"She'll do no such thing," Massimo immediately objected.
"Sir," Luca said softly, "don't you think that—"
"It's a terrible idea," Massimo protested. "Elena can't lie on the witness stand—she doesn't have the training to even if she could. She could easily say something that will hurt my case."
"I would never," Elena countered.
"Really?" Massimo shot back. "Have you never seen me use a gun? Would you deny the rumors that I've rarely kept the company of women or claim that I've never said a misogynistic statement?"
Elena hesitated. Massimo nodded, as if he had expected as much.
"From there," Massimo argued, "it will be easy for Joshua to claim I hate all women or wouldn't hesitate to kill one."
"I could raise objections if Joshua tries to use rumors as fact," Mr. Barbieri stated sudde
