Esq. (closed)

[BeachBum25]

He watched her lay back on the bed and curl up on top of the covers. He knew that there was no way she was getting undressed and iunder the covers. His dilemma was how he was going to go about doing it for her. If he undressed her, she might be extremely upset with him in the morning.

He heard her say she didn't want to be alone. Gallo was afraid that if he left her alone, and she got sick there would be nobody to get help for her. He decided that he would sleep in the chair. It was a big, overstuffed chair with an ottoman. He figured that he had enough to drink so that he would be able to fall asleep anywhere.

He walked over to Meg and sat her up. "Come on Meg. You need to get out of your suit. You can't sleep in it all night. He tried to help her undress...removing her jacket and. Then her skirt. She sat there in her blouse and underwear. Jerry was afraid to go any further.

 

[heartofcourage]

Somehow, she felt so much better knowing that he was staying the night with her. She might have hated Jerry professionally, but she knew that he was a man that cared for her and was honorable. He wouldn't try anything while she was drunk and the rational part of her brain reminded her that she needed to take him out for breakfast in the morning in thanks.

She whimpered as he pulled her back into a sitting position, his fingers working to get her suit coat and skirt off. Her blue eyes were bleary and bloodshot as she sat there in her blouse and black panties. She should have finished stripping, but she could only sit there to watch him.

"I promise I won't be mad." She murmured to him, exposing herself in a way that she never had before to anyone else. "I promise."

She tried to pull back the blankets on the bed, failing miserably and waiting until he did it for her. When she was tucked inbetween the sheets, she let out a soft sigh. It felt good to be in bed after a rare night of boozing.

"Can I have a glass of water? And maybe the trashcan just in case?" Megan asked him, looking up at him.

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry helped Megan into bed and pulled the covers over her. He took her suit to the closet and hung it up. He knew that he would want his suit hung if he were in such a predicament, and he was pretty sure that Megan did not want to put on a wrinkled suit in the morning.

He went into the bathroom and got her a glass of water. He took it in and out it on the nightstand. Then he grabbed a trash an and put it next to the bed. He shut out the lights, and before heading to his chair, he made sure she was okay.

Megan seemed to be out for the night. Gallo took off his suit, shirt and tie and hung them in the closet. He took the extra pillow and blanket from the closet and curled up on the chair in his boxers and t-shirt. He thought about the coincidence of the night......him going to a bar with friends and Megan choosing that bar to drown her sorrows.

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan slept relatively well that evening. The next morning when she woke, she was proud to see that her stomach contents had remained where they were the night before but she was horrified by the pounding pain in her skull. It was so horrible that she couldn't move from her spot in the bed. Casting her gaze around the room, she was startled to see Jerry slumbering on the chair in the room. She remembered asking him to stay but she was surprised that he had kept his word.

As she woke more, she reached for the glass of water, drinking it until she felt more like human. Then she slipped from the sheets, finding her suit in the closet, and heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. Aspirin was the first order of business for that morning. Then she was taking him out to breakfast to say thank you. Then she would buy some Gatorade and nurse her hangover at home, hopefully Tyler was long gone by then.

 

[BeachBum25]

Gallo woke up to the sound of the shower. He opened his eyes and saw that Megan was not in the bed. He was surprised that she was up already. He had a little headache, and he knew that Megan would probably have a huge headache. He called down to room service and asked them to send up orange juice and some fruit. He also asked them to send up some aspirin.

Jerry sat back down in the chair. He pulled the blanket back over him and thought about what had happened last night. He would have bet a lot of money yesterday afternoon if somebody said that he would spend the night drinking with Megan. Yet, he had to admit that there was something that made last night enjoyable. No, it wasn't the hangover. It was the company. He had really enjoyed Meg's company and he was happy that he could help her out last night.

 

[heartofcourage]

Her hair was wet, curling around her shoulders as she dressed in her suit from yesterday. She was barely presentable. If she had to go to court that day, she was sure that the judge would have sent her home with a dressing down. Her eyes were bloodshot and slightly sunken in. Her skin was pale. There was still a lot of hurt on her features, some physical pain from the hang over and a lot of emotional from what had happened the night before.

Once she was dressed, she stepped back into the room, staring at Jerry for a moment before she made her way over to the bed and took a seat on the edge. It was hard to form a coherent sentence but she knew that she needed to talk to him.

"Thanks...for last night." She said softly, her blue eyes rising to look at him. "I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with."

She wasn't sure what else she could say. It did mean a lot to her that he had stayed and that he seemed to be wanting to make an effort to repair the friendship that they had once had.

"How about I take you out to breakfast this morning. Anywhere you want to go, my treat." She finally offered.

 

[BeachBum25]

He watched her walk back into the room. Even after tying one on last night she looked good this morning. Yes, she was wearing the same suit she got shitfaced in, but it did not matter. She still looked good. He watched her walk over and sit on the edge of the bed.

"Listen Meg, I have no problem with you. What happens in the courtroom is never personal to me. I know you take it differently than I do. It is just business to me. So, helping you last night was not a big deal to me. You needed someone to spend time with and I was more than happy to be the one you've spent it with."

He smiled at her when she mentioned breakfast. "You think you are getting off with a breakfast. Hell no. I ordered you some juice, fruit and aspirin. It should be up any second. I am going to get a shower. I will take you home to make sure things are okay, and then I will pick you up for dinner tonight after work. That way my appetite will be back and I will be able to eat a lot and cost you a lot of money." He laughed; hoping she understood that he was teasing...about costing her a lot of money anyway.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You want to take me to dinner?" She asked, a stunned look on her features as she stared at him.

She knew that he was teasing her. The smile on his face gave him the same boyish look that had attracted her in the first place. Megan could see that despite everything that had happened between them, Jerry had not changed. In all of that time, Jerry was still the same, fun loving man that had tried so hard to show her just how good life could be. She had refused to see it for what it was worth and she had lost him in the process.

"Well, I guess I better get my credit card squared away if you're going to eat me out of house and home." She murmured back, managing a small smile in return to show him that there were no hard feelings. "And it'll be good to have you there with me in case Tyler hasn't left. I'll need someone to kick his ass if he causes a problem."

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry got up out of the chair and headed for the closet. He grabbed his clothes and headed into the bathroom. "Yes. We are going out to dinner, and yes get that credit card squared away. If there is any confrontation at your place, it will just mean that I am going to eat more tonight."

Gallo went into the bathroom, showered and dressed. He really wasn't looking for a confrontation, but he wanted to make sure that Megan was okay. There was no doubt in his mind that her boyfriend had done what he did on purpose. He probably had been hoping she would say something when she caught him. He wanted a confrontation with her.

After the shower, he walked out into the room and saw Megan drinking orange juice and nibbling on fruit. "You ready Meg? I have a client meeting at noon. That should give me enough time to get you home, make sure you are okay, get to my place and change and get to the meeting."

He followed her out of the room. They rode down the elevator and he joked with her. "I am not kidding about getting your credit card squared away. I think I am going to be hungry tonight.....very hungry." They got off the elevator, walked outside and got into a cab. Megan gave the driver her address and they headed to her place.

 

[heartofcourage]

The orange juice and fruit that he had ordered for her while she was in the shower was delivered when he was in the bathroom. The aspirin was instantly downed, followed by a healthy dose of orange juice. The tiny white pills couldn't work fast enough for her, she thought to herself as she nibbled on the pieces of cantaloupe, bananas and grapes that were assembled.

Megan glanced up as he exited in his clothes, asking her if she were ready to go. She was ready as she would ever be, she thought. Grabbing her purse and putting her shoes back on, she followed him to the elevator and into the taxi as it was flagged down.

"I'll call the cops if he's still there. The apartment is in my name and he's not welcome anymore." Megan said, her old self creeping back into her voice.

She dealt with bad situations with the same aloofness that she tackled court cases with. It sometimes made it frustrating for those around her, but it was the only way that she knew how to deal with the tough times in her life.

One good sign was that Tyler's car was missing as the cab pulled up in front of the apartment building. The sports car was usually parked right in the front but the spot was empty. She hoped the rest of the apartment was just as empty.

 

[BeachBum25]

Gallo paid the cabbie and asked him to wait for a few minutes. He told the cabbie he would be going uptown and would make the wait worth it to him. The driver said he would wait. He followed Megan inside the building and to her apartment.

Jerry looked around. It certainly didn't look like the boyfriend had cleared his things out. This meant he was still looking for a confrontation. It did not appear that he was still here, but who knew when he would come back. Jerry did not feel comfortable leaving Megan here alone.

"Meg, why don't you grab your clothes for the day and come with me. You can change at my place and then go to work. You are probably going to have to go to court to get him evicted since he was living here with you. I will draw up the paperwork for you and get the eviction process started. That is, if you want me to."

He could tell that Megan was not happy. He could see the courtroom Meg coming out. "If you don't want to change at my place, I will stay here until you are ready to go, and I will make sure there are no problems in case he comes back. It is up to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan felt so defeated and violated when she saw that Tyler's things were still there in the apartment. He must have thought that she wasn't serious when she told him to get out. Perhaps he thought that he could have ambushed her, forced her to take him back. There was no going back any more. He had cheated on her with another woman. She would never be able to forgive and forget that.

Glancing towards Jerry as he offered to take her with him, she weighed her options. He would give her a place to hide out for the day while he drew up legal paperwork for her. He wanted to help her get Tyler out of the apartment. It was sweet of him to offer, but she wasn't sure she could take him up on that offer. It seemed too much to ask.

"I'll get my things." She said softly, moving past him to get some things out of the bedroom.

The sheets and comforter had been tossed onto the floors, rumpled from activities that had happened the day before. She ignored it as she grabbed a bag from the closet, putting a pair of jeans, underwear, and a blouse inside before she found a comfortable pair of shoes. She grabbed some toiletries and then turned, pausing when she saw her orange tabby cat staring at her with his somber green eyes.

"Well, at least you're still here, Tubby." She murmured, bending down to scratch his ears as he purred in a rusty tone.

"I need to feed the cat before we go." She called to Jerry as Tubby followed her dutifully to the kitchen, looking at his empty bowl with expectations as she scooped out some dry kibble.

There were very few things that she loved more than life itself and Tubby was one of them. The three year old tabby had been rescued from the streets and lived the high life with Megan. She adored that cat.

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry followed Megan into the kitchen when she said that she had to feed the cat. He was amazed at the care and concern she showed to the cat. It was a part of Megan that people rarely, if ever, got to see. He leaned on the counter. "You don't think he would do anything to or with the cat, do you Meg? If you are worried about that, you can bring the cat with you. I am not a cat person, but if you think it is in danger, or if he would try to take the cat with him, you can bring it with you."

He wasn't sure why he was doing this. He wasn't sure why he was going to the lengths to help Meg that he was going to, but he was doing it. It probably had something to do with helping someone that was in need. He didn't like it when people took advantage of others. He waited for her response to his offer.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't think Tyler would hurt Tubby." Megan said as she looked up at Jerry. "Listen, Jer, everything that you're offering to do for me is really nice, but I can't bring my cat to your house. Even if you adored cats, that's a little too much. Tubby will be fine. He has his hiding spots if things get too intense."

Tubby was a scrappy little fighter. He had been a feral cat when she found him, but he had warmed up as she nursed him back to health. Now he lived a life of leisure, food and toys and all of the treats that he could eat. She didn't think that Tyler would take her cat or hurt him. If he did, there would be hell to pay and Tyler certainly knew that.

"I'll come and check on him tonight after dinner." She murmured as she left Tubby to eat his food.

 

[BeachBum25]

"Okay. Let's go." Gallo went out of he apartment first and waited for Megan to lock the door. Then they went down to the cab. He had to admit it that he was happy that she said she wasn't going to bring the cat, but he had to make the offer. He didn't like cats, but he would not want anything to happen to it.

As they were getting into the taxi, a sports car pulled up in front of the building. Gallo had a feeling this was the boyfriend. He looked at Megan who was already in the cab. The look he gave her was a do you want to just go, or do you want to confront him now look. If he knew Meg, he knew what the answer to that was.

He backed up and let Megan out of the car. He reached into his pocket and took out his cell phone. He dialed 911, but did not hit send. He wanted to be prepared in case the boyfriend got carried away. He waited to see what Meg was going to do, so that he could have her back.

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan was seeing red as Tyler pulled back up in front of the building, parking in his spot. Jerry glanced at her, his eyes asking if she was ready to confront him. Of course she was. She wanted this man out of her life forever.

"You have a lot of nerve coming back." She said as she got out of the taxi and stormed towards him. "Fucking another girl in our bed? What the hell were you thinking, Tyler? Did you think I wasn't going to find out?"

 

[BeachBum25]

Gallo followed behind Megan as she stormed toward the boyfriend. He wasn't going to keep her from him. It wasn't even worth trying. She was going to confront him and there was nothing that anyone could do about it.

As they got closer to the boyfriend, the boyfriend recognized Gallo. He shouted at Gallo asking him what he was doing here with his girlfriend. "Well, sport, it seems that I am here with your EX girlfriend, and I am representing her in the eviction process. If you were any kind of man, you would just get your shit, and get out."

Jerry stood next to Megan. He wanted to be able to make sure that she didn't do anything that she would regret later. "My client has agreed to give you 24 hours to get all of your belongings out of the residence. At that time, she is going to have the locks changed. If you are not out by then, I will file the eviction paperwork."

Megan was steaming and Jerry knew she wanted to let it out. He was fine with it as long as she didn't get physical with her ex. He paused to give her the opportunity to say what she needed to say. Then, he would get her out of there.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Mr. Gallo is my lawyer. He is one of the best, Tyler." She said, knowing that Tyler wouldn't have a clue who this guy was.

Tyler had a horrible memory when it came to other attorneys. He didn't think about cases he lost, only the ones that he won. Many of them that he had lost were probably against Jerry and he wouldn't have ever known.

"I want you stuff out by tomorrow morning. I don't care if you have nowhere else to go. Go shack up with that woman you were with last night for all that I care." Megan said, her exterior hard but her heart aching so much. "I never want to see you again."

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry took Megan's arm and led her to the taxi. He knew that she had more to say to her ex, but it was time to go. After Megan got into the cab, Gallo turned back around to the ex and said, "24 hours. That is all you have. Oh, and I will make sure that you are served the eviction notice while you are at the office. I am sure that everyone in the Prosecutor's Office would be happy to see that, especially your supervisor and the Attorney General himself."

Jerry got into the cab and gave the driver his address. He looked over at Megan. "I am very proud of how you reacted there. You held your tongue...for the most part. I don't think he will be a problem. I will make his life miserable if he does. I anticipate you will be able to get into your apartment tomorrow afternoon, and not see any of his stuff."

When they got to his place, they rode the elevator up to the top floor. He opened the door and let her in. He showed her where the guest room was. "You can change in there, and you can sleep there tonight. Make yourself at home Meg." He went into his room and changed into a fresh shirt and another suit. He walked out into the living room to wait for Megan.

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan felt like an intruder in Jerry's apartment. He told her to make herself at home, but she felt as if that was too much freedom to take. It was his personal space and if he were anything like her, he enjoyed his solitude.

Changing out of her suit, she was soon comfortable in her jeans and blouse. When she came out into the living room, she found him dressed in a suit and tie and ready to start his day.

"You know, after all of these years, you're the only person that ever calls me Meg." She murmured, unsure if she should thank him for everything again. "And I can't believe you don't like my cat."

 

[BeachBum25]

"Well, MEGAN, you were Meg to me back then, and you will always be Meg to me. It is just the way I know you. As for your cat, it isn't your cat that I don't like. I am not a cat person. I always was a dog person, but my hours with work are too long and it wouldn't be fair to leave a dog alone that long everyday."

Gallo let his eyes wander over Meg. She looked real good in those jeans. "So, you must have a real easy day of work today. Dressing down, huh? I take it that we are going to dine casually tonight. So, I will come back and change before we go to dinner."

He walked into the kitchen. "Can I get anything for you? I have orange and apple juice. I have some Gatorade. I am sure there is something else in here that you might be interested. Anything you want, it is yours. Help yourself."

 

[heartofcourage]

He had been the only person to ever call her Meg. It was a sweet little nickname. She liked the way that it sounded coming from him and she secretly hoped that he never stopped calling her that. As he talked about being a dog person, she laughed softly.

"You'll find that Tubby is more like a dog than a cat." She said with a soft smile on her face. "If you stick around long enough to get to know him."

She had no idea why she said that. Did she want him to stick around? They lived very busy lives and they had tried a relationship once only to watch it crash and burn. Was that something that she would even want to let happen again? She wasn't sure.

"Nothing pressing for me to do today. My case from yesterday went to mediation and there's nothing on the docket for the next few days. I was planning to take some time off anyway." She said with a simple shrug of her shoulders. "They'll call me if they need me."

She followed him into the kitchen, looking over what he had to offer. "I'll have some Gatorade and a nap to get rid of this hangover. Then I'll order something in for lunch. No sense in getting your kitchen messy."

 

[BeachBum25]

There was a part of Jerry that wished he didn't have the client meeting today. In fact, it was a pretty big part of him that wished that. He would enjoy spending the day with Megan. Unfortunately, that would not happen. Dinner together would be nice.

He,was shocked that she talked about him sticking around. He would have stuck around years ago, but it was not meant to be. Yes, his heart had been broken, but he was over it. He had to admit though that Megan still held a special place with him. Even though they had not really communicated since then, he really liked her.

"Help yourself to anything here. There is no need to order anything for lunch. Have anything here that you want. Don't worry about dirtying the kitchen. That is what I pay the maid to do." He walked past her. As he did, he kissed her on the forehead. "Feel better. I will be back around 3. If you need anything, my cell phone is right here." He wrote his number on a pad on the counter, then headed toward the door. "See you soon."

 

[heartofcourage]

She stood there stunned as he pressed a kiss to her forehead and told her that he would be back at 3. Did he even realize that he had just kissed her? She was like a deer in the headlights as he headed towards the door and told her that he would see her soon. Megan wanted to say something, but the words failed her. Jerry had a way about him that had always made her speechless.

After he was gone, she helped herself to a bottle of Gatorade and a few crackers from a box in the cabinet. Then, she threw back another aspirin and tucked herself into bed. Soon enough, she was asleep, letting the last few painful moments of the hangover drift away from her.

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry's meeting was uneventful. The client was willing to pay him the required fee, and was willing to give him complete control over the case. There was actually no negotiation about wither of those points as far as Gallo was concerned. Either you agreed to them or you found yourself another lawyer.

After the meeting, Jerry went to his office. He went through the messages his secretary put on his computer, and he returned a few phone calls. When he was finished, he had a paralegal draw up the paperwork to get a court ordered eviction. He gave her the particulars and told her to bring it to him when she was finished. He figured it would be better to have the paperwork ready, just in case.

When he had the paperwork, he placed it in his briefcase. He would be able to take it right to the courthouse if necessary. He headed out of the office, telling his secretary he was gone for the day and should only be called in an extreme emergency.

When he got home, he walked quietly into the condo. He had a feeling Megan would be asleep and he didn't want to wake her up. He went to his room and changed into jeans...leaving his dress shirt on. He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a Gatorade, and sat down in the living room.