No Strings Attached

Part 5 : No Strings Attached

Taking one last sip of water, effectively draining the glass of fluid, Riccardo stood before the jury, pacing the floor before resting in a spot half-way between the judge and the juror's bench.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Do any of you have siblings? Or perhaps children? Even nephews and nieces?"

All of the jurors nodded looking at one another, with a brief smile circulating amongst them as they probably remembered their family members.

Riccardo continued, "So if your relative fell in love with the perfect person, would you hesitate to get in the way of how they felt?"

The jurors shook their heads in unison and mumbles erupted as they seemed to digest the thought

Sofia immediately stood, "Objection your honour! May I ask what relevance Mr Alonso's question has to this case?"

The judge shook his head, "Denied Miss Reed. Go on Mr Alonso, but get to the point."

Riccardo turned to look at Kimberley, a small cocky smile playing on his lips, "Well, ladies and gentlemen you've just answered the main question in this case. Khloe Smythe just fell in love. It may have been with her sister's husband, but she fell in love. As you already know, Mr Sloane was an adult both at the time of the affair and the time of his death and surely adults can make their own decisions? Am I right?"

The jurors nodded once more, whispering amongst themselves.

Riccardo smiled again, "So, this is why I am arguing for my client and not Miss Reed's. You see what Miss Reed is arguing is that Hugh Sloane, couldn't make his own decisions. That he wasn't in his right mind.  Mr Sloane chose to continue seeing my client. He chose to leave his estate to my client. But just because he continued to see my client, doesn't mean that this cause his death! I would like to present to you finally ladies and gentlemen, Exhibit 13 of this case, fresh off the press this morning."

Kimberley held the piece of paper in her hands and stood, nervous at reading in front of established lawyers, particularly one Sofia Miller. The ex-wife of the man she had a huge crush on. She could see exactly why Riccardo was attracted to her in the first place. She was beautiful and fiecely independent, everything Kimberley believed she wasn't. But that didn't stop Kimberley being head over heels for this man... this man. 

She needed to squash these feelings. And fast. 

Riccardo offered her a heart-stopping grin, "Miss Scott, darling Miss Scott,  could you please read the highlighted section?"

Kimberley came to her senses. For the last 5 minutes she had been daydreaming.. daydreaming about Rick. How gorgeous he looked in that charcoal suit, the way he'd undone the top two buttons on his crisp white shirt and the way that revealed the smattering of dark hairs on his chest. The dark jacket draped over his broad, masculine shoulders, his chisled lips as they weaved their way around the words he spoke...

"Miss Scott?" Riccardo frowned slightly

She stood up, startled, taking a deep breath and then she started to read,

 "After an extensive enquiry into the death of Mr Hugh Sloane (deceased 13th January) we can determine that the cause of Mr Sloane's death was in fact a cardiac arrest caused by excess fat surrounding his heart. This is because of the poor lifestyle that Mr Sloane led i.e. his regular smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise. This issue had already been raised with Mr Sloane at his general practitioner on 30th November and he was given a course of antibiotics which could help the circulation of his blood. Traces of these antibiotics were found in his blood at the time of death but these also did not contribute to his death."

Kimberley passed the report to Riccardo, who placed it on the judge's table, "Thank you Miss Scott, thank you Your Honor and thank you ladies and gentlemen of the jury."

Judge Carey then spoke, "Recess for a verdict. This case is adjourned until Wednesday next week. That is all." He knocked his hammer against the desk and left the courtroom.

Everyone began to slowly move out of the courtroom and the plaintiff and defendant's attorney's met in the Hub.

Riccardo grabbed Kimberley by the waist and spun her towards him, she gasped, astonished at the physical contact.

"Miss Scott... Kimberley... darling." Riccardo said, "Would you be a dear and grab my briefcase from the courtroom?"

"Yes Rick," she sighed, "And don't you ever call me darling again. I am not your lover."

"Yes darling." Riccardo grinned and Kimberley rolled her eyes and walked off in the direction of the courtroom.

Rick milled around the crowd of people and spotted the person he was looking for in the crowd. The hair was a dead giveaway of the woman he had known for many years. The bitch.

"Good afternoon Miss Reed. Still as sharp as ever I see." Riccardo said calmly.

"That's my prerogative. And to you, that's Mrs Miller," Sofia said brusquely, "Honestly, by now I would've thought you would have grown up Riccardo. I see you're still up to your old tricks."

Rick raised one eyebrow, "And what would those be?"

Sofia laughed callously, "Chasing after girls half your age. What's this one? Executive something or other? A post you've created in order to mindlessly gawk at the breasts of younger women to have something to think about in bed later. You repulse me, I could never understand why I was so attracted to you."

Rick chuckled, "I presume, and this is only a presumption Miss Reed, that you are referring to my co-counsel Kimberley Scott and she is well into her twenties, not too young for me, not that it's any of your concern, so honestly I really don't think you know what you are talking about."

"You know what I'm talking about Rick. Probably planning to make her Mrs Alonso Number 2 right? That's your problem Rick you move too—"

"Damn fast, I know right? But I've never seen any woman find another man so fast."

"Oh god Rick, still playing the divorce card are we? I'm sick and tired of your games. I'll see you in court." Sofia snarled walking away.

"Sofia!" Riccardo called.

Sofia snapped around, "What?"

"Be a dear and give my regards to your husband."

Sofia scoffed, "Jerk."

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