Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The group discussed about the goods and bads about the case. Attorney Chan did not want to sound too cocky "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up just yet. It's hard to tell what the verdict will be since it's Ms. Ng's words against Joey Lai's. The jury don't look very dumb, I can tell you that. They are a hard crowd to please, that's for sure."
Everyone laughed when Attorney Chan wiped the fake sweat off his forehead. "If he is convicted, how many years will he serve?" Josh asked.
"6 years max, 3 years minimum." the man said solemnly "You are worried for your brother?"
Josh nodded "Although he deserves it, I know he will not survive a day in prison."
"He'll get what's coming to him." Josie assured the group.
They continued to chat for another two hours until the officers called them back into the courtroom for the verdict to be announced. Everyone stood up for the Judge when he entered the room. "Please be seated." everyone sat down as ordered "I understand the jury has agreed on a verdict?" he nodded a balding man who stood up in representation for the other jurors.
"Yes, your honor. By unanimous votes, we hereby declare the Defendant, Joey Lai to be guilty of the attempted rape charges."
Josie clapped her hands as she stood up "Yes!"
Allie smiled at her friend as they hugged happily at the final verdict. "Order!" The judge pounded his palet "I am very pleased that the jury has decided unanimously, it's a really rare situation when it happens. This was a tough case to go by, since there are no real witnesses. Thank you for everyone who has contributed to getting this case closed. By the power invested in me, I sentenced Mr. Joey Lai five years in prison for attemted rape. This is reasonable since I disagreed with the first charge of rape that you got away with." he said directly to Joey who slumped down in his seats as the guards handcuffed him and prepared to lead him to his destiny. "This sentenced is to be served this minute." he slammed the palet one more time before leaving.
Outside the reporters were still waiting, Mr. Lai and Mrs. Lai only came to hear the verdict and they rushed out only to be mobbed by the reporters snapping pictures away and asking questions.
Josh stood back as he watched, he contemplated on helping his father as he decided within two minutes. He rushed to the center of the crowd and shielded his father and mother as he had the butler and driver pushe the reporters to the side. He quickly led them to their limo and closed the door "I'll see you home." he said to his parents. His mother nodded warmly as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Mr. Lai seemed more cold as he did not answer only to order the driver to take off.
Josh let out a sigh as he knew it was killing his dad. He would never forgive him or Allie for prosecuting his youngest son. "I'm sorry you will have to take the aftermath of all this." Josh turned to see Allie looking at him sadly.
He smiled "I guess Josie was right, he did get what he deserved."
"How could you two be brothers?" she shook her head in shock. "It's like water and fire."
"Jealousy can do that to a person." he explained. He saw Sunny and Josie walking towards them. "I'll see you at work. Hopefully our lives will be back to normal." he nodded to Sunny "I hope this will not ruin our contract with Phoenix Inn."
Sunny smiled "It only made it stronger."
Josie smiled but she threw in a sarcastic remark "And they said girls were corny." she nudged Allie. They laughed at the guys while they shook hands. "Let's go eat." she suggested out of no where. "I mean to celebrate...fairness?"
"I'm actually tired. I want to go home." Allie said softly "Sorry to be a party pooper. I'll see you guys at work tomorrow."
"That's one down. How about you two?" Josie asked the guys.
Josh looked at her apologetically "Family awaits." he said tiredlessly. "I'll take you home, Allie." she nodded in answer as they walked away together.
Josie pouted as she watched him leave for his car "It's just you and me, kid." Sunny said as he wrapped an arm around Josie's shoulder. Her gaze was still following Josh's even after he left.
*************
The next day at work, Allie received an applaud from her fellow workers. They all saw the news the night before and were happy the verdict came out the way it did. Even Nick and Amy came early to do a little celebration. The group ate together in peace leaving the restaurant closed for the first hour. Allie walked around catching Josie describe to the other people of the suspense that took place in the courtroom. Her hands were waving with expression and her eyes were buldging with discription. The waiters were hanging on every word she had to say.
Allie smiled as she shook her head, she looked up and found Nick waving to her. She quickly walked over to him "Yes?" her voice singing out teasingly.
"Glad to hear that happier voice of Allie." he patted to the empty chair next to him "Have a seat."
She did as he told "I'm glad to be back. Hopefully this will be the end of all the drama."
"I would have been there the whole day but you know the media would be there attacking me." Nick explained. He wanted to really support her, he grew a special liking to her the first day he met her.
"I know. They would have come up with a story that you were one of my lovers or something. Gosh, the Defending attroney was so good, he made me believe I was a skank or even trashy!" she exclaimed in horror.
Nick laughed "The best money can buy. Or the best lies money can buy, is more like it." he sighed "I'm just glad your okay. I did not hear about all this until that night when I came back to sign some papers and Sunny told me. I just saw him disappear that day when I came in."
Allie smiled feebly "I know. I still have nightmares but it's going away now." she quickly added with a laugh.
He smiled "If you need a shrink, I'll recommend you mine." he joked. "But seriously, maybe you should take a break or something? Go away on vacation. It's been a while since you've gone huh?"
She nodded recalling her Hawaii vacation "Yeah, almost a year."
"Okay, as your boss, I will take no for an answer. You are taking the next two weeks off!" he declared.
She let out a laugh "Yeah right. You're forgetting I have another boss?"
Nick laughed "I'll talk him into it." he winked at her as he walked over to Sunny who was talking to Amy. "Hey, hey hey, stop flirting with my assistant. That's my job." he said with disapprovement. Amy looked away with a blushing face while Sunny laughed.
"You said it, she's your assistant not your girlfriend." Sunny argued for the sake of his friend.
Nick didn't want to give up the quarrel just yet "Yeah, well maybe she is my girlfriend? You know that stars are not allowed to date in public, maybe we are lovers in private?" he whispered the last part of the sentence.
Amy laughed with her head shaking "Don't you just love this guy?" she said through gritted teeth as she wrapped her arms around Nick's neck and squeezed it tightly until he almost choked his way out. She eyed him threateningly "Don't you ever start that rumor again!"
"Again?" Sunny asked with curiosity. "You did it once?" he asked Nick in shock.
"Some publicity stunt my agents say is good for me. They try to help me when there is a rumor that I'm dating the lead girl in my new movie. So they threw out some rumors that I was dating my personal assistant. So all the lime light goes to Amy." he laughed when Amy wrinkled her nose, he leaned in to Sunny "She really likes it but she acts like she doesn't."
Sunny laughed "I will never understand your kind of work." he suddenly remembered "Did you want to talk to me?"
Nick nodded "Oh gosh, yes. I almost forgot. I want to give Allie two weeks off. She's looking extremely stressed out lately. I just wanted to know your oppinion."
Sunny's face was serious "She told you this?" Nick nodded "I guess if it's best for her."
"Great, I'll tell her the great news." he turned towards Allie and gave her a thumbs up sight "He said yes!!" he yelled across the room. She smiled and walked over to the three "Did you hear?" Nick asked brightly.
"I think everyone did." she cracked.
He laughed "Great to have you back. I was beginning to miss that sarcasm."
Allie smiled as she looked at Sunny "Thank you."
Nick sensed that they were holding back as he quickly placed his arms around Amy "Come on, my lady, me thinks the two love birds want to be alone." he winked at them slyly and led Amy away.
"Don't listen to him. He's just teasing, I know you and Josh are still together." Sunny assured.
Allie looked up strangely, he never picked up the subtle clues that the two of them broke up. She wondered if anyone else knew? Allie didn't bother to correct him "I really need this time off." she nodded.
He agreed "That's good for you. Maybe by the time you come back, everything will fall smoothly together?" he smiled "Any plans on where you're going yet?"
She shook her head "I don't know yet. Maybe just go where I haven't seen. Hey, you need a vacation yourself." she pointed out.
"Yeah, I know." he let out a slow yawn. Tired from the night before, he spent the whole time with Josie yapping away about things he barely remembered. Allie gave him a questioning look and he knew she was asking about the yawn "Josie kept me up all night babbling about stuff." he explained. "You know how she gets when she knows you're not listening."
Allie laughed "Yeah, she talks louder and longer." They both laughed about their mutual friend.