THE FIRST HEARING

The courtroom was already full-press, reporters, businessmen, and criminals in suits pretending to be respectable men. The air buzzed with whispers, tension thick as a storm about to break.

Then the doors swung open.

And the world held its breath.

Zephyr Draven stepped in first-towering, sharp, every movement dripping with unshaken power. A dark three-piece suit hugged his sculpted form, his black shirt buttoned up just enough to keep it professional, yet rebellious. His aura alone commanded attention, silence spreading through the room like wildfire.

His presence wasn't just known. It was felt.

Every gaze snapped toward him-some in fear, some in fascination. He didn't acknowledge any of them. Didn't need to. Because the moment Zephyr Draven entered, the courtroom belonged to him.

But then-

She walked in.

Ariena Adams.

Poised. Unbothered. A vision in a sleek black suit, tailored to perfection. No jewelry, no distractions-just sharp confidence and an aura that burned like quiet fire. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, every step a statement.

She didn't need to announce herself.

Her presence did that for her.

And beside her, Zephyr smirked. He didn't look at her, but the energy between them crackled-undeniable, intoxicating.

The press whispered. The jury straightened. Even Judge Prescott's gaze flickered with something unreadable.

Ariena walked toward the defense table, placing her files down with calm precision.

Only then did Zephyr finally glance at her, his smirk dark, knowing.

"You love an audience, don't you, sweetheart?" he murmured, just for her.

Without missing a beat, Ariena snapped the file shut and turned to him, her expression unreadable. "First, it's Ms. Adams. Second..." She leaned in just enough for only him to hear. "...Sit still and watch the magic happen."

Zephyr raised a brow, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Magic, huh?"

Ariena smirked. "You hired the best, didn't you?"

With that, she stood, adjusting the lapels of her blazer before striding toward the center of the courtroom with effortless confidence.

Zephyr leaned back, watching her with dark intrigue.

Let the show begin.

The room rising in unison before settling back into stiff silence. The prosecution was already poised, their lead attorney, Robert Calloway, standing with an air of self-righteous confidence.

"The case of The State vs. Zephyr Draven will now commence." The judge's voice echoed through the chamber. "Prosecution, proceed with your opening statement."

Calloway smoothed his tie, stepping forward with a smug glance toward Zephyr.

"Your Honor, today we are gathered here to hold a dangerous man accountable." His voice was crisp, carrying the weight of premeditated conviction. "Four men, all executed with brutal precision. And the accused? A man with a known history of violence, a reputation that speaks louder than any evidence we could ever present."

Zephyr barely reacted, his gaze unreadable, but Ariena? She tilted her head ever so slightly, as if already dissecting him.

Calloway continued, "The prosecution will present undeniable proof that Zephyr Draven orchestrated these deaths, eliminating men who no longer served his interests. We will show that-"

Ariena shifted, standing gracefully. "Objection, Your Honor."

The courtroom stilled.

The judge raised a brow. "On what grounds, Ms. Adams?"

Ariena turned, her voice cool and steady. "On the grounds that the prosecution seems to be giving a fictional monologue rather than an argument based on actual evidence." She took a single step forward, her presence alone commanding attention. "This court deals with facts, not reputations. And unless Mr. Calloway has something more substantial than dramatic storytelling, I suggest he move on to actual proof."

A murmur rippled through the room. Calloway's jaw tightened.

The judge sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Objection sustained. Mr. Calloway, let's keep this focused on the case."

Ariena sat back down, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles on her skirt, completely unbothered.

Calloway smirks as he pulls out a USB drive. "Your Honor, the prosecution has obtained a personal recording made by one of the deceased-hours before he was killed."

The tension in the courtroom spikes. A dead man's voice? That's not something the jury will ignore.

The speakers crackle as the audio plays.

A rough, panicked voice speaks:

"If something happens to me, you know who did it. Zephyr Draven doesn't leave debts unpaid. He said it himself-'no loose ends.' If I die, it's because of him."

Murmurs ripple through the courtroom. Zephyr's jaw tightens, but his face remains unreadable.

Calloway's smirk deepens. "This was recorded on his personal device and sent to a trusted associate. That associate, fearing for his own life, turned it over to us. Tell me, Ms. Adams, how does your client talk his way out of this one?"

Ariena's Defense: Flipping the Narrative

Ariena doesn't even blink. She crosses her arms, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Ah, the classic 'if I die, blame this guy' approach. A little dramatic, don't you think?"

She turns to the judge. "Your Honor, this recording doesn't prove my client committed murder. It only proves that the deceased was afraid of him. And fear? Fear is subjective."

She steps closer to the prosecution's table, lowering her voice just enough to make Calloway uncomfortable. "I could record a message right now saying I think Mr. Calloway might stab me in the back." She glances at the judge. "Would that make him guilty if something accidentally happened to me?"

The judge frowns, considering her words.

Ariena smirks, leaning against the table like she's already won. "Your Honor, unless the prosecution has actual proof that my client acted on this so-called threat, this is nothing more than paranoia from a man who had too many enemies."

The judge nods. "Ms. Adams has a point. This evidence, while compelling, does not directly tie the defendant to the crime. The court will reconvene in one week to assess additional findings."

Court dismissed

As the courtroom empties, Zephyr leans toward Ariena, his voice low. "That recording... That wasn't a bluff."

Ariena tilts her head, watching him. "I know."

He studies her, eyes narrowing. "Then why did you defend it like one?"

Her smirk deepens. "Because that's the game, Mr. Draven.You know how to break rules , I know how to bend them without cracking them"

________

As they exited the courtroom, Zephyr walked beside her, his presence commanding.

"Come with me," he said smoothly.

Ariena barely spared him a glance. "I have work to do."

His smirk was slow. "Work can wait."

She stopped, turning to face him. "Not when it involves keeping you out of prison, Mr. Draven.I need to go through the evidence, assess the prosecution's angle, and see exactly what Calloway thinks he has"

Zephyr chuckled, leaning slightly closer. "You love pushing me, don't you?"

Ariena smirked. "I love winning."

Zephyr exhaled, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Don't take too long, sweetheart."

Ariena smirked, stepping away. "It's Ms. Adams."

With that, she disappeared into the courthouse, leaving Zephyr watching.

Zephyr settled into the backseat of his car, his jaw tight as the driver pulled away from the courthouse. Just as he loosened his cuff, his phone buzzed.

Unknown Caller.

He answered, bringing the phone to his ear.

A smooth, taunting voice filled the line. "Your lawyer is sharp, I'll give her that. But even the best can't twist evidence that speaks for itself.""I like your defense, Mr. Draven."

Zephyr's grip on the phone tightened slightly, though his expression remained unreadable. "Flattery won't get you far. Who the hell are you?"

A low chuckle. "Just someone who enjoys a good game. And right now, you're playing a very dangerous one."

Zephyr's smirk didn't fade. "I don't play. I win."

"Is that so?" The voice hummed, unbothered. "Then let's see how well you play when the next move isn't yours."

The line went dead.

Zephyr exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. His fingers tapped against his thigh, calculating

✅ The case isn't dismissed, but Ariena buys one week to find the source.

✅The recording came from someone close to the dead man-but who leaked it?

✅Zephyr is rattled for the first time, but Ariena? She's already planning her next move.

What do you think???

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