The Lawyers Redemption: Redeeming Honor

Winning

Greg

I stretched, expecting to see my woman lying next to me. I didn’t feel her, so I popped my head up and looked around.

“Babe?”

Nothing, not even an echo of sound coming from downstairs. Maybe she went to the store? I didn’t smell coffee or breakfast like I usually do. She knows I have court today.

I groaned, getting out of bed. I really needed a break. This case is kicking my ass, and I also really miss Honor. I know I’ve been neglecting her lately. But I’ve just been so swamped and tired. I have a lot riding on this case, and if it goes well, I can finally ask Honor to marry me. I’ll be in a good position, more stable, and maybe we can start a family. I know she’s young, but I’d love to see her round with my child. And then maybe it would prove to that fucker Josh that he has no chance with my girl. A man who looks like him isn’t into guys. There’s no way. All the men I’ve ever met who liked other men, especially here in Miami, are really out and about and completely proud. No, it’s just an act. I bet he was trying to get with CeeCee at first, until he probably realized she really is a lesbian. s**t, I wouldn’t mind watching her and Honor together, if I were honest. I know, I’ve fantasized about it, a time or two.

It’s hair-washing day and manscaping day. I needed to feel confident going into court. I hoped Honor had my blue suit dry-cleaned, as I asked her to last week. It’s my power suit, and she knows I like to wear it for important high-profile cases.

I can’t believe Robert Grafton. Who the hell cheats on a wife as beautiful as Connie Grafton, who has been loyal and loving from the looks of it for their seven-year marriage? She didn’t even ask for anything extra, just what she was owed via the prenup. She could have gouged him for way more. I mean, there is f*****g picture evidence of him with his secretary, and another with some random woman.

But I have a man who is willing to say the pictures were doctored. Her attorney will have her own expert who will say they aren’t, but mine is more shady, and he has some tricks up his sleeve. Not to mention, we have pictures of Connie and her personal trainer that look like they are in compromising positions, but really, Mark is just good at taking pictures from certain angles. Is it wrong of me to do this? Absolutely, but I needed this win. I’m doing it all for Honor and me, and there isn’t a lawyer in the world who hasn’t done some s**t like this before. Well, maybe Ephram, Honors dad, but the man was a saint, and he was damn good at his job.

I did everything I had to in the shower. I lotioned up afterward, brushed my hair, and shaved, making sure I didn’t miss a hair on my face. I shaped my brows and moisturized my face. I finished with a lip scrub, which Honor said would help hydrate my lips.

I walked into my closet, put on some boxer briefs, smiled when I found my blue suit clean and pressed, and a crisp white shirt to go with it. As I walked out, my brows furrowed. I looked back into the closet. Something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I shrugged. Maybe I’m just nervous about today. Well, no maybe about it. I am f*****g nervous. But I got this. I know how to talk, how to use my words to spin the narrative the way I want it to go. It’s why I am being considered for the next senior partner role, and I always deliver what my clients want. The partners have been very satisfied with my performance. I’ve made a lot of money for the firm.

After dressing, I walked downstairs, still wondering where Honor was. Did she have an early party or something? There was no breakfast or coffee waiting, no note explaining anything. I looked in the fridge and didn’t see my lunch. I looked by the door, and my bag was still there. What the f**k? She always makes my lunch. She’s never missed a day since she moved in. Not even when she was on her period. She knows that today is really important. I really needed her to be on her game today. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. Okay, maybe she needed to be at her parents' house.

I took out my phone and texted her.

Hey, babe, missed you this morning. Don’t worry about bringing me lunch, I’ll get something before court starts. Hope everything's okay. Love you.

I waited a beat, usually she looks right away if her phone chimes, but a couple of minutes pass and she still hasn’t read it. Huh.

Okay, I don’t have time to dwell on this. I needed to get to the office and make sure I had everything ready to go.

I grab my briefcase and keys and push the unease out of my mind.

“Mr. Anders, your floor,” Judge Roberts says after Connie Grafton’s lawyer, Jan March, finishes presenting her case.

“Your honor, the accusations that Mr. Grafton cheated are utterly false. I have an expert willing to take the stand and testify that the pictures that Ms. March just showed are AI-generated. I have the analyst right here in my hand,” I say as I hand him the doctored report.

“Furthermore, we have pictures that have also been analyzed to prove they are legit, that it is Mrs. Grafton who is cheating. I have over twenty pictures of her and her personal trainer going out to eat together, cozying up to one another, hugging, and even kissing.”

“Your Honor, my client has never been unfaithful in her marriage,” March objects.

I went to my table and held up a stack of pictures Mark had taken that looked very bad for Connie Grafton.

“A picture is worth a thousand words, Ms. March. You presented two doctored photos. I have twenty analyzed photos that prove their legitimacy right here.”

I hand her copies of the photos and give the original to the judge.

“I also have further evidence that Mrs. Grafton has been planning to keep Mr. Grafton’s daughter away from him.”

This little gem came from Lucy, who had followed Connie to a coffee shop and sat near her table where Connie was meeting a friend. She had broken down and vented in frustration about how she had given Robert ten years of her life, seven of them married. And if he thinks she will give him any custody rights, he should think again.”

“My words are taken out of context. I didn’t mean I would keep her away from him.” Connie jumped up and shouted.

Jan was trying to get her to calm down and sit. The judge banged his gavel and looked at Connie.

“Mrs. Grafton, another outburst like that, and you will be held in contempt.”

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. A pang went through my chest at her plight, but I had a job to do. I looked at Robert, and he had a satisfied gleam in his eyes. Stewart was sitting behind Lucy, Jerry, and Mark. A small smile on his face, and he gave me a nod. I felt pride rush through me. This was it.

I presented the prenup that had the stipulations of the cheating clause. “My client is willing to forgo the clause where it says that if she cheated, she has to pay the seven million dollars back. All he wants is fifty/fifty custody of their daughter. He’s even willing to give Mrs. Grafton the right to have their daughter live with her, most of the year, since he works so often. But he wants two months out of the summer, every other holiday, and her future spring breaks when she starts school. He is also willing to pay twenty thousand a month in child support.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Grafton, but that’s for the custody hearing. This hearing is just for your divorce. However, I will take everything into consideration. We will adjourn for an hour, where I will look over everything and then give my judgment.”

He banged the gavel, and the court was adjourned.

“This is going well,” Robert said. I smiled and nodded.

“Greg, you’re doing a fantastic job, you’re a shoo-in for the Senior partnership. Georde will completely agree with my recommendation over Hays recommendation. Alvarez is already out, since he lost his case. So it’s down to you and Celeste Mitchell,” Stewart said, coming up to us.

“Well, Celeste’s record is nowhere near as impressive as mine,” I said with confidence.

“True, but a woman would be good for the firm’s image, and so would a black man,” he said, smiling.

My smile froze on my face. This mother fucker. Is that why he recommended me? Because I’m black? Not because of my record, my merit, my f*****g loyalty to the firm?

“Come on, get that look off your face. I’m just joking.”

“Ha, yeah, right. Wouldn’t want to get sued now, would you?” I said. We all laughed, but it was strained.

“You’ve got this, Greg,” Stewart says, slapping me on the shoulder. He’s lucky I didn’t punch his f*****g face.

“Robert, how about some lunch? It’s on me,” I said to my client.

An hour later, we are all back in court. Judge Roberts sits and sifts through the papers in front of him.

“I’ve gone over everything, and this is my ruling. I rule in favor of the defendant, Robert Grafton. The prenup stands, and, per Mr. Grafton’s wishes, the seven million dollars will not have to be repaid. I will see you in two weeks for the custody hearing.”

The judge bangs his gavel, and I am elated, even though Stewart kind of ruined the win for me with his little “joke.”

“Congratulations, Robert,” I said, shaking his hand.

“You’re a f*****g genius, Greg. I will be recommending you to all my friends. Trust me, some are repeat offenders and way more loaded than me,” he says under his breath.

Lucy, Mark, and Jerry are just as excited as I am. We shake hands and congratulate each other. Stewart is happy as a f*****g peacock and shaking my hand.

“It’s yours, I just texted Georde, and he agreed. Two against one vote. Your name will be on the building next week, and your new office will be next to Hays.

The smile that crosses my face is huge, especially when he tells me it comes with a half-million-dollar bonus and a 30% raise in my salary. Then he turns to Lucy, Mark, and Jerry and congratulates them as well.

I don’t look at Connie Grafton as we leave the courthouse. I know I did her dirty. But it’s survival of the fittest in this world, and I just secured mine and Honor’s future.