The next morning, Lemira woke up and immediately contacted Sebastian Bennett.
She got straight to the point. "Are you free today? We need to take a trip to the Lyria Remand Center."
"Did Orion agree to testify?"
"Yes."
On the other end of the line, Sebastian twirled his pen. "How did you convince him?"
"I didn't really have to. I just told him about the situation, and he agreed."
"Just like that?"
Why did Sebastian feel like this Orion wasn't the same ruthless man he knew? Was he really that agreeable?
He replied, "Alright, but this only counts after Orion physically goes to the precinct. Otherwise, how will Evelina's father believe you?"
Lemira paused. He made a good point.
"I'll contact him," she offered.
"No need. As your legal counsel, I can be the one to reach out to him."
Remembering the deep hostility between Sebastian and Orion, Lemira quickly interjected, "I'll do it. It's... it's just easier this way."
Sebastian sounded slightly disappointed. "Fine. If you can get him to go to the precinct today, let me know anytime and we'll head over together."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Lemira agonized over how to reach out to Orion.
Just then, Stella returned to the dorm, clearly wearing a different set of clothes.
She was carrying breakfast. "If you're up, come eat."
Janice immediately jumped in. "Stella, confess right now. Did you spend the night with Caleb?"
Stella blushed instantly. "We got delayed, so I ended up staying at my old place."
Lemira looked over. "It seems like you two are getting along pretty well."
Feeling a bit guilty, Stella met her gaze. "Lemira, last night at dinner had no idea Orion would show up tog figured it would be best if your two talked alone." fo
Lemira nodded. "You're right. It's better to clear the air face-to-face. Thank you."
Stella breathed a sigh of relief, glad Lemira wasn't angry.
Lemira grabbed some breakfast. "I need to drop by the team's base. You guys eat first."
She headed outside, finished her breakfast, and began racking her brain on how to bring the topic up with Orion.
She opened their chat and typed: [When are you free?]
The moment she hit send, she felt an inexplicable wave of nervousness.
Orion replied almost instantly: [What's wrong?]
Lemira hesitated, unsure of how to phrase it. Meanwhile, on the other end, Orion was staring at his phone, wondering what she needed.
After a brief pause, he just called her directly.
Seeing Orion's caller ID, Lemira cleared her throat and answered, "Hello? Am I interrupting your work?"
Hearing her voice, Orion glanced at the senior executives standing in his office waiting to give their reports. He stood up and walked ove to the floor-to-ceiling window.
"It's nothing. I'm not too busy right now," he said calmly.
The executives exchanged glances: Not busy? They had been standing here since
early morning to deliver their reports!
His secretary waved a hand, gesturing for everyone to step out.
They didn't even have to guess who was on the phone.
At a time like this, only a call from Ms. Langston could make The Big Boss break his own rules.
Holding her phone, Lemira
explained, "You agreed to testify
yesterday, but we need you to make
a trip to the precinct. Otherwise, Evelina's father probably wont believe us."
"Actually, I already gave my statement the last time I went to the precinct and formally agreed to testify. But I can accompany you to the remand center."
Lemira remembered running into Orion at the precinct that day.