Page 4 of Betrothed To Love

“Excuse me,” she snaps at the same time the prosecutor yells.

“What! Your Honor, may we please approach the bench?” Mercer says while she frantically gathers her file.

“Yes, both of you approach now,” Judge Coleman says through gritted teeth. As soon as we are in front of her, her hand covers the mic. “Excuse me, Mr. Bako. What personal conflict of interest?” she snaps directly at me and I see rage in her beautiful eyes.

“I would like to know myself. This trial is scheduled to begin in two weeks and this type of delay is only going to push our—” Mercer fires off but the judge stops her.

“Miss Mercer, please, we are all aware of the calendar. Right now, I’m trying to figure out the absurdity of this alleged Rule 2.11 violation that prevents me from trying a case on my docket in my courtroom. Now, please enlighten us, Mr. Bako,” the judge says with so much attitude.

She’s pissed and her anger is about to elevate at my words.

“Because the defendant, Mr. Ace Bako, is your family member,” I start and her eyebrow knit together. “He’s your brother-in-law.”

“Excuse me?!” she questions with incredulity.

“We’re married, last night, remember?” I say, and by her agape mouth, even tighter knitted brows, and tilted head, she doesn’t remember. Hell, I don’t either, but we are. “Here,” I say, then hand her the printed copy of our digital license I discovered in my email this morning. She snatches it and glares at it. “You probably have one in your email too,” I add and she rolls her eyes.

Without looking up from the license, she removes her hand from the mic. “Deputy, please escort the defendant, Mr. Bako, back to the holding cell while we go to my chambers,” she says and he nods. I turn to Ace and assure him that everything is fine with my eyes and he nods. She bangs her gavel.

“Court is in recess for twenty. Miss Mercer, take a break,” she demands.

“Your Honor, I have to object to that,” Mercer says quickly.

“Duly noted but you will hear my decision after recess. Feel free to reserve your right for appeal. I would do the same if I were you. But, please, take the recess,” Mireya says, then nods. Her eyes turn to me after she dismisses the prosecutor. “Counselor, my chambers now,” she grits, then stands.

She practically marches out of the courtroom and I follow her through the door. When we walk into her chambers, her judicial aide rushes in behind us.

“Kenya, I got this,” she says, and without a word, her aide turns around, walks out, and closes the door. “What the hell is this?” she says as she practically throws the printout at me. I catch it before it hits her floor.

THREE

What in the entire hell?

I’m married to Mr. Suit from this morning?

He’s an attorney and was in my courtroom.

I didn’t drink that damn much or did I?

And married? To him?

Yeah… No.

“Did you hear me?” His deep voice pulls me from my erratic thoughts. His voice is actually sexy but I refuse to acknowledge that in this ridiculous moment.

“Yeah…no, I didn’t, and unless you can prove to me that this fake ass looking paper is real, then I really don’t want to hear anything right now.”

“You got the same email I did. Check,” he says smoothly, then casually sits in the chair across from my desk.

In total disbelief, shock, and just utter surprise, I shake my head as I step behind my desk and sit down. Before unlocking my laptop, I glance up at him and he’s staring with a slight smirk. This man is too damn handsome.

“Do you see it?” he asks while lifting his cell. “It went to your Mireya.Coleman@email⁠—”

“I’m logging in now,” I utter, slightly annoyed.

He seems to be enjoying this and I’m not. If we are married, this shit is serious, really serious, and there’s no reason to be smirking or smiling. Although I’m projecting calm, I’m a million miles from it. My damn feet are tapping the hell out of my soft rug under my desk. This shit is crazy!

As soon as I log into my personal email account, I see it. Big and bold as shit is the unread message from Our Forever Online. Timidly, I click the email, and sure enough, there’s a digital copy of a marriage license for Quintus Bako and Mireya Coleman.