Page 73 of Trials of a One Night Stand
Dr. Waxx nods emphatically. “One hundred percent positive.”
“Thank you.” Cliff faces the judge. “Exhibit B is not the formula for Zentello’s Orchid. It’s a formula written by a Zentello employee and given to Nigel Carrington, the former CEO of UnoPharm, who wanted to steal Orchid for his company. The formula has nothing to do with enhancing a woman’s sexual pleasure. It’s a harmless drug to make someone chill out.”
Oh my God. There’s no coming out of this in one piece now.
Lucas stands, sending his chair crashing to the floor. “That’s not true. It’s the Orchid formula. It has to be. Carrington said—”
“Be quiet,” I tell him before he implicates himself.
Dammit. I knew he’d be called out for contempt at some point, but now it appears Lucas is part of the shadiness happening at Sugar Valley Drugs. I’m royally fucked, and not fucked the way I like to be by Nate.
Nate.
Shit. I can’t even look at him.
Judge Grierson pounds her gavel. “Sit down, Mr. Matthews, or I’ll hold you in contempt.”
Lucas glances at me, and I will him to sit. Oliver rights the fallen chair. Finally, Lucas takes his seat. Thank goodness, but I fear enough damage has been done.
“Has Sugar Valley Drugs produced any samples with the formula in B?”
“Object,” Lucas whispers.
“It’s a valid question, one he should know, given his position and claims made by the company,” I explain, but that only makes Lucas’s eye twitch. My client isn’t happy, and I have no doubt I’ll be blamed for the fallout from Dr. Waxx’s response.
Should I object without cause? My gut tells me no. Judge Grierson is a stickler. I don’t want to be called out for causing a disruption, but…
Oh no. Nausea hits hard and fast. I clutch my stomach.
Not now, please, not now.
I go to stand, but it’s too late. I know this feeling too well, so I reach for the small garbage can tucked under our table and throw up into it.
Nate’s at my side before I can lift my head. He whispers, “Are you okay?” I almost think he calls me sweetheart. Then retching comes from the stand, and Dr. Waxx vomits, too, but I don’t think he made it to a trash can.
The viewers groan, and I don’t blame them. The courtroom stinks.
The judge pounds the gavel, but I can’t look up to see what’s going on. “Court is adjourned for today and will be on recess for cleanup,” Judge Grierson declares. “A hazmat team needs to be called in.”
Well, that was one way to stop the proceedings. And with that thought, I empty the remaining contents in my stomach.
CHAPTER TWENTY
NATE
I have my hand on Jayne’s back to make sure her hair doesn’t fall forward. I hate that Lucas Matthews hovers near her with his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, I understand the emotion behind touch her and die that Zelda has mentioned from the books she reads. Call me possessive, but I don’t want anyone touching Jayne.
The bailiff hands her a wad of paper towels. Jayne takes them with a mumbled, “Thanks,” and proceeds to wipe her face. I glance at the stand to see Oliver tending to Dr. Waxx, who looks even paler.
“Do you want me to call an ambulance?” Lucas Matthews asks.
“No, I’m fine now.”
“You’re sick,” he says as his gaze focuses on her breasts. He’s in the perfect position to leer at them. “You need to see a doctor.”
“She’s pregnant, you asshole, not sick.” The words fly from my mouth. All eyes focus on me, including Cliff’s.
Fuck. I didn’t mean to say that. Time for damage control. “I mean, it’s either pregnancy or food poisoning. Could be either.”
