Chapter 13

" That's okay! The judge is here," Amber replied bluntly with her face void of emotion. For some reason she couldn't quite grasp, Pandora saw herself, that vigorous First-grade model five years ago, in Amber. That was what attracted her to sign the scout in the first place.

The judge, a dark pot-bellied man with a head full of grey hair walked into the room and assumed his seat. He adjusted his glasses and took a deep long gaze from Pandora to Amber and then back to the file which lay before him.

" So, Defense counsel, I see that you have agreed to pay damages for 2 million dollars. The prosecution, do you dispute?" He asks peering at Amber and her lawyer from his spectacles.

The lawyer unbuttoned his suit and leaned over to whisper in Amber's ear. They conversed in hush tones and after a while stopped.

" Your honor, my client demands to be paid a sum of four million dollars and a written document terminating her contract with DePan Modelling Firm immediately."

" But your honor…" Pandora's lawyer stood up.

" Sit your ass down Mr. Gregory! I am not about to let you keep up that bickering in my courtroom. I am allowing you to go on a five-minute recess after that we will reconvene." With the bang of his gavel, he dismissed them and retired again to his backroom.

As they stepped outside, an awkward silence ensued among them. The hallway they sat in was empty so Pandora seized the opportunity to be the Peacemaker once again.

" Amber, if you decide to dissolve your contract with our company, it is understandable and I will personally arrange for it. But, four million dollars out of our company account means a serious shortage in our finance. Please, reconsider our original offer of two million dollars," Pandora begged with her face to the ground. She was ready to be humble till this whole thing blows off, but with Amber proving had to sympathize, it was starting to get tiring.

The judge then called Amber and her lawyer for a private meeting leaving Pandora wondering what was so important about the meeting that she wasn't allowed to be a part of.

With the way things were going, she had lost all hope. She dared not discuss such money with her father as their relationship was a bit shaky. Right now, she had no choice but to pay the money and avert the shame, after all, a beggar had no choice whatsoever.

They reconvened again and by this time they met the judge seated and already working through some papers. As soon as he noticed their presence his eyes deserted to them and his hand pointed to the seats placed adjacent to where he sat.

They all sat down in anticipation of what the final verdict was when someone walked through the door. All heads turned in direction of the stranger whose body fitted perfectly in his tuxedo and with his arms deep in his pocket, he walked towards Pandora.

This got the latter startled a bit because even though he was vaguely familiar, he had a striking aura and semblance that reminded her of someone. All she needed to verify her thoughts was when a deep sexy baritone voice called her name.

" Pandora!"

How could she forget that voice? The same voice that sang to her made her better, scolded her, and who whispered sweet nothings into her ears. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dozing.

" He paid five million dollars for the damages and has also made arrangements for the other parts of your agreements," the judge said packing up the files and leaving the room for them. He had just been approached by the stranger who had pushed forward what normally took four of five days to process.

Her heart had failed her again! Just when she thought she was over him completely and had moved on with Ethan Sawyer, all the handsome devil had to do was show up at her doorstep, and her heart was already trying to leap out of her chest without restraint. His cold gaze was enough to make her lose herself and his warm touch on her shoulder put her love lost soul in a time machine where a lot of cherished memories with him flashed right before her eyes, all in a second.

It was no one but the rich, sexy, Braxton Goldman. Yes, he was back in town. But she still wondered; why was he back? Had he come for her? Will he ever leave? When will he leave? How much did the time change him? Does he still love her? Did she still love him?...

She has many unanswered questions, that needed answers, running through her mind, but in the meantime, she just had this crazy and weird feeling that Braxton Goldman being back in town spelled trouble for her.