Page 70 of Dirty Judge

“You paused my court for a headline on a gossip blog, Miss Julia?”

“To tell you that my boss wants the same thing,” she whispered. “He just texted his code for putting together an investigation.”

“You’re not supposed to tell me things like that.”

“Are you mad that I did?”

“No,” I said. “Bail or no bail?”

“Bail.” She stepped back to her table, and my fantasies of spending time with Olivia anytime soon dissolved.

“Mr. Ward, I’m granting you a five-thousand-dollar bail, and you will delete TikTok from your phone until trial.”

“Give me jail!” His eyes widened. “They let us use TikTok in jail!”

“Court is in recess.” I banged my gavel and stole one long look at Olivia before slipping away to my chambers.

FUCK.

Later that night

“Here’s how you can make all this annoying attention go away, for the rest of your life.” Damien Carter, one of this city’s top lawyers and a man Ihatedto see in my courtroom, stood in front of my desk.

“Whatever you’re about to say to me, just make sure it’s ethical, Damien.”

“What else could it be?” He smiled. “I always play by the rules.”

“You’ve literally built your entire career off bending them.”

“But not breaking them, right?”

I said nothing.

“Just pen an apology letter to Grant Jenkins and publish it in the press,” he said. “Say you’ve grown over the years and you understand it was a very hard and emotional case, and you’re looking forward to him getting a new and fair trial.”

“I gave him a fair trial.”

“I remember. I was there.”

“Are you implying something?”

“No.” He looked genuine. “Just write the letter so the press stops coming up with conspiracy theories and his father will stop funding all these dumbass articles about you. After that, you’re no longer attached to his name, and they can focus on the present day.”

“Hmmm.” I leaned back in my chair. “No.”

“I thought you might say that.” He shrugged. “Well, whenever you change your mind, or want to discuss some slightly illegal options that I can handle in under sixty seconds, I’m only a phone call away.”

“Get the hell out of my office, Damien.”

“Where do you want me to send the invoice for this meeting?”

I gave him a blank stare.

“I’m kidding, Liam.” He held up his hands in a mock surrender. “But I will be back whenever I need a quick favor.”

“Hold on, Damien,” I said as he opened the door. “I have a personal question.”

“Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder.