This book is about a young lawyer whose quest is to stand for Justice no matter the circumstance while coping with the struggle of forgetting her past trauma of having an abusive father, she is stands alone taking care of her siblings the best way she can. But doubt begin to cloud her mind when she comes across an insufferable case that drives her to the edge, where she is forced to join hands and work with a man, who she instantly dislikes because she feels he’s too proud and cunning, who eventually promises to help her gain evidence to put a certain criminal in jail with ulterior motives. Although she doesn’t want anything to do with the man in question, Aiden, she agrees to become his lawyer, taking up the offer and signing the contract to work with him for that year, they both go through a lot of challenges from assassins to psychotic relatives to unhealthy rivals. In a long run, she comes to understand his feelings, his will to protect and keep her by his side, his attachment and unfailing affection even when she’s trying to fight the feelings she has developed for him, but the more closer he gets to her, the more her heart flutters, watch how the love unfolds between a dangerous CEO with ulterior motives and a stern ambitious lawyer who would do anything for the truth.
Chapter 1 THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
Sharai glaring at him with anger in her eyes “ I will not let you go scot free, I’ll make sure you pay dearly and rot in jail for this” she said in fruitless effort to control her rage, staring holes into the man standing in front of her, she walked off in fury taking her documents by one hand when she bumped into a huge figure that stood not so far away from the door, she walked past not uttering a single word to the man she just hit, “ That’s quite rude” said the man’s secretary “Shall I call her back sir to apologize?” , dusting off himself and adjusting his suit, “Nevermind that, we’re her
e for more important business” he said in a deep yet calm tone.
Mr Conrad paced in his office, while his client walked in with a stern look on his face “ I never expected this from you Mr Conrad, keeping me waiting” Aiden noted to show he didn’t have much patience left. “ Mr Kaelar, there’s no need to be in a rush, do not be angry, there was somewhat a small problem left for me to handle, please have a seat” he said trying to pacify the young man.
Stacy is stacking up some documents on her desk about some case filed, she sees her phone ringing, she walks away from the office into the hallway and picks it up “Hey, I’ve been waiting for your call, how did it go?” She said feeling concerned “ I was too pissed at some point I couldn’t keep my anger, he said he would not negotiate with my client, that goes to say he’ll keep all of the properties for himself, he feels so proud because he’s affluent” Sharai said feeling her anger subsiding, “Well I think I have some good news for you, I can’t talk here though, let’s meet at my place by 6pm” Stacey said in a somewhat suspicious tone, “ What are you scheming? I’ll be there anyways” Sharai said reluctantly, “See you soon then” Stacy answered.
Sharai gets home, climbs up the staircase into her apartment and opens the door, her face completely frozen from the sight she encountered, the whole place was rummaged, out of fear, she picks up her phone to call her little siblings to check if they’re alright “ Tobiah, are you and your sister alright?” she says in a bit of panic, her brother immediately fumbled answered “Yes, we’re fine sis, we just had a little study session after class so that’s why we’re a bit late, you sound worried, is everything alright?” Feeling calmer than before “Yes everything’s fine just take care of your sister and be home soon okay” she said, collecting her thoughts “who could have done this? What were they willing to find?” She felt puzzled and started arranging the place as fast as she could so as not to startle her siblings.
She was trying her best not to make her siblings worry about her because ever since she took up this case, her safety and that of her siblings had been threatened. As a child who grew up in an abusive home, Sharai decided to make her sure her siblings were always protected and would always stand up for what was right. It seemed impossible to do so now because times had changed and criminals became more intelligent. Piling her thoughts together, she made dinner for her siblings and decided to go and meet Stacy for their arranged meeting.
“I don’t think I can do this Stacy” Sharai said “You said you wanted core evidence right?, here’s your chance” Stacy said to be reassuring “ Look Sharai, you won’t have to do anything, you’ll just be at the club and we’ll snoop a little to get what we want, I gathered some data on Jeffrey Conrad and I think this will work” Stacy said trying to make her feel comfortable with the idea “ You know it’s not my thing, I feel uneasy in loud places” Sharai said in contemplation “Besides things might get worse, someone broke into my apartment today, I’m definitely sure he was trying to pull a fast one on me” she continued “Really?” Stacy said shocked “This is the reason why you need to do this, the stronger the evidence, the better, come on, we can do this” Stacy said reassuring her. “Fine, but just this last time and the plan is to get a video and voice record of him, then we leave” She said, “Yeah that’s all, the information I got from the guy I told to tail him seems legit, he’s going to be there wasting away”
Sharai and Stacy get to the club all dressed up, Sharai wears a sequins short gown that matches her brunette colored hair, with a beautiful lipgloss to match, having her hair down in curls, while Stacy puts on a dark lacy gown to match with her blonde lustrous hair. They’re welcomed in with neon lights and oozing music and sounds, they supposedly do not see Mr Conrad anywhere, yet.
Splitting up to look for him, someone catches Sharai’s eyes, it’s him, Conrad Jeffrey, he walks from the door of the club with ladies in his arms into a secluded area, “Hey, Stacy, I’ve got eyes on him, I’m going in with the recorders” she said on first ring to Stacy “Don’t go in alone, wait for me, tell me where you are?” Stacy replied worried but noticed that she already hung up.
She walks up the stairs, following him meticulously so as not to be noticed, she was immediately stopped by two men in black “Who are you? This is for VIPs only, you cannot come in” the first man said, startled she stepped back only to bump into someone, someone she felt she had met before, “She’s with me” the man behind her answered, it was Aiden Kaelar, pulling her to a side, “What’s a girl like you doing in these parts of the club?” He said while holding her hand, trying to get free from him “It’s none of your business, who are you are to ask me that!!?” Getting a better grip of her hand, he pulls her closer and puts his face so close to hers, “Is that the way to say thank you?” She could feel her hands tremble. She brushes him off immediately and decides to look for her friend so they can leave the club. Aiden, still a bit surprised about what just happened, signals for Leon, “Yes sir, what may I do for you?” Leon asks as he gestures him out of the place, “That lady I had just been with, she seems to have a past with Conrad, we won’t know for sure but I want you to look into her personal, career and financial life, she may be really useful to me” Aiden answered in a calm tone.
It was evident that the night would be over soon and Sharai had still no evidence against Conrad, she eventually meets Stacy and suggests that they go home because there’s nothing to be done as she was denied passage into the VIP room. Dragging her friend through the crowd of people till they come out, Sharai seems frustrated again “Calm down, it’s gonna be fine, we’ll have another chance okay” Stacy says reassuringly, “But the trial is only a couple days away, how are we going to come up with something tangible?” She asks putting her hand on her forehead in anger “Let’s just go home first and not throw a tantrum here” Stacy tells her as she waves down a cab to go home “Savy Avenue” Stacy says to the driver as he drives them to their destination.
The next morning came more quickly than Sharai had expected, she woke up late, her room was clean because of her siblings helping hands, standing up to make breakfast for herself, the food on the counter made her smile, on the counter close to the food read a note “we know how stressed you are sis, here’s little breakfast from Meir and I” Tobiah had written. After having her food, she washed up, dressed in her black jacket and khakis to visit Stacy at the police station she worked to get information or more tabs on the Conrad.
She gets into a cab and goes to the station, getting to the station, she’s pulled to the corner by Stacy “ I told you if I had any info on him I’d let you know, don’t you know he’s trying to die the case with his influence?” Stacy whispers “ Hey, you need to be calm and why are we whispering anyways?” Sharai asks in a low tone, surveiling the station, “Well, you can go home, miss lawyer, I’ll get what you want very soon, I’ve been keeping close tabs with my informant” Stacy assured her. She begins to leave when she bumps into a tall man on the hallway, “sorry, sorry sir” she says, walking swiftly, Leon looks at her while she walked off and gestures into the police office.
Leon calls Aiden notifying him of the information he has gathered on Mr Conrad and the woman he was assigned to, “I have some information about the lady sir, something that may really pique your interest” he says calmly while adjusting his seatbelt, he drives off from the station.
The day for the trial had come, Sharai had only encouraged her client from the beginning of the case but today she fidgeted almost regretting her decision to take on a big opponent, staring at the mirror, looking at the independent, honest lawyer she had grown to be and now doubting her morals, she shook her head “Get your head in the court Sharai, a criminal is a criminal, I will bring him to his knees and send him to jail” she said trying to gain confidence...
The jury were ready for the case to be brought, the court room was in silence, her opponent had numerous lawyers, Sharai summoned courage and went in awaiting the procedures to begin with her client, Omar, who shriveled. During the trial, Sharai did her best to prove her client was scammed by the defendant in question, raising unobjectionable points for the jury which were countered by the defendant’s standing in lawyer.
After the long awaited trial procedures, the jury had concluded that the case be adjourned to three weeks from the trial. While Sharai was packing up her documents to get on her way, a spectator from the court room helped her with one of the documents that had fallen off, handing it to her “oh thank you” she said without even looking up “Do you just say things without trying to identify the people you talk to” Aiden said smiling, she slowly looked up, seeing the man in a dark coat, nicely chiseled jaw, having an overall handsome face, she took a good look because she couldn’t recognize the man who was staring at her.
Aiden only watches her from a distance when his phone begins to ring from his pocket, picking up his phone, his expression immediately changes as he answers the call a man with a calm deep voice talks to him “Your grandfather has requested that you’d be present in this year’s family dinner, so you have to be here by tomorrow” he said without hesitation “I won’t be available, can you tell him that I won’t be able to make it especially this year” he said in attempt to hide his anger “Is it because of Xavier?” The voice over the phone said swiftly, “If this dinner is about him, then I’m definitely not available” Aiden says finally letting the anger in his words “You are to be here master Aiden as your grandfather requests it” the voice says before Aiden abruptly hangs up the call, he gets into his car and signals the driver to move.
Sharai gets home feeling distressed from the trial and the jury’s decision, she felt it was to her advantage as it gave her more time to find substantial evidence against Conrad Jeffrey. She picks up the card and reads the name, “Kaelar group of industries” she says in a bit of panic, she becomes stiff when she reads below “Chief Executive Officer” she becomes even more puzzled, trying to decipher why the CEO would be interested in helping her, she also knew how desperate she was to get indicting information about her client’s opponent, she decides to give the number a call after she had eaten and had a refreshing bath.
Sharai staring at her phone and the card in her hand, it was already 7:30pm, telling herself that he might be a scam or he would want something huge from her, he’s already been popping up in front of her, although she hated the guts of the rich, she absolutely needed all the help she could get in this situation. She picks up the card and dials the number on her phone, after the two first trys, she gives up “Third times a charm” she said without any hope, the phone is answered. “Hello, speaking to you is the young lawyer you met at the courtroom today” she said trying to sound firm “Oh Miss Sharai, I do remember” the man answered, puzzled “How did you know my name? I don’t remember giving you that information” she asked “Well words fly around, you are trying to stand against Conrad Jeffrey, so it’s quite easy for people to know who you are” he said effortlessly “Well if you’re really serious about talking business then I’d suggest that we meet next week Monday, 10am, crimson palace, don't be late”