Page 25 of Hooked on Mack
“Hey, don't look at me like that! People change, Larissa,” he said. “We've both made mistakes, and now we're trying to fix them.”
I stormed out of the jail cell, leaving Mark's pleading voice echoing behind me. The metal bars slammed shut, marking my exit from that infuriating conversation.
I pushed his voice to the back of my mind, focusing instead on the burning anger that coursed through my veins. My thoughts swirled like a tornado, each one more incensed than the last. The frustration bubbled up inside me until it threatened to burst forth in a stream of expletives. I had to find an outlet for this rage, and fast.
“Out of my way!” I snapped at a guard who was blocking my path. He jumped aside, eyes wide with surprise at my sudden outburst. I didn't have time for apologies; I needed air, space—anything to help calm the storm inside me.
I finally reached the exit, pushing the heavy doors open and stepping out into the sunlight. The warmth on my face did little to soothe my temper, but at least I could breathe again. “How does one man cause so much trouble?” I muttered under my breath, mentally preparing myself for the inevitable fallout from Mark's latest escapade.
“Rough day?” a familiar voice asked, startling me out of my inner turmoil. I turned to find Mack leaning against the hood of his car, concern etched on his handsome features.
“Rough doesn't even begin to cover it.” I sighed, feeling the weight of the day bearing down on me. I knew he'd be able to read the exhaustion and irritation in my eyes. “Mark just informed me that he and Ava have decided to give their marriage another shot. Oh, and he's currently behind bars for getting into a brawl with his mistress.”
“Wow,” Mack said, raising an eyebrow. “I knew things were complicated, but this is… something else.” He pushed off from the car and came closer, offering a sympathetic smile. “Want to talk about it?”
“Later,” I replied, suddenly feeling drained. “Right now, I just want to go home and take a long, hot bath. Preferably one filled with wine instead of water.”
“Good luck. See ya tomorrow.”
16
Mack
I stood next to Larissa, my heart pounding as we faced the judge's wrath. Our clients flanked us on either side.
“Mr. Harrington, Ms. Montgomery,” the judge addressed us, his brown eyes piercing our souls with every syllable. “I am extremely disappointed in the behavior displayed by both counsel and your clients during yesterday's proceedings.” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “This is a court of law, not a circus.”
“Your Honor,” I began, trying to muster whatever charm I had left after the previous day's disaster, “we apologize for any unprofessional conduct on our part. We understand the seriousness of the actions and will ensure that it does not happen again.”
“See that it doesn't, Mr. Harrington,” he warned. Larissa nodded beside me, her green eyes reflecting the same contrition I hoped was mirrored in mine.
“Moving on,” the judge continued, flipping through pages of documentation before him, “I have reviewed the terms of the proposed settlement agreement and find them to be reasonable under the circumstances. Therefore, I grant Ava Kennsingtonownership of the four properties she requested, along with everything else on her list.”
Ava smirked, while her husband clenched his jaw in silent fury. This case had been a roller coaster from the start, and frankly, I just wanted off the ride.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” I said, my voice betraying a hint of gratitude. Larissa echoed my sentiments, and together we vowed to uphold our end of the bargain, regaining control over the proceedings that had previously spiraled out of hand.
“Very well,” Judge Phillips concluded, “court is adjourned.” With a final resounding crack of the gavel, the room was dismissed.
I didn't even glance at Larissa as we rushed out of the courtroom, eager to put some distance between ourselves and the judge’s disdainful gaze.
We arrived at the elevator bank, still not speaking. I tapped my foot impatiently while waiting for the doors to open. Finally, the elevator dinged, and we stepped inside, careful to keep a respectful distance between us.
“Floor?” I asked, my voice low and defeated as I reached for the control panel.
“Ground,” she muttered, and I pressed the button without another word. Our descent was slow and agonizing, much like our collective pride that continued to plummet alongside us.
“God, that was humiliating,” I confessed, running my hand through my hair. “I don't think I've ever been chewed out like that in court.”
“Join the club.” Larissa sighed, her piercing green eyes focused on the elevator floor. “I guess there's a first time for everything, huh?”
“Seems so,” I agreed, trying to chuckle, but it came out more like a choked cough. We fell silent again, lost in our thoughts. Mymind raced, replaying the judge's words over and over, each time feeling a new sting of shame.
The elevator jolted to a stop, and we stepped out into the cold, sterile hallway of the courthouse. We trudged past the security guards, heads down, avoiding eye contact.
“Hey, have a good day!” one of the guards called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I forced a smile, but Larissa didn't bother to respond, her expression set in a steely resolve.
“You know,” I began, suddenly desperate to fill the silence. “We'll bounce back. We always do.”
