The next morning in Country C,the people woke up to sensational news headlines.
"Heiress From Country A stuck in country C with baby daughter."
"Corporate Lawyer Neil Long takes on the poor heiress" case."
"The Dest.i.tute Heiress."
Though the headlines were different,each news article was more thought provoking and heart wrenching than the previous garnering a lot of attention and sympathy from the people.Soon the reporters with cameras and microphones camped outside the court rooms to know more about the proceedings that were bound to happen this morning.Attorney Zheng who was on her way to her office,let out a small smirk..Neil Long had taken the case..She knew it!Soon that slime Attorney Chen would learn his lesson..
Neil Long had always been a master at manipulating people and their emotions.He was the one who had spun today"s tale as well.The main purpose for highlighting today" case and Onita"s story was to make people pay attention to this case.Only when under scrutiny would there be a chance of a fair hearing.This was the opposite of his usual modus operandi.Even the law suits he had fought in the past had been strictly kept away from the press.This made the fact that this case was being fought under the media scrutiny an even more enigma.
Secondly,Neil had wanted to underscore the fact that though the father of little Alicia was a country C citizen,Onita was not bound by the rules of this country and that he could make it into a diplomatic affair because Onita"s baby was also born in Country A.
This was also the biggest reason that Neil had wanted to know about little Onita"s mother.If that woman had been a citizen of Country C then this would make the situation tricky.But since Onita refused to volunteer information,for today he would have to be content with asking the court for time to prepare this case.
As the time for the hearing neared,the excitement in the media reached it"s peak but still no one could do anything but wait.
The only person who was unaware of the storm brewing outside was Onita.Lethargically getting out of the bed,she had freshened up and picking up her sleepy baby put her in the pram,ready to walk the few kilometers to the court.As she reached outside,she saw the driver and car from last night waiting downstairs.Confused,she thought that she was mistaken about the drver"s ident.i.ty but he approached her quickly and said,"Ms Dew,please let me take you to the court buildingMr Long has asked that you use a separate entrance today.I will take you from there."
Onita wanted to refuse this courtesy and she felt especially guilty when she thought of last night and how she had refused to volunteer information when she compared the thoughtfulness that Neil Long had constantly show her..Thanking the driver,she got into the car and put little Alicia into the car seat that had been magically installed in the car.
As the driver noticed the direction of her gaze,he said warmly,"The car seat is from the time Master Ru was a small kid.Even though the little master is in country A,Neil sir does not have the heart to have it taken out.Do not worry miss.Your baby will be fine."
The driver had also read the entire story on this morning"s newspapers and was feeling extreme pity on the young girl.He remembered how the guards had discussed that the young lady had fainted and the driver thought of his own daughter and how he would feel if she was in a similar situation.He prayed that his Sir would be able to keep the child and mother together.
Soon Onita had reached the court from where she was escorted into the room from a back door by the driver.Inside the court room,Neil was already seated in the seat which was empty yesterday while the others were sitting in their place.She did not understand why everyone was here early.She had been leaving an hour and a half before the court appointed time and there was still an hour to go since she had been driven here.She looked at Neil questioningly and he answered,"The timing has been brought forward.It is a dirty trick that the opposition usually pulls..Basically,by forwarding the tme,you would have been absent and then using the prejudice that you were a flight risk,the court would have handed the custody to the father.And once the child was in their hands,you would have been powerless to do anything."
Onita frlt chills run down her spine.They were worse than despicable.What if Neil had not sent his driver?Or what if she had insisted on walking here.Neil could read the thoughts running in her mind and as Onita sat on the chair with a thump,he put his hand on her arm and said in a low voice,"Do not worry.Even if you had been late today,I would have represented you in court.I have filed the papers already.But Onita for today,I need you to act not strong but weak.Act as frail as you can.The bags under your eyes which you have concealed,wash away the make up later.I want them visible.Your body already gives the fragile vibe but your expression and eyes show your determination..Dim those expressions and get into the white lotus mode.Prepare the waterworks and a good show for later.Alright?"
Onita was confused but still nodded her head in agreement.She had said she would do anything and she meant it.If Neil wanted her to cry and beg in the court she would do that.
What Onita had not thought of was that Neil had wanted her to act not in court but outside it.