"It failed…" A somber voice echoed as the man leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowing deeply.
"He wasn't injured. Not even one of his hair was harmed? What a lucky bastard." Frustration tinged the male voice as he paced on the plush carpet of the hotel suite.
"So what?" The woman's voice cut through the tension, her gaze fixed on the twinkling lights of Marine Drive visible through the window. She raised her glass to her lips, her demeanor calm yet calculating.
The man shot a sharp glance at her, standing near the sofa. "The bomb is going to drop. Suri will take the fall for this."
"If he claims he's a Suri fan, what else can they do but blame him? Just switch on the news and you'll see," the woman replied with a smirk, her tone cool and confident.
"I get that, but wasn't our plan to completely incapacitate him? To ensure that he couldn't even show his face in court?" The man's frustration bubbled up once again, his voice tinged with annoyance.
"Tsk…" The woman's annoyance grew palpable as she raised her voice, her hand slamming down hard on the nearby table.
"This is why I told you to hire more competent men and not cut corners just to save a few bucks, you fucking asshole!" Her words were sharp while her eyes flashed with irritation.
Saying that she directly threw the glass at the man and roared, "I am restraining myself, yet you dare to question me when it's your fault.."
"You were completely useless before Migol, and you are useless even now."
_____
Despite this being the first time he had come to a big-tier city, because of the hearing, Evan wasn't even able to enjoy himself. Though the outcome seemed assured, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and was unable to sleep under the weight of the upcoming showdown, he reviewed all the notes and strategy.
He repeatedly rehearsed how to act, react, and carry himself well.
_____
February 17th,2023.
On the morning of the preliminary hearing, Evan dressed carefully, choosing a dark suit that conveyed professionalism and confidence while Celina accompanied him to the courthouse.
At the hotel entrance, Abhijeet's car arrived to pick them up. After a brief greeting, Evan moved ahead, looking forward to the reactions of the two hypocrites.
_____
In front of the Bombay High Court, a stylish car followed by a convoy stopped. Soon, numerous guards emerged from the convoy of fans.
"Look, she is here!"
"Focus the camera on Suri. Quickly, take pictures…"
The reporters quickly identified the star's car and started screaming.
Soon, a woman with a long, slender leg stepped out.
She exudes an aura of confidence, her poise unwavering despite the scrutiny.
Wearing a sleek black pantsuit with a white shirt, tailored to perfection, her outfit emphasized her tall yet curvy frame. The crisp lines of the suit mirrored her demeanor, while the subtle necklace on her neck added a touch of elegance to her ensemble.
Her hair, styled in loose waves, framed her face beautifully.
Simple yet elegant.
As Suri Barrett stepped out of the car, the flashing lights of cameras illuminated her presence, drawing a crowd of reporters and media personnel who were eager for a statement or a snapshot.
Her bodyguards skillfully navigated through the crowd, creating a pathway for Suri and ensuring her safety amidst the chaos.
Walking beside Suri was her agent, Martha.
Dressed in a chic ensemble that complemented Suri's sophistication, Martha moved through the crowd with a sharp gaze.
The moment Suri emerged from the car, a barrage of questions erupted from the crowd of reporters.
"Miss Barrett, how do you feel about today's proceedings?"
"Miss Suri, any comments on the allegations against you?"
"Miss Suri, are you confident about the outcome of the trial?"
Not every reporter was in favor of Suri. Some tried to catch her off guard.
"What about your fans who have attacked Mr. Evans? Do you have a hand behind it?"
With a composed smile, Suri paused for a moment, accepting the clamor around her before addressing the eager journalists.
"I appreciate your interest, but I'm unable to comment on the ongoing legal matters. However, I have full confidence in the judicial process, and I'm grateful for the support of my legal team and my fans during this time who have always wished for my well-being."
"As for the unfortunate incidents, I have already addressed this repeatedly. I don't condone violence. I believe in getting justice and unfair treatment, so I urge everyone to stop harassing others. If you are my true fan, please don't do something that might harm others. It's not what I want…"
"Thank you!"
Suri gave a gentle smile and shook her head. At that moment, another car arrived, drawing everyone's attention.
As the Audi A4 pulled up to the courthouse, all eyes turned to the passengers stepping out.
A man in a tailored black formal suit emerged and then opened the door to help a well-groomed middle-aged woman out.
Evan momentarily faltered seeing a small crowd turn their attention towards him like hawks. It was a bit annoying.
'Damn! I hope they don't chew me out. I don't want to get into a mess here.'
Calming himself, Evan maintained an upright posture and paced his strides well as he walked alongside Celina, who radiated elegance in her own right while Abhijeet, their lawyer, followed closely behind.
The trio made their way towards the courthouse entrance, drawing curious glances from the crowd and the media gathered nearby.
The sudden hush that fell over the reporters was palpable as they caught sight of Evan.
Over the past months, Evan had undergone shocking changes.
He never looked bad but due to being malnourished, overworked, having a gloomy face with dark circles, and poor fashion sense, he looked quite rough. Now, he stood as a transformed figure, exuding vitality and strength. Evan's once lean frame now filled out the suit with a healthy vigor, his features sharper and more defined than before.
Whispers of astonishment rippled through the crowd as they all recognized him from their assignment since they had seen his images.
Even Suri and Martha were shocked by seeing the young man.
Evan rolled his eyes, noticing their frown. If not for the moment, he wanted to smirk as if saying, 'What did you think? I am garbage, hmph!'
That's what he wanted to say but in the next moment, his eyes widened.
Suri in real life looked more beautiful than she seemed on screen, but…
'What the hell?'
'I can't see her status either, even Martha's…'
Evan's heart bled as he was struck with emotional damage out of nowhere.
First, it was Director Darpan, now Suri, and even her manager.
Everyone was unreadable to him.
Wasn't it just too embarrassing?
Was everyone's charisma greater than his, and if so, then by how much?
Feeling wrong, Evan ignored her with a pouted expression.