For James standing still on a podium is rather familiar terrain with him having given out several prizes thanks to his work for the community and the projects he's started / worked on in order to improve the community as a whole. As he stands on the stage he recalls his mother's words when he was younger even hearing her voice when he thinks about it. "<i>Wave and smile James, wave and smile</i>", he remembers with him being present at several galas as a young man to be present for his father, the former CEO and now semi-active lawyer but mostly advisor for the firm accepting one of the many prizes. At the time it was an unwritten rule that whenever possible the receiver of a prize would take a picture with his entire family even with the children unless they were too young to be present.<br/><br/>For a moment he recalls all the galas and all the time he's spent being very bored at them with him closing his eyes only to open them again. "It's only because Mason told me that I would get a close up look of detective Sharp or else I would've declined the offer", he thinks to himself with him waiting patiently for the ceremony to slowly proceed towards the Best Rookie award with Jackie or Jacqueline Sharp winning it. The lawyer steps forward with him accepting the prize from one of the lady's working behind the scenes with him walking towards the center of the stage while trying to clap as best as he can with just one hand being available. In the distance he can see what looks like a redhead standing up and walking towards the stage before walking on it with him waiting patiently for her to come near him.<br/><br/>Once on the stage he can get a good look at the pretty redhead with him smiling softly as he looks at her with a kind expression while holding one hand out with him holding the prize in the other hand. "Miss Sharp congratulations", he says kindly his voice low and despite sounding as kind as he can there's something dark and sinister in it, something that might not be explained straightaway. Yet as he shakes her hand she can feel how he has a strong grip with him moving in a little bit closer with him moving the prize towards her. "The press would like to take a few pictures", he says kindly, the tone of his voice being calm with him being experienced with events like these as he moves his head to the side to allow the press to take a few pictures before he fully hands the prize to Jackie with him giving her a last smile before stepping back to allow the press to take pictures of just Miss Sharp holding the prize while the crowd is clapping just like they did for every other prize winner.<br/><br/>As the detective is guided off the stage by the staff, the lawyer also exits the stage with him taking a seat on the first row with him following the rest of the ceremony from that position all while wondering what he should do with Jackie. If Mason is right she would try to look into the case once the slavery ring is up and running and to be fair he can't deal with the police trying to look into the case and Mason did promise him that he wouldn't need to worry about the police at least not for the first few months. Part of the lawyer already feels quite annoyed yet he keeps his cool with him looking up the mayor and Chief Robinson to say his goodbye's with him faking an excuse about having several important meetings in the weekend with him needing to discuss the DeWitt case even though he's got it well under control.<br/><br/>Thankfully for him James is quite experienced with staying hidden within the crowds to avoid talking to the wrong people at the wrong times so he in a way sneaks his way through the crowd before making his exit at the entrance with him heading to the parking lot while calling his driver to get the car ready. Not wanting to have anyone see him he gets in at the parking lot itself before picking up the burn phone he has laying in the car with him applying the sim-card he got from detective Mason earlier. As he turns the card around he starts to type the phone number on it with him waiting patiently for the person on the other side of the line to pick up.<i>"</i>Everything is set, get going but keep in touch with Mason; one of his detectives might cause trouble", James says before ending the call with him leaning back in his seat as there's truly no way that he can turn back now, the collection of the soon to be sold of slaves has begun.