Paragon

Chapter 8

He moves fast, coming around the table and pulls open the screen. As soon as he sees the paused picture on the screen, he turns, his hands going into his hair as a gutted noise leaves his body. The sound only makes me cry harder- so familiar to what I heard seconds ago.

"Holy fuck," he chokes, next to me, facing the wall. I keep my face towards the ground, the sobs shaking my entire body. "Holy-"

He turns again and leans down, pressing play. I look away from the screen as his scream pierces the air again, standing up in a rush. 

"Please! Turn it off!" I cry, feeling as if someone's gutted straight through me. The feedback of the video ceases and it's suddenly silent, my hiccupped sobs the only noise.

"Who the hell found this? Is this out- to the public?"

"Charles. Charles found it."

"Online?"

I shake my head, sniffling. "In a file on Vance's hard drive. He's spent weeks trying to hack into this one."

"Fuck!"

I drop my head into my hands, unable to stop the tears.

"This can't get out. It can't... Iris... Iris!"

I don't look up, scared of what looking into his eyes- those beautiful, blue eyes- will do to me. "What?"

"Iris, you said he hacked into the database. You said he got into the file- that means... that means he could delete it, right?"

I turn now and look up, pressing my lips together. His eyes are terrified- he looks terrified. "Stellan, we should- this is hard eviden-"

"I can't, Iris. Please, don't ask me. I can't!"

"This will g-get her, Stellan. Get them."

Tears well up in his eyes- horrified tears and I have to look away. He's in front of me in seconds, clasping my face desperately, forcing me to look at him.

"Iris, I can't. Please, this can't get out. I don't care if it's evidence- this is too much!" I pull my face away and stare at the wall, shaking. "Iris... Iris! LOOK AT ME!"

The boom of his shout makes me jump in place and I do look at him, staring into his frantic gaze.

A tear falls down his face, rolling over his flushed cheek. "If you l-love me at all, if you care for me... at all, you will call Charles and tell him to delete the file. Iris."

I close my eyes, torn. This could be everything he needs to win this case- to finally get Constantine and Vance Waters but at what cost? His pride? His happiness? His love for me?

"Iris, please, baby... please," he begs, dropping his head down. I can't watch him like this. I can't. I move out of his grasp and grab my cell phone, trying to control my heaving sobs.

Charles answers on the first ring. "Iris?"

I bite my lip, closing my eyes in regret and turn to look at Stellan once more. His eyes are wide and unsure- unsure as to what I'll do. I turn back to the desk, staring at the video shaming the man I love. The video of someone torturing his helpless, resisting form and making him feel pleasure in it.

"Delete the video. All evidence of the video," I whisper, pressing my hand to my chest.

"Iris, what? Are you sure? Maybe you should talk to Stellan..."

"He's seen it. Delete it all. Wipe it from their server. See if they have a backup anywhere else."

His answer is reluctant. "This is evidence- you could end this trial now. Convict them for this. If we give this to your lawyer, all this deception, all this worrying is over."

I grit my teeth together, feeling scalding tears dropping down onto the table. "I know... Delete it, Charles."

"... Alright. I will. It may take me a while to get into the other files, undetected but I'll do it."

"Th-thank you." I press end and drop the phone onto the desk with a clang. The video is wiped from my screen within seconds and my emails replace the spot.

"Iris, please, don't... hate me. I-I, you have to understand-"

I spin around and walk straight into his body, wrapping my arms excruciatingly tight around his shoulders. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop- please. Don't," I urge, hugging him tighter. I can't hear him take any blame for this. "Don't."

Pulling back, I clasp his face, staring up into his eyes. My thumbs move across his wet cheek, wiping the tracks of tears. The contents of the video are replaying in my mind- her soft, horrific words stuck in my brain, replaying like a broken record player.

"I don't want to be in here anymore," he whispers softly, looking down at his feet. Nodding in agreement, I pull back, clasping his hand. He gapes slightly and his eyes flicker unsurely to mine.

"I'd like to be alone."

"... Oh."

"I'm sorry," he whispers, turning for the door. He escapes as if he were desperate to get out of my sight, leaving the door swinging open in his wake. I stare out after him and shut my eyes in regret, unsure as to how we'll ever be the same again.