Trial 3

I sat back in my office chair, the fluorescent lights above flickering slightly as I flipped through the stack of documents Dominic Hayes had entrusted to me. The pages felt heavier with each turn, the weight of the case pressing down on me more with every detail I uncovered. I had already begun the difficult task of untangling the web of financial records, and though I had only scratched the surface, something felt off.

Adrian Hayes, Dominic’s cousin, was a name that had come up several times in our initial conversations. The accusations that Dominic had been set up by Adrian were vague, yet urgent. The more I dug into the financials of Hayes International, the more I realized how intricate this case truly was. The company’s transactions, the offshore accounts, the involvement of high-profile executives—everything screamed corruption. But in the midst of all that, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the truth was buried deeper, somewhere beyond the papers and figures.

I had always prided myself on my ability to read people, to see beyond the surface. But Dominic Hayes? He was a challenge. His aloofness, the way he kept things close to the chest—it all made sense now, considering the gravity of the situation. Yet I still couldn’t help but wonder if he was withholding something crucial. There was a part of me that wanted to trust him, that wanted to believe his story, but in this line of work, trust wasn’t something you could afford easily.

Margo had been in and out of my office all afternoon, delivering documents and fielding calls from the press, who had already gotten wind of my involvement in Dominic’s case. I was starting to regret the decision to take him on, especially with the mounting pressure from the media and my colleagues. The public was quick to judge, and no matter how many times I reminded myself to ignore the noise, it was hard not to let it seep into my thoughts.

I glanced over at the clock—6:30 p.m. I hadn’t realized how much time had passed. I had barely made a dent in the paperwork, but there was no turning back now. I was in this for the long haul. I shut my laptop and leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment to clear my head. The door to my office creaked open, and I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“Dominic,” I said, my voice calm but tinged with frustration. “I’ve been going through the records. There are serious discrepancies in your company’s financials. This is bigger than you’re letting on.”

He stepped inside, his presence filling the room as usual. The sharp lines of his suit, the intensity of his gaze—it all made him seem more like a figurehead than a man on trial. I’d seen it in the way people looked at him in the media: a larger-than-life persona. But here, in the confines of my office, he was just another client. Another man in need of answers.

“I know,” he said, his voice steady, betraying no emotion. He didn’t even flinch at my accusation, which only made my frustration grow. “I’ve been trying to tell you this for weeks now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Tell me what exactly? That everything’s fine, that these irregularities are just a coincidence? Because I’m not buying it.”

Dominic exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s not like that,” he said, his tone softer now. “I’ve told you about Adrian, right? My cousin.”

I leaned forward, interested. “You’ve mentioned him. But I still don’t understand the full picture. Why does he want to bring you down?”

Dominic hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. “Adrian and I—our relationship has never been good. Ever since my father died and I took over the company, he’s resented me. He always thought he should have been the one in charge, not me. But I didn’t take the company from him. I inherited it. It was never about him.”

I didn’t respond immediately, letting his words hang in the air between us. Adrian Hayes—the shadow behind this entire mess—wasn’t just a distant relative. He was someone with his own agenda, his own vendetta. I could see it now. The power struggles. The family rivalries. It was all playing out on a much larger stage than I had initially realized.

“So, you think Adrian is framing you?” I asked, trying to piece everything together. “That these financial irregularities are his doing?”

Dominic’s gaze hardened. “I know it’s him. I know how he thinks. He’s been trying to sabotage me for years. He’s always been in the background, pulling the strings. If he can take me down, he gets the company. And the thing is, he’ll do anything to get what he wants.”

I sat back in my chair, my fingers tapping against the edge of the desk as I processed what he’d just said. This was no longer just a case about financial fraud. This was about a family feud, a battle for control over everything Dominic had worked for. And from what I could gather, Adrian Hayes was playing the long game, slowly chipping away at his cousin’s empire.

“I need more than just your word, Dominic,” I said firmly. “I need evidence. Proof that Adrian’s behind this. If I’m going to take your case, I need to be able to prove your innocence in court.”

Dominic’s expression darkened. “I don’t have proof. Not yet. But I know where to look. I know the people involved. I’ve been doing my own digging, trying to find the connection between Adrian and the offshore accounts.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And why didn’t you come to me with this sooner?”

He met my gaze with a level of intensity that almost made me falter. “Because I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew that you’d need to be convinced, and I didn’t want to get your hopes up. But I can’t do this alone. I need someone who isn’t afraid to dig deep. Someone who isn’t afraid to take risks.”

I exhaled slowly, leaning forward once more. “This isn’t about risks, Dominic. This is about the law. This is about finding the truth, no matter how ugly it gets. You want me to trust you, to fight for you, but you’re not giving me the full story. If we’re going to win this, we have to be on the same page.”

Dominic nodded, his jaw clenched as though he was processing my words. “I understand. But you need to know—this isn’t just about the company. It’s about everything. Adrian’s been trying to destroy me for years. He’s been using everything at his disposal to bring me down.”

I watched him closely, my mind racing. There was something more to this story, something I wasn’t seeing yet. If Dominic was telling the truth, then Adrian wasn’t just a disgruntled family member. He was a force to be reckoned with—someone who knew how to manipulate situations, how to use power to his advantage.

“I’ll need to dig into your communications with him,” I said finally. “Emails, messages, anything you’ve had with Adrian. If he’s been orchestrating this, we need to find the trail.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened further, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something else—fear, maybe? Or was it frustration? He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. “Be careful, Serena. Adrian doesn’t play by the rules. If you get too close, he’ll come after you. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his secret.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

There was a long pause before Dominic spoke again, his voice softer now. “I didn’t want this for you. I didn’t want you to get caught in the middle of all this.”

“You don’t get to make that decision for me,” I said, cutting him off. “I’m here because I believe in the truth. If you’re telling me that Adrian is responsible for this mess, then I’ll help you find the evidence. But you need to be straight with me from now on. No more half-truths.”

Dominic stood up, his tall frame looming over me, but this time, there was a vulnerability in his posture that I hadn’t seen before. He extended his hand once more, and I hesitated for a moment before shaking it firmly.

“Deal,” he said. “I’ll give you everything I have. No more games.”

I nodded, determined. “Good. Then let’s get to work.”

As he walked out of my office, I stared at the door for a moment, deep in thought. Adrian Hayes was no longer just a name in the headlines. He was the key to everything, the man who could destroy Dominic—and by extension, me—if we weren’t careful.

I had no illusions that this would be easy. But if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I wasn’t going to let Adrian Hayes win. Not without a fight.