Cheryl x Liam: Inevitable

Part 11

"Good morning, Attorney Cole."

Cheryl smiled and nodded her head at the sweet security guard that always greeted her at the London courthouse when she came in. She gave his arm a squeeze before heading down the hall her heels clicking against the shiny marble floor as she made her way to the waiting area outside of the courtroom where the case was being held today. Her client, a young mother named Claire who was charged with stalking and assault against her ex-boyfriend, was waiting there along with her family, friends, and her three-year-old son, Jacob.

"Hello guys." Cheryl greeted, smiling widely as the friendly little boy came up and hugged her straight away. Claire smiled as well, giving Cheryl a warm hug.

"Thank you again for this, Cheryl; you're the best." She thanked her. Cheryl smiled, rubbing her arm.

"I told you I had your back," she smiled, "Look, you know all the evidence points to this being some bullshit story made up by your ex, so there's no way we can lose this."

"Seriously Cheryl, it's so reassuring to hear you say those words – I'm so glad you believe in her." Claire's mother, Julie, spoke up.

"Of course I do; I honestly just think her ex is wanting to create some drama, so I believe her." Cheryl replied.

"Well, we truly do thank you." Claire's father, Franklin, chimed in with a wide smile. Cheryl nodded her head, before looking up as she saw the other attorney coming with Claire's ex-boyfriend, a man called Robert.

And Cheryl immediately felt like a dark cloud had come over her as she saw who was representing him...

Joe Smith.

He looked over and gave her a smirk, causing her to roll her eyes and just shake her head as finally they were allowed into the courtroom. They went on their respective sides, while Claire's family and her son sat down in the gallery area with some other people who were just watching the hearings. Cheryl rolled her eyes as she saw Judge Anthony Ferguson come and sit down at the bench; this being one of the judges that tended to be just as hot headed as Cheryl could be and often threatened to have her removed due to her fiery temper.

"Alright everyone, good morning – I am Judge Anthony Ferguson, and today we will be hearing the case of Claire Jones versus Robert Harolds. Claire you are being charged with stalking and assault against your ex-boyfriend Mr. Harolds, and you have pled not guilty. I see that you are being represented by Attorney Cheryl Cole, and Mr. Harolds I see that you are being represented by Attorney Joe Smith." He announced as he looked up from the file he had been looking through. Cheryl put on her game face and looked over at Joe, who was looking over at her with a determined look on his face.

Now it was time for the case to begin...

******

"But Your Honor my client strongly denies ever having even gone to talk to Miss Jones – he explained to me that she simply showed up and I think that we need to rethink the evidence again, especially when she's admitted that she called him a few times after they broke up!"

It was a couple of hours later and Cheryl was now sitting down with a glass of water in her hand, trying so hard to calm down after Joe Smith had completely gotten on her nerves for the day. He had been incredibly arrogant from the get go, and now attacking her client was starting to piss her off even more. Today was already a hard day as for some reason, Cheryl just felt completely out of it and tired. She knew that Joe was picking up on that as well and was most likely feeding off of how low she truly felt.