Keigo Kyou rubbed his aching abdomen.

"That ulcer acting up again, Judge?"

"It’s been a long day. Longer then the usual since we are trying to wrap up the last four episodes of the season."

"Well, this is the last one, maybe it won’t be too difficult." Keigo held his arms back to allow his judicial robe to be slipped on. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders smoothing out the material. "I was thinking, Judge, since you’re wrapping up a the season and will be going on summer vacation, how about you allow me to buy you a drink to celebrate the renewal of twenty more episodes?"

The director called out, "Everyone take your places, we are about to begin!"

The makeup artist pressed the sheet of rice paper to his forehead and nose to prevent camera shine, "Sorry, but I already have plans. Maybe another time, Caroline," he gave her a polite smile.

"You always tell me the same thing," she pouted.

"Yet you keep asking," he pointed out.

"Can’t blame a girl for trying," she whispered and winked at him before stepping aside.

"Nope, as long as you don’t mind my continuing to say, "no"." he grinned.

"All quiet in the courtroom. Key announcer!" The director gave a hand gesture to start the music.

"You are about to enter the courtroom of Judge Keigo Kyou. The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is his courtroom. This is Judge Kyou."

"Enter Bailiff on 1, 2, 3…"

Bailiff Williams took his place next to the bench. In a deep booming voice he announced to the courtroom, "This court is now in session, all rise."

Keigo stepped out of his chambers and made his way to the bench.

"Key announcer."

"Tanesha Lewin is suing personal chef and owner of the online business Food Aura for the money she paid her to cater her wedding."

"Bailiff on 1,2,3…"

"Be seated!" He leaned over, handed the file to Keigo, and said, "Your Honor, this is case number DC-07-4335 Lewin vs. Jones. All parties have been sworn in."

"Okay, lets get on with it then. Now, Mrs. Lewin, you hired catering services from this woman. And you were not happy with the meal, is that correct?"

"Uh…excuse me, Judge. First, let me say you are much cuter in person--"

He glanced at Miss Jones long enough to say, "Miss Jones, you do not speak in my court until you're called upon to do so." Keigo interrupted automatically, barely giving the speaking woman a second glance.

This was not the day for dramatic outburst or anything else. This was to be his last case before embarking on a two-months long awaited leave. From what he read in this case file, it should take less than ten minutes for him to render a judgment.

"Your Judgeship, you'll have to forgive me, I was wondering why she gets to tell her side first? I'm sure if you just let me explain the unpleasant situation, you will just throw her petty ol' case right out of your courtroom."

Keigo, with a scowl, pulled his reading glasses off his nose and placed them on top of the papers giving the uncouth woman his full attention. His dark eyebrows lifted in surprise as he took time to look at her. She was thin, toffee colored skin, and of medium height. Her dark hair was worn in a natural wild style like a halo about her face and shoulders, and if he squinted hard enough he would swear he could make out the darkness of her nipples beneath the white stretch neck peasant blouse.

The first thought that came to mind was a crazed gypsy fortuneteller, he'd seen in some "B" grade horror film. The only difference was the woman in the movie wasn't a Black woman that didn’t know how to keep quiet in his courtroom. Sometimes being on television brought out the worse in people.

"If we may continue," he mumbled, rubbing at the throbbing in his stomach. "Miss Jones. I can assure you there is a method to how I do things around here. You will get your turn in due time." Keigo’s dark eyebrows lifted in disbelief. The woman had the gall to be shaking her head at him as he was speaking. What the hell? Shouldn’t the director yell cut or something? Of course not, this has the potential for "great TV" and what the director didn’t want to keep he would edit it out later.

"Nope, Judge Cutie, it's my reputation and character coming into question here, and I reserve the right to defend myself." His mouth dropped wide in surprise when she moved from behind the podium with a swirl of scarlet and white-layered skirts swaying about her slender ankles and bare feet?

"Miss Jones, you need to go back to your podium please. This still happens to be a court of law."

"By the way, call me Etta," She gave him a dimpled grin and winked. His second wink within the past fifteen minutes. He wasn’t impressed. His stomach hurt and he was quickly losing reign on his patients.

Releasing a loud he forged ahead, "Miss Jones, you may address me as, Judge Kyou, Mr. Chief Justice, or Your Honor," Keigo corrected her before proceeding to ask, "I may regret asking this, but tell me please, why are you standing in my courtroom without shoes?"

"Oh, Your Judgeship, I have them with me. I’m just not wearing them."

"I can see that," he stated. "What I don’t know is why?"

She shrugged. "I hate shoes and every chance I can get they come off. I’m inside, so it’s okay. I think it started when I moved into my new house three years ago and the decorator my friends hired surprised me with this awesome place were I could find inner peace. So it’s decorated in an Asian style and I have tatami floor mats. Seeing how you’re Japanese, I don’t have to tell you what tatami flooring are made of do I?"

"Miss Jones, true I am Japanese but aren’t you being a bit presumptuous, I was born in San Francisco," Keigo pointed out not sure why he felt it was necessary.

"So you don’t know what a tatami floor is?" She asked.

"I didn’t say that."

"Then what’s your point in saying it at all?" She huffed. "I’m not Japanese, nor was I born in Japan, but I respect and have learned about your culture."

"Miss Jones, this is not your home and there are no tatami floorings in here, so please put back on your shoes. It’s not sanitary."

"My feet are okay, I will wash them when I get home, so I’m not worry about germs," She explained to him as if he was a dense child.

"I am. From your feet."

"You can eat off my feet, thank you. I clean them just as much as the average person washes their hands. Would you like to see them? Let me--"

"Ms. Jones, don’t you dare move any further away from your assigned podium!"

The people in the audience laughed.

He blinked once…twice, the muscle in his cheeks worked over time as he bit down on his back teeth. "Miss Jones, need I remind you that you are currently in a court of law. I is appropriate that while you are in public you should wear shoes on your feet, and several places will not allow you entrance without shoes. This is one of them."

"First, I didn’t "enter" without my shoes. I just removed them a moment go. Secondly, I understand how the conventional world-that I must suffer on a daily bases-work. I also can read and I didn’t see any signs on your courtroom door that requires me to keep on my shoes."

"You also didn’t read a sign to keep on your clothes, but I see you’re still wearing those," Keigo pointed out.

She gave him an impish grin. "If it’s a probably I can start shedding, I have a membership at the nude beach, so it you thought to intimidate me with that statement…"

Keigo thought about her being nude. He knew it was a mistake when it cross his mind because it had been awhile since he been with a woman. So the mere thought of seeing her naked up close and personal brought on an unexpected semi-erection. He shifted in his chair, clearing his throat loudly.

Keigo simmered a little longer in silence before saying in a calm voice, meant for a child, since she insisted on misbehaving like one. "Miss Jones, I believe we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot."

The viewers in the courtroom laughed.

She cocked a perfectly arched eyebrow at him and placed her long slender fingers on her hips.

"No pun intended," the corner of his mouth tipped up in a grin.

"Of course not," she murmured.

"Miss Jones, how about you move back over to stand next to your shoes, and allow me to proceed uninterrupted. If you can not abide by the rules of this court I will be forced to do something I do not wish to do," he reprimanded.

"I will do as you ask, if you do as I ask and call me, Etta. I gave up all the trappings of my former life three years ago, including the use of my last name. Now I’m know legally as "Etta", you know like, Cher." Her full lips spread into a wide grin. "Since you’re throwing out threats, tell me Judge Handsome, what exactly are you threatening to do, exactly?"

His breath caught. She has a beautiful smile, he thought. He shook his head deciding he needed to get this over with and quick. His body was betraying him!

"You don’t want to know," he murmured. "Now get back over there," he pointed.

"Yeah. I do."

"This is madness? Where is the director shouldn’t you be yelling cut or something?" Keigo bellowed with a deep scowl.

"Stop film!"

The director nearly skipped up to his bench. It was apparent he was pleased by the woman’s antic in his courtroom.

"Judge Keigo, just keep going like this. This is priceless! I couldn’t have done better if I had chosen an actress to come in here and stir things up." He slapped the top of the bench and chuckled. "She is wonderful, and she looks great on camera. That impish dimpled smile of hers caught us off guard. It was a priceless close-up shot and free to us. What more could you ask for?"

"Okay, I give you that. She does have an unassuming prettiness, but--" Keigo saw her laughing and shaking her head along with the chuckles of the audience and realized the entire courtroom was hearing everything. His face flushed red and he threw his hand over his attached microphone. "Dammit, Marco, I’ve had a long freakin’ day, my gut is killing me and I’m in no mood to continue this dancing with her any further. This should have been a cut and dry case, so let me just make my ruling and let’s call it a day!"

"Look, we’re friends so you know I’m not going to bullshit you on this." Marco stated, which was a sign to Keigo that Marco was in creative mode and seeing Emmy awards on his shelf. There was no way he was going to allow him to wrap this us quickly.

"Keigo, I know they’ve already spoken to you about renewing for twenty more episodes, but you know how fickle this business is. If I don’t pull off something grand, they may get a new director. Hey trust me."

"Uh oh, you’re playing on the friendship and the "trust me" card," Keigo moaned. "It’s going to be a long afternoon isn’t it?"

"Come on, buddy, haven’t I made you the hottest Judge on television? You have a huge viewing audience of women. They are going to love this episode!"

Keigo simmered.

"Keigo, you know I’m talking the truth, man. This episode will push you over the top. A real battle of the sexes! Sort of like Jerry Springer but real, you know."

He knew Marco was right, but he didn’t have to be happy about it.

"After we get this finished and edited I’m going to see if I can convince the network to air this as the last show of the season and make it like a, cliffhanger. Your viewers won’t know the results until the first episodes of next season. It will be all the talk for the summer break and when you have your season premiere the ratings will be dancing on the roof!"

"Hey! Excuse me! I know this is a TV show, but being one of the "real people" in a "real case" I would like us to get on with it! I have a nail appointment scheduled."

"Oh shit, now Mrs. Lewin is stirred up, that is all I need," Keigo groaned.

"Oh, I was wondering why she was sitting on sideline! This is great, if she is good and pissed, then we are bound to hear more out of her."

"Marco," he called his name in a warning voice.

"No Man, this is great. Go at it with the Ella chick a little longer. The later the Lewin broad is for her appointment the more pissed she will be," Marco slapped his hands together. "Quiet on the set! Rolling in 1,2,3…"

"Excuse me! I’m screw this, it’s my turn to say something," Tanesha voiced. "I wrote in my complaint that this Ella woman was a nut case, Judge Kyou. Now you now see for yourself what I’ve been going through trying to get my freakin’ money back! I swear the mental bitch needs to pay me more for my mental stress!"

"Mrs. Lewin--" Keigo began and once more to his amazement- yet not really surprising- was the very vocal and saucy, Miss Jones, interrupting him.

"You spouting such hogwash Tanesha, and you know it," Etta yelled. "You know how I do? Now you are going to come up in this courtroom and pretend like you don’t know the deal."

"Don’t talk to me, Redbone Bitch, tell it to the judge." Tanesha through up a hand and turned her head.

Keigo wondered if they were for real. He had seen stuff like this happen on other’s show, but never his. He was beginning to wonder if indeed Marco had stage all of this. Of course the case was real he had the official documents to prove it, but where did they find these people in line at the Jerry Springer audition?"

"Ladies, please--"

"Tanesha, I told you several times that I needed to meet with you and the groom, before the big day, in order to get an accurate reading. It’s not my problem that he was too busy to show up in planning his own wedding," Etta huffed. "You should have told me that the man you were marrying was Jewish. I can’t believe you would order pork knowing you were having a Baptist and Jewish styled wedding. I told you some people don’t do pork because it got a bad rep., go with something neutral like beef and chicken."

"Pork, has a reputation?" Keigo snorted on a laugh. Both women turned mean eyes on him and he clamped his mouth shut. He had completely lost control of his courtroom. He cut mean eyes towards Marco, sitting in the shadows. He hoped he was getting some good footage because he wasn’t going to allow this to continue much longer.

"Why in the hell should I have to tell you anything, aren’t you the one with your own cooking show called The Psychic Chef?" Tanesha screeched.

She has her own show? No reason she is so comfortable in front of the camera. Keigo thought. She probably was on his show trying to get free publicity. The nerves of this woman never cease to amaze him. He looked over at Marco again. He smelled a dirty directing rat. If he found out that the same company that produced his show was producing her show, he was killing Marco.

"Oh please, Etta, my husband’s last name is Lewin, for freakin’ sake. Even I would have known he was Jewish! Stomach reader my ass!"

"Ladies…" Keigo tried once again to intervene, politely.

"Food Consultant, thank you!" Etta shouted. "Look, I never professed to be a freakin’ mind reader. Also as for the last name, you’re a Lewin now and everyone can see you aren’t Jewish the way you barfed down the ribs at your wedding, it’s obvious you aren’t living a kosher lifestyle. Tell what did your husband think about those barbecue kisses he was getting off your greasy lips." Etta clucked her tongue loudly. "See if you listened to someone else besides your own porker snout you wouldn’t be in this mess."

"Meaning what?" Tanesha bellowed. "You trying to say I’m fat."

"No, I’m not trying to say anything except your nose looks like a pig snout."

"Why you bitch!"

"Call me what you want but we both know the truth. You’re the one who insisted on ribs and pulled pork smoked tender in brisk chips, with Cajun hot barbecue. Now, I don’t care who ate the meat. All I know is there was nothing left at the end of the night."

"Miss Jones…"

"I was humiliated." Tanesha pouted.

"Mrs. Lewin…"

"If wearing that dress cut down to your navel was humiliating, nothing else should have been," Etta quipped.

"You’re whacked-out crack ho," Tanesha argued. "You owe me."

"I don’t owe you a dam…err…you know!"

"Oh yes you do and you going to give me back my money!"

"What money? I swear you got nerve!" Etta blew out a long breath. "Tanesha, how do you think you can give a sister, $4400 dollars to buy $3800 worth of food and even consider that I got what my services are worth? If anything you still owe me."

"Don’t hold your breath," Tanesha rolled her eyes at her.

Etta’s face became flushed and Keigo grinned. If Mrs. Lewin was getting under Etta’s skin, he was happy. All of this started because she couldn’t follow the rules. She deserved to feel a taste of his frustration.

"I don’t do these types of affairs anymore. Do you have any idea how much I could charge you for my services? Hell, I get paid big duchies just to put in an appearance! I did all the work myself so you wouldn’t have to pay extra for my assistants, all you had to do was supply the servers and you decided to go buffet style to pinch a dime."

"Humph! A favor? I don’t think so. You see this is what you get when you mess with a ghetto catering business," Tanesha mumbled.

"Oh no, you didn’t," Etta made a smacking sound of disbelief. "What right do a Hood Rat--"

Keigo spited out the sip of water he took from his cup on a laugh.

The ladies barely gave him a glance as Etta continued, "Have to call me ghetto? You don’t know me like that. I may be a Carney Brat--"

"Carney Brat?" Bailiff Phil interrupted in his booming voice.

"A kid that grew up in a traveling carnival," Etta explained.

"Thank you, Phil," Keigo grinned at the bailiff. "That explains a lot."

"Yes it do, Judge Kyou," Phil chuckled in agreement.

Etta turned her attention towards him but before she could say what she was thinking Tanesha intervened. He released a relieved sigh.

"You know you’re jealous because I go a man and my Momma told me what happened on the day of your wedding," Tanesha said smugly. "That’s the real reason you don’t do weddings any more isn’t it, Ms. Goody-Goody."

The entire courtroom seemed to grow still as they waited for Etta’s snappy comeback. Keigo was taken aback to see the color practically drain from her generally animated face. His expression darkened with an unreadable emotion and he realized he had allowed this to go on long enough.

Keigo stood abruptly, picked up his gavel and struck the dark oak wood a few times, the vein in his forehead was prominent as he bellowed, "Enough! I want order, in this damned courtroom, or I will hold you both in contempt!"

Surprised gasps went out through the courtroom followed by dead silence, all eyes forward on him. Keigo’s face reddened with embarrassment. Marco was laughing at his expense. Never in his eleven years on the bench had had he made such an outburst in his courtroom. He was sure it was because his stomach was killing him. Tiredly, he cleared his throat and mumbled his apologies while reclaiming his seat.

"Don’t worry about it, Judge Handsome, I can hear your poor belly screaming so I can understand why you’re in such a fowl mood." She clucked her tongue at him before adding in Japanese, "Genki dashite, nantoka naru-yo."

He looked up at Etta in amazement, not because she had spoken in Japanese, but because she seemed to have recovered quickly and once again talking out of turn in his courtroom. What would it take to keep her quiet? What had Mrs. Lewin said? Something had happened on the day of her wedding? What happened? It was obvious from her case file information the marriage didn’t happen. She marked the single box. Not, divorced or married. His eyes narrowed. What was her story?

"Excuse me, Judge Kyou, I don’t know how to type Japanese," the stenographer interrupted his thoughts.

"Oops, sorry, your Honorary’s Secretary, " Etta giggled. "I said, "cheer up, it’ll be okay". As a matter-of-fact, this is Judge Uptight’s lucky day because Etta knows what he needs."

Keigo’s didn’t realize his mouth was open until he nearly choked on his own dry tongue. He struck the gavel to the wood on the desk. "Et…err…Miss Jones, you give me no choice. I’m holding you in contempt for disrupting my proceedings time and time again."

"Holding in contempt? What does that mean? You’re pissed at me?"

Phil and the courtroom of people laughed.

"Uh, it means that you will be charges a fine and if the Judge so wish it, spend time in jail for disrupting the court."

"Thank you, Phil," Etta smiled at the tall muscular Black man.

Keigo frowned, "Yeah, thank you, Phil."

Phil cleared his throat, threw his shoulder back, with hands crossed in front of him he resumed his stoic appearance and stared straight ahead. Only the slight tugging at the corner of his mouth hinted at his true humorous nature.

Keigo was just feeling irritated. Was she charming all his friends? Even Marco was giving him a "thumbs up" sign. He was going to kick his ass when this was over.

"Don’t anyone appreciate free help these days. First I do this girl a favor because her Mother knows my Mother, then I try to be understanding about your attitude." She paused and gave him a grin, "Tell me, why does it seem that I’m the only one that seems to be out of money. How much of a fine are we talking about?

"Do you always talk this much?" He asked over her chatter.

"I don’t think so, but some say I do when I get nervous." She placed a finger to her chin. "I don’t feel nervous, do you?"

"Miss Jones, from now until the end of these proceedings, every time you interrupt me I will add a day for each word along with an additional thousand dollar fine. So it would be feasible if you kept your mouth closed."

"Five days of what?" Etta sputtered. "Also, since you’ve already charged me a thousand dollars, I should be allowed to finish speaking my piece!"

"It’s because you insist on speaking your "piece" that you are in this mess in the first place!" Keigo slammed the gavel down once again. "Now you owe me fifteen days!"

"More like eighteen, Judge."

"Thank you, Phil."

"Yeah, thanks Phil," she mimicked sarcastically.

"That brings you up to twenty-one," Keigo announced. "You want to try for twenty-five."

"How about, K.M. I!" She yelled at him.

Keigo face showed his confusion. "KMI?"

She looked at Phil.

"Kiss My Ass, Judge. Not my ass, uh...her--"

"I get it Phil."

The courtroom erupted in laughter. Keigo hammered against the wood.

"You get an even thirty for that one, Miss Jones."

Etta raised her hand.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "What now?"

"Since you’re giving me permission to speak this don’t count," she reminded. "May I ask thirty days of what? Jail time? I can’t do jail time. They might pull my show if the advertisers start pulling out. You know how the networks are."

Indeed Keigo understood all too well. This is why he kept his nose clean, didn’t bring any added attention to his personal life, then necessary. He took this job, to live an easier and quieter lifestyle. He didn’t do interviews or skits on other shows. He came in did his job, allowed marketing to create this mysterious persona of him and went about his business.

"Tell me, why should I be concerned about your career? You obviously haven’t been. Look at your actions in my courtroom today."

"Well, if you feel that way," she pouted prettily. "Then you might as well throw me in jail right now, but make sure if the media gets a hold of my mug shot they get the picture with my good side and not one of those front face shot. No one look good in those." She held her arms out and put her wrist together. "Take me. I’m yours."

Keigo winced as the tick in his left eye matched the dull throbbing in his stomach. The tinkling of the numerous around her dainty wrist tinkled with each movement.

"Go back to your assigned stand and put your shoes on, Miss Jones. I’m going to make a ruling," Keigo said, his voice dangerously soft.

"Does this mean, I’m not going to jail?" She asked.

The woman was clueless. "Now you owe me thirty-eight days Miss Jones, so you’re not helping your case. Do you want to make it forty-one and offer me your ass again?" He smirked.

Everyone laughed.

She rolled her eyes and dropped her crossed arms to place her hands on her hips. Her head bobbed on her long slender neck as she said, "Oh what the hell, I might as well go for broke, since I’m going to rot in jail anyway, right?"

He watched her stomped over to the podium where she was suppose to be standing in the first place and snatched up her purse.

"What are you up to?" Keigo asked.

"I didn’t want to have to do this," she fussed.

"Phil, make sure she don’t have a weapon of some sort, I don’t trust her."

The courtroom laughed.

"She’s cleaned Judge, you know we check everyone out before the come in here," Phil answered with a grin.

"Even breath spray would be a dangerous weapon in that woman’s hand," Keigo commented.

More laughter erupted and Keigo grinned. He saw all the other shows and they all seemed to have a comedic relief in the midst of seriousness. It never happened in his court. It was a refreshing change. People, were actually finding him humorous. There’s a first time for everything he supposed.

"What does she have there?" Tanesha asked loudly. "She can’t go bringing evidence into this case I don’t know about!"

"What I have here on this camera proves that Tanesha was not dissatisfied with the food I prepared for her wedding." She moved towards the bench and came up on her tiptoes before him to place the small video camera on his bench.

"Will you please…please go back to your podium and for God’s sake, keep quiet Miss Jones," Keigo moaned placing a hand on his stomach.

He wasn’t surprised when she ignored him. Again.

"Also, you should already have copies of the contracts. There are initials at the bottom of each contract page, her initials. Tanesha had no special specifications such as family members who are allergic or don’t eat nuts, seafood, pork, vegetarians, etcetera. As you can see none of those boxes were checked off."

Keigo grimaced and rubbed his stomach.

"I apologize for giving you a hard time." She whispered softly, he assumed it was for his ears only, but she forgot as long as they wore microphones, nothing was private. "It wasn’t my intention to cause you added stomach pains."

His eyes locked on her face pleasantly pleased by the genuine and sincere tone of her voice. She fluttered beautiful long dark eyelashes at him and gifted him with another one of her mesmerizing grin. Once more his body betrayed him and hardened.

"Your…uh, apology is accepted, Miss Jones."

"Now, sweetie, this is between me and you," she said softly tweaking her forefinger for him to come closer.

His interest peeked he stood placed one hand over his microphone and nodded at hers to do the same. He leaned over his desk. "Now, what you say will remain between us."

"You know what, Judge Handsome?"

The sweet seductiveness of her throaty voice caused all kinds of thoughts to run through his head. He was thankful for the fullness of his judicial robe. "What, Miss Jones?"

"I think you’re gorgeous. Especially when you’re not so serious. I just needed to say it."

"Thank you, now can we finish this so we can call it a day and go home?" He asked in hushed tones.

A probing query came to her eyes and he suspected she had an ulterior motive for giving him honey sweet compliments.

"Mmm, does this mean I’ve made my case? Are you going to dismiss the twenty days of service?"

He was right.

Keigo released a disappointed sigh, "Forty-one days, Miss Jones, and the answer is, no."

Keigo, tried not to smile at her pretty pout but he couldn’t help it.

She narrowed her brown eyes on him and said, "What if I offer you a deal? What if I give you fifteen days of my chef service? Free of charge of course."

"Of course," Keigo repeated. "No, thank you."

"Twenty days and I promise to heal your bad tummy?" She continued to bargain.

"Thirty days and you got a deal."

"Deal!" She beamed and held out her hand.

Keigo ignored the offer of a handshake. "My word is enough, Miss Jones, now return to your proper place and we will wrap this up."

She let her hand drop, her right eyebrow arched at him. "Say, "please" and apologize to me for making this entire process more difficult then it had to be. As you can see the case is cut and dry. There’s a contract she signed it. There’s video evidence of her at the wedding with her arm wrapped around my shoulder thanking me and telling everyone how wonderful everything was."

"Of for goodness sakes!" Keigo groaned in frustration, rubbing at his stomach and temple. He didn’t care if this was "good TV" as Marco put it. He wasn’t an entertainer, he was a District Court Judge and he was tired of her running his courtroom.

As if she hadn’t cause enough disruption for one day she was actually waiting for him to apologize. His eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline. The irritating minx had the nerve to wink at him and flash those silly dimples. Dimples like that shouldn’t be on a grown woman!

"Miss Jones, I swear you are crazy lady." He muttered.

"Oh, now you can see she’s a nut!" Tanesha yelled at him. "You couldn’t just take my word for it. I’m thirty minutes late for my appointment because--"

"Do you want to end up in the same predicament that she is in, Mrs. Lewin? If not continue to keep your mouth shut," Keigo stood and pointed gavel at Etta. "As for you! I realize as long as you are in here I will not be allowed to do my job," he stated in a low menacing voice. "Bailiff, take Miss Jones to a holding cell. Maybe a few minutes alone in her own company will do her some good."

"What? Wait, I’m sorry, okay, you don’t have to apologize! Look, I really can’t go to jail. I don’t’ like confined spaces. I--"

"You’re still talking? Phil. Enjoy the jail cell, Miss Jones." Keigo stated while the Bailiff grabbed Etta by the upper arm, reaching for his handcuffs. "No!" He stopped him raising a hand. "I don’t think those are necessary, but if you happen to have a muzzle I’m sure everyone would appreciate it."

The audience laughed.

"Oh you…you bully!" Etta called out. "You know what? You may be cute, but you’re an ass, for putting a woman in jail!"

"Calm down and walk this way, Miss Jones," the bailiff tugged at her until they were out the side door. The door closed but he could still hear her ranting.

Keigo squared his shoulder. His grin grew wider. Softly a chuckle escaped his lips and he murmured, "Boy, I pity the man that has to wake up next to that mouth every morning."

The audience laughed.

He smirked. He could be amusing, sometimes.

The smug grin left his face. A brief picture of him waking up next to Etta seized his thoughts. Keigo could imagine the heaviness of her eyes gazing over at him. The fullness of her lips, moist and begging to be kissed, moaning his name.

He pushed aside the thoughts. The pain in his stomach must be causing a numbing in his brain for thinking such a crazy thought. She wasn’t even his type. Whatever that was. It had been three years since he had been with any woman. He didn’t know if he was ready yet to get back in the dating world.

Once Phil quietly returned to the courtroom, with his customary stern and practiced exterior, Keigo told Phil, who quietly returned to his place to play the tape on the monitors.

"Enough, I’m ready to rule," he turned his attention to the courtroom and announced, "In light of the this tape and contracts that you did indeed placed your initials on each paper approving of the menu. So, I hereby declare this case, dismissed!" Loudly he slammed down the gavel and moved to step down from the bench.

"Hey! Wait a damned minute!" Tanesha bellowed. "What about my money! She is a crazy ass woman!"

"I won’t disagree with that, but it obviously has nothing to do with her ability as a chef, Mrs. Lewin, you made that fact clear in the wedding video.

"So she just walks away from everything, just like that." Tanesha Lewin stated.

"No, unfortunately Miss Jones owes my court a fine and thirty days for her disruption," Keigo stated. "If I had been allowed the opportunity to do my job, I was ready to dismissed the case on the contracts and recommendation letters submitted by guest that had attended the wedding."

"Court is dismissed," Phil announced.

While the others completed the day’s production wrap and interviews with the plaintiff and audience members, Keigo made a quick exit to his chambers and slammed the door shut behind him. He wasn’t in the mood to sign autographs and chat with fans. Of course, his producers would have some to say about it, but after today he was about to tell them where to shove the entire show.

For a while now he had been wondering if this was what he wanted to do anymore. There was a time that all he wanted was to someday sit on the Supreme Court. He was considered a boy genius graduating from Harvard Law School at the tender age of eighteen. His father had mapped out his entire life and when he died his dream had become his own. That was until the accident changed his entire life and limited his options.

With a soft curse, he shrugged out of his robe and hung it up on the assigned hook to let Nan, his personal assistant, know it needed to go to the drycleaners. Don’t do this. Don’t dredge of the past. Just let it go, he told himself.

Dropping down tiredly into a black leather chair behind the oversized cherry wood desk, he leaned back and lifted his feet to rest on his desk, one ankle crossed over the other. His hand dropped onto his stomach, rubbing the dull ache. The pain was a gentle reminder that he wasn’t following the Doctor’s advice by cutting back. He didn’t know how much more cutting back he could do. His illustrious judicial career had turned into a joke for late night comedians. The only recourse was to retire from the field of law altogether. He wasn’t sure it was something he was prepared to do. He already lost everything else he gave a damn about.

"Can that crazy woman really cure my stomach woes?"

CHAPTER 2