Page 26 of Lost Room Lawyer (Room #4)

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Nico

Dazed and indifferent, I stood in front of Hector, watching him undress me. His movements were so gentle that I couldn’t help but imagine how he must have cared for his girls when they were younger.

I hadn’t felt my body in a while. I felt lethargic and worn out. I was so numb that I wouldn’t have even noticed if someone stabbed me in the back.

Hector pulled my T-shirt over my head and helped me out of my pants. Then he removed my socks and slid my boxers down. I was naked in front of him—and felt nothing. The only thing raging was the war in my mind, and all I wanted was to forget this disaster, even if just for a few minutes.

“Lie down,” Hector said softly, pulling back the bedspread.

Slowly, I crawled onto the mattress. Was this his bed? If I remembered correctly, we were in his city apartment.

Outside, the sun was shining on a lovely spring day, but Hector clearly knew I didn’t care. He drew the white curtains, bathing the room in a soft glow, and undressed himself as well.

Even though I was overwhelmed by grief, his body was like a magnet to me.

It was impossible not to look at him. He was gorgeous.

So well-formed. Hector had taken care of himself over the years, and you could see that.

When he took off his pants and I saw his penis, something stirred inside me.

It wasn’t lust in the traditional sense, but more a quiet feeling of happiness and contentment.

Even when flaccid, Hector’s penis had a certain beauty.

After one last look at his phone, Hector circled the bed, set it on the nightstand, and settled in beside me.

“Turn onto your side,” he said, indicating that I should turn my back to him.

As he drew closer, his warmth met my cold skin, and the heat of his shaft pressed against my back. A sudden tremor rippled through me like an earthquake. His presence alone brought a comfort I hadn’t realized I craved so deeply.

“Shh,” he whispered in my ear, stroking my head. “Everything will be alright.”

Those words shattered the emotional dam within me.

Overcome by a flood of feelings, I collapsed into his arms, but he held me tight, draping the blanket over us and drawing me close.

His embrace gave me a sense of safety, keeping me from unraveling.

Despite the all-consuming darkness around me, I had never experienced a moment so intimate and beautiful.

It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep. My body had been under high tension for days, and the shock was still deep. My mind was burdened by a heaviness I had never known before. It would take days to wade through this thick mire and find my way out.

My mother’s dead.

It had happened so quickly that I hadn’t even begun to process it. The most important person in my life was gone. It felt as though someone had untied the dock lines and set me adrift, alone at sea. And the only person now filling the growing void in my heart was married.

It didn’t change the fact that he was here with me. I knew his work and family came before me. We didn’t even need to have a serious conversation about it. But it felt so good to be in his arms, to be held by him, to breathe in his scent, and to feel safe.

When I woke up again, I was alone in bed. A glance at my phone revealed that I had slept for almost eighteen hours. It was Friday morning, ten o’clock.

I ignored the notifications on my phone and struggled to get up.

The stiffness was slowly leaving my body; Hector’s warmth had done me good.

Although I was still exhausted, I felt the urge to move.

It wasn’t until I sat on the edge of the bed that I realized I was completely naked.

But my body felt different. Although grief still surrounded me like a black hole, the cold and numbness had disappeared.

I wearily rubbed the sleep from my swollen eyes and brushed my hair back. I was relieved yesterday was over—apart from the time with Hector. That had been bittersweet, reminding me that there was more to the world than loss, pain, and death.

I heard voices coming from outside, and it sounded like someone was bustling around in the kitchen. Then laughter. Hector? I listened again. No, it couldn’t be Hector. I was sure there were multiple voices.

Thirst and the need to use the bathroom prompted me to get up and find something to wear—unfortunately, the only option I could find was the black outfit I had worn to the funeral yesterday.

A quick glance in the mirror confirmed what I had already suspected.

My eyes were bloodshot, and my eyelids puffy.

I tied my hair up, took a deep breath, and stepped outside.

Fortunately, the bathroom was just around the corner, so I went there first to use the toilet and wash my face. Next to the sink was a toothbrush still in its packaging. Since it seemed to be intended for me, I brushed my teeth.

As I walked down the hallway into the living room, I began to feel less out of place.

To my left, the open kitchen led to a round table where Hector and two young men sat, sipping coffee.

A paper bag filled with rolls lay open on the table, filling the room with the delicious scent of a bakery.

My eyes went straight to Hector—his sleeves were casually rolled up, something he never did.

His hair, usually perfectly styled, was slightly tousled, but he appeared impossibly alluring.

“Hey,” he said, surprised when he saw me. He jumped up from his chair and walked toward me. “How are you feeling?”

I lingered in the hallway, unsure where to go. “I…”

“You must be thirsty.” He grabbed a glass from the shelf and filled it with water. “Here.”

Is he … embarrassed?

I sipped from the glass and then glanced past him.

One guy had his platinum blond hair styled into a quiff, while the other was standing up, opening the window, and lighting a cigarette.

His coal-black hair tumbled in loose curls onto his forehead.

When he exhaled the smoke and turned to me, I did a double take.

Isn’t that the guy… I’ve seen him before.

“Nico.” Hector guided me through the kitchen, closer to the table. “These are Luca and Juri.”

“Hi!” the blond guy said, standing up right away. He placed his empty coffee cup under the machine and extended his hand. “Want some coffee? Juri brought breakfast. Help yourself—there’s enough until Monday.”

Hector laughed, while a dismissive snort came from the window. “I didn’t know Sara had moved out—though I’m quite pleased.”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”

It was inexplicably comforting to see Luca stroll to the window and give Juri a loving kiss on the cheek.

“Fortunately, we have guests,” Luca added.

“One guest!” Hector corrected with amusement. “Let’s not forget who the real host is here.”

As Luca retreated to the coffee machine and gestured if I wanted a cup too, I simply nodded. Hector motioned me to the table, where I paused at the window and closely examined the dark-haired young man.

“Hey!” Juri extended his hand to me. “We’ve met before… or something like that.”

It was only then that it clicked—I remembered my first day working for Hector. He had been scheduled for lunch with someone. Juri had shown up at the office and unexpectedly appeared in my office. He was…

Holy …

He’s the client … The callboy …

What’s he doing here?

“Hello,” I said quietly. “Nice to meet you.”

“Hec.” Juri rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you tell him what to expect?”

“Don’t call me Hec,” Hector replied calmly. “There wasn’t time.”

With the rattling coffee machine in the background, it was a bit much for me to take in, so I just sat in the vacant chair and drank my water. When Hector sat next to me and took a bite of the jam sandwich on his plate, it gave me a sense of security and normalcy.

“I’m the tenant,” Luca finally said, setting a cup of coffee in front of me.

“He’s my boyfriend, and the lawyer here is my landlord.

” He turned the brown bag of rolls toward me.

“Here! Help yourself!” He beamed at me with his gray-blue eyes as if I were a gift.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Luca was quicker.

In no time, he set a plate in front of me with a knife.

When he also added butter, honey, and two kinds of jam, I raised my eyebrows.

“This looks like a Sunday brunch.”

“Well, in a way, it is,” Luca admitted. “Since we both work on weekends, Friday morning has become our Sunday.”

“And … um …” I turned to Hector. “Don’t you have to work?”

Somehow, everything here felt upside down.

“I was working until ten minutes ago. In my office in the back. This is just a break.”

I remembered that during my early days at the firm, he had often worked off-site. Linda had called it his other office, but since our trip to St. Moritz, he hadn’t ventured out again. Was it because of me?

“I’m sorry about your mother,” Juri suddenly said.

An icy chill ran through my veins, making my legs feel like lead. I was stunned, and Luca, who had just shut the fridge, stared wide-eyed at Juri. Juri closed the window behind him and returned to his seat.

“What?” he asked, shrugging. “It’s only polite to offer my condolences.”

Luca sat back down beside Juri and stirred a spoon in his coffee. “My condolences,” he said with a serious tone

“Thank you,” I mumbled. “I don’t know what to say in response.”

“Nothing,” Hector answered. “No one expects anything from you.” At that moment, his phone, which had been lying next to his plate, vibrated.

Canonica’s name appeared on the screen. “Oh, I need to take this. Be nice to him,” he instructed Luca and Juri before disappearing through the kitchen and into the hallway.

Not knowing what to say, I reached for the sugar and milk.

“My bro’s mother passed away six months ago,” Juri said. “It was rough.”

“How did he handle it?” I asked.

“Oh … well … Sorry. Not a good example—he had a severe relapse, but he managed to recover.”

“Did he have a close relationship with her?”

When Juri didn’t respond, I turned to him as he thoughtfully stared at the croissant on his plate, while Luca regarded him with concern.

“Not really,” Juri finally answered. “She made his life hell, but somehow, in the end, it didn’t matter. She was still his mother.”

I gazed at the coffee cradled in my hands and sniffled. Quickly, I wiped away a stray tear from my cheek and fought to keep my emotions in check.

“I’m sorry,” Juri apologized. “I didn’t mean to unsettle you.”

“No, it’s okay.” I shook my head in disbelief. “It’s just been a rough two weeks. I … I’m sorry I’m ruining your Sunday morning.”

“You’re always welcome here.”

Luca’s words surprised me so much that the heaviness of grief felt lighter. “Always … welcome?” The words sounded oddly out of place.

“Of course,” Luca replied. “You have no idea how important you are to Hector.”

“He probably doesn’t know himself,” Juri said casually, sipping his tea.

There was a moment of comfortable silence. I took a sip of my coffee and wondered how important Hector was to me. Surprisingly, I didn’t need to think about it for long.

When Hector had shown up at the funeral yesterday, the light had driven away the darkness. He had given me more comfort than all the condolences of the day combined.

No, I didn’t need to think about it. Hector was important to me. Very important. If the situation were reversed, I would be at his side now. No matter if Viktoria agreed, because I knew he needed me. Just as he was there for me now.

These thoughts made me tired and reminded me that it would take a while to adjust to the new situation. I was all the more relieved to have Hector. Nevertheless, I pushed myself up from the table.

“I need to lie down again. Somehow … I’m not quite myself.”

“Of course,” Luca said sympathetically. “Go ahead. I’m sure there will be another chance for us to talk—under better circumstances.”

“Thank you.”

As I went back to the room, I met Hector in the hallway. His office door was open this time; it was directly next to his bedroom.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with concern.

Despite the coffee, I felt as though all my energy had just drained away. Even for Hector, it was obvious that I was struggling to stay on my feet.

“I just want to lie down again, but …”

He put an arm around me and guided me back to the bedroom. “But what?”

“I could do that at home, if you’d prefer.”

“Nonsense.” He went to the sideboard and retrieved a pair of taupe sweatpants and a white T-shirt. “You can put these on if you want. They’re probably more comfortable than …” He gestured to my black mourning clothes.

“Are these yours?” I asked, surprised.

“No. Luca was kind enough …” Hector managed a smile. “I don’t own anything like this.”

“You don’t own sweatpants?” I asked, taking the clothes from him.

“No.”

It was endearing how he awkwardly shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged—one of those moments when I forgot he was sixteen years older and felt the feelings I had for him with every part of my being.

With the clothes in my lap, I sat on the edge of the bed and hung my head. It felt great to be here with him. Just knowing he was near gave me strength.

Hector sat next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

A gentle smile, a touch on my cheek, then a tender kiss on the lips that seemed to go on forever.

I felt his soft lips more than ever, inhaled his breath, and clung to him tighter as we sank into the pillow. I never wanted to let go of him.

Hector rolled over me and kissed my neck, sending a tingling sensation across my entire body. Gently, he brushed my hair back and gazed at me with affection.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

I laughed—my first laugh in days—having seen myself in the mirror. I touched his lips with my thumb. “I …” The words I wanted to say were right on the tip of my tongue.

“What?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you,” I confessed.

“I didn’t want to admit it. Even my mother knew before I did.

You … don’t have to say anything. Not now.

I know I’m crossing a line; you’re still my boss.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from the past two weeks, it’s that some things shouldn’t be postponed. ”

My heart was racing, but I was glad to feel it again.