Annika
The unpleasant physiological effects from my binge-drinking episode were now behind me, and my body and spirit were finally on the mend after my encounter with Jeff. In the depths of my despair, I had allowed the bad blood to fester to the extent of being self-destructive, and a certain beefy businessman ended up rescuing me before I reached the point of no return. I was actually grateful to Leon for infecting me with his fortune cookie mentality because it somehow reminded me that the darkest hour is just before dawn. I had gone through hell and back, but I made it through. Slowly but surely, things began to fall into place, and the impact of the forward momentum of our plans breathed new life into me.
Hunter delivered on his promise in a New York minute and secured an appointment with his great uncle. It was music to my ears when he called me with the news, and I wasted no time relaying everything to Leon, but I should have known that Hunter would have already informed him. Our date with the judge was set, and after all the blood, sweat, and tears it took to survive this living nightmare, I was ready to claim my sweet, sweet victory and wash my hands of Jeff and his scheming mistress.
The papers were pending submission and would be processed any day now, signaling the end of phase one, and it was time to implement phase two of my plan: destroy Jeff and Sadie’s public images piece by piece. My initial thought was to expose Jeff to his coworkers so they could see him for who he really was—a lying son-of-a-bitch who thought he was above the law because he was a district attorney. But as fate would have it, I was presented with an opportunity I couldn’t refuse as my day was coming to an end at the clinic, and I was surprised to see the name of my next patient after grabbing the clipboard from the door.
“Hmm, my day just got a lot better,” I quietly mused, but it was still audible to a sharp-eared Kenzie as she passed by. She stopped dead in her tracks and peered over my shoulder, and I didn’t need to look at Kenzie to know she wore a smirk on her face.
“How are you going to handle this?” she asked with a familiar twinkle in her eyes.
“You’ll see,” I responded. Kenzie nodded and walked away to tend to her last patient, and I opened the door to mine. “Good evening, Mr. Galloway! It’s been a while since I last saw you. How are those allergies now?” I asked with a genuine smile. Now that I knew exactly who he was, it would make the next part of my vendetta that much sweeter. Although I would be fine with gouging out his daughter’s eyes with a scalpel, it wasn’t worth my license or a prison sentence for disfiguring her.
“Hello, Doc. I’m doing better since I started taking antihistamines every day as you said,” he replied genially.
“That’s great to hear. So, what brings you in today? And where is your wife?” I asked, realizing that Mr. Galloway was alone.
“I didn’t want to bring her. She nags too much. Plus, she worries for nothing,” he responded with a nonchalant shrug, making me chuckle. “I’m just here for a follow-up. I wanted to make sure that everything else was okay with my health. I’m not getting any younger, and my wife will back off if I can show her that everything else is pretty much normal, to an extent, obviously.”
“I see. Well, that shouldn’t be too hard. Let’s do a routine physical then, shall we?” Mr. Galloway nodded in agreement, and I hit the ground running. I finished taking the rest of his vital signs as I quickly assessed his general appearance to check for abnormal growths, bruising, or inflammation and performed heart and lung auscultation. I evaluated his reflexes before asking Mr. Galloway to lie on the exam table for an abdominal exam. Next, we discussed his health history, including medications, supplements, vaccinations, past surgeries, and family history, and I handed him a depression screening to fill out as I ordered laboratory tests. Based on his history, he wouldn’t require additional testing besides routine blood work and colorectal screening. He also didn’t appear to show any deficits in memory or mental agility, and his depression screening was negative. We had already established that he was pre-hypertensive, but it wasn’t alarming considering his age.
“Well, Mr. Galloway, you seem to be in excellent condition based on preliminary assessments. As we discussed before, your blood pressure is slightly elevated, but nothing a healthier lifestyle and diet won’t fix. Physically, you seem as healthy as a horse, and you’re not at risk for depression,” I told him honestly. Though I doubt that will continue to be the case once I’m through with your daughter and expose her to the public, I convulsed with laughter internally as I maintained a straight face. “I would like you to stop by the laboratory for some routine blood work along with some additional tests to check your prostate and colon.”
“Today?” he repeated, shifting his eyes nervously as a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.
“Would that be a problem?” I wore a confused expression as I glanced over at him.
“Oh, no, it’s just that … well … I’m not that big a fan of needles,” he admitted sheepishly, averting his gaze. I caught my lips between my teeth to stop the amusement from taking over my face when I heard his confession. Trypanophobia was very common, but I couldn’t help but feel entertained by my good fortune.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Mr. Galloway, but rest assured. You’ll be in good hands with our highly skilled phlebotomists. Did you know that sometimes patients have smaller veins or veins that roll, making it difficult to draw blood? It’s very rare for our staff not to get it right on the first try, so try not to worry too much,” I added with utmost sincerity, but it seemed that my words only further stoked his fears at the prospect of being poked more than once. He nodded his head before he stood.
***
“CAN’T YOU BE MORE GENTLE!?” I heard a distressed scream from inside my office, causing me to poke my head out, and was greeted by so much profanity that I thought my ears would bleed. I followed the sounds and realized that Mr. Galloway was the source of the commotion, and he was screaming at the phlebotomist, who looked like she was about to keel over in fear.
“What is the meaning of this!?” I hollered at the scene before me.
“Doc! You said I would be in good hands with this person!” he shouted at me and pointed at Hayley with disdain.
“Mr. Galloway, please keep your voice down. This is a doctor’s office, and we have other patients here!” I chastised him. I swear, it’s like dealing with a child, I huffed to myself.
“Are you telling me what to do!?” he reacted angrily.
“Yes, I am! This is my clinic! And I do not appreciate you screaming profanities at my staff. Even young children are capable of better behavior than yours right now. I understand getting pricked by a needle isn’t pleasant, but neither is getting screamed at by a patient while in the middle of injecting said needle! Perhaps it wouldn’t be as painful if you were calm and more patient with Hayley.”
“There, done,” Heyley chimed in.
“Huh?” Mr. Galloway turned and looked at her as she released the tourniquet and pulled the needle out of his arm. She quickly placed the gauze over the injection site and wrapped it with blue tape.
“See. Not so bad now, was it?” I asked him.
“I … When … How?” he babbled like a toddler.
“Being distracted usually helps,” I explained to him. “Mr. Galloway, I hope this is the first and last time you cause a scene in my clinic, let alone scream at my staff. Patient satisfaction is the lifeblood of our clinic, but in this line of business, the patient is NOT always right. My staff is not only responsible for maintaining the safety of patients but their own as well, and a flustered patient is an accident waiting to happen. Making a fuss while a needle is inserted into your vein can be very dangerous, and flinching alone could cause major damage to you. I suggest you find a healthier coping mechanism or look away while thinking of something else while your blood is being drawn. Screaming and crying like a temper tantrum-throwing child is inappropriate in a medical setting,” I warned him as I mentally drew comparisons between him and his petulant daughter.
“If this happens again, I will have no choice but to dismiss you as my patient as I do not have the patience to deal with such ignorance and disrespect. My staff comes first above all else because it’s a team effort to keep this place up and running. Patients will always come and go, but my staff is my family, and I protect my family.” Mr. Galloway gaped at me as if he had never been scolded in his life. Though I one hundred percent expected him to complain and argue back, to my surprise, he only dropped his head and nodded.
“You’re right, Doctor.”
“Come again?” I replied before I could stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth.
“I said, you’re right. I apologize for my outburst. I told you I’m not the biggest fan of needles, and I guess I let fear get the best of me and took it out on your person here,” he said and gestured to Hayley, who was still sitting idly next to him.
“I’m not the one you should be saying this to, sir. Haley was the one you offended and deserved the apology,” I reminded Mr. Galloway. He faced Hayley and quickly apologized before gathering his belongings to leave. He stopped mid-step and turned to face me. “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
“Actually, I wanted to do something to make up for what just happened. My wife and I are throwing a small dinner party at our home to celebrate our daughter’s 22nd birthday. She’s also a patient here, and it would be an honor if you and her doctor came as our distinguished guests.”
“Pardon me? I must have misheard you.” I did what I could to stall as I tried to wrap my head around what he had just said. Did he actually invite me and Kenzie to his house? I suppose it wasn’t that outlandish, since he had no idea about our connection to Sadie or the mutual hatred between both parties. I thanked my lucky stars for presenting me with an ideal opportunity to expose her effectively. What better way to ruin her than on her birthday? And the kicker? Her father was the one who had extended the olive branch, unknowingly inviting the lionesses into a hyena’s den.
“Just think of it as my way of saying sorry and meaning it. It’s not every day I’m scolded by someone as wise as you. Unless you count my wife.” I stared blankly at him, trying to determine if he was pulling my leg, and to my surprise, he wasn’t.
“Um, I guess that wouldn’t be a problem,” I responded.
“Wonderful! You two may also bring your spouses. I would love to meet the man married to a woman like yourself!” he beamed. Oh, this is going to be f*****g glorious!
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to let him know,” I replied with a half-hearted smile. By the time he left the clinic after sharing the party details and his address with me, it was closing hours, and I ran to Kenzie’s office with such haste that I nearly missed the door and had to grab onto the frame so I didn’t slide past it.
“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Kenzie asked when she saw me with a megawatt smile. I rattled off the quickest explanation about how Mr. Galloway had given me all I could ask for and more by upping the ante on the punishment I had in store for Jeff and Sadie. Kenzie’s eyes lit up like a kid inside a candy store as she squealed with delight at realizing that she and Hunter would have front-row seats to the show. I called Leon while Kenzie excitedly told Hunter the story over the phone, and they were both in stitches at the sudden turn of events that conveniently fell into our laps. Unfortunately, because of his past with Galloways, Leon obviously wouldn’t be able to witness the show himself, but I promised him that I would give him the play-by-play when it happened.
But before I could amuse myself by humiliating those two-timing scumbags, we had unfinished business with Judge Malloy to attend to. After that, I would indulge Jeff and play his dirty little games. Lately, Jeff has been trying to get back into my good graces by texting and leaving messages about how sorry he was for slapping me, going on and on about wanting to make it up to me, but I haven’t given him the time of day. Come hell or high water, this party for his mistress would be the most gratifying way to oust him to the public while destroying any fantasies of me forgiving him.
Leon did mention this small dinner party would be anything but; Sadie was an only child, and her parents always went over the top for her. What was described as a small dinner would end up as a massive event where the Galloways invited some of the most prominent people in New York. Politicians and businessmen of every caliber would be invited, which only made my plans for vengeance with this particular audience all the more enticing. Don’t be surprised if the Galloways reached out to the D.A.’s office, so Jeff may have had an invitation extended to him without them knowing who he was. Rather than accompany him, why not just coincidentally meet him there? I recalled Leon’s suggestion over the phone when I had told him I wanted to enjoy myself while f*****g with Jeff’s head. Leon’s idea made more sense because showing up out of the blue at his mistress’ house would definitely scare the wits out of Jeff.
The timing of all this couldn’t be more perfect because once I was provided with the details of our meeting with Judge Malloy, I realized it was literally the day before Sadie’s birthday. And before I knew it, the day of our meeting had finally arrived. It was hard not to feel giddy inside, knowing that the beginning of the end was near. We kept everything hush-hush to the best of our abilities, and Judge Malloy even offered to meet us after hours so the courthouse would be devoid of any souls aside from the janitorial staff.
Hunter and Kenzie were already standing in the hall outside the judge’s chambers as they awaited the rest of our party to arrive, and a short while later, Jorge strolled in, followed by Leon shortly after that. “Everyone appears to be present. Shall we?” Hunter sounded off as he knocked on the judge’s chamber door.
“Enter!” A very stern yet welcoming voice greeted us as Hunter pushed open the door, and we all filed inside one by one. “Please, have a seat,” the judge said. Leon and I sat in the guest seats in front of his desk while Kenzie sat on his couch. Hunter stood off to the side while Jorge opted to remain by the door.
“Uncle, I mean, Your Honor. Here are the files that I promised you,” Hunter began by handing a stack of papers about a foot tall to the judge. Judge Malloy regarded me silently and briefly smiled before he began sorting through everything. Little by little, I could see the creases in his forehead deepen, and his eyes would dart back and forth with muted anger burning within them. It felt like a lifetime had passed as we all waited with bated breath, but he had finally gone through the stack of evidence presented to him.
“Counselor Malloy, this is quite the case you brought to me.”
“Your Honor, we also have video and audio files on this thumb drive for your listening and viewing pleasures,” Hunter said, his voice sounding almost menacing as he handed the drive to the judge.
“I don’t think that will be necessary as there is plenty of crucial evidence in these files you’ve provided me.” Hunter took back the drive and smiled, fully aware that the physical evidence was more than enough. “First and foremost, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for what you’re going through, Annika. I know your family very well, and when Hunter here told me it was you he was representing without your family’s knowledge, I had to admit that it piqued my interest. Tell me, why haven’t you involved your family in this? They obviously have plenty of resources to assist you.”
“Your Honor, I chose to marry District Attorney Jeffrey Hollands despite my family’s protest and against my better judgment. Additionally, I wanted to prove to everyone that I don’t need the Silverton family name to get the justice I deserve. Did I make a mistake by not listening to my family and marrying him? Yes, I admit that wholeheartedly. However, this is my battle, not theirs. Furthermore, if they found that this … woman was trying to have me killed, they wouldn’t rest until she was dead, and I don’t want that. I’m sure you know my family well enough to know they could make anyone disappear without ever getting their hands dirty. And that goes beyond issuing a death sentence; they would destroy the Galloways without so much as batting an eyelash, and I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of exacting revenge on my behalf. As I said, this is my battle, not theirs.”
“I see. Well, that’s very commendable of you. And the fact that you’ve done everything legally up to this point is astounding, especially given your background, Mr. Von Doren,” the judge said as he shifted his gaze toward Leon.
“Your Honor, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person,” Leon responded.
“Likewise. Due to my position in the Supreme Court, I am regrettably unable to get publicly involved; however, I am more than willing to oversee your cases from the shadows and have already consulted the judge with the appropriate jurisdiction. Judge Trainor even volunteered to be on standby should the need arise for immediate action. In light of the circumstantial evidence behind the evidence tampering with your previous divorce hearing, she will file the appeal on your behalf and will preside over your case since a district attorney is involved in this matter. It sickens me that someone with such prestige is so perverse. He thinks he’s above the law and assumes that he can get away with it just for some piece of a*s.”
“Pfft!” Everyone sputtered and lost our composure when we heard the words coming out of the older man barely suppressing a smile at our reaction. We all regained our bearings quickly enough except for Kenzie, who continued to practically wheeze with laughter over on the couch, lightening the atmosphere. Judge Malloy only shook his head at her. She was his great-niece, so of course, he wouldn’t scold her over it.
“Annika, I have also arranged for your case to be handled by Judge Trainor under my direct supervision.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“This case is quite a doozy, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been a part of something so salacious. This will allow me to pull the strings for all three cases simultaneously. We’ll start with your divorce. I will have Judge Trainor sign the affidavit to prevent D.A. Hollands from claiming half of your assets. Since you and Hunter took the necessary steps to ensure nothing is 100% in your name, your soon-to-be ex-husband will not be entitled to any of it. She will also sign the TRO that prevents him from coming within 1000 feet of you once you’ve presented him with the divorce agreement. That being said, we will have to proceed with a hearing, unfortunately. Even though your family is part of my financial backers, I am not above the law, and we must do things accordingly. We need to COA.”
“COA?” We all looked at him.
“Cover our asses.” Our mouths collectively formed into the shape of an O, and we nodded in agreement. Though I wasn’t happy with that particular outcome, I had no choice but to accept it.
“Mr. Von Doren, we will follow with your appeal hearing so that we can kill two birds with one stone by trying D.A Hollands for evidence tampering while simultaneously trying Sadie Galloway for perjury and attempted homicide.” We all nodded in affirmation as we celebrated our tiny victory. Everything was going according to plan. The judge was on our side, bringing immeasurable relief to everyone in the room. As Judge Trainor was signing off on the necessary documents and having them notarized, I noticed Judge Malloy regarding me with a smirk on his face.
“Your Honor, is there something wrong?” I asked him as he continued to focus his attention on me.
“Annika, I hope that when all of this is over, you will put in a good word with your parents for me,” he said slyly and smirked again. I smiled and shook my head.
“Of course, Your Honor. I’m sure my parents would gladly fund your next campaign, given how much assistance you’re providing me. Well, I should say, us,” I replied and gestured to everyone else in the room, including Jorge, as he did most of the heavy labor for us. So, it was only acceptable to give him credit where it was due. As soon as everything was completed, Hunter made sure that I received the original copies so Jeff wouldn’t be able to dispute them once I served him at Sadie’s birthday party the following night.
