Page 41 of Yours, Truly

Nate had mentioned that the new client he had taken on had the same issue with our company, this now made 3 in total that Iknew of but before I could process it, Nate was calling Mr Cato on the stand as a surprise witness. I could have sworn this was going to be a separate trial. A lump caught in my throat as I saw him, the first time since the incident. Angelina turned to face me but there was nothing she could do; she couldn’t be by my side now. I had to deal with this alone. I felt my stomach drop and the nausea rise in my body.

Unintentionally, I reached over to grab Jennifer's hand. She looked so confused, but didn’t question or argue, she just took my hand in hers and squeezed it softly. My heart started to race and I took some breaths to keep me calm. Nate had promised Cato wouldn’t use my name. But I also felt bad that Jennifer was kept in the dark, she could read signals better than anyone so she knew something was going down.

“The employee involved cannot be named under protection rights and NDA you signed but this is evidence cross referenced from our second on going case.”

It was the same evidence Nate had shown me but with my name blacked out. The same lies for the jury to read. I watched the guy who sexually assaulted me in the meeting room that day, up on the stage, staring daggers at Angelina, until he noticed me.Oh God, Oh God.

Vomit threatened to leave my body but I held it back. My hand settled over my stomach as Mr Cato stared at me, subtly licking his lips and undressing me with his eyes, fear consumed me. I felt on display, I felt violated. Richard Cato was dressed in his top of the range, luxury suit, a turtle neck, and was drenched inthe smell of money. Nothing about his appearance screamed poor or common which I feared would play right into the jury’s hands. A respectable businessman, of course he could never lie.

Nate followed Cato’s gaze over to me, confused and concerned. My eyes flicked to his for a second, before looking away from both of them, to my hand in Jennifer’s, like I was ashamed or trying to hide. I felt bad that I never told Nate the full truth.

“Mr Dalton, please continue,” the judge prompted, before he

cleared his throat and went back to focus on Mr Cato. Nate’s eyes had turned dark, his questions more abrupt than intended for his company’s client, all because he had watched his client’s reaction towards me. I couldn’t read Nate right now; I didn’t know what was running through his mind.

Nate made himself the peacock ready to fend off anyone who paid me any unwanted attention, and in normal circumstances I would have loved it, but in this moment, I felt deceitful.

Nate finished questioning his client and took his seat again, he didn’t look back at me. His hands clenched around his pen as he scribbled something down, aggressively.

It was our turn again and our lawyers took to the stage, as they began to interrogate him. Mr Cato smiled that smug smile as he watched our lawyers fail in questioning him.

Then suddenly, there it was…the sexual assault evidence my company had produced for everyone to see. My name blacked out. Mr Cato looked at me with anger in his eyes trying to convince everyone this was fake, a forged document to avoid paying out what was rightfully his.

My version of events was given to Nate and his team, the jury and the judge. Nate was about to read the incident in my words, the action towards me, that I felt unsafe and terrified of the man on the stand. He was going to read my most vulnerable state which not only compromised me mentally but physically as well. It was now on display and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Nate turned slowly to face me, sympathy on his face as my eyes teared up. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Jennifer put her arm around me, as she put two and two together and figured it out. Most likely after seeing the evidence presented and remembering the advice I had asked her for when I had started the role. The advice she had given me to shrug it off and convince me it was a normal thing, she now showed guilt as it creeped up on her face. I honestly didn’t know this was going to happen and I wasn’t prepared for this. Anger spread on Nate’s face as he scanned the file again and looked over at Angelina, who nodded an undetectable nod, to confirm to him this was all true.

“There is evidence here of when you sexually assaulted one of our employees, the same employee you are also seeking

to personally sue to get a better deal. Is this the reason for your case today? What would have happened if our Office Manager hadn't walked in and stopped you that day. Would you have raped the employee?”

That word brought the vomit up further in my throat, itmatched the same questions I had asked myself many times. Mr Cato had no words, he began to get angry towards our lawyers, Nate didn’t even step in to take the case back. He watched it unfold, he watched his client unravel at this new piece of evidence.

I didn’t know if I could watch this anymore, the chaos that erupted in the room, Nate turning to stone.

“This is all a lie, I never touched her,” he shouted, before sitting back in his chair with no remorse. “That bitch is lying,” he said to me, his eyes darkening, his hands as fists as he hit the box making the microphone shake. The judge called for silence and for Nate to get his client under control.

“The event was recorded on the date it happened, by both the Office Manager and the employee involved. There was a letter sent, stating that behaviour of this nature wouldn't be tolerated and providing details of your new representative.”

This also got handed to the judge and jury to be logged as evidence. Mr Cato didn’t fight back.

“You're looking for a payout since your own company fell. No further questions, your honour.”

Our team now had the upper hand, just as Angelina had suspected we would once this came to light. Granted, it was supposed to be a separate trial, which it might even still be, but right now it was helping to win this case.

Nate was called to run the final questions and cross examine his client with the new evidence produced. But he didn’t move.The judge called him again, snapping him from his thoughts. He tried to take control of his emotions, keeping his rage and temper down, rage so strong that I could feel him projecting from where I sat.

I couldn’t do this, I needed to throw up. I couldn’t hold it down any longer, so I grabbed my things and casually left the courtroom to run to the bathroom, to puke up my lunch and whatever else my body held. I felt so guilty not telling Nate, seeing the surprise on his face as all this came to light.

I knew if I’d told him he wouldn’t so much as let Mr Cato in the same room as me. I stayed in the bathroom for the next 20 minutes being sick, my stomach in knots and in pain from the emptiness, my throat closing in and sore from the acid that had forced its way out. My skin was flushed and the make up I had been wearing had worn off, the panda eyes evident from my tears and heaving. I grabbed some water from the vending machine and decided to leave and sit on the wall outside waiting for court to finish. I couldn’t go back in there.

After what seemed like an eternity, Angelina ran over to me,

hugging me tight. I was grateful for the embrace I really needed. Jennifer gave us some space as Angelina pulled me to the side.

“The company was found guilty for breaching contracts and confidentiality. The business is going to close to cover the fees of any leaks. Mr Cato is going to be further investigated for the sexual assault, which is going to trial. You don’t need to

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