Chapter 4: An Offer She Didn’t Expect
1002 Words
The courtroom slowly emptied, but the tension lingered like a shadow that refused to leave.
Regal remained seated for a moment, her thoughts racing.
Everything had changed so quickly.
Sebastian Cole.
Her new lawyer.
The man who had just torn apart Miss Kelly’s testimony like it was nothing.
And yet…
Something didn’t sit right.
Her eyes drifted across the courtroom.
People were leaving in small groups, murmuring quietly among themselves. But then—
She saw him.
A man seated in the far corner.
Still.
Watching.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t talking. Wasn’t moving.
Just watching.
His expression was unreadable, but his presence felt… heavy.
Dangerous.
Regal’s breath caught slightly.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
And a chill ran down her spine.
It wasn’t just fear.
It was instinct.
He’s not here by accident…
Before she could think further, the man stood and walked away, disappearing through a side exit like he had never been there.
“Miss Regal.”
Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.
She turned.
He was standing a few steps away, jacket neatly adjusted, expression calm as ever.
“We need to talk.”
⸻
They stepped into a quieter hallway outside the courtroom.
Regal crossed her arms slightly, studying him.
“You’re my lawyer now?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“That was fast.”
“I don’t waste time,” he replied simply.
There was a brief silence.
Regal narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Why?”
It was a simple question.
But it carried weight.
Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he watched her—like he was measuring something.
“You’re not what they think,” he said finally.
Regal let out a dry laugh.
“That’s what everyone says right before they stop trying.”
“I’m not everyone.”
His tone was calm.
Certain.
And for some reason, she believed him.
But still…
“That doesn’t explain why you’re helping me.”
Sebastian slipped one hand into his pocket.
“There are… details in this case that don’t add up.”
“That’s it?” she asked.
“For now.”
Regal exhaled slowly.
He was hiding something.
She could feel it.
But she didn’t push further.
Not yet.
“Fine,” she said. “So what happens next?”
“We build your defense properly,” Sebastian replied. “And we find out who really killed that man.”
At the mention of it, Regal’s chest tightened.
Her mind flashed back—
Blood.
The word run.
The fear in his eyes.
She swallowed.
“There’s something else,” Sebastian added.
She looked up.
“What?”
“You need to get out of your apartment.”
Her brows furrowed.
“What?”
“If this case is what I think it is, you’re not safe there.”
A pause.
Regal’s heart skipped.
“What do you think it is?”
Sebastian’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Bigger than you.”
The words sent a chill through her.
Her thoughts immediately went back to the man in the courtroom.
The one watching.
“I saw someone,” she said quietly. “In there. He didn’t look… normal.”
Sebastian’s expression didn’t change—but something in his eyes sharpened.
“Describe him.”
She did.
Briefly.
Carefully.
And when she finished—
Sebastian went completely still.
Just for a second.
But Regal noticed.
“You know him,” she said.
It wasn’t a question.
Sebastian looked away slightly.
“I might.”
That was enough to confirm it.
Regal’s stomach tightened.
“What kind of trouble am I in?” she asked.
Sebastian looked back at her.
“The kind you don’t survive alone.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Then—
“I’ll help you,” he continued. “But you’ll have to follow my instructions.”
Regal hesitated.
She didn’t trust easily.
Not anymore.
But what choice did she have?
“Fine,” she said. “What do you want me to do?”
Sebastian studied her for a moment.
Then—
“Work for me.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“At my firm.”
Regal stared at him.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“I’m literally on trial for murder.”
“And you still need income,” he replied calmly. “And supervision.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Supervision?”
“Protection,” he corrected.
She huffed slightly.
“You’re very controlling.”
“I’m very practical.”
Regal shook her head, almost laughing despite everything.
This man, was unbelievable.
“Why me?” she asked again, softer this time.
Sebastian paused.
Just briefly.
Then said—
“I’ve seen your work.”
She frowned.
“My… work?”
“You run a YouTube channel,” he said. “True crime analysis.”
Her eyes widened.
“You know that?”
“I’ve watched it.”
Now she was really staring.
“You’re joking.”
“I don’t joke.”
A strange silence settled between them.
Out of all the things she expected, this wasn’t one of them.
“You don’t look like the type,” she said.
“To watch YouTube?”
“To be a fan.”
Sebastian’s lips almost curved.
Almost.
“You’d be surprised.”
Regal felt something shift again.
Not fear this time.
Something lighter.
Confusing.
“You break down cases,” Sebastian continued. “You notice details others miss.”
Her breath slowed.
“That’s why you’re helping me?”
“It’s one of the reasons.”
One of.
So there were more.
Of course there were.
Regal looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll take the job.”
Sebastian nodded once.
“Good.”
But as they began walking down the hallway,Regal couldn’t shake the feeling creeping up her spine.
Somewhere out there—
The man from the courtroom was still watching.
And this time, she was certain.
She wasn’t just a suspect anymore.
She was a target.
- Writer
