THE LAWYER WHO LOVED HER ENEMY

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

THE FIRST CASE

Two weeks.

That was all Professor Reyes had given us.

Two weeks to prepare for our first mock trial.

Two weeks to prove that we belonged in law school.

And, apparently, two weeks for Adrian Cross and me to discover exactly how much we hated working together.

"You're late."

I looked up from my notes.

Adrian stood in front of me, one hand resting casually inside his trouser pocket and the other holding two cups of coffee.

I checked the clock.

"By three minutes."

"Four."

"It's eight-oh-four."

"We agreed to meet at eight."

I closed my notebook.

"And you're counting seconds now?"

"I count everything."

I stared at him.

He placed one of the coffee cups in front of me.

"I brought you this."

I looked at it suspiciously.

"What is it?"

"Coffee."

"I know what coffee is."

"Then we're off to a good start."

I pushed it back toward him.

"I don't want it."

He looked at the cup.

Then at me.

"You've been here since seven."

I froze.

"How do you know?"

"You were already here when I arrived."

"You were watching me?"

"I noticed you."

I narrowed my eyes.

"That's not better."

A small smile appeared on his lips.

"You look like you haven't slept."

"I was studying."

"So was I."

"You don't look tired."

"I don't lose sleep over assignments."

"That's because you think you're already perfect."

He pulled out the chair opposite me.

"I don't think I'm perfect."

"Really?"

"No."

He opened his laptop.

"I know I am."

I stared at him.

He looked up.

Then smiled.

I hated that smile.

Mostly because it made me want to smile too.

I immediately looked away.

"Let's start."

---

Our mock trial case involved a fictional company accused of fraud.

The facts were complicated.

A corporation had allegedly manipulated financial records to hide millions of pesos in losses. The prosecution claimed the company's chief financial officer had knowingly participated in the scheme.

Our assignment was to represent the defense.

I read the case file for the third time.

"The prosecution has a strong argument."

Adrian leaned back in his chair.

"They do."

"That's your response?"

"They have a strong argument."

"You're not worried?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because strong doesn't mean correct."

I looked at him.

He pointed toward one of the documents.

"Look at this."

I moved closer.

"The financial report?"

"Page forty-two."

I flipped through the pages.

He pointed to a line.

"The prosecution claims the defendant altered the report."

"Yes."

"But look at the timestamp."

I stared.

The document had been modified at 11:43 p.m.

The defendant's security records showed he had left the building at 9:17 p.m.

I looked at Adrian.

"Someone else changed it."

"Exactly."

I smiled.

"That's good."

"I know."

"Don't ruin the moment."

He laughed softly.

"You really don't like compliments, do you?"

"I like compliments."

"Then let me compliment you."

"No."

He leaned forward.

"You're good."

I looked at him.

"At what?"

"Finding things people miss."

I didn't know what to say.

So I returned my attention to the case file.

"Thank you."

It was quiet for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"You know, you're different from what I expected."

I looked at him.

"What did you expect?"

"Someone who talks too much."

"I don't talk too much."

"You do when you're angry."

"I'm not angry."

"You've been angry since I told you to move from my seat."

"Because you were being arrogant."

"I was."

He smiled.

"And you were right."

I stopped.

"What?"

He shrugged.

"I was being arrogant."

I stared at him.

"Did you just admit you were wrong?"

"Don't get used to it."

For some reason, I laughed.

It was the first time we laughed together.

Neither of us realized how significant that moment would become.

---

The next several days became a routine.

Library.

Classroom.

Coffee.

Arguments.

Research.

More arguments.

Sometimes Adrian would arrive before me.

Sometimes I would arrive before him.

We fought about everything.

The order of our arguments.

The interpretation of the evidence.

The opening statement.

The closing statement.

Even the color of our presentation folders.

"Blue."

"Black."

"Blue."

"Black."

"Why are you so obsessed with black?"

"It's professional."

"Blue is professional."

"It's distracting."

"It's a folder."

"It has personality."

He stared at me.

"You're giving a folder personality?"

"At least it has one."

He laughed.

"You're impossible."

"And yet you're still here."

His smile disappeared for half a second.

Then he looked down at the documents.

"Yeah."

His voice was quieter.

"Still here."

I didn't know why that moment felt different.

So I ignored it.

---

Three days before the mock trial, something unexpected happened.

I was walking through the law building when I heard voices coming from an empty classroom.

I recognized one immediately.

Adrian.

I stopped.

I wasn't trying to listen.

At least, that's what I told myself.

"You need to stop."

His voice sounded different.

Not playful.

Not arrogant.

Angry.

I moved closer.

"You don't understand what you're doing."

Another man's voice answered.

"You should stay out of it."

"She's not part of this."

"She will be."

I froze.

She?

Who were they talking about?

I stepped closer to the door.

Then Adrian spoke again.

"Leave her alone."

The other man laughed.

"You really think your father will protect you?"

Silence.

Then—

"Don't mention my father."

There was something in Adrian's voice that made me stop breathing.

Pain.

Not anger.

Pain.

I stepped backward before they could notice me.

I walked away.

But I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd heard.

---

That evening, Adrian didn't show up at the library.

It was unusual.

He had never missed a study session.

I told myself I didn't care.

I continued reading.

Ten minutes passed.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Then an hour.

Finally, I closed my book.

I don't know why I stood up.

I don't know why I looked for him.

Maybe curiosity.

Maybe concern.

Maybe something else I wasn't ready to admit.

I found him outside the university.

He was sitting alone on a bench beneath the old acacia tree.

His suit jacket was gone.

His sleeves were rolled up.

His head was lowered.

For the first time since I met him...

he didn't look like Adrian Cross.

He looked like a tired young man.

I approached.

"You're late."

He looked up.

His eyes were red.

I pretended not to notice.

"You're here."

"You missed our study session."

"I know."

"Are you okay?"

He looked away.

"I'm fine."

I sat beside him.

"You don't look fine."

He gave a quiet laugh.

"You always say exactly what you're thinking."

"Someone has to."

He looked at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he asked:

"Why did you become a lawyer?"

The question caught me off guard.

"My father."

His expression changed.

"Your father?"

I nodded.

"He was a lawyer."

"What happened?"

I looked down at my hands.

"He was accused of something he didn't do."

Adrian became still.

"What was he accused of?"

"Fraud."

His face went pale.

I didn't notice.

I continued.

"He lost everything."

My voice became quieter.

"His career. His reputation. His friends."

I swallowed.

"Eventually, he lost hope."

Adrian looked at me.

"I'm sorry."

I smiled sadly.

"I don't need pity."

"I'm not giving you pity."

"Then what?"

"Understanding."

I looked at him.

He looked away.

"My family has made mistakes."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He didn't answer.

"Adrian?"

He stood.

"I should go."

I stood too.

"Wait."

He turned.

"Why did you ask me about my father?"

His expression hardened.

"I was curious."

"That's not the real answer."

He looked at me for several seconds.

Then said quietly:

"Maybe someday I'll tell you."

And he walked away.

I watched him disappear into the darkness.

For the first time, I wondered if Adrian Cross wasn't as simple as I thought.

Maybe he wasn't just a spoiled rich boy.

Maybe there was something underneath that perfect exterior.

Something broken.

Something he was desperately trying to hide.

---

The day of the mock trial arrived.

The courtroom was packed with students.

Professor Reyes sat at the center as judge.

Our classmates filled the seats behind us.

I stood beside Adrian.

My hands were shaking.

I hated that.

He noticed.

Without saying anything, he moved his hand closer to mine.

Not touching.

Just close enough.

A silent reminder.

You're not alone.

I took a breath.

Professor Reyes looked at us.

"Counsel for the defense, are you ready?"

I looked at Adrian.

He nodded.

I turned forward.

"Ready, Your Honor."

The prosecution presented their case first.

Their opening statement was strong.

Very strong.

By the time they finished, several students were already convinced that our fictional defendant was guilty.

Then it was our turn.

Adrian stood.

He walked toward the center of the courtroom.

His posture changed.

His expression became colder.

Confident.

Controlled.

This was the Adrian Cross everyone talked about.

The heir.

The brilliant student.

The future lawyer.

He looked at the jury.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

His voice was calm.

"The prosecution will ask you to believe that the evidence proves my client's guilt."

He paused.

"But evidence doesn't prove anything by itself."

He turned toward the evidence table.

"People do."

He lifted one document.

"And people can lie."

Then he looked at me.

It was my cue.

I stood.

I walked beside him.

Our shoulders almost touched.

He whispered:

"Your turn."

I looked at the jury.

"My client is accused of altering financial records at 11:43 p.m."

I held up the security report.

"But the prosecution forgot one important fact."

I placed it on the table.

"He wasn't there."

A murmur spread through the courtroom.

I continued.

"The evidence doesn't simply fail to prove his guilt."

I looked toward the opposing team.

"It proves someone else had access to the system."

Adrian stepped beside me.

"And we intend to show you exactly who."

For the next forty minutes, we worked together.

Perfectly.

He anticipated my arguments.

I followed his questions.

When he stumbled, I stepped in.

When I hesitated, he gave me the smallest nod.

We moved like we had done this for years.

When the mock trial ended, the room erupted in applause.

Professor Reyes stood.

"Excellent."

She looked at both of us.

"But I have one question."

We waited.

"How did two people who clearly enjoy arguing with each other manage to work so well together?"

The classroom laughed.

I glanced at Adrian.

He looked at me.

Then he smiled.

"We're learning, Professor."

Professor Reyes raised an eyebrow.

"Learning what?"

Adrian looked at me.

"That sometimes..."

He paused.

"...the best person to fight beside is the person who challenges you the most."

My heart skipped.

I looked away.

I told myself it was nothing.

Just a compliment.

Just words.

Just a mock trial.

I didn't know that years later, I would remember those exact words.

Because Adrian Cross had been right.

He was the person who challenged me the most.

He was the person who pushed me to become stronger.

He was the person who stood beside me when everyone else walked away.

And eventually...

he would become the person standing across from me.

The man I would have to fight.

The man I would still love.

And the man I would someday have to choose between...

love and justice.