AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Were you offered a room, Ms. Sokol?”
“The room wasn’t empty.”
“I only asked if you were offered a room to rest?” she asked in a sharp tone.
“I…I told Landon the room he opened was occupied. I asked for a doctor, and he told me I was fine. When…when I discovered Mr. Livingston was there, I tried to leave, but Mr. Styles locked me in from the outside—”
“Ms. Sokol, I haven’t asked another question. Yes or no, did Mr. Styles offer you a room to rest?—”
“Mr. Trevor Livingston slapped my phone out of my hand. I begged him for help and for a doctor. I vomited—”
“Motion to strike—”
“Objection,” Dale cut in. “Ms. Sokol is answering your question in the manner of making her answer to your question accurate.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“I’ll rephrase the question. Were you given a room, Ms. Sokol?” Brenda asked, gentling her voice.
“A room with Mr. Livingston hiding in the bathroom. Mr. Styles locked me inside.” I choked and wrung my hands.
She frowned. “Moving on. Did you tell Mr. Styles you were pregnant?”
My eyes stung. “I didn’t know at the time. I asked to see a nurse or doctor on board the boat.”
She shook her head. “That’s not what I asked you. When did you find out you were pregnant?”
“The doctor told me at the hospital.”
“So how could Mr. Styles be expected to act when you didn’t know anything?”
“Is that a question?” My eyes darted to Gunnar and Dale, but they remained still and silent.
“I’m questioning whether you were aware of your pregnancy.” She handed me a still image of me on the boat talking to Landon. There was a circle around a small stain on the front of my pants.
I cringed. That’s part of an exhibit? Tears rolled down my face, and I shook my head rapidly. “I begged…I begged, but—but Mr. Styles yelled at me to not vomit. He—he texted—”
“I didn’t ask you a question. Please stop speaking.”
I sobbed into my hands.
“Ms. Sokol. Did you tell Mr. Styles you were bleeding?”
I shook and cried harder. “I told him I was sick. I begged for a doctor. Mr. Styles told me to stop complaining. Trevor told him I was sick. He told him to get rid of me.” I hiccupped.
“Add to the record, no question was asked,” Brenda said to Tabitha. She glared over at Gunnar and Dale. “Manage your client. We’ll take a break. Ten minutes.”
I went over to Gunnar, and he poured me a cup of water. “Drink.”
My hands trembled as I accepted the cup. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep it together.”
“You answered very well, Nadia.” Gunnar spoke just above a whisper. “I’m very proud of you. It’s not a matter of being perfect. You got out what needed to be said. You conveyed your humanity while Brenda came across as aggressive and cruel. She knew questioning you would be bad and tried to limit her questions, and it still didn’t work out well for her.”
“She’s not getting anything good enough to help her client,” Dale added.
It dawned on me then they allowed Brenda to push me hard to help their case. What will happen with a jury? Or if it’s televised? I shuddered. “Dale, do…do you think you will need me for court?” I stammered.
Dale sighed heavily. “We have a case without you, but I feel your testimony so far is very strong. It’s never easy to take the stand, but you have the truth on your side with expert witnesses to back up your claim. Brenda knows it’s a loss. I can’t promise you anything, though. I’m sorry for what happened to you.”
