Rose's Thorns

The Heat

Marina's POV

"We'll have to wait a little bit more."

I wasn't a deep sleeper so Ellis's voice had woken me up. I had made to stand up when I heard his words as if in a dream.

A lot of questions ran through my mind but for some reason, only one stuck.

'Was he waiting for me to wake up?'

I pretended to stir in my sleep and then slowly opened my eyes, a meaningless show since he couldn't even see me but at that moment, I wasn't sure I was thinking straight.

It suddenly became important to know if he was waiting because of me.

"Oh my God, did I sleep off?" I asked, my voice higher than Intended.

I saw Ellis roll his eyes but like always, I ignored him.

"I am sorry, did I keep you waiting?" I asked again standing up from the chair.

"It's nothing." He mumbled then stood up from where he sat.

"Ellis," he called and the man responded moving closer to him. I, however was too focused on keeping my heart in control to know they had began to make their way out.

' He was waiting for me to wake up!!!' was all that I could process.

"Are you not coming?" Ellis's gruff voice pulled me out of my reverie and I nodded frantically hoping it would cover up whatever evidence my face displayed of my thoughts.

'He was waiting for me to wake up.' My crazy mind whispered again and I resisted the urge to engage it. Well, not for long as it didn't take long for me to start stealing glances at the man and somehow something about him and changed. Maybe not something, maybe everything , it was like I was seeing him with a different eye.

He was no longer the rich privileged heartless judge rather, he was the man that saved me from hell, the man that went against the world for a nobody, gave me shelter, fed me, clothed me and even took time and swallowed his pride to apologize to me. I looked up at him trying to steal a glance for probably the 10th time and even though all I could see from behind the bodyguard's back was his black hair glistening below the sun, I still marveled at him, a silly smile finding it was to my face.

Before I could even understand the reason behind the sudden smile on my face and warmth in my heart, we came to a sudden halt and I almost walked into the bodyguard if not for my quick reflexes. He looked down at me, his eyes narrowed and I simply shrugged and looked around wondering why we had stopped.

'Oh my God! We are in front of my room'

How did I not notice that?

Clearing my throat, I walked to the judge and for the first time I wasn't trembling due to his aura or his stormy eyes or his overwhelming presence. I was trembling because my heart was picking up a pace I wasn't used to.

But why?

I cleared my throat again hoping I would be able to atleast say words of appreciation before I give in to the sudden urge to run to my room and close the door behind me.

"Thank you sir, I really appreciate your kind gesture."

He did nothing extraordinary, it was the usual nod he gave when he thought words weren't needed but still, I admired the movement of his head, the hair directly above his eyes holding my gaze.

"I will go in now sir." I said barely managing to tear my eyes of him and without waiting for another nod or shrug or eyebrow raising, I rushed into my room shutting the door behind me.

**********

Third person's POV

Theodore wondered if it was just him that felt the difference in Marina. Her voice sounded less confident than it normally did, it also felt like she was choking on her words and to some extent he believed she ran to her room judging by how fast and loud her steps were.

But when Ellis's composed voice asked if they could proceed, he decided to overlook it. It was probably his over sensitivity or she was probably pressed or something.

The garden had done the trick again and now he felt better, his light heartedness may also have something to do with lifting the guilt of neglecting his responsibility but overall, his day was brighter.

"How is the case with the police officers?" He asked once he was sure they were out of hearing range.

"Elena informed me earlier that their warrant have been issued and they are charged with abuse of authority, assault and s****l harassment. She wanted to know if you would like to take the case."

"There is no need for that, either way they will be acquitted."

"Sir? " Ellis asked a frown on his face.

Why will they be acquitted with so much against them?

"The state is more interested in sentencing her than doing the right thing. If they are found guilty of those charges,it will destroy whatever case they have against her."

"But it's not so easy to destroy all the evidence against them."

"There will be no need to destroy them, they will be downplayed, just like how their abuse was not considered one simply because she lived on the street."

Ellis could not say anymore.

He had watched Theodore take on a lot of cases and had learnt to stay neutral about them but probably because he is forced to share the same air with the victim, he felt pity for her. He initially did understand why she had to live here but now, a part of him could understand Theodore. The whole world or atleast the world she knew was against her, it wouldn't be too much to ask for just one hand that is for her, is it?

If only the hand wasn't his boss's hand, maybe he would have even commended the act but it was his boss and no matter how pitiful she is, she is still a murder suspect and his boss is not just his responsibility but his friend.

"Sir, if you knew all of this then why bother raising a case?"

He wouldn't have done it just to impress the victim and right now the way he sees it there's no gain to it.

"Think of it as an investment in their future. They will be found guilty another time because of this case. It will be recorded that they are habitual offenders and all the others they've been abusing now know that it's not part of prison life so reporting them wouldn't be so difficult anymore. I dug a hole for them, I am just waiting for them to fall in." Theodore explained as he felt for the nearest seat. They were in the living room and were sitting opposite each other.

Ellis nodded his head an impressive smile on his face, of course he is unto something they will never be able to see coming.

"Sir, do you need help?" He asked rising from the chair. Theodore seemed to be searching for something as his hand traced the table close to him, his forehead creasing with a frown.

"No, I should find it. I mean how far can the day's paper go?"

This made Ellis's heart jump while Theodore innocently continued his search.

"Sir, the papers,I , I did not get it translated for you because it only had useless information."

"Ellis, useless information to you might not be to me, can you read it out then?" Even though he sounded innocent, Ellis knew better. He already suspects if not know the reason the papers were not on his table today, he is just being courteous by waiting for Ellis himself to say it. He hated these kind of situations but it was for the better, there is no need reading something so unpleasant.

"Sir, I do not have them." He replied. It was the truth but just half of it. He didn't have them as the papers but he did on his phone.

"Ellis.." Theodore called a knowing smile on his face. He didn't know why the young man ever bothered. He is a terrible liar and gets even worse everyday.

"Sir you shouldn't read it." He protested.

"How can I ? It's not in braille, you will do the reading."

Ellis closed his eyes wondering when he will ever win an argument over the man, he had an unrealistic amount of patience. He would carefully push him until he confessed which is why when he said he was digging a hole for the police officers, he knew it was a hole they would definitely fall in, no matter how long it takes.

"Sir, I'll take just the headlines." He said trying to negotiate.

Theodore chuckled.

"Okay, you will read the remaining some other time."

Ellis only smiled nervously as he scrolled through the papers. It was like all the news company had come together to exploit this matter. Headlines like "The blind judge has a criminal mistress," "Duty or pleasure", "love against all odds", "A plot twist in the mayor's case, is the presiding judge involved?" Were on the cover page of each paper and this had been the reason behind David Orson's fury this morning. They were out to get his son and he wouldn't just sit and watch.

"So that is what irked father?" He asked even though he didn't need an answer.

Smiling to himself, he stood up.

"Inform him to not buy off the companies or bribe them, it has nothing to do with them. I'll arrest the problem from the root."

Even though Ellis was not sure of what he was going to do, he knew it had something to do with the chief judge. The man is known for his cunning way of getting things done, and he is trying to force Theodore's hand. It was an obvious trick, he is simply trying to put him on the heat and make him bend.

"By the way, about not going to the office on Monday, I've changed my mind. Call the chief judge, tell him I want an appointment by 12 noon."

He has messed with the wrong person and he is just about to find out how fatal that can be.