To succeed in life,
you need two things :
confidence and ignorance.

-
Mark Twain

_______________

Lying in the bed with my bare feet on the bed and my head on a pillow, I rest the book I'm reading against my chest and look out the window, watching the sky darken and a tree sway in the breeze.

"Allison, tell me," Hope requests, sitting on the U shaped couch in my room. I turn towards her with a grin.

"Tell me, your interest in Daniel is personal, isn't it?" Excited at the prospect, she leans forward, her eyes bright and inquisitive.

I stare back at her without blinking. "How long have I employed you, Hopine?" I ask, holding my huge teddy closer.

"Four years, nine months, eighteen days,” comes the immediate answer. She checks her watch. "And twelve hours."

"Four years," I repeat coolly. "And in all that time, have you ever known me to take a personal interest in a man?"

She hesitates, her smile fading. "No."

"There's your answer."

She turns the iPad to face me. Displayed above the list of facts she's compiled in her research are two pictures. One shows Daniel in a formal business pose, in suit and tie, standing with his arms folded over his chest and his legs spread as he stares unsmiling into the camera. He looks handsome but distant, the epitome of a focused, successful entrepreneur.

The other picture is a close-up of his face. Casual and unposed, it was taken outdoors. The sun gleams in his hair. His eyes are half-closed against the light. His head is tilted back a little, and he's wearing a boyish, unselfconscious grin, looking at whoever took the picture with a dreamy glint in his eyes.

His gorgeous, come-hither bedroom eyes.

Blue. Such a lackluster word for the glory of blue, and grey together in one ever-shifting canvas. I wish I could see him like this again. Free, cool and in his full glory but all I can find in Daniel is anxiousness, arrogance and anger.

Hope says, "You're telling me this face does nothing for you? Holy mother! This guy does nothing to you? How can you be immune to his beauty?"

I have to press my lips together so I don’t smile. She knows many of my secrets, but the effect Daniel Avery has on me is not something I'm going to share. Ever.

"Hopine. Please. Shut that mouth before I reconsider that last raise I gave you.”

She lifts one shoulder and says casually, "Okay. You remain celibate for another six months.

"Maybe we can do some work to keep in tracks."

"Does that include hot streaming sex?"

"Hopeline."

She twirls the end of her ponytail between her fingers and smiles at me. "It's sweet how you call me Hopeline when you're mad at me. Kind of like you're my mom or something.”

"If I were your mother, I would have given birth to you when I was three years. Even with my active sex life, I don't think I'll jump on a man at the age of three." Hope, not yet twenty-four, doesn’t look convinced.

"I don't get it, Allison. Do you really don't like him?"

My lips twist. "I hate him."

She gives me a look. "Then why don't give him to me? I would never pass such a good looking guy."

My eyes widens, I sit up in the bed. "Don't even think about that, Hope," I snap, throwing her a scary look.

Hope smirks. "Jealous? Aren't we?"

"No!"

Hope shakes her head at me. "You never admit." Hope pauses for what feels like a long time. "Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

She gives me a sad smile. "Everyone thinks that this is easy for you but I know how difficult this for you. Living six months with a stranger who know nothing about you and your past. I know you're doing this because you don't Ashley to suffer like you did. That is the reason why you're helping Amanda. You don't want to see another teenager suffer right in front of your eyes." Tears prick at the corner of her eyes. Emotions runs through me but I stop their flow immediately.

I chuckle. "Stop being emotional. You got it all wrong. First, I'm getting married because Daniel is damn hot and I love kissing him. Second, I took Amanda's case only because I wanted to try defence after a long time, that's it."

"Alli-"

"I'm fine, Hopeline."

She mutters, "And we're back to Hopeline."

I check my Rolex. "I've got another five minutes. Is there anything else you need to tell me? I really need to sleep. Two court hearings and then lunch with Daniel."

Hope gives me a look that says she knows I'm blowing her off, she knows I know she knows it, and she's going to let it go. She stands. "Here's your new set of jewelry. I don't understand why you love bracelets so much." She places the bag of jewelry on my bed. "Do you really like bracelets so much?"

I nod. "Yes. Now, out. I need to sleep."

Hope sticks her tongue out at me before walking away.

After another one hour, I'm tossing on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and my trying my best to get some sleep but so far no good news. Looks like sleeping is so far from me today. I grab my phone, taking a deep breathe, I call my fiancé. I feel like hearing his voice.

You miss him.

I don't.

He answers on the third ring. His tone is filled with arrogance, anger and coldness.

"Avery."

I still slightly after hearing his voice. It sounds so... distant. "Daniel," I whisper.

"Allison?" His voice has changed. He sounds surprised.

I grin widely. "What are you doing?" I ask him.

There's just silence between so for another few seconds, then he asks, "Did you call me to ask about this?" I freeze slightly when I hear the sharpness in his voice. It's back to the cold mode. "Allison, I'm busy. Do you have anything else to tell me?" he snaps.

I grit my teeth in annoyance. "Good night," I shout into the phone before cutting the call. Seriously? The nerve of that man. I was just hoping for a small talk.

At eleven in the night?

Okay. Maybe the timing was not a good one but still he could have said it politely instead of growling at me like a wild animal. I brush my thoughts off when I see Daniel calling me. I stick my tongue at the phone. I'm not going to attend the call. I lay down on the bed, hugging my teddy closer to me.

Waking suddenly when the doorbell rings, I roll across the bed and off, landing with my feet to the floor. I growl while skirting the bed and slipping on one of my zip up hoodies over my sleep shorts and tank. I open my bedroom door, closing it behind me as I slip out. Jogging down the hall to the front door, I open it wide only to find a furious Daniel standing in front of me. Before I could ask him any questions, he steps towards me, closing the door behind me, grabbing my arms, and pinning me against the closed door.

"What do you think yo-" He cuts me off with his lips on mine. A buzz of desire ricocheted through me with startling awareness. Why were his kisses so freaking potent? I swear, his tongue was laced with an aphrodisiac because I latched on to it and immediately moved closer, needing more.

He fisted my hair in both his hands, suddenly, he broke the kiss to pull back and study me. He set a knee between mine while burying one of his hands in my hair. His gaze fell to my mouth. "Why didn't you pick up my call?"

The question came out of nowhere, but I was still able to give the confused, breathless answer, "I was angry."

He glanced down at me sharply, or rather at my arms wrapped so intimately around his bicep, making me realize I'd just cuddled right up to him as if it had felt like the most natural thing in the world to do.

Because it had.

He steps away from me, he frowns when he gaze move all over me. "You cut your hair," he states. I nod my head lightly. "It's still long."

I nod again. "I like my hair long. I just made it into layers without reducing the length," I tell him, moving away from him. I sit on the couch, staring at him.

"Don't ever do that," he orders, glaring at me. Probably sensing my confusion, he answers, "Not answering my phone."

I roll my eyes. "I just wanted to talk, you weren't interested so I didn't bother to attend your calls. Now, you need to leave because I feel sleepy."

He sighs. "I was busy," he mutters, settling beside me on the couch. "I was..." Tensed. I know though he doesn't admit it. It's all over his face —the worry.

After few minutes, he says, "You look good. Better than yesterday."

A smile tugs at the corner of my lips. He's absolutely right. I do look better after the hair cut and a trip to spa. My bruises have faded, my beauty shining like before.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he whispers, stands up and walks away without another word. I chuckle. He really needs to work on his manners.

You're smiling.

He came.

He did. Stop dreaming, go to sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow.

I groan. Don't remind me.

"That was something," Cassy whispers, leaning against the wall on my office. "Jesus! I can't forget the tears of Sienna when you questioned her. I know, it's your job but Ally, she's just a nineteen year old girl. What you did was..."

I lean against the couch, staring at the ceiling. Hope sits beside me, giving me a worried look. "I know what I did. I don't regret it either. I agree, it was cruel. Questioning her innocence was wrong but not the intentions. I had to twist my way into this and you know how law works."

"Ally-" Cassy starts.

"Don't. I didn't do anything wrong. She was lying in the court and to prove that, I had to go beyond the limits but I swear I didn't hurt an innocent one. She was lying. When you all were thinking about the girl, I was thinking about the boy who had to suffer without doing anything mistake. He doesn't deserve this so I had to do what was supposed to be done," I tell her.

Cassy smiles. "I know. I understand." She does, she knows how much it hurts me. She knows how much pain I'd gone through when Sienna panicked. I hate this side of my job where I had to be the tough, cruel and furious attorney.

Hope turns towards me. "Anyway, the case is on our side right now. Next is Amanda's trial, Marco has sent you some proof. I don't what it is but he said it's helpful."

I rise to my feet, moves towards my desk. I remove my blazer, throw it on the couch, grabs a glass of water. I take a sip from the water. Before I could take another sip, the door to my office opens wide. Hope stands up, startled when she hears the sound of the door opening. I find Daniel standing there with Ryan behind him.

I smile at him but unfortunately that was the wrong move. Daniel's face turn red, a color which I have never seen on him. He steps towards me so fast that I loose the hold on the glass, causing it to kiss the floor and then break into pieces.

He grabs my shoulders hard making me yelp in surprise. My eyes widens in shock. "Why the fuck did you do it? The girl is in the hospital because she had a panic attack and the whole reason is you. Why did you do this? Is this for money?"

"Dani-"

"Don't," he yell, his eyes accusing me. "You had a choice. You had a bloody choice but you choose to tarnish the image of a little girl who deserves respect. She.. she was raped. She's the one who deserves respect and justice, not that son of a bitch who's none other than your client." His grip tightens so that it starts hurting me. "What did that bastard offer you? Money? Fame? Or was it your favorite thing —sex. Did you start doing favour for your clients?"

I pulled backward, startled by the venom in his voice and the harsh brutality in his words. Rage, hurt, and shock welled in me. Daniel's moody blue eyes swirled with suspicion and maybe even a little of his own hurt, as if he felt betrayed. I grit my teeth. "Out," I mutter, furious, my blood boiling.

"Yo-"

"I said get out," I shout at the top of my voice. He freezes since he had never seen this side of me.

After few seconds, he takes a step towards me. "Allis-"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Avery but I think you should leave otherwise I'd be forced to call the security to escort you outside," Hope informs, her tone icy.

"Daniel, you need to leave. You don't have any right, barging in here like this and insulting Allison in front of her staffs. Please, leave," Cassy tells him, standing in front of him. I turn away from them when my breathe hitches. After few minutes, I hear footsteps going far away from me.

I sit back on the couch with Hope and Cassy beside me. How dare he?

Damn him!

Whatever bond we had developed within these few days ends here. Right here.