His Unveiled Passion

The sweltering summer heat seemed to drag on in Rivertown. Eventually, more than half a month had come and gone.

One of the cases that Jacobson Corporation had entrusted to Tessa was scheduled to go on trial in late June.

Stephen and Lester had both attended the hearing.

Tessa sat at the plaintiff's attorney's table within the solemn courtroom. She was dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit and had an austere expression on her face. Her bright eyes seemed to possess the skill to see through one's very soul.

When she met her opponent's gaze, her eyes turned sharp and unwavering in their determination.

Once it was her turn to say her piece, her voice was clear and commanding, bolstering her carefully structured and logically sound argument to greater heights.

Tessa was like a master chess player as she gradually ensnared her opponent in the trap she had laid for them.

She had displayed her extraordinary adaptability to its fullest throughout the hearing.

She remained calm and composed in the face of the opposing lawyer's rebuttals and sharp questions. In fact, she was able to spot flaws they had and counter their arguments with evidence, leaving them scrambling.

The pace she used during her turn to speak varied, allowing it to crest and fall at just the right moments. As a result, she had full control over the courtroom, drawing the jury's attention into her argument.

In the end, it was to no one's surprise that Tessa had achieved a resounding victory in the verbal battlefield.

After the hearing ended, Tessa, Stephen, and Lester left the courtroom side by side.

"Mr. Jacobson, you'll receive the written judgment in a few days," Tessa said.

"I believe the outcome will be in our favor," Stephen replied in his usual cool tone. Then, he tilted his head at Tessa, regarding her with clear admiration in his gaze. "You did well earlier, Tess."

Tessa blinked at him and beamed. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Jacobson."

"Tessa, you were amazing out there. I got to witness a top-notch lawyer in action because of you," Lester praised with a smile.

"Thanks," she said politely.noveldrama

Compared to her playful response to Stephen earlier, Lester noticed that her word of thanks toward him was more-subdued. It lacked the same warmth and hint of mischief and his eyes dimmed in disappointment.

"Tessa, why don't we have lunch together?" Lester offered.

Stephen interjected coolly, "I'm afraid you'll have to reschedule, Mr. Cooper. I still have a few questions for Ms. Yates regarding the case. I've already invited her to lunch."

Lester responded with a mirthless smile. "We were there when the trial was over at court. All you have to do is wait for the ruling, Mr. Jacobson. What questions could you possibly have for her?"

There was an undeniable sharp edge to his tone.

Stephen wasn't the least bit bothered. He merely chuckled softly and replied, "I'm the client, am I not? How is it any of your business if have questions for my attorney, Mr. Cooper? If I'm not mistaken, you weren't involved in the case. Don't you think you're overstepping?"

Lester laughed upon hearing Stephen's response. However, his laughter held a trace of contempt. "I'm afraid you're only using that excuse to ask Ms. Yates out on a date, Mr. Jacobson."

"So what if I am?" Stephen shot him a disdainful look.

Lester's face immediately darkened.

Tessa had to bite back a grimace when she noticed that the two men were about to break into a full-blown squabble.

They had arrived at the courthouse parking lot while they had been exchanging barbs.

Tessa turned to Lester and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Jacobson is my client. I have no reason to refuse him if he has questions about the case."

Stephen tugged his lips into a smirk and shot Lester a look filled with provocation.

Meanwhile, Lester instantly masked his irritation the second Tessa spoke to him. Instead, he had a smile on his face and said gently, "Alright, then. I'll be off."

Once Lester was gone, Tessa turned to Stephen and glared at him in faux anger. "Why do you two always end up arguing whenever you're in a conversation?"

Stephen smiled and drawled, "You'll have to ask Lester. He started it."

Tessa sighed and said helplessly, "Oh, enough. You don't really have questions for me, do you?"

"You're as brilliant as ever, Tess," Stephen replied, his eyes glimmering with amusement. Then, he murmured in that magnetic voice of his, "I just wanted to treat you to lunch."