Chapter 2: The Magnate in Ruins

Miranda

I can’t believe I’m doing this. If Richard sees me here, he’ll fire me or worse. The first thing I always do when I’m with a client is give them the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t matter if people think they’re guilty or innocent, everyone has the right to tell their side of the story.

The truth is that I listened to Magnus for more than five minutes. His story seemed convincing, I didn’t detect any inconsistencies with the facts he told me because they matched what Richard had told me.

I still don’t understand how, if Richard and Magnus were supposed to be best friends, they ended up becoming two rivals to the death.

Sometimes power corrupts even the purest heart.

“Please,” he sighs when he finishes talking. “Tell me you believe me.”

“You have evidence in your favor, but the evidence Richard presented is concise for the case. Magnus, you’re finished.”

“But I have evidence in my favor, you said so yourself. Can’t you work with that? It’s simple! What am I supposed to pay you for?”

No man, no matter how much power or money he has, can come and treat me like this.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Anderson, but this was just a meeting based on deception to present your case and now that you have done so,” I stand up. “I can leave. If you think this job is so simple, I recommend you find a better lawyer.”

I leave money on the table paying for the coffee I had because the last thing I need is a man coming to throw in my face that I don’t even have money to pay for a drink.

He runs up to me and stops me from opening my car door.

“Miranda,” I raise an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, can I call you by your first name?”

“Go ahead.”

“I know my behavior there wasn’t the best, but everything got out of control from one moment to another. I hope you can understand my frustration with everything that’s going on.”

"I suppose he’s right. I wouldn’t know how to react either if I found out that a trusted person betrayed me. “Okay, maybe I rushed to reject the case, and yes, I can work with the information you gave me.”

“Does that mean you’ll work for me?”

“I’d work with you,” I corrected. “And I still don’t know. We’re forgetting a very important point.”

“What?”

“That I work for Richard.”

I wish it were different. There’s a relationship between Richard and me that I still can’t define exactly. Casual sex? About to start a romantic relationship? The truth is, I don’t know, but in some strange way, I like it. There’s no commitment involved; I think we can take things at our own pace.

“I guess you’ll have to decide,” he challenges me.

“I guess you know who has the advantage here.”

“I need a lawyer, not a childish woman begging for attention.”

So that’s what he thinks, huh.

“Fine,” I take my keys out of my purse and head to my car.

It seems that it’s only then that Magnus reacts and catches up with me, but I’ve already closed the door and locked it.

“Miranda.”

“The childish lawyer is leaving,” I put on my sunglasses and start the car.

“Miranda!”

I think someone else is begging now. He’ll have to offer a wonderful apology if he wants me to defend him in court.

I don’t stop; my mind fills with thoughts as I drive. I can’t help wondering if anyone saw me or if Richard already found out about this. If he knows that I saw Magnus, how will he take it?

My phone rings; it’s a call from Richard. I hesitate before answering; what will I say?

“Richard, I was just about to call you.”

“I was looking for you. Where were you?”

“With so much work, I don’t even know where my head is. I hope you understand; these are stressful days. I was going to call you to cancel tonight’s dinner.”

“Do you want to go straight to my bed? Is that it?”

I gather some patience. Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing with him. Deep down, I feel like I should be grateful to him for trusting me when no one else did, although one thing led to another and now we have a kind of relationship. Everything happened too fast.

“I don’t want to do anything today, please respect that.”

“Is everything okay?”

Although I wish what I have with Richard wasn’t so special, I have to admit that he knows me. He knows that something is happening to me for me to act like this.

“Stop worrying so much. We agreed that ours wouldn’t be anything formal. We can be with other people, right?”

“You know you belong to me, Miranda.”

“I belong to myself, remember that.”

“You sound so sexy when you talk to me like that. Well, I’ll let you rest. Let me know when you feel like having some fun.”

He hangs up without waiting for any more answers from me and it’s only then that I feel like I can breathe again. I arrive at my apartment and start looking at all the information Magnus gave me.

His case is good; he really has a chance. I don’t understand why other lawyers refuse to give him a chance.

Time passes faster than usual; between so much paperwork and work, I feel like I don’t have time for myself. I hate it when it’s like this. I get distracted when someone knocks on the door. If they come to collect the rent again, I’ll go crazy.

“I thought I told you…” I stop abruptly when I see Magnus standing in front of me, completely wet. “Magnus?”

“Please don’t close the door.”

I look out the window, so immersed in my own affairs that I didn’t even notice it was already raining. I think I should start paying more attention to details.

“Come in, I’ll bring you some towels so you can dry off.”

When I return with him, I hand them over and wait with my arms crossed for an explanation.

“Should I be worried that you have the address of my apartment?”

“I have good contacts. I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have just appeared like that out of nowhere, especially without your consent, but I’m really desperate, Miranda. Something like this can’t just be kept as a small secret in the office. Everyone knows that I’m being sued and there are people who don’t even know me who are already claiming that I’m as bad as they say. I need your help.”

I admit that I have a weakness: the right words. Nothing has more weight than the right word at the right time. The sincerity and desperation with which Magnus has come makes it clear to me that he’s really worried about this.

There’s no trace of the arrogant person I met a couple of hours ago; it’s as if a completely different person is standing in front of me.

“I finished reviewing the papers you gave me, analyzed your case,” something in his gaze seemed to hold hope. “I’ll be your defense, I’ll help you with this.”

He stands up happier than before and hugs me tightly. It’s strange; no hug has ever felt like this before.

“You’re saving my life,” he assures me a few centimeters from my face. “Thank you,” that last part is a whisper.

As if he didn’t want anyone else to hear it but us.

“It’s my job, Magnus.”

“But you’re risking a lot. I’ll keep you protected, I promise. I won’t let them touch you if that’s what worries you; with me, you’ll have maximum security.”

I suppose it wouldn’t be a sin if he touched me…, but what am I saying? I should get rid of those thoughts as soon as possible.

“Yes,” I finally put more distance between us. “Speaking of which, Richard will go crazy when he sees me in court. He’ll attack us with everything he’s got. Are you ready to fight to the end?”

“I have the best lawyer in the city on my side, of course I am.”

“You don’t know my work, you don’t know me,” I comment with a laugh.

“Something tells me you’re much brighter than everyone says. I don’t know,” he shrugs. “I have a feeling you’ll end up surprising me.”

His phone starts ringing, but he doesn’t bother to hang up the call, just ignores it.

“It could be important.”

“If it were, they would call back. Miranda, I don’t want to meddle in your life, but all this will get out of control once Richard finds out. It should be me who asks if you’re willing to take the risk for someone you don’t know at all and who you don’t even know is innocent.”

“My client’s word is everything to me, Magnus. If you say you’re innocent, then you are and that’s what I’ll defend in court. Your version of the facts is the only one I want to know.”

I didn’t think such simple words could have an impact on him. He remains silent for a few seconds while some drops of water still trickle from his hair. He looks at a fixed point, thinking perhaps, remembering, I don’t know.

It would be interesting to see what’s going on in his head right now.

“Thank you,” he raises his head to look at me.

“For defending you? I already told you it’s my job.”

“No. Thank you for believing in me. I think you’re the only person who is.”

And I just hope I’m not wrong. Magnus’ phone rings again and this time he answers it reluctantly. I try to give him a little space; it’s probably something private.

I go to my room to look for other towels, but they don’t appear anywhere. As I keep looking, I throw a calendar and freeze when I lift it up. This can’t be happening; how could I have forgotten something so important? My period should have already arrived, over a week ago. It can’t be just me who has this luck.

“Damn it.”

I go back to find Magnus, who looks like he’s seen a ghost. I don’t think he’s been given good news.

“Is everything okay?” he worries as he looks at me.

“You look just as worried as I am. What happened to you?”

There’s no more expression on his face.

“I’m being accused of murder by the idiot Richard,” he still seems to be assimilating it. “What about you?”

“I think I’m pregnant,” it sounds so unreal. “A son of Richard.”