Chapter 3: Tension
Miranda
I had so many questions that every time I tried to answer one, it ended up with a hundred more. The last few weeks had been chaos for me; I can barely remember what happened. I think I had more alcohol in my system in those last few weeks than in my entire life.
I was restless. Is the child really Richard’s? Did something happen at the parties that I should remember? What do I have to do now?
I would like to get answers.
“Miranda?” Magnus’ voice brings me back to reality.
He invited me to breakfast just to clarify some things about the new lawsuit he will be facing.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was talking about my case. One of the officials called me this morning and put me in touch with Detective Smith. He wants my statement about what happened.”
I have to put my problems aside; my attention now must be on Magnus. I have to get him out of this problem.
I will gain much more recognition if I carry out the trial and defend Magnus Anderson; it will undoubtedly give me prestige.
“We have that part covered, don’t worry. I’ll go with you.”
“Now you want to be part of it?” The smile he gives me would drive any woman crazy.
I think I’m just realizing how attractive Magnus is, his well-toned body, those muscles that hundreds of girls have surely touched, the arrogant smile as if he’s trying to tell you that he’s always one step ahead.
It’s hard to concentrate when someone like him is in front of you.
“I remind you, Magnus, that I’m your lawyer. I agreed to help you with this, but if you think I’m not committed to my work, I can leave now and leave you to your fate.”
“Wait,” he reaches out his hand until he reaches mine. “Don’t put words in my mouth; I just want to make sure that I’m with the right person for this case.”
“You are. There’s no one else who wants to defend you in court, and you wouldn’t find anyone better than me. I’m here to prove that you’re innocent, and that’s what I’ll do.”
“You’re my kind of girl, no doubt.”
The waiter arrives, interrupting the moment, and we both return to the same position as before. Magnus pays the bill, and we leave the restaurant. We have to go to the police station and fix this.
“Oh, no,” I stop Magnus before he can help me.
“I’m a gentleman, Miranda.”
“Open the door for the girls you date, but not for me. I can do it myself.”
I catch a glimpse of a small smile forming on his face and he shakes his head as if I were hopeless. I end up getting into his car on my own, and he just focuses on driving.
Once we arrive, we can feel the tension. An officer indicates where Detective Smith’s office is, and we head there.
The police station is a maze of poorly lit corridors and serious officials who seem accustomed to dealing with cases darker than ours. Magnus with his imposing demeanor did not go unnoticed in the police station.
“Come in, I was waiting for you.”
I’m the first to introduce myself.
“Detective Smith, a pleasure. My name is Miranda Reynolds; I represent Mr. Magnus Anderson. I know we’re here for a formal statement, but my client won’t speak until I’m notified of what the charges are.”
The detective patiently explains to us what Richard’s lawsuit consists of; the fact that I also work for him can be a great advantage. I know how much Richard hates Magnus now; at some point he’ll tell me something that will help him.
Magnus gives his statement; he has no idea what happened to Richard’s sister according to him. The detective reviews the documents I have provided, examines every detail of the legal suit, and after an intense questioning session, they let Magnus go without any charges, although he is still in the eye of the storm.
The lack of evidence against him became a small ray of hope for us.
“Good job,” he says as he starts the car. “You’re really good at convincing people.”
“I’ve prepared for moments like these; I know what I have to do.” Something catches my attention; a dark car has been following us all morning. “Magnus, where are we going?”
“I’ll drop you off at your apartment. Why?”
“That car has been following us all morning.”
He looks at it in the rearview mirror and seems relieved.
“Oh, I thought I told you. That’s Patrick Billy, my bodyguard. I asked him not to be my driver today because I didn’t want to attract too much attention. People need to see that I’m taking care of myself.”
“So you really want people to believe your version of events, huh?”
“My version is the only real one here, Miranda, I swear.”
We remain silent for the rest of the journey; I think we both have things to worry about now. Magnus’ lawsuit is not something that should be taken lightly, and that just reminds me that I have to be careful. If Richard finds out about this, I don’t know what he’ll do.
As a courtesy, I invited him to come into my apartment; we still had matters to discuss and documents to review.
“Why does Richard accuse you of murder?” I asked nervously.
Deep down, I was terrified that he would say it was all true.
“I’m as surprised as you are. He says I have something to do with his sister’s death, but I never knew her, I didn’t even know he had a sister, and now it turns out that I’m to blame for everything. Can you believe that?”
“Don’t you think there’s a possibility that you did something while drunk, maybe?”
His gaze, unlike other times, was not haughty or arrogant as always; it was the first time he looked at me with fear.
“I thought you said you trusted me.”
“And I do, Magnus, but I want to rule out all possibilities to get you out of this problem. They let you go without charges at the police station, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe now.”
“But you trust me, right?”
“I do.”
We had dealt with enough stress today; it was only fair that we relaxed a bit. So I went for some wine and poured it into two glasses while my phone rang.
Incoming call: Silvia.
“Hello, friend, how are you?”
“Great, I heard you have a lot of work; my friend is a famous lawyer.”
“Someday, Silvia. What can I do for you?”
“I’m near your apartment; can I visit you? It’ll take me a while, but I’d like to see you.”
“Sure, I’ll wait for you here, don’t worry.”
Magnus frowned a little as soon as I hung up the phone.
“It’s a friend; don’t worry,” I handed him his wine glass.
I wouldn’t know how to describe what happened in that moment, in that brief touch of our hands; maybe it was the heat of the apartment, maybe it was us, but I felt trapped in an atmosphere of tension, as if the electricity in the air couldn’t be ignored any longer. Our gazes met repeatedly as we drank the wine.
“I never thanked you, Miranda, for accepting the case. You were right; no one else would do it better than you.”
“Am I getting a compliment from Magnus Anderson?”
“Tell it to whoever you want; I doubt they’ll believe you,” he adds with a laugh, leaving the glass on the table, then stands up. “You’ll have visitors, and it’s better if I go.”
I accompany him to the door and lean against the wall, just watching him struggle with whether to tell me something or not.
“Was what you said true?”
“What thing?”
“Do you believe in me?” The silence lasts longer than I would like. “I’ve worked with several lawyers who, to be honest, don’t trust me at all and stay only because they know I’ll pay them well. They’re not interested in the case or the client, only the money,” he approaches me a little, and I can feel his breath closer. “That’s why it surprises me that you’re different.”
“I already told you, Magnus, my client’s word is everything to me, but I won’t lie to you; this case will be difficult to win. There’s plenty of evidence against you.”
“That they planted on purpose.”
“But there is evidence.”
I wanted to keep my voice neutral; I didn’t want him to see how much his closeness was affecting me.
“It seems like there’s a lot at stake.”
“And we’re playing with fire, Magnus.”
He nodded; his dark eyes on me generated only one thing: desire.
Our conversation seemed like an excuse to want to keep us this close; every word, every pause, everything was a pretext to increase the tension that was about to end us.
"I thought you were leaving," I said, praying that my legs wouldn't fail me now.
"It seems I always find a reason to stay," he replied, running his hand along my waist. Even through the fabric of my clothes, I could feel his fingers touching me.
"Magnus, this will be a complicated situation," I warned. He leaned in slightly, his lips just inches from mine.
"Complicated?" he repeated in a husky tone that sent shivers down my spine. "And dangerous, if Richard finds out..."
"But Richard isn't here, is he?" he interrupted, his warm breath grazing my skin. "Don't forget, Miranda, what's life without a little danger?"
His warm breath brushed against my skin, and I couldn't prolong this moment any longer. I felt something inside me explode as I closed the distance between us and kissed him. That kiss finally released all the tension we had been holding back.
Breathless words soon gave way to whispers and moans. The sexual tension we had been containing for so long overflowed. His hands left my waist to slip under my clothes, his cold hands touching my body, and his lips trailing along my neck.
I had never desired someone this much.
"You have no idea how much I want you, Miranda," he confessed.
"You hardly know me," I replied.
"And what little I know, I already adore, I assure you."
His hand was about to slip beneath my skirt and under my underwear, and I hoped he would. But a loud noise from the door stopped us abruptly.
“Miranda! Tell me you’re here, I need you,”
Magnus’s gaze made it clear he knew who I was.
“It’s Richard, you have to hide. Go to the guest room and don’t come out.”
“Don’t you want to tell him that you’ve moved on and that you’ll be with me?”
“Magnus!” I whispered.
“Fine, just make sure he doesn’t find me.”
He gave me one last kiss before slipping away, and I hurriedly straightened my clothes.
“Miranda!” They knocked again, this time with desperation.
I hope to make it out of this alive.