Hating Mr. Stone

Chapter One | The Trial

June 25th, Los Angeles Superior Court, Pomona

Terror filled Zafrina's heart as the man with the most intoxicating eyes glowered at her from across the courtroom.

The man's name was Blake Stone. A famous and fearsome businessman that owned assets that included: elite hotels, shopping malls, five-star restaurants, even private mansions, and popular nightclubs. There were so many rumors about this man, but only one stood out to her, and that was beneath his sex appeal belied a darker side. People whispered that it included murder. But no one knew the truth, except for Zafrina.

Blake had been the last to arrive, alongside a group of big men in suits. Believe it or not, Blake's presence had brightened the bleak room as people shamefully gawked at him. Dressed in a blue tailored suit without a tie. His dark raven hair shone brightly with the strands slicked back, causing his appearance to look even more intimidating. Blake was born from wealth yet was the youngest self-made billionaire. He was dangerous. Brutal. And Cold-blooded. She discovered that first-hand, unfortunately. 

Blake's frosty glare seared through her mind, practically threatening her without a single sound or movement. His tall, large vigorous frame was rooted to his chair. His face was stoic and steely — eyes that were a window of darkness as cruelty silently tainted his beauty.

Still unable to look at him, Zafrina recalled every single one of his devilish features like it was imprinted into her mind. Who could ever forget a face like that? She wished she could.

Zafrina swallowed hard, and subtly took in the courtroom. Everything was coated in brown, the desks, chairs, tables, and the polished floorboards underfoot.

A shiver ran down her body as she quickly cast her eyes toward her shaking hands. Her heart thumped insistently in her ears as gut-wrenching, visceral tension squeezed her to the core.

She had two options — to continue the lie and forever live with the guilt of sending an innocent man behind bars. Or tell the truth and live in fear, knowing Blake Stone was after her.

Zafrina took a deep breath and looked up at the judge. Her heavy and perplexed heart endlessly berated her.

"Yes, I was there when the incident happened, but I didn't see anything," she managed to say through the thin microphone. God, please forgive me, she quickly prayed. She couldn't believe she had just lied, breaking the oath that she'd made right before testifying.

Of course, she felt horrible and incredibly scared, but what choice did she have? Now that her life and her family's lives were at stake, she had to watch what she said, though she knew it was wrong. Lying in a courtroom was heinous and the consequences were truly unsettling. However, the thought of her family being threatened was scarier than any consequences.

Money was the root of all evil. It was a necessity. Some people used it for the most selfish things in life such as gambling. Some wasted it to seek pleasure and desires not caring about the unfortunate. Money obliterated minds. Made people crazy, bringing forth chaos, carnage, and other sinful acts. Money was beneficial to the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world who were cunning, hypocritical, and merciless when it came to keeping secrets that could tarnish reputations. She knew this due to the one watching her closely.

Blake Stone...even his name was just as frightening as his bewitching face.

Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers...

Even the law!

People were pretentious. Money had a way of talking, even blood money.

"Miss Summers, on May 15 at 11:06 pm you called emergency dispatchers. What did you report?" The defendant's lawyer questioned, squinting his eyes as he used her last name.