer in his voice. No one spoke of Markus's name anymore, so I wasn't surprised he didn't say his name.

Before I even snapped back at him, that familiar car pulls up from the side, and Christian Ward emerges from the vehicle. I watch as he walks over to the memorial, and the mother of Gigi immediately begin to sob and clutch to him in a hug.

"Who's that again?" Camilla breathes in a quiet voice, the first time I heard her speak up.

"Officer Ward, hes the one that caught him." Lloyd answers with a spark of admiration.

"Bella, you okay?" I was so caught up on staring like a creep that I didn't notice Maria had already appeared by my side with her hand squeezing my arm in support.

I breathe in sharply, taking one last look at the scene, before I turn and head back to my office, the door slamming behind me.