Page 71 of Puck Daddies
AKA, we are not yet using the hacker’s information.
Meg swallows. “Do we have enough?”
“We have enough to ask. Irreparable harm, harassment, irregularities in notice, retaliation pattern. We’re not arguing ownership today. We’re asking for a pause.”
The clerk calls the first case. We wait through a landlord dispute about a storage unit and a neighbor noise complaint. Then, “Bridges v. Harbor Street Holdings, et al.”
Inside, the courtroom is small, much smaller than what I’ve seen on TV. We sit at the left table. Luke and Callie sit at the right with their counsel.
The old, crusty judge looks at the file. “Appearances.”
“Dana Kline for petitioner, Meg Bridges.”
“Thomas Brown for respondent Harbor Street Holdings,” the other lawyer says. “Luke Addaway is here as the managing member of the holding company.
Callie lifts her chin like she wants the judge to note her too.
The judge does not ask her name. He looks at Dana. “Counsel?”
Dana stands. “Your Honor, we’re seeking a temporary restraining order halting any eviction or acceleration steps, and restraining respondents from direct or indirect contact with my client or her staff outside counsel channels. Over the last two weeks, Ms. Bridges has received repeated emails from Ms. Mornay at odd hours with taunts and demands to sell. Mr. Addaway appeared at the business with a black card and a show of force, which resulted in a hostile scene in front of her customers. The property notice clock has been altered to shortenher time. The inspection landed during a fundraiser window and was minor at most, all documented there in the file. The amended notice arrived the day after she declined to sell. We ask for fourteen days to keep the status quo and stop contact while we prepare for an order to show cause.”
The judge turns to the other side. “Response?”
Brown stands. “This is a straightforward commercial matter. The building changed hands. We served proper notice under the lease. The amended notice reflects a contractor’s urgent assessment. My client denies harassment. The emails are business communications that became heated because Ms. Bridges escalated them. The credit card incident was merely generosity. We oppose a TRO. She has remedies at law.”
Dana raises a hand. “May I reply?”
“Briefly,” the judge says.
“Ms. Bridges has run this shop for years without incident. The inspection hit during the fundraiser window and produced only fix-and-document items. She and her team corrected those within forty-eight hours. The notice language keeps changing. The visits and emails have personal jabs. We will not try that today. We will, however, show a pattern that makes the court’s pause warranted.”
The judge looks at me, then at Meg. “Ms. Bridges, do you want to speak?”
Meg stands. “I run Bea’s. It was my aunt’s. We’re preparing to make a community offer. We need time to do this right. The emails and visits feel like pressure to make me give up. I’m asking for a stop so we can handle this without someone moving the goal posts every week.”
The judge nods. “Thank you.” He turns back to the file. “The standard is likelihood of success and irreparable harm. I am not deciding the merits today. I am not deciding who owns what. I am deciding whether a pause makes sense.”
He flips a page. “There are irregularities in the notices that give me pause. The communications are, at best, unprofessional. That stunt with the black card was transparent. The timing of the inspection…I don’t like coincidences.” He eyes our table. “I am granting a temporary restraining order for fourteen days. No contact by Mr. Addaway, Ms. Mornay, or their agents with Ms. Bridges or her staff outside counsel. No further notices or acts to advance eviction. We will set a hearing on the order to show cause within that window.”
Brown starts to speak. The judge lifts a hand. “You’ll have your chance at the hearing. Next case.”
That’s it. We got the TRO.
We leave, heading for the cars, while Dana rambles on about procedure, and all I can do is watch Meg for a sign that she needs me to get her out of here.
I don’t have to wait for long. Her jaw is tight. Shoulders rigid. Bottom lip quivering. I lower my voice. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Yeah. Please.” But on the way out, the crowds funnel us closer and closer to Luke and Callie and their lawyer. Meg gets a look in her eye, and I’m not the only one who can read it.
Dana advises, “Don’t.”
But Meg can’t help herself. The moment we’re on the courthouse steps, she corners Luke and Callie. “One question.”
“Meg,” Dana begins.
But Meg shakes her head at Dana, eyes still on them. “Why are you so obsessed with me? What did I do to you, besides not have a threesome with you?”
Their lawyer starts to step in. Dana moves closer, taking control. “Counsel present. Ask and answer.”
