Court VII

The heavy wooden doors of the courtroom creaked open, and Richmond Blackwell, the younger brother of the late Cassius Blackwell, strode in with an air of nonchalance. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, his black hair perfectly combed, Richmond exuded an unsettling confidence, as though the weight of the proceedings was of little concern to him. His black eyes swept across the room, taking in the lawyers, the judge, and his nephew Alexander sitting stoically at the defense table. There was no audience present, as the case was being held behind closed doors, but Richmond carried himself like a man accustomed to the spotlight.

He took the stand with an almost theatrical ease, nodding briefly at Judge Patterson before taking his seat. As the clerk swore him in, he raised his right hand lazily, his lips curling into a faint smile. Once the formalities were over, Richmond leaned back, his body language relaxed, as though he were settling in for a casual conversation rather than giving testimony in a high-stakes legal battle.

Gregory Baldwin, Stephanie Riverplate's lawyer, approached the stand with measured steps. His sharp gaze never left Richmond, whose demeanor suggested he was already preparing a few jabs.

"Mr. Blackwell," Gregory began, his tone calm but firm, "thank you for joining us today. Let's start with the basics. How are you related to the Blackwell family?"

Richmond clasped his hands together, his grin widening. "Well, I'm the younger brother of the late Cassius Blackwell. The fun one, if I may say so myself." His eyes sparkled with mischief as though daring someone to object to his characterization.

Gregory's expression didn't change. "And your connection to Blackwell Investments?"

Richmond's grin grew wider. "I own two percent of the company. Cassius gave it to me years ago. A peace offering, I suppose, or maybe a bribe to keep me out of his hair. With Cassius, you could never be too sure."

Gregory raised an eyebrow at the implication but moved on. "Given your relationship with the late Mr. Blackwell, I'd like you to share your thoughts about him. What kind of man was he?"

For the first time, Richmond's grin faltered. He seemed to consider the question, his black eyes narrowing slightly. "Hmm," he began, drawing out the sound. "About my brother… He was a great businessman."

Gregory waited, his pen poised over his legal pad. When Richmond didn't elaborate, he pressed, "And?"

Richmond shrugged. "That's it. That's the only good thing I can say about him."

The room, though sparse, seemed to tighten with tension. Gregory stepped closer to the stand. "Mr. Blackwell, I'm going to need you to elaborate. Even if it means including the… less flattering parts."

Richmond chuckled softly, shaking his head as though amused by the request. "You sure about that? You might not like what you hear."

"Please proceed," Gregory said, his voice steady.

Richmond leaned forward slightly, his grin returning but with a sharper edge. "Fine. My brother was all the 'ists' you can think of. Racist, sexist, opportunist. If there's an 'ist' that describes someone with no moral compass, that was Cassius Blackwell. The man would do anything for money as long as it didn't land him in jail."

Harvey Lancaster, seated at the defense table, rose abruptly. "Objection, Your Honor. Character defamation and irrelevant testimony."

Gregory turned to the judge, his expression calm but firm. "Your Honor, this testimony is essential. The defense has painted Cassius Blackwell as a paragon of virtue and fairness. Mr. Richmond's testimony provides necessary context to understand his legacy and its implications for this case."

Judge Patterson nodded after a moment of deliberation. "Overruled. Continue, Mr. Balckwell."

Richmond, clearly pleased by the ruling, leaned back in his seat, his grin widening. "Where was I? Oh, right. Cassius. Let me tell you a story. When we were kids, he'd do anything to make a quick buck. One time, he convinced our neighbor that their dog had run away, then 'found' it for a reward. The dog had never left their yard. Cassius just saw an opportunity and took it."

Richmond's gaze shifted to Alexander, who sat at the defense table, his expression impassive. "And you know what? Alexander's just like him. Sharp as a knife, sure, but cold and ruthless. Someone like him shouldn't have full control of Blackwell Investments. It's too much power in hands that think only of profits."

Gregory nodded, satisfied. "No further questions, Your Honor."

Judge Patterson motioned to the defense. "Mr. Lancaster, your witness."

Harvey Lancaster stood, his demeanor calm but deliberate, as he approached the stand. Richmond leaned back, his expression one of lazy amusement, as though waiting to see if Harvey could counter his testimony.

Harvey stopped a few feet from the witness stand, his dark eyes locking onto Richmond's. The silence stretched, thick with tension. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft but firm.

"So…"

The single word hung in the air, sharp and loaded, leaving the room on edge. Richmond's grin faltered for the first time as he regarded Harvey with a hint of curiosity. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Harvey's next move.