"Ms Tildesley, you have got to be…."

Interrupting the conversation, Toni got up from her chair and gave the other lawyer and his client a triumphant smirk. "$10 million or this little document goes straight to the papers. Not to mention after your public humiliation, that I'll take you to the dry cleaners in court. Surely that amount of money is just loose change to you gentleman, is it not? My clients have agreed to give you 24 hours to settle."

Toni turned and walked straight out the door, her partner stumbling after her.

"Brilliant as always Toni, we've got them by the balls." Her older partner Roger puffed out as he caught up to her. "Well we'll see if they make the right decision, they're certainly not going to like an admission of guilt aired all over London." Toni replied as she kept up her brisk pace.

"Tildesley! Wait up."

Her opposing counsel Charlie Walters yelled as he caught up her. Toni stopped and turned, looking up at him, arms crossed, from her short thin 5'2 frame.

"10 million? That's a bit of a hike isn't it?"

"Charlie, your clients ruined the lives of 50 people. They have lost everything, and your whining about 10 mil?"

"So you'll really use it if we don't settle?"

"My clients will make that decision and I'll merely use it in court. Just remember Charlie, there's nothing you can do, we found this in a search warrant. Hook line and sinker don't go steering a sinking ship."

"Fine. However they are to sign a confidentiality agreement that document is never released."

Charlie offered his hand to Toni which she happily accepted. A smile of victory spread across her face.

"You don't miss a thing do you Tildesley." He sighed, "Have dinner with me."

"I never do, you know that." She replied, "For the 50th time Charlie, no." Toni flashed her teeth as she released his hand and turned away. "Come on Roger, we've got good news to give to our clients."

"Why not?"

"You're not my type Charlie, we're far too similar and I'm always going to win." Toni spun around and gave him a wink before continuing on her way.

"Wonderful woman that Toni Tildelsey, but still the world's biggest ice queen." Roger said to Charlie as he picked up his briefcase and went after her. "If I was 20 years younger…"

Charlie just shook his head. "One day."

…

"Roger, you go and let Rosalyn know that we won. Get her to organise a briefing with the clients tomorrow at nine, and we'll issue the paperwork straight after."

"Not a problem Toni and congratulations." Roger smiled at her.

"Congratulations to us you mean. You were as much a part of this as me."

Roger nodded his thanks and left for his office just as Nicola, her PA made her way in.

"Right Nic, agenda for this afternoon?" Toni asked as she hung her coat up on the hanger and sat down at her desk.

"Partners have asked you to be in a meeting at 3pm. They also want you in court at 1pm for a first offence drink driving charge. You'll never guess who! It's so exciting!" Nicola had a look of anticipation on her face as Toni pondered the new information.

"Any idea on what the people that be want at this meeting? Be nice if it was bonus, just kidding, like that would ever happen. Wait! Nicola, why on earth am I taking on a drink driving charge? Surely one of the juniors could take that on."

"I was waiting for that and typical of you to not care about the client. He's a big name you know." Nicola shifted on her feet. "In fact his wife asked for you specifically. You probably will have heard of her, Lynda Day, deputy editor of The Gazette? James Thomson is the client, can you believe it? God he is such a dream… "

Spike?

Toni felt like a baseball bat had hit her in the chest. She barely spoken or seen Lynda in the last 12 or so years, same with Spike and the rest of the Junior Gazette crowd. She'd crossed paths with Julie and Sarah occasionally at women's events or major trials that required media presence, they would say hello and be courteous, but any real friendship had long ceased. It wasn't totally deliberate, but once Toni had left the newspaper the decline of any relationship seemed natural. There was one person, however, that she had been deliberately avoiding.

Colin…