The courtroom doors opened at nine sharp.
Angela Lopez was already on her feet.
"Your Honor."
The judge looked over his glasses. "Detective Lopez, you're not counsel."
Angela stopped halfway to the witness stand and glanced toward the defense table.
"I'm aware."
Across the room, Monica Stevens smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the kind of smile that made Angela want to run across the room and hit it off her face.
Monica was dressed impecably, dark suit, perfectly curled hair, her folder resting against the table. She looked completely comfortable in the courtroom.
That was the problem.
Angela had seen Monica's name before. Everyone in the LAPD had.
Defense attorney. Strategist. Professional nightmare. And worst of all? The man she loved's ex wife.
And, depending on who you asked, a woman who had made a career out of turning guilty people into free ones.
Angela folded her arms.
"I'm just here for the victim."
Monica's eyes moved onto Lopez.
For one quick second, something changed in her expression.
Interest.
Not calculation. Not amusement.
Interest.
Then it disappeared.
"Of course you are," Monica said.
Angela narrowed her eyes.
"You got something to say?"
"Several things."
"Save them for the judge."
Monica's mouth curved slightly.
"That's usually the idea."
Angela stared at her.
She hated that smile already.
The judge cleared his throat. "Ladies."
Both women turned toward him.
"This is a courtroom, act like it."
Angela immediately looked away from Monica.
Monica didn't.
She kept looking at Angela for another second before finally opening her file.
"Apologies, Your Honor."
Angela returned to her seat beside the victim, refusing to acknowledge the strange little flutter of irritation in her chest.
She didn't like Monica Stevens.
She knew exactly what Monica was.
People like her didn't care about justice. They cared about winning.
And Angela had spent too many years putting people like that behind bars to be charmed by a pretty face and an expensive suit.
The judge began reviewing the charges.
Monica listened quietly.
Then, when it was her turn, she stood.
"Your Honor, the defense maintains that my client is being accused based largely on circumstantial evidence and an emotionally compromised witness."
Angela's jaw tightened.
The victim beside her shifted uncomfortably.
Monica glanced toward them.
Then toward Angela.
"I understand emotions are running high," she continued. "But emotion isn't evidence."
Angela stood.
"Neither is a well-rehearsed argument."
A few heads turned.
Monica looked directly at her.
And, of course, she smiled again.
This time, Angela noticed something different.
Monica looked almost... delighted.
As if Angela challenging her was exactly what she'd been hoping for.
"Detective Lopez," Monica said softly, "I think we're going to get along beautifully."
Angela gave her a flat look.
"That's not going to happen."
Monica's smile remained.
"We'll see."
Angela sat down.
She told herself she didn't care.
She told herself Monica Stevens was just another arrogant defense attorney.
She told herself that repeatedly.
What Angela didn't know was that Monica had already forgotten half of her carefully prepared argument.
Because she'd spent the last thirty seconds wondering why the most intimidating woman in the room had the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen.
YOU ARE READING
Monica Stevens X Angela Lopez (Ship)
FanfictionMonica knew Angela was beautiful from the moment she met her, but at first she denied her feelings, then she realised this wasn't just attraction, it was love. The hard part? Convincing Angela that she wasn't just using her... Characters: Monica Ste...
