Page 6 of Lost Room Lawyer (Room #4)

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Nico

I felt terrible. My first day as an intern, and I had already lost before it even began. Not even the best bluff would have helped at this point.

Every summer, my father hosted a notorious barbecue party that attracted around a hundred guests.

Why didn’t I ever go?

That would have been the chance to meet Hector.

Fuck! And then we meet at a semi-legal game of poker!

Unbelievable!

I wanted to run away, but Linda fussed over me like a baby. I estimated her to be in her early thirties, but I would never have bet on that since I had underestimated Hector’s age by eight years.

He looks much younger.

But God! Forty-three!

He’s nearing fifty!

He’s an old man!

And married.

And has two kids!

I didn’t know whether I felt sick or turned on.

Something was happening inside me that I couldn’t grasp.

The sex on Friday had been just too good—and we were so compatible.

For me, it didn’t matter whether I was top or bottom, but Hector’s dominant nature had really turned me on.

Plus, he seemed like someone who needed control.

Inside, I grimaced because now I understood why. Behind his animalistic drive and penetrating gaze, there was a family man carrying a monstrous secret.

Somehow, I felt sorry for him because I was aware that my worth had just changed. Hector had been relaxed, mysterious, and sexy on Friday. He had practically torn my clothes off with his gaze. But just now, in his office, he had looked at me like a predator. I had become a risk in his eyes.

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel the attraction between us. Behind his mask, I glimpsed a burning, unruly passion and struggled to suppress the desire his presence evoked.

This internship is going to be my personal hell on earth.

Maybe it’s my punishment for all the one-night stands I’ve had over the years.

“That’s the kitchen,” Linda said as she showed me around. “You can get coffee or tea anytime. Milk is in the fridge. Sugar is up here. And at the end of the day, always put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.”

She was a lively woman with dark rings under her eyes. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, but her bangs reached down to her brows, creating a somewhat disheveled look. When I noticed a stain on her blue blouse, she followed my gaze.

“Oh no!” She snatched a damp cloth from the counter and cleaned the spot on her shoulder. “Baby vomit. Just ignore it.”

I laughed. Yes, I’d definitely get along well with Linda.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, tossing the cloth back next to the soap dispenser. “I brought croissants. Help yourself. I don’t know if Gerry is coming today, but if he does, you should be quick.”

I shook my head reluctantly. “Thanks, but… maybe later.”

“Nervous stomach?” she asked sympathetically.

“A bit,” I admitted. “The first day of school didn’t exactly bring me joy.”

Linda laughed. “That’s harsh. Well, let me show you your workspace.”

I followed her to an office right next to Hector’s. The door to his room was still closed, but as I followed Linda to my desk, I saw that all the rooms were interconnected; something I hadn’t noticed before because the door between my room and Hector’s was shut.

“This is your desk, and here’s where Gerry sits.” Linda moved the chair from the other desk out of the way. “Settle in at your own pace. Start up the computer. I’m sure Hector will be here soon.”

I did just that, and since Hector was taking his time, I opened OneNote, where I stored all my notes and book ideas. I hated sitting around doing nothing, so I scrolled through some text snippets and continued working on the plot of my new book.

I didn’t make much progress. For years, I had been tinkering with it, writing scenes and chapters and deleting them.

I had even come to terms with the fact that I had a serious block and that working on a book was more of a pastime, like solving a jigsaw puzzle.

What had once driven me mad now had a relaxing effect.

Even my queasy stomach calmed down, so I eventually got a coffee and a croissant.

It was already eleven o’clock when Hector arrived and dropped several files on my desk. As he sat on Gerry’s chair, he seemed to have relaxed. But I could see it in the way he opened the first file. He was nervous, and his hands smelled of disinfectant.

Why? We didn’t even shake hands. And he didn’t have any visitors.

“These are some files on the Canonica case,” he explained without preamble. “It currently makes up 90 percent of the work here at the firm. Familiarize yourself with the facts at your own pace. Linda will show you the archive later.”

“She already showed me where it is.”

“Ah, okay, then… feel free to look around and sift through the Canonica files.”

Hector explained the details of the case and that Gerry was spending the week in Vevey, at Canonica’s second residence. It seemed like an exciting case, and I suddenly felt motivated and optimistic—it was about murder, after all.

Maybe Hector’s idea wasn’t so bad as I initially thought.

It was Rossi and Corvo who had sex, not us.

Hector and Nico were capable of handling the situation like two adults.

At least Corvo seemed to be able to manage it.

With Rossi, I wasn’t sure if he could handle the fact that his new boss was super-hot, even though he was already approaching fifty.

This time, his dark brown hair wasn’t as perfectly styled as it had been last Friday.

A strand fell over his forehead, making him even hotter.

When he finished sharing details, he turned to me, our gazes locked.

I couldn’t tear myself away from the allure of his hazel eyes, even holding my breath and feeling a tingling all over my body.

He stared at me with such intensity, as though I were his prey, and made no attempt to break eye contact.

God, it was just like last Friday when he had fucked me from behind and we had gawked at each other in the mirror.

He had seen into me, giving me a sense of security.

By not turning away from me, he made me feel respected.

I could surrender completely to him and shed all my inhibitions.

He had made sure of that. His alluring, dominant manner had guided me. It was incredibly sexy.

It was Linda who brought us back to reality. “Hector?”

We simultaneously glanced toward the door.

“A young man is here. He says he has no appointment, but you’re expecting him. His name is Juri Vinzens.”

“Oh, yes.” Hector got up from his chair and turned back to me. “Unfortunately, I can’t take you to lunch today. But… you have things to do now. Or do you need anything else?”

“No, I’m fine.” Does he feel obligated to invite me to lunch on the first day?

“I should be back around two o’clock.” He then turned to Linda. “Send him in. I’ll be ready soon.”

Both of them disappeared into the hallway; Hector into his office and Linda back to the reception. Shortly after, a young man appeared at my door. He peered around in confusion, giving me the opportunity to examine him more closely.

The guy was dressed in black from head to toe, with the exception of a purple scarf. His black hair was styled into a quiff, and his eyes were subtly accentuated with eyeliner. He had an attractive, mysterious aura about him.

“Oh, sorry. Wrong room,” he said and hurried away.

I would have liked to find out why he was here. I mean, the guy was definitely younger than me. How could he afford Hector? It sounded as though he was a client and that the lunch had a business purpose.

Soon after, the two of them left the office, and Linda reappeared at my door.

“Do you have lunch with you? Or are you going to get something?”

“I’ll get something, but we can eat together here if you’d like. I’m not staying outside in this weather.”

“Sure, I’ll wait until you’re back.”

***

Although I had spent the entire day immersing myself in the case, I felt completely exhausted by the evening.

I had planned to go to the gym, but I decided to skip it for today and went straight to my mother’s place.

We often had dinner together, and I enjoyed talking to her about all sorts of things.

Of course, Dominic had made a few snide comments about how close I am with my mother, but despite all the affairs and one-night stands, my mother remained the greatest constant in my life.

I had never had a large circle of friends, and although I enjoyed fooling around with other men, I had never been in a truly serious relationship.

Sure, there were men I had called my partners, but those relationships never lasted more than three weeks.

Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the guys who just didn’t meet me on equal terms.

“So, how was it?” my mother asked expectantly.

I set the salad bowl down and took a seat at the round wooden table with her. “Okay,” I replied, giving her some of the gratin.

“Okay?” she repeated, puzzled. “I was expecting a bit more, considering it was your first day.”

“Yeah, but… there’s not much to tell. I need to get more familiar with the case.”

“Well, that should be a piece of cake for you. Does Hector know you have a photographic memory?”

Just hearing his name made me perk up, and I gave my mother a scrutinizing look. Did she suspect something? She had a sixth sense for these things. While I shared a lot with her, it was probably better to keep this matter to myself.

“No, I didn’t tell him. It’s probably wiser that way. When I walked into the office, he already called me a little genius. Maybe I’ll let him keep believing that for a while.”

“You’re acting like you’re some kind of trickster.”

“That’s what I am, though. Just because I can remember every little thing doesn’t mean I’m particularly intelligent.”