Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapters 71 & 72 Let The Battles Begin/ Winners And Losers

"Let the battles begin. Reporting round the clock live coverage on the Jones vs. Gallo reckless driving Trial. Back to you, Sal."

"Shit." Addison mutters under her breathe and mutes the television again.

"We have our work cut out for us, sir." She expresses her concern.

"She hired Colton West. For someone who says she's tight on money, how the hell is she affording Colton West?" Nate raises a brow at the lawyer. She bows her head for a moment before responding.

"I have a feeling Colton went to Nadine Jones for this case, not the other way around."

"Why??" I ask.

"Publicity. This is Nate Hollan we're talking about." She answers.

"But 'Nate Hollan' isn't the one on trial." I squint my eyes at her. There's something more to this, isn't there? This is more than my trial.

"Listen. Colton West has been on my ass for years, ok? We have always butted heads, and he wants this case to break my winning streak."

"Winning streak!! This is my fucking life!"  I belt out and stand up. I knew I had a bad feeling about this!! Oh my gosh this is all about winners and losers. "This isn't some damn game."

"To Colton it is, James. And he will do anything to win. The only two trials Colton has lost were trials against me. I was the representative for both of those cases. I won them both and I will win this one." Addison assures me.

This isn't a God damn game here.

"Let's get back to work." Addison continues grooming me for court but it's useless.  I've had enough. All I keep thinking about is how Addison and Colton have some underlying beef with each other that is going to affect my case. I'm tired, stressed out, now stumbling and stuttering with my words. I'm done.

"James. Do you want to keep going or are you done for today?" Nate asks me but the lawyer gives him a dirty look.

"Nate..." Addison stops him.

"James..."

I look over at Nate and give him a slight nod.

"I'm done."

"Ok." Nate understands and I head to my room. I can still hear them loud and clear as I pace my room with tear filled eyes.

"Nate, we don't have time for this." 

"You want to use his disability to help your case? Then fucking use it. You see him struggling more and more throughout the meeting, do you not? I don't pay you to push him to the point he'll have another seizure, that's for damn sure. You can see yourself out."

Shit. Hollan's temper got the best of him. I don't dare come out of my room now. I don't want to deal with the lawyer myself. I hear her pack up her stuff and leave without another word before I open my door. 

This is all one big disaster.

*****

"Oh my God, please tell me you're joking, Nate." Trisha is anything but pleased while cooking dinner and hearing about Nate's tantrum with the lawyer. "You told her to show herself out?! Nate! You can't be doing this shit!"

"Alright, alright. Jesus. I'll fix it. You make me want to drink you know that doll face?" 

"This isn't about you. This is about him!" She points the spoon my way. I'm lying on the couch with my dog trying not to think about shit while these two battle it out.

"Fine. Schedule a meeting with her. Coffee or something casual for tomorrow. I'll go apologize, happy?"

"Not till you fix it, playboy." Trisha pulls out the baked chicken and begins plating it for everyone. None of us have seen Paul lately. He's been spending more time at the Avalon to watch over Julia. So, it's just Trisha, Nate, myself, Casey and Jonah. Everyone grabs their plates and heads to the dining room table to eat.