Lured into Lies by Melanie Martins
Chapter 9
Manhattan, November 9, 2020
Alexander Van Dieren
I haven’t been able to sleep properly the whole weekend. Despite sleeping beside the woman I love and cherish the most, I’ve got the feeling it won’t last much longer. After all, I might have sailed far away, but New York always manages to steal me back.
I look at the clock on the nightstand and draw out a breath in frustration realizing it’s just six a.m. The last sleep therapist I spoke to told me I should get eight to nine hours of sleep per night. Yeah… Easier said than done. I decide to get up and leave the bedroom quietly enough not to wake Petra up. I move her grip from around me and slowly slip off the side of the bed.
Reaching the living room, I feel tempted to go to the bar cart where a pack of cigarettes lies so I can smoke one while watching the sunrise. Smoking is something I haven’t done for a long time—since the day I had to break up with her and go to Singapore. A smile settles on my lips at how things have changed since then. Roy and I might not be friends anymore, but living with Petra is a dream come true.
As I stand in front of the bar cart, my eyes land on the pack of Marlboros, which is tempting me hard, I mean, it’s not like I smoke every day. One cigarette is not gonna make a difference, right? Instantly though, I hear Petra’s voice playing in my mind and rebuking at me like the day she found out I was about to hunt. Smoking? Really? You never smoke. Why are you doing that to yourself?
Oh, for fuck’s sake, Petra! I can’t hunt, I can’t eat meat when you are around, and now I can’t smoke? What’s next? I picture myself saying.
Yeah… bullshit… I don’t think I’d say that. Instead, I just take a bottle of Voss, give it a quick sip, and walk outside to check the sunrise on the horizon. Reaching the terrace, the freezing wind chills my bones instantly––likely due to the fact that I neglected to put pants over my boxers. Jeez, I should install glass walls all around for winter time. I stay there for a while inhaling the fresh air before going back inside to shower, ready to face my fiancée’s parents in court.
* * *
Despite being in the dining room with Petra as we take our breakfast, the sound of the doorbell echoes around us, and as I glance at my watch, I know it’s Ryan coming in, since he'd insisted on us meeting before going to the court session.
After Maria invites him in, we greet him, and he sits beside us. We exchange a few pleasantries and some small talk before we get to the more serious stuff. “So, just to recap, there’ll be five witnesses in total before the judge can deliberate around four o’clock,” Ryan tells us. Then he looks particularly at me and adds, “Roy’s testimony will most likely be the most important since it can impact your reputation amid your stakeholders.”
“Why didn’t the judge dismiss the case since I won against my mom?” Petra asks him. “This is beyond ridiculous.”
“He’s most likely just doing it as a favor for Eric,” Ryan admits. “But don’t worry. With the defense we have, it’s gonna be over soon.”
“That’s so fucking stupid,” she rebukes in frustration. “If we go to trial and lose, we can appeal, right?” I see her drumming her fingertips on her crossed arms, entirely over the day before it has even begun.
“Of course,” Ryan tells her. “But Alex won’t even go to trial. This is a prelim hearing to either schedule a trial or dismiss the charges.” He then gets up from his seat, and we do the same, knowing it’s time to go.
* * *
As our car approaches the entrance to the court, I narrow my eyes at the horde of journalists and cameramen barring the way to the stairs. What the heck are they doing here? I never thought our case would draw the attention of the media so much. Why is this so important to them?
“Don’t forget,” I whisper near Petra’s earlobe as she continues observing them through the window. “They are the vultures, and we are their prey. Make them starve by giving them nothing. Not even a word.”
The security car stops in front of us, followed by Ryan’s. Once the agents exit the car, they start pushing the crowd away, helping the two police officers, who are clearly not enough, to make some space for us to head to the entrance.
I go out first, but the noise emanating from the crowd is deafening as they try to grab my attention to answer their stupid questions. I extend a hand to help Petra get out, and once her feet touch the ground, I hold her hand firmly, and we head into the building as quickly as possible.
As we reach the hallway, my eyes alight on Roy standing there alone, and I can’t help but wonder what happened to Eric and Tess.
“Roy,” I greet stoically, before adding, “You came here on your own?” Since he ignores me and my question, I feel like teasing him. So after glancing around, I ask, “Where is your owner? Did you escape her? I don’t see your leash…”
“Alex,” Petra snaps in a whisper. “Stop it.”
Why on earth is she worried about my manners? If her dad is my enemy like she said, I don’t get what her issue is.
Ryan, on the other hand, looks at Roy like he's his new bestie. “Roy, thanks for coming early.” They shake their hands and exchange a nod in acknowledgement, and the sight of it leaves me totally perplexed; so it’s Ryan who invited Roy to come here so soon? “May Petra and I have a word with you?”
“Sure,” he mumbles, without even looking at me.
My brows raise up in shock, and I stare at Ryan, totally baffled. Lowering my voice, I say close to his ear, “I don’t think it’s prudent.”
“Don’t worry,” he answers with the same tone, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Trust me on this.”
Petra and Ryan leave along with Roy, and they enter into a meeting room that Ryan seems to have pre-arranged. I narrow my eyes as I see Ryan closing the door behind him. Why am I being excluded? What are they up to?
As I give a quick glance around the court hallway, my eyes land on Tess who is with Eric and Matthew as they step in. Oh gosh, here they are. What a pathetic bunch. A chuckle escapes me as I see the young boy wearing a suit. What a contrast from his usual pair of jeans, hoodies, and sneakers. I feel tempted to say a word about it, but instead, my attention goes to the woman who I’d gladly see disappear from my life once and for all. Tess twists her lips into a scornful smile as she stares at me standing there observing; she truly is a devil in her own nature.
Despite staring at each other, she just walks into the court room without saying a word, carrying the same pretentiousness and nauseous air of moral superiority. Eric and Matthew follow closely behind, mimicking her expression and ignoring everyone but themselves. What a bunch of morons… I give a quick glance at the door where the noise and the sound of flashes are coming from, and I wonder why the journalists are still screaming. The security at the door steps aside, letting another woman enter. This time, though, she’s wearing big black sunglasses, red lips, Prada black leather boots, black shorts, and a long black jacket which is wide open.
“May I remind you this is winter?” I let escape my lips. Of all the people I thought I would come to despise, Emma is actually someone I came to appreciate in time.
Her big black frames aim in my direction, and her lips grin at me as she marches to where I’m standing. “Look who’s here!” she shouts, walking in. For a split of a second I had forgotten how loud she could be. “That was a quick trip. Hard to escape New York, huh?”
“Not that I didn’t try,” I tell her as she stands beside me.
“Don’t worry, I’m here.”
A laugh escapes me at her statement. “I’m not worried.”
“Where’s Petra?” she asks, removing her big frames from her face.
Feeling playful, I say, “I sold her for a really good price.”
Emma chuckles instantly. “Fuck, you could’ve contacted me first.” She plunges a hand into her purse, taking out a pack of cigarettes. “I’d have paid the double.”
Then she puts one up to her lips, and just before she can light it up, the security guard steps in and says, “Miss, you can’t smoke in here.”
She rolls her eyes before drawing out a loud breath in annoyance. “Shit.”
“I think there is an access to a back alley or something,” I tell her, pointing in the direction of the corridor going on the right.
“Oh, great. Let’s go, then.”
Since my attorney and Petra are still in that room with Roy, I go with Emma, looking for a spot without journalists and noise around.
We find the door that gives access to a private road, barred from access with gates on one side. The road is empty, and the fresh air of winter chills my bones instantly. Fuck, how can Emma wear shorts in this freezing weather?
“That’s perfect,” she says as we step outside. She takes her cigarette, her silver finish lighter, and lights it up. My gaze narrows at the lighter though. It’s easy to recognize it. After all, there is only one in the world like that one since it’s custom-made. And it belongs to my sister, Yara. Why on earth does Emma have Yara’s lighter?
“May I have one?” I ask her.
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You smoke?”
“Occasionally.”
She blinks twice, still looking at me. “And is Petra okay with that?”
I let out a chuckle at the absurdity of her question. “Does it matter?”
“Alright, it’s none of my business anyway.” She opens her pack, and I take a cigarette from there. Then, without thinking twice, Emma gives me her lighter, which I observe attentively. Damn, it really belongs to Yara. I’m sure of that.
“That’s a beautiful lighter,” I point out. “Is it custom-made?”
“Yeah, your sister gave it to me.”
“My sister?” I ask, pretending I know nothing. “Which one?”
“Yara,” she says without bother. “She gave me a polo lesson once and gave it to me as a souvenir.”
“Oh, she must like you a lot then,” I venture. “Given the fact it was a gift from her husband.”
Understanding I was being sarcastic, Emma lets out a breath, before blurting out, “Okay, fine, I stole it from her.” Her tone doesn’t even contain an ounce of shame or remorse, just annoyance for being called out. “I collect lighters, and this one is pretty cool.”
I’m not sure what to think of her answer. It’s like she isn’t even bothered to have stolen something. Lighting up my cigarette, I take a first intake of smoke before slowly blowing it out. “I hope you’ll have the decency to give it back to her at the wedding.”
“If there even is a wedding,” she says, correcting me as I give her the lighter.
“There is no if, Emma.” My tone comes off more serious than I intended, which creates an uncomfortable tension between us.
A short silence ensues while she digs the lighter and her pack into her purse. “Honestly, I hope so.” She pauses for a beat, thinking something through. “All I care about is Petra’s happiness. And she’ll be heartbroken if that wedding doesn’t happen.”
The concern in her tone makes me smile. “That’s what I like about you.”
She tilts her head to the side. “What?”
“Your loyalty toward her,” I explain, stopping to take a puff from the cigarette. “You remind me of Roy and I… back when we used to be friends.”
“I’m not Roy,” she snaps. “I’d have never let anyone blackmail me. He’s a fucking weak asshole.”
“I didn’t compare you to him.” And I wonder why on earth she got that impression in the first place. “But yeah, he is, and it’s deplorable.”
“My dad told me he might be kicked out of Gatt-Dieren soon. Is it true?”
I see rumors spread fast, but there’s no point in denying them. “Well, no one likes weak assholes as you said, so, yeah… Most people want to see him gone.”
“And you?” she asks with a slight head tilt.
I don’t answer back. First, I give another intake of smoke and ponder her question. After exhaling, I say, “I want Tess gone. Not Roy.” By the look on her face, she wasn’t expecting me to say that. “I know most people want me to do whatever it takes to get rid of him, but his value to the firm is indispensable.”
“No one is indispensable,” Emma snaps. “Everyone can be replaced.”
“That’s easier said than done. His talent to foster new relationships, to turn them into long lasting ones, to make people feel special and appreciated, to be so self-driven by his long-term vision… that is unmatched.”
“So why don’t we just take care of Tess?” she asks as she blows out the smoke out of her lungs. “It’d solve most of your problems.”
“And is Petra okay with that?” I repeat her question, making my best to mimic her voice.
She chuckles in return, knowing all too well Petra isn't on board with killing her own mother. No matter how much she hates her. “She doesn’t need to know, though…”
I shake my head in amusement at her suggestion. And after giving one last intake of smoke, I say, “And once she learns the truth?”
“What if she doesn’t?” she asks, her eyes narrowing on me. “After all, tragic accidents happen…”
“Emma, I appreciate the length you will go for us, but—”
“I’m not doing it for you,” she cuts me off. “I’m doing it for her.”
“Petra didn’t ask you to do that,” I tell her. “I’m sure we can solve this without having to go that far.”
Emma seems disappointed and simply says, “Alright.” Then silence ensues as we both finish to smoke our cigarettes, looking at anything but the other.
A few instants later, a notification pops up on my iPhone—it’s a new message from Ryan. “We should go back inside,” I say after reading it. “The hearing is about to start.”
As we reach the courtroom, Emma and I notice a bunch of reporters sitting in the back, already taking notes, and I wonder why on earth the officers let them in. Maybe they were bribed. Figures.
In the front row on our right, there’s Eric, Matthew, Tess, and Roy. On the other side, Petra and Ryan. “Do you want to sit with us?” I ask her since Matthew is sitting beside Tess, which doesn’t make sense since he’s not part of the case.
“Alright,” she whispers back.
Reaching our table, Petra’s face lights up with a big grin upon seeing us. Or should I say upon seeing her best friend? Well, I’d like to think it’s for seeing us both.
“All rise,” the bailiff asks as the judge comes in. Once the judge goes to the bench and takes his seat, he then orders everyone to do the same. Emma sits on Petra’s left and I on her right, beside Ryan.
“This court is now in session,” the bailiff announces.
“Very well,” the judge begins, looking at the sheet he holds between his hands. He reads something in there, before his gaze lands on me. “Mr. Van Dieren, you are here today because of the charges pressed against you for the alleged kidnapping of Petra Van Gatt, to which you’ve pledged not guilty,” he explains. And I see Petra shaking her head in annoyance as she hears the judge saying those words. “This is a preliminary hearing to evaluate whether or not there is grounds to schedule a trial,” he adds, his tone remaining formal and steady. “The prosecution may start with its opening statement.”
Eric then stands up, takes a few notes with him, and starts his atrocious speech.
* * *
After lunch, Emma gives a big hug to Petra and tells her goodbye. Since she already testified earlier in the morning, she won’t be attending the rest of the hearing. I wish I could just go home like her. Once we are all back inside the courtroom, Roy is now the last witness to be called, and I can only hope he won’t do any further damage to my reputation.
From my side, I wonder how I managed to keep my temper after listening to Tess and her disgusting testimony against me. Ryan was right—she truly outdid herself in trying to paint me as a monster. But I’m glad Tess went first, followed by Petra, then Matt, Emma, and finally me. It gave time for the judge to see how twisted and pathetic she really is, creating dystopian realities where I supposedly drugged her daughter to take her away by boat. The fact that she said I drugged her daughter left a pretty bad impression on the judge. One, because there’s no evidence that I drugged Petra, and two, because Petra’s testimony proved that her mom is just a compulsive liar who will do anything to keep her daughter under control.
It’s clear to Ryan and I that the judge will dismiss the charges; he’ll just hear the last witness out of politeness before ending this charade once and for all.
I watch the clerk escorting Roy to the witness’s stand, and as I do so, I can’t for the life of me believe he’s about to testify against me. Jeez, after twenty years of loyal friendship between us, it’s a hard pill to swallow. I look down at the table for a moment, trying not to show too much outward emotion.
Once Roy stands behind the bench, the clerk asks him to raise his right hand. “Do you affirm that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“I do,” he answers before sitting. Well, hopefully this time it’s the real truth, not the twisted one that Tess gave us in her testimony.
My attorney stands up and is the first to go and ask him. “Mr. Van Gatt, did you consider Alexander Van Dieren, at some point in your life, a best friend?”
“Yes, I did,” he replies calmly.
“For how long did you consider him a best friend?”
Roy keeps looking at Ryan as he says, “For around twenty years, give or take.”
Ryan nods. “Given this long-lasting relationship with him, did Mr. Van Dieren tell you about his relationship with your daughter?”
“Um, yes, he did.”
Wow. I’m shocked at how private those questions are. Naturally, Eric doesn’t seem to mind them. “And did you oppose it?” Ryan asks quickly.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why?”
What the fuck? This is so personal that I start tensing at how uncomfortable this is becoming.
Roy takes a deep breath as he ponders Ryan’s question. “I, um, I spoke to Petra the next day, and she confirmed their feelings for each other were sincere and there was a genuine commitment between the two, so I didn’t want to step in,” he says, stopping to take a breath before adding, “I wanted her to make her own choices, and above all, I wanted her to be happy.”
That’s a decent answer, and I’m positively surprised at how sincere he is.
“So, based on your accepting behavior, did you genuinely believe your daughter was in danger when your best friend sent you a voice message telling you they had left the country?”
My lips twist into a smile at his genius question.
Roy doesn’t say a word, and the courtroom falls in total silence. After a few more seconds, the judge steps in. “Mr. Van Gatt?”
Since Roy remains speechless, Ryan repeats the question. “Did you genuinely believe your daughter was in danger with Mr. Van Dieren when they left the country to Bermuda?”
Roy knows he’s facing a wall, and there are only two ways to go now; either he lies to defend his ex-wife and Eric, or he states the truth, which will give us a big win.
His gaze travels briefly to where Petra and I are sitting, but his expression reveals nothing, then he looks back to my attorney and says, “No, I didn’t…and I still don’t.”
Noise erupts from the horde of journalists behind us, but I remain perplexed, wondering why he is being so honest. The judge slams down the gavel to silence them.
“Did your ex-wife, Ms. Hagen, who is present here today, who is clearly against the relationship, blackmail you in some way to turn your back on your best friend and tarnish his reputation?”
“Objection, your honor,” Eric asks, his voice louder. “This is a leading question.”
“Overruled,” the judge answers straight away. “Mr. Van Gatt, answer the question, please.”
Roy becomes livid, and his posture tenses, which is quite unusual for him. “I…” He lets his word trails off, his mouth slightly gaping as he looks down to his lap. “Um…” Will he say the truth, or will his ego take over? His gaze goes to where Tess is sitting, then to us, and it seems like he’s looking at me. “Yes, she is blackmailing me.”
There is a wave of whispers filling the room, and the judge does his best to calm everyone down by striking his gavel on the wooden block once again. As the court gets quieter, the judge looks back to Roy. “Thank you for your statement, Mr. Van Gatt. I have heard enough.”
Roy is escorted back to his seat, and as I look at Tess, I can already feel the hate coming from her as she averts her eyes from him. “Attorney General, despite your best intentions, there’s no evidence to establish probable cause that the defendant kidnapped his fiancée, who is here and in good health. Therefore, this case is dismissed with prejudice.”
I want to hug Petra tightly in my arms upon hearing the verdict, but since we are in a courtroom, I just take her hand and give it a tight squeeze followed by a kiss as we both remain exhilarated by the good news. “Court is adjourned.” And the judge bangs his gavel, announcing officially the end of the hearing.
“What does it mean to dismiss with prejudice?” Petra asks Ryan as he gathers his files and tugs them into his briefcase.
“It means the case is over and done with, once and for all, and can't be brought back to court.”
His reply is melody to my ears. “Well, it seems like the judge wasn’t such a great friend of Eric, after all,” I point out.
“This case should’ve never happened in the first place,” Ryan tells us with some annoyance in his tone. “It was absolutely frivolous, and the judge only accepted it because of the headlines.” Ryan is right; there’s no way a judge or a grand jury wouldn’t have dismissed the charges straight away if there hadn’t already been a story in the media about it.
Stepping out of the courtroom, I see Matt, Eric and Tess gathered together in the hallway and talking in a very discreet manner.
As we wait for our cars to arrive, I walk closer to them and ask in a tone loud enough for them to hear, “Already conspiring something else?”
Without saying a word, their attention shifts to me. And as they keep observing me, it seems like I’ve rendered them speechless. Eric finally leaves the group and paces in my direction, before stopping inches from me.
“Don’t think it’s over,” Eric mutters, his eyes glaring at me. And I wonder where all this hate for me is coming from. After all, I never did anything directly to him or his son. Is it because Matt is in love with my fiancée? Or is because of how manipulative Tess can be? “Consider this just the beginning.”
“Oh, it’s not me who’ll need a good lawyer for the next case,” I say, my eyes on Tess. “Right, Ryan?”
Ryan steps in and, looking at Tess, he says, “Indeed, blackmailing is a very serious offense in this state.” Tess uncrosses her arms, and there’s something in her expression that switches, becoming more nervous and tense at the realization that Roy might truly report her for coercion. “There’s another way we can avoid this, though…” Ryan lets his words trail off, trying to gauge her reaction. Despite Tess remaining silent, Ryan proceeds, “You may return to the Netherlands and leave my client and his fiancée alone.”
All of a sudden, her eyes drift to Petra, and she moves a few steps forward trying to grab Petra’s wrist before Ryan can bar her way. “Petra, can we talk?”
“No,” Petra snaps, hiding herself behind me. “Don’t ever approach me again, are we clear? Or should I ask for a restraining order?”
“C’mon Tess, let’s go.” Eric gently puts his hand on her back, instructing her to walk away.
Once they finally leave the building, I heave a sigh of relief. My thoughts then go to Roy, and I wonder if he will go all the way and report Tess for the blackmailing he has been subject to.
“Shall we go?” Ryan asks. “The drivers are outside.”
I’m about to give an affirmative answer when my eyes catch Roy, who is returning from the bathroom. I thought he was already gone, so I decide to go over and talk to him. “Give me a sec.”
As I hasten my pace before he can avoid me, I stand in front of him and say, “I never thought you’d be so honest during your testimony.” My words halt him instantly, and I can see the shock in his eyes at my unexpected comment. “What made you change your mind?” I ask him, trying to find the answer in his gaze. But Roy doesn’t seem to give anything away. “Was it Ryan?”
Despite my questions, Roy remains just as secretive, and instead, he runs a hand inside his blazer and takes from there a small envelope that he gives me.
“Have a nice evening.” He pats me on the back while I’m left looking at the envelope and wondering who gave him this.
As he passes me, I open the envelope and see a card with the following quote written:
“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” - Ayn Rand
Then I turn the card to the other side and read:
I know you can make it right, I trust you.
Your daughter, Petra
There is a hint of a smile curling on my lips at the realization that if we won today, it is not only thanks to Ryan’s brilliant strategy but also thanks to this little note–thanks to Petra, which is also most likely why she attended the meeting between my attorney and her dad. My smile turns into a quick chuckle, and I shake my head at how stupid I was for believing she could become like her mother. I turn, my gaze landing on her. She’s talking to Ryan as they wait for me to come over so that we can leave the court. God, she looks so stunning. I go to where they are standing and, without saying a word, I lean over just enough to reach her lips and press them hard against mine. I shut my eyes as my thumbs goes up to caress her cheeks. Not surprisingly, I can hear the sound of flashes and people firing off stupid questions.
As our lips part and we look at each other, there are so many things I want to tell her. How much I love her, how much I’m proud of her, but all I manage to say in that moment is, “Thank you.” And by seeing her growing smile, it seems like it was enough.