The courtroom erupted. Brandon’s lawyer was talking rapidly, but Brandon wasn’t listening. He was staring at me with something I’d never seen in his eyes before: fear.
The fear of a man who just lost control of everything. I stood up on shaking legs, and Maggie hugged me tight.
«You did it,» she whispered. «You did it, Grace.»
Outside the courtroom, I heard raised voices. Brandon and Veronica were arguing on the steps.
«You told me she was nobody!» Veronica’s voice was sharp, furious. «You said this would be simple, that she’d just go away. Now I have to return $75,000? Do you know how that looks for my company?»
«Veronica, please, we can figure this out.»
«Figure it out yourself. I’m not attaching my name to this disaster.»
She turned and walked away, her heels clicking on the stone steps. Brandon called after her, but she didn’t look back. His lawyer approached him, speaking quietly.
I couldn’t hear the words, but I saw Brandon’s face fall even further, probably telling him that an appeal would cost more than just paying the judgment. Brandon stood alone on the courthouse steps, his expensive suit suddenly looking like a costume.