ELARA~
"Elara Jones" the taller man in a black suit with a briefcase spoke first. "I'm Micheal Whitmore, your legal councel."
I'd heard a lot about him. He had a record of only ever loosing three cases in his entire twenty-two years in the field, now that put me at ease.
I tilted my head slightly to his left. Behind him stood a younger man, tablet tucked under his arm.
"My associate, Peter Duskwood" I stepped aside and let them in, glancing outside once more for Isla.
Nothing. She hadn't come with them. It's not like I wanted to see her anyway. She was annoying to begin with.
They sat across from me in the living room. Micheal placed his briefcase on the table and opened it bringing out files and pictures which he placed carefully on the table before looking at me.
"I understand the past few days have been overwhelming" he began "But we need to go over a few things thoroughly. Starting with Chris" he paused, looked at Peter who seemed ready to pen things down then back at me.
"He is suing you for three things. First is defamation, with claims that you allowed the narrative that he released footage's to tarnish your name and destroy your career when he helped you be who you are today"
Seven years and this is what I get?.
"Second, Breach of contract, he alleges you violated management agreement by cutting him off and replacing him without formal dissolution."
"That's ridiculous" I muttered. He and the label controlled everything I did. I barely had creative control. It wasn't a healthy contract but honestly I didn't mind. Singing was never meant to be permanent. At least not when I started.
It was my way of telling my old man that without him I could still get the attention of the world and I didn't need his help.
"Third…" Micheal adjusted his glasses "Emotional and financial damages"
I scoffed. "Is he trying to be funny? He can't win that"
"Your contract protect you," Micheal agreed. "Legally, his case is weak. But…"
"But what?" I asked already annoyed.
"He is playing smart, he isn't speaking publicly to try fuel anything, he's declining interviews too."
"To look innocent?" I asked, Micheal smiled.
"Yes, when words are not spoken and there's no clarity. It gives room for assumptions, theories and speculation"
"Then why take me to court?"
"Because winning isn't the objective" he went silent then continued "They probably want to dissect you. They will examine your management decisions. In all, this is all for the money"
"Management decisions?" I questioned
"Yes his legal team will try to prove you acted irrationally, recklessly or unfairly to their client. They'll paint you as unstable if it helps the case"
"And if the reopened case gains traction, they will absolutely connect it" Peter added and Micheal shot him a look.
I went still. "Reopened case?"
Micheal let out a sigh before speaking "The Angela David case has been formally reopened"
"On what grounds?" I asked shocked. I did expect it but I wasn't mentally prepared yet. Chris had told me it was handled, that she died of an overdose. And now everything he had said to me felt like a lie.
All this years and now this. What did he really want? What was he really playing at? And what if he was the killer? There were so many questions, and I wanted answers to them quickly.
"There has been public pressure, online campaigns and rallies" he replied. "Anyway…" he continued on "It was looked at again and a lot of inconsistencies were found."
"This will definitely lead to another court case but for now let's focus on what we already have in hand. The civil suit" he added
Did she really die of an overdose? Or did something else happen that night?. Just then the front door opened, Isla walked in mid-sentence on a phone call. Her tone anything but gentle.
"No, postpone the meet up. I don't care what they're…" she stopped. I noticed the bandage on her wrist first, a plaster on her forehead then the box which she had rolled in with. Her eyes landed on the files, on Micheal, Peter then on me.
She ended the call without breaking eye contact.
"Sorry I'm late"