Defensive

“I mean, the client who probably doesn’t want his wife to know where he goes on his tuesday nights when she thinks he’s at a friend’s poker game.” She said with a smirk, knowing that Viv would read between the lines. “He mentioned calling the cops but I doubt he’s going to do it.”

“Really? That’s good news but the real question is how much money I’m going to have to pay you in order to get that done.” Charlie had saved up some cash, but she wasn’t actually ready to spent it on anything other than her own tattoo parlour. 

“I feel like changing my name is just easier and cheaper.” She teased then. 

“I don’t think it’s going to come to him calling the cops, or you requiring my services,” Vivian replied, shaking her head. There were some entitled assholes in the world, that was for sure. They could act all high and mighty, and holier-than-thou until faced with their own hypocrisy. Until someone told them no. 

She gave Charlie a look filled with pride at how the other woman stood up for herself. Even if Vivian could never technically advise or advocate for violence. 

“But I’d give you a good deal,” she added with a wink and a smile.

“Only when I’m worried? I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or insult.” The brunette said as she lifted her ankle upon her leg and peered over at the other. “Well, I wasn’t going to lead with this but since you’re here — what would happen if someone, let’s say, hit a client with her heel? She did warn him to get lost like a handful of times first though.”

“Well that depends,” Vivian said, stifling a laugh at the out of the blue hypothetical. But then, she had asked. “What kind of client was it?” If they were on the less than legal side, it was unlikely he would want to involve the authorities. “And does he seem like he wants to press charges?”

If Vivian were being technical, the situation Charlie was…making up…was assault. “Either way, I’d tell you not to worry, though,” she replied firmly. “Even if it was a real situation,” she stressed, “I could probably get it thrown out in my sleep.”

Even better if she could make sure the case never made it to court and the charges were dropped all together. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Wes shook his head, “Nah, I just need some time to catch up, sometimes takes me a while to process things,” It was probably all the alcohol that he ingested, it fucked up his cells. “I wish I knew that much ‘bout anything,” He chuckled. Maybe he knew that much about motors but that was about it, it wasn’t that impressive. 

“Are you tellin’ me lawyers don’t end up in jail too? Every show I see there’s one of ‘em in jail at one point or another,” Maybe the shows were just unrealistic? Nah, that couldn’t be right. 

No one is as good as people think. The words swirled in his head. She was right, everyone had a secret. “So are you as good as I think you are?”

“Take all the time you need,” she replied, smiling. At least he didn’t seem to think she was a total freak…yet. She was used to seeing the glazed look in men’s eyes when she began to talk about work. Or the way they started to nervously shift and look for a way out.

She shook her head. A manicured hand reached up to push the brown strands that fell into her face out of the way. “Everyone has their strengths. Mine just happen to include big words and being able to talk about them. What do you do for work?” She could at the very least give him a chance to show off.

“Oh no, they do. I just meant they don’t end up there purely for being annoying,” she said with a laugh. “I can assure you, though, that the only reason I’ve been in a prison is to visit a client.”

Vivian did not intend to end up on the wrong side of the bars or the law. She might be her father’s daughter, but she had no desire to join him in jail.  Vivian might employ others to dig up information, and perhaps bend the rules, but she didn’t outright break them. Aside from having respect for the law, Vivian enjoyed having her license, and being able to argue for a living.

She tilted her head to the side and gave him a smirk. “Depends,” she replied. “One,” she paused, holding up a finger, “on how good you think I am and two—” she held up a second finger, “—what you think I’m good at.”

Theodore was a kind man, a consistent one as well. However, one of his more annoying tendencies was in fact his consistency. Consistent with his time in school, carrying on to when he entered the work force, and even stretching on into his personal life and personal beliefs. His beliefs were quite often the most annoying thing about him, when his family and friends were considered.

“Well, yeah,” he says in a half laugh. “It is kind of in the job description.”

From what he could tell, she seemed to be honest. But then again, he liked to see the good in others.

“I wouldn’t call you a villain, at all. But… what would you like me to call you?” He asks almost a little too smoothly.

Vivian notices the change in his demeanour. She can’t say that she minds it. The almost cheeky smile on his face, and the way she can tell he knows exactly what he’s saying and how he’s saying it. A slow smile spreads across her face as she looks him up and down. Heaven help her, but she does like a man in uniform.

“What did you have in mind?” she smirks. It could backfire on her, but she is willing to play along, at least for the moment.

Gisele scoffed, “Not yet?” she repeated as an inquiry. What is that supposed to mean? If she asked, would the attorney even dare explain it? She mentally kicked herself, why was she getting so worked up over this? Still, she was curious and asked, “Why say that?” 

“Congratulations.” Her tone said otherwise, but as a business owner herself, she understood the move. Like Vivian said, it was a logical next step. Beating around the bush, she stated the obvious. “Well Sebastián will certainly be glad that he now has easy access to his favourite defence attorney.” 

“As much as I’m sure you’d like to believe that I only represent the worst of the worst, I do help out less fortunate clients as well,” she pointed out. “And maybe one day you’ll be glad I do,” she added, taking another sip of her drink. “But feel free to go along demonizing me in the meantime,” she shrugged unconcernedly. In her experience, people didn’t change their minds until they needed something. 

“I was hardly inaccessible before. But I do what I can for all my clients.” Vivian refrained from pointing out that Gisele’s father was not her only client. If she wanted to believe the world revolved around herself and her family drama, that was her business. Vivian didn’t care unless she was paid to, and even then, it only extended so far.

James blinked slowly, taking her response in. That was quick. Quicker than he honestly expected.  In his experience, defense attorneys liked to hem and haw and negotiate; try to drop his offer down to just community service or even better a fine. Daddy’s money didn’t come with lasting consequences in situations like this. This reasonableness was unexpected but very enjoyable. “I’ll talk to the judge and see if we can get this wrapped up quickly. I see no reason to delay.”

He was already starting to collect the paperwork and put it back in his briefcase when her offer came. And once again he stood there silently as his brain whirled and attempted to process. He could just go home, curl up with a book, a pizza, and a bottle of beer. Maybe talk to Nate if he really felt up to human interaction. Or he could take advantage of the chance to pick the brain of a woman that he would most likely face up against in court one of these days. “Drinks it is. Where do you suggest?”

“Perfect. My clients are looking to wrap this up as quickly as possible,” Vivian, nodded. The parents were embarrassed enough, and at least were willing to try to get their son back on the straight and narrow. Better by far than the ones who insisted that their little angel had done nothing wrong. Although Vivian didn’t mind those either. They took up more time and thus, earned her more money. 

She slipped her own paperwork back into her briefcase. No matter how old fashioned a briefcase was, she would not be one of those lawyers who used a backpack.

“The Watering Hole?” she suggested. It was less seedy than the Dive, but not too fancy. “Although if there is some other as of yet undiscovered gem in town, I’m all ears.” 

“Wherever you want us.” She waits while Vivian rearranges a few things around the room, looking around partially out of curiosity and partially just so she’s doing something other than just staring. Honestly, she hasn’t been in the office since Vivian officially opened up shop in Olympus — there hasn’t been any need, Thank God. It’s nice, though it feels a little upscale for a town like Olympus. But then she supposes Vivian in general is a little upscale for this small town — Rowan can’t help but wonder why someone of her stature is here rather than shacking up in a big city. She knows the clubs pockets are deep, but she can’t imagine they’re that deep to compare to the amount of money she could be making somewhere else.

When Vivian is done, she doesn’t waste much time. The baby settles when she lays her on the couch and coos at her in the same slightly higher pitched tone she used on her own kids when they were this small. She knows that baby talk is generally frowned upon and it’s said that not using it helps with speech and language development, but fuck, it’s so hard not to. Besides, this kid is maybe three months old — speech and language are a long ways away. “No, that’s okay,” her tone returns to normal when she addresses Vivian though she keeps her attention on the baby and her makeshift check up. “The hospital’ll do a more thorough job when they get her — I’m just going to look for any obvious signs of trauma or injury.” 

A snort leaves her when Vivian mentions Tori not liking her, relating to the sentiment all too well. “She wants to put my husband in federal prison,” Rowan deadpans, as if Vivian isn’t well aware of that. Her eyes roll at the thought. Honestly, for the most part she isn’t very worried — she doesn’t think of the Olympus Police Department as particularly competent, even less so now that her father has retired, but it would be a lie to say there wasn’t just a tiny bit of anxiety in the pit of her stomach that Tori might manage to pull something out of her ass one day that actually sticks, and Andy’ll land himself in prison for life this time. “So between the two of us I’m sure we’re not gonna be top priority.” 

She smiles a little at the picture Rowan and the baby make, her fair head bending over the little body. The baby is content now, and Vivian thanks the Good Lord above that Rowan was there. She knew they were not friends by any means, but she could admit that she would have done much worse if she was alone with the baby. Especially when she was only admitting it to herself.

“Whatever you need,” she nods, before turning her attention back to the phone call. She pauses, giving Rowan a wry smile that indicates her understanding. They’re united on this front at least. 

“That won’t happen,” she says firmly. She had very little to work with the first time around, but she had still wanted to win. The fact that Andy still ended up going to prison irked Vivian to this day. She was sure Rowan didn’t feel too kindly about it either. “She’d put me in there too, given half the chance,” she adds. Tori would just love to get Vivian on something.

She doesn’t call anyone directly, going by the book on this. They can figure out what the hell is going on when they get here, and she hopes that since a child is involved, they’ll do it fast. 

Hanging up the phone, she moves closer, careful to go slowly. She doesn’t want to scare the kid. “How is she?” she asks, peering down at the little girl. Poor little thing.

Seth is on edge the moment that Vivian speaks again and it’s not a ‘yes that sounds good’. She just has to make every fucking thing difficult and of course, this was one of those times she was picking to be noble. She should know better than to think that anything was going to happen to Emmeline or Beth. Seth would never let that happen and clearly, by the fact that he was willing to help pay for the fees and that he’d been the one to lobby Vivian for help in the first place, considering her original lawyer wasn’t getting shit done. But Noah is dead and gone now and while Vivian won’t know that until the authorities do, he’s not looking for her to go digging either. “What the fuck do I gotta fucking do to make you shut the fuck up, Vivian? It’s none of your fuckin’ business and I told you she’s fuckin’ fine so how ‘bout keep your fuckin’ nose up in the air rather than in my motherfuckin’ business,” he snaps, pointing a finger at her. Seth wasn’t the most subtle man and tiffs like these seemed to follow him everywhere he went. 

“Em and I been friends for a long time. She’s not in Olympus anymore so you’ll have to fucking excuse me if I’m a little pissed off when people don’t know how to fuckin’ listen. You work for me and I pay you a fuck ton of money to do so— so when I come to you and say somethin’s over, I think it’s fuckin’ over, Vivian,” he explains, his cheeks practically super glued against his teeth in anger. Seth mocks her movements, crossing his arms over his chest so he doesn’t do something completely stupid.

“I’d say ‘make me’, but in your current state, you’re just as likely to murder me as do anything else,” she replies mildly, unruffled in the face of his anger. She is used to Seth and his moods. And he is certainly not the first client to unleash his frustrations upon her. She’s a big girl, she can handle it. 

She sighs. “Want something stronger than coffee?” she asks, pushing off her desk, and moving around behind it. She puts a hand on the surface for balance, half leaning down as she raises a brow at him. 

There is no point arguing with Seth most of the time, and frankly, if he says it’s over, she can accept that. He wouldn’t allow Emmeline or her daughter to be in danger. He cares--cared?--about them, of that Vivian can be certain. So, while her curiosity might remain unsatisfied, pushing him any further will likely result in her having to replace something in her office once he breaks it. 

“I’m just looking out for you, and the club, Seth,” she says, her voice gentling. “As well as Emmeline. She seemed like a nice girl.” Probably another reason why she had gotten the hell out of town. The ‘I’m not as heartless as you think,’ part of the sentence remained unsaid.

They’ve spent a considerable amount of time together in Chicago, enough to know what makes each other tick. And because they’re on opposite sides of the law, that knowledge has never resulted in anything but trouble. Hurtful words, desperate attempts to disarm the other. And judging by the way she seems to carefully navigate herself around the conversation with the kind of expertise of someone who’s done it successfully, and even come out of it inflicting damage on him, on his ego, she does know him. More than either of them would admit.

“I transferred,” he tells her, finally, choosing to omit one important word that would’ve made all the difference. “Wanted to get as far away from you as possible.” Any hint of honesty, vulnerability, is superseded by the need to vex her, the sarcasm pulling them back into a setting of familiarity. “I’d ask you to stop cockblocking me, but we both know that’s not gonna happen.” He shrugs. As frustrating as it is, he’s used to it now. And he’s not gonna lie, he likes the challenge. “I can’t just ever get away from you, can I?” Objectively, the words are meant to hurt, but he says it with something that sounds like relief.

“Aww, so you’re keeping track of me, are you?” Vivian cooed, knowing it would annoy him. “Bless your heard, sugar, I’m touched. Too bad your information is clearly outdated.” She wasn’t buying that he had ‘transferred’ from Chicago. On the one hand, it was a city as gritty as he was. On the other, who in their right mind would transfer here? 

She looked around, as if for some thing that would make his statement make sense. “Darling, I think your behaviour is what is ‘cockblocking’ you. I don’t know that I am doing a blessed thing.” She could hear the relief in his voice, and for once held her tongue, choosing not to comment on it. Because it was strange enough that she detected a hint of relief in his voice, as if he were glad of the fact that she was there. That was indication that something was wrong indeed, for he never usually let anything close to that slip. Though she was gratified--satisfied--to hear it all the same.

Happy? Was she for real right now? Gisele took all the restraint she could muster to not snap as she had no right. After all, Vivian was there on her own accord. However, the constant appraisal that Sebastián had for the lawyer can be heard in her mind and it left her feeling sick. “Can’t say the feeling is mutual.” she deadpanned as she returned her attention to the bartender, silently wishing they could pick up the pace. The last thing she wanted was the haunting reminds of her father while trying to enjoy a nice meal. 

“Ah, lovely.” Gisele assumed that Vivian will probably defend individuals just like her father. After all, she was just doing her job. Plus she wouldn’t be surprised if in the end it was all for the money. “I’m surprised you’d choose such a quaint town, but then I realized this is practically a gold mine for you. Business is probably booming no?” 

"No, I suppose you wouldn’t. Well, not yet anyway,” she said knowingly. It was only half to get a rise out of her. Vivian had no doubt that the young woman would require her services one day. They all did. Even if it was to deal with something against her father. But that thought probably hadn’t even entered the pretty little brunette’s head yet. No, she preferred to think that Vivian was the Devil’s Mistress, just like so many others in this world. 

“I am doing well enough. It’s why I opened up an actual office here. I was spending enough time in town as it was to make it a logical next step.” 

The hostility and derision was practically rolling off the girl in waves. If Vivian was a more sensitive woman, this might hurt. But the young and righteous often had blinders on. And Gisele had a bias the size of Texas when it came to her father. Not that Vivian blamed her. But it was hardly fair to demonize her for making a living where and when she could. 

Having more money than she needed allowed her to cut her fees, or waive them all together when the right client came along who just had the wrong budget.

“Beth was gettin’ caught in the middle a lot and Noah saw that,” Seth explains, taking his rightful seat across from her. Although he wished Vivian would stop poking around where she wasn’t wanted, Seth had planned for this, organized for this. And he didn’t miss a beat as he lied straight to the woman’s face. “Guess he decided that she was worth more than bein’ a fuck to her ma. Don’t know— when he gets back you can ask ‘em,” Seth shrugs. He won’t be back, it’s something everyone in the Club knows. The man’s body is gone and there was nothing left of him at Emme’s old, empty apartment now. Hell, the complex probably sent in cleaners again to go over every nook and cranny again. 

“He don’t know where she is. And we ain’t gonna fuckin’ tell him,” Seth shrugs, dark brown eyes point at the lawyer. “None of us. If the court asks, we’re dismissing the case and Em is long gone with Beth and there’s been a custody agreement made,” he decides, not letting the woman come up with any other plan. There is no other plan. Vivian would step back and she would let this go, for everyone’s sake. “You’ve got your money and your orders, so do your fuckin’ job, Viv. She’s safe and so is Beth. All you need to worry about.”

“Hmmmm. Amazing that Noah would come to that enlightened conclusion now....” When he hadn’t cared in the past. 

Vivian had been in this business for long enough to know that every word that was coming out of his mouth was crap. Hooey. A whole lot of cow manure. The only part she believed was that Emmeline and her daughter were gone, and none of the members of the MC would be parting with the information about where or when that had happened any time soon. 

“Well you have that packaged up very neatly, don’t you?” she commented. She had no doubt that Seth was involved in the outcome. He had been from the start. She didn’t think it had anything to do with anyone’s trust in her ability to get the job done. She still had a job after all, didn’t she? And he was still more than compensating her for what work she had done. 

“I was and am doing my job. And I don’t take orders from you. I’m your lawyer, not your soldier,” she told him severely. She wouldn’t stand for that shit, not from him, not from anyone. If she wanted to ask questions, she’d damn well ask them. 

It was her job to protect them against future problems. She wasn’t a fortune teller, but she did have to look ahead. What might not be relevant to him could be to her. Though she did truly believe that this matter had been dealt with. Just not in the...normal way. 

“So if there’s nothing to worry about, what’s got your panties in a bunch then, hmm?” she asked, coming to lean on the edge of her desk in front of his chair. Her legs crossed at the ankles, and her arms over her chest as she arched a brow at him. 

He tried to swallow everything that she was saying, but his brain wasn’t as quick as hers. Maybe it was due to the years he’s abused alcohol or just because he isn’t naturally as smart as her. “I’m not gonna lie, you’re sorta overwhelming my brain,” He admitted. Thank god he didn’t have to know this shit. 

“I’ve never had the best luck with the law, but that’s just me,” And it probably was because his job pretty much involved illegal things. “So you’re sayin’, I couldn’t just put someone in jail cause they were annoying?” He asked, “Damn, I’d hate to be a judge. They could be so powerful if they could just throw people in jail. Do you know how many people I’d throw in?” He chuckled, thinking about all of the people that had done him wrong in his life. 

“Just wonderin’,” He shrugged, “Sometimes they’re not as good as people think.” 

“I’m sorry,” she stopped, sitting back a little in her chair. She wasn’t usually such a nerd with non-lawyers. But he had seemed interested, and it wasn’t often that happened. She was more used to men leering at her and her chest, or sneaking a peek at her ass when she stood up. 

She took a sip of her drink, swallowing down some of her embarrassment. “I got a little carried away, didn’t I?” she sighed, though with a little rueful smile. 

“Well thank goodness you’ve met me then,” she said, hoping to move on quickly from her rambling. She reached into her purse, pulling out one of her cards. She slid it across to him. 

Just because he couldn’t keep up with her legal-ese, and didn’t look like he could even afford her fees meant nothing. She had learned over the years that looks could be deceiving. And she wasn’t one to judge. She had taken more than a few pro bono cases over the years too. 

“No, unfortunately, or I think there would be a lot of lawyers that would end up in jail too,” she smirked. She couldn’t count the number of times she and another lawyer had gotten into it before the judge had to remind them to tone it down.

“Sugar, no one is as good as people think,” she replied wryly. Another sip of her drink to help the truth go down. “The only ones that comes as a surprise to are people who live in a bubble.” 

Theo was one who strongly believed in treating others the way you wish to be treated. If he were ever to be a spokes person for anything, it would be that statement. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but the man was just one who wanted the best for the world.

With that thought in mind, he’s caught off guard by her words, taking a half step back and furrowing his brow. Glancing at the box she had set down and back to the woman a few times, he finally asks, “can I ask what you’re really doing here?”

Vivian frowns at his frown. And it was going so well. “Sugar, I just came to bring y’all a little sugar of your own.” She sighs, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. “My Lord, but y’all are mighty suspicious, aren’t you? Must be a cop thing.” 

She couldn’t even do anything nice in this town without people asking what she was doing there or what she wanted. 

“Am I such a villain in this town that y’all can’t just accept a nice gesture when y’see one?” 

“Vivian?” Connor called out uncertainly, pushing back his chair as he heads over to her table. Part of him couldn’t believe it - Vivian Randolf, another born one into the world of the South’s elite, here in Olympus as well. She was seven years older than him so they never ran in the same circles, but his mother always thought approvingly of the woman, admiring her for her tenacity and ambition. 

“God, what a small world!” Connor marveled, grinning at her, sticking his hand out to shake hers. “Are you here on vacation? Or do you call Olympus your home nowadays?” Connor asks conversationally.  

Connor had been a precocious young man. Handsome, and much too young for her, but Vivian had enjoyed gently flirting with him all the same. It helped build character, and confidence. Really, she had been doing him a service. 

“Vacation?” Vivian suppressed a snort. She supposed Olympus had its small town charm going for it, but it was hardly one of her usual haunts. Nor was it the type of place that would catch her interest recreationally. Vivian might like the occasional antiquing excursion, but it wasn’t as if here was famous for that either. “No, sugar, I’m here on business. I don’t know if I’d call it home, though I do have a place here now.” Hotels were well and good, but Vivian liked having her own space, and base of operations. 

“What are you doing here is really the more interesting question. Are you on vacation? With family? Is your mother here?” 

Seth knew with the departure of Emme from town, he needed to let Vivian know that she didn’t need to worry about the divorce and she didn’t need to worry about researching anymore. So, he called to let her office know that he was coming in and what time, as was customary, although fairly unreliable, considering he was rarely on time for anything. However, the payment that is owed to her burns in his pocket, a final check for the amount due on Emme’s case, though it will never see the light of day in court, plus a little something extra for not going snooping into why the case is over. It was a charity case for Vivian anyway, so it shouldn’t be any of her concern. 

“Nah, I’m gonna be quick,” he says, tossing the envelope with the cash on her desk for her review. “Em’s case is over. Don’t worry about gettin’ it tied up. Noah is takin’ a step back,” he explains, with a shrug. Nonchalant is his middle name, in this case. “That’s final payment and a little somethin’ for your trouble.”

“Well, surprise ending all around,” she replies, folding her arms over her chest, the file pressing against her front. “A step back?” she gives him a look. She had already started working on the file, and been in contact with the man. Funnily enough, she hadn’t heard from him and his lawyer in quite a while. And now, from what she heard, Em was leaving town. Or had left. Her knowledge of gossip depended on who was willing to talk to her. 

“He didn’t seem the type,” she says carefully. Men like Noah did not just give up, and both she and Seth know it. She has seen abusers before. They are possessive, cruel, and will often stop at nothing to ensure that a) they are not revealed, and b) that which they think of as theirs never gets away. 

Perhaps they decided that Emmeline would be safer if she just disappeared, but Vivian’s been around long enough to know if that were an option, it would likely have been considered long ago. The woman had ties in Olympus. Hell, she had Seth! And from what she had heard and seen, the man was going around like a bear with a sore paw and a hangover.

“Should I be worrying about getting a restraining order instead, then?” She would be remiss if she didn’t at least ask. She didn’t want the woman or her child being placed in danger because she had been too ‘delicate’ to ask for further details. “And shouldn’t she be telling me this?” As much as she dealt with Seth, this case had been separate from Club business. Seth might have been footing the bill, but Emmeline was her client.