tricks of time ― grayson hawthorne [the inheritance games]

019. MELTING

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I'm halfway up the stairs when she catches me.

"There you are." Alisa Ortega, attorney-at-law, was a model of professionalism. She arched her brows into what I had mentally termed the Alisa Look. "We need to talk."

I nod at her. "Okay. Talk."

"Are you okay?" Alisa pressed. She wasn't exactly the touchy-feely type. But I suppose in today's circumstances, she'd be softer than her usual harsh tone. "I'm fine," I said.

"Why wouldn't she be?" That voice - low and smooth, was too familiar. It was a voice I never wanted to hear. I turned to look directly at Grayson Hawthorne, which he came from an elevator behind me.

"Are you stalking me, Grayson?"

He gives me a plain look. "I'd ask you the same question." He then turns to Alisa. "Why," he repeated crisply, stepping out of the elevator, "would Leah be anything other than fine?"

"Maybe because of your best friend," I muttered. "It's fine. I should've pulled myself together quicker."

Alisa's eyes were piercing Grayson's, and her brows were furrowed. "No, no, that is not your fault, Leah. Grayson, why don't you be a bit more considerate of what she just went through? We don't need any of your smart-ass behavior right now." She places a hand to her forehead. "God, this family is crumbling."

"Is he a threat?" Grayson asks.

"I suppose that he—" I don't let Alisa finish her sentence, because I grab her arm.

"I want to talk about this somewhere else. Without him."

He gave me a look, but I grabbed Alisa before he could say anything and stalked past him, into the elevator he'd stepped out of a moment earlier. The trick to being abandoned was to never let yourself long for anyone who left.

A minute later, when the elevator doors opened into the owner's suite, I stepped out, Alisa to my side, and I didn't so much as think back to Grayson.

"Sit down," Alisa says, motioning to the chair opposing her desk.

I sit.

"So," she says, pulling out a file, "I know what happened. And I know how we can get him in juvenile for a while. Enough time for the press to know what he's done."

"What will you charge him for?"

"Rape and sexual assault. If he's lucky, he'll get out without a scratch. He'll likely serve a few years in a juvenile facility with the chance of parole. If he's that unfortunate, he'll spend the remainder of his term in juvenile detention till he turns 18 and then be tried again after that. But that's unlikely. Too good to be true."

"So why am I here then?"

She laughs a bit. Shakes her head. "You're going to have to give a speech."

"About what?"

She grimaces slightly. "What happened."

I feel my blood run cold, the blood flowing through my veins freeze. I shake my head. "I'm not doing that. No, I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that!"

She places her hands on my shoulders. "You need to, Leah. He deserves to go to jail."

"Is there no way around that?"

She shakes her head. "We can't try him if we don't have your evidence. We need you, Leah. You need this for yourself."

I can't think about this right now. "I want to sleep," I tell her and I stand out of the chair.

She sighs, and I see the disappointment clear on her face. "Okay. Just...think about this tomorrow, will you?"

I nod and stand up. "I will. I promise."

authors note

i know i've mentioned this in the previous few chapters, but:
i'm so sorry if any of you have gone through this before. sexual assault and rape is more common than people think, and it's no joke. women (predominantly) but even men, suffer from this constantly all over the world and it's very overlooked in today's society. people (including myself as i've been lucky enough to never face it) don't understand how much trauma it can bring to one and how scary the experience must be.

if you've ever been one to say, or heard someone say something like, "it's not that big of a deal, it feels good anyway," address them! if you have not been in that situation before, you have absolutely no right to disregard how traumatic the experience could've been for a victim.

lastly: if you ever need help, or is a victim of sa/rape, there are sexual assault and rape hotlines you can call for help. they are truly important and i'm sure are very helpful.

sexual assault hotline (usa): 1-800-656-4673

suicide hotline (usa): 988

police (usa): 911

domestic violence hotline (usa): 800-799-7233

stay safe, everyone.

word count: 2059 words