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“It's more than just words, Violet. It takes hard work.”
“Of course.”
“I'll be in my office analyzing these papers.”
“Yes...”
I didn't even wait for her to finish before walking past her and slamming the door.
I left my briefcase on one of the sofas and went to the table with the documents she had given me. I wanted to use them as a basis for another case I was handling, and I also needed to settle the collective action incident against the drinks distributor once and for all. The union was still analyzing my proposal, and I needed to put pressure on them to accept it; lowering the financial offer of the settlement could be something that would push them to move.
If we went to trial, it was possible that my client would end up getting some jail time, but people wouldn't get the same amount I was offering. In the end, the money could help them a lot more than a man spending a few years in jail because of an accident.
I opened the folder and began to read the case file. Between several lines of far-fetched and boring language that I was already used to, my mind began to wander and soon, I wasthinking about the conversation I had with my sister while she and the rest of the family were at my house.
It's the pain, the risk of having feelings...
I'd done very well ignoring them over the last few years; at least, that's what I kept telling myself and convincing myself.
Not having to worry about any woman or run the risk of going through the same ordeal made my life much easier.
I already had two twins, and the job of looking after them was quite exhausting, however rewarding it could be. Trying not to fail them was my duty. If I took the risk of putting another woman in my life, there was also the risk of how she would treat my girls. Taking on another woman's daughters as her own was something that not everyone would do willingly, and there was no arguing; my twins would always be my priority.
Paying for sex was much easier; it set limits and exempted me from any commitment.
I took a deep breath and brought my attention back to myself. I couldn't charge the members if I were failing in my own cause.
I was good as a lawyer, and at least in the legal field, my life didn't seem like a losing battle.
After a long day of discussing the associates' performance with the board members and lawyers who had been with the firm for many years, I was finally able to return home.
It was late; the sun had been down for at least an hour when I parked in one of the parking spaces in the luxury building where I lived. Fortunately, Mylon had already returned from his family vacation and had picked the girls up from school. When I walked into the living room, I saw them sitting on the fluffycarpet, leaning over the coffee table, alternating their attention between a sheet of paper and the cartoon on the television.
I came closer to them and picked up an orange crayon that had slipped onto the carpet.
“Be careful, girls; someone might step on it.”
“Daddy!” They turned to me with the biggest smiles in the world and completely ignored my rebuke.
“Hi, little ones.” I squatted down and opened my arms so that they could come to me.
They each kissed my cheeks before vying for space to grab my neck.
“How was your day today?”
“I glued polka dots...” replied Anne.
“Little balls, eh?” I repeated, putting my arm around each of their waists and picking them up.
“É!” Mary confirmed. “So muchcolor. Wecut it out.”
“And they weren't hurt by the scissors?”
They said no.
“How brave my girls are.” I put them back on the floor. “What are they doing now?”
“Drawing..”.