Chapter 8 Enzo #3
“Except, that line of reasoning would effectively permit the commodification of human life. Children are not livestock, Counselor. You cannot pre-sell a person as if they were a corn futures contract. Recognizing that kind of exchange as enforceable sets a dangerous precedent, one that reduces a child to a transactional asset rather than a human being with rights and dignity.”
Enzo shrugged. “Unless the court construes the contract as one for specific performance rather than custody, there is no basis for invalidation. My client did not seek to assert parental rights or claim ownership. He merely sought enforcement of the agreed-upon consideration—something of value promised in exchange for services rendered. Had the Queen pledged land, a title, or even a crown jewel, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
The fact that the consideration was a child doesn’t, by itself, invalidate the contract. ”
Lourdes raised a brow. “But she didn’t offer a deed, Mr. Conti. She offered up a baby.”
Seven jumped on this. “Even if the court sets aside the moral implications, the evidentiary deficiencies remain. There is no written contract. No witnesses. No formal documentation of terms. By any legal standard, this alleged agreement fails to meet the threshold for admissibility. What we’re left with is a disputed oral exchange between a frightened, vulnerable woman and a magical opportunist. Hardly the foundation for enforceable obligations under contract law. ”
Enzo held up a hand, shaking his head. “Except, Your Honor, the Queen publicly acknowledged the existence of the agreement, most notably in the presence of palace staff when she exclaimed, ‘You’ll never take my baby!’ That statement alone could be construed as post-contractual ratification.
Combined with her continued acceptance and use of the gold produced by my client’s performance, her conduct supports the existence of a valid agreement and reinforces her intent to be bound by its terms.”
Seven scoffed. “Post-performance behavior? If opposing counsel is referring to the Queen isolating herself in a tower and desperately trying to solve a magical riddle before the birth of her child, that’s not ratification—that’s sheer panic.
She wasn’t affirming the contract. She was trying to escape a deal made under fear and duress. ”
Enzo moved closer. “Panic notwithstanding, the Queen made no effort to repudiate the agreement. She didn’t return the gold, seek to renegotiate, or raise any formal objection until her performance was due.
In contract law, silence—particularly in the face of ongoing performance—can be construed as acceptance.
Her inaction speaks volumes and further reinforces the validity of the agreement. ”
Seven shook his head. “Unless, of course, she was acting under duress—which, by all indications, she was. There was no genuine, voluntary consent. Her so-called agreement was made in a moment of desperation, driven purely by survival instinct. And under well-established contract principles, consent obtained through coercion is not consent at all.”
“Duress must be proven, Counselor, not merely inferred,” Enzo countered.
“No court can nullify a contract based solely on subjective emotional distress. If we started voiding every agreement made under pressure, half my hedge fund clients would be living in tent cities. Pressure isn’t coercion. It’s business.”
“Maybe most of your hedge fund clients should be,” Seven shot back.
Lourdes cleared her throat, grabbing their attention. “Rein it in boys before someone starts quoting Marx. Mr. Symanski, wrap it up.”
“Yes, Your Honor. Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that the contract was valid at its inception, its subject—a child not yet conceived—renders it legally unenforceable. Courts do not enforce agreements that violate public policy, especially those that bypass fundamental rights or due process. This was not a petition for guardianship. Mr. Rumpelstiltskin sought exclusive possession of the child with no judicial oversight, no maternal consent, and no legal safeguards. That is not breach. That is abduction masquerading as contract enforcement.”
Lourdes nodded. “Mr. Conti?”
“Even if the specific clause regarding the child is deemed unenforceable, the fact remains: the Queen materially benefited from the agreement. And under basic principles of equity and contract law, a party who accepts the benefit of a bargain cannot simply walk away without consequence. At the very least, she owes restitution for the services rendered. The gold didn’t vanish the moment her conscience reappeared. ”
“Then sue for damages, not a baby,” Seven retorted.
“Okay, okay,” Lourdes said, glancing between them.
“In a contract where the subject is a child, I’m compelled to note that both the law—and my conscience—favor Mr. Symanski’s position.
In matters involving adoption or surrogacy, when a mother enters into an agreement in good faith but later revokes consent after the child is born, courts are exceptionally reluctant to enforce restitution.
The law prioritizes the rights of the parent and the welfare of the child over the finality of a bargain.
But, as always, it’s not my verdict to render. That honor belongs to the jury.”
She looked out at the crowd. All those who side with Mr. Conti?” A respectable number of hands went up. “And all those who side with Mr. Symanski?”
Far more hands flew into the air.
“Looks like you won your first case, Mr. Symanski. Very impressive.”
Enzo wanted to bottle the grin that split Seven’s face. “Congratulations, Counselor,” he murmured. To Lourdes, he said, “May I borrow him for a moment? There’s a…thing we need to discuss. It won’t take long.”
“Like the ‘thing’ you needed to discuss that had me waiting on you for over thirty minutes a couple of days ago?” Lourdes countered, a knowing look breaking out across her face.
Before Enzo could even begin to stammer out some kind of cover story, she sighed.
“Ugh, go ahead.” She waved them off. “Don’t be gone all day or I’ll send someone to come look for you. And none of us want that, I’m certain.”
Enzo didn’t even give Seven a chance to refuse, just wrapped his hand around his wrist and tugged him from the auditorium, then dragged him across the hall to the men’s room.
He pulled him into the large stall at the very back of the restroom, then closed and locked the door before shoving him up against it.
When their mouths crashed together, Seven’s was already open, letting Enzo slide his tongue inside with a desperate whimper that shot through him like liquid silver. Seven sucked on it eagerly.
“Fuck, you were so hot in there,” Enzo huffed against his lips. “I wanted to bend you over that fucking table in front of everyone, wanted them all to see how well you take it, how pretty you are.”
Seven moaned, head thunking against the door as Enzo’s mouth moved to bite at his jaw. “Didn’t know you had an exhibitionism kink. It’s kind of hot, but I’m pretty sure you’d get disbarred and I’d never be allowed to sit for the bar.”
“Thought you wanted to be a sugar baby, anyway,” Enzo teased, his hands sliding lower to squeeze Seven’s ass as he moved to his ear. “Fuck, you look so hot in these pants. I can’t believe you have us wearing matching outfits like some lame ass couple everyone makes fun of.”
“You fucking love it. You love everyone thinking you’re tapping this. It’s not my fault you didn’t even ask a simple question when I texted you last night,” Seven panted.
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it, brat baby,” Enzo said, biting at his earlobe. “I’m just saying it was sneaky.”
“I simply made a suggestion. You didn’t have to go along with it,” Seven countered, turning his head to latch onto Enzo’s earlobe, tugging it with his teeth until he groaned. “You just like giving me what I want. Which makes me want to give you what you want.”
“And what is it I want?” Enzo asked, blood rapidly rushing south.
“Me in your bed, ass up?” Seven said.
Enzo choked on a low sound. “Is that a question or an offer, you little fucking tease?”
Seven teased his tongue along the shell of Enzo’s ear, breath hot against his skin as he said, “That depends on you.”
“What do you want? A house? A car? A yacht? Fuck, a pony? Just ask.”
“A date?” Seven asked hesitantly.
“A date?” Enzo parroted.
Oh.
Before he could say anything more, Seven’s phone rang, the sound jarring as it echoed off the tile. Seven frowned, muttering, “My mom. She’s the only one my phone rings for.”
“Pick it up.”
He pulled his phone free, then swiped to answer. “Hey, Mom. I’m still at work. What’s up?”
Enzo didn’t even think to give him space, just leaned his head against the door, his body half-draped over Seven’s.
He stiffened beneath Enzo, his sudden anger palpable.
“The police station? Mom, no. Please, tell me you didn’t bail his ass ou—” Seven stopped short, frowning as he listened to whatever his mother said.
“Arrested? You? Why? What are you talking about? Why would they arrest you?”
Enzo straightened, making eye contact and gesturing for Seven to put it on speaker. He didn’t even question Enzo, just did as he asked.
“—embezzlement,” Neith cried.
“Embezzlement?” Seven asked. “Why would they think it was you?”
“I don’t know,” Neith all but wailed. “One minute, I was at my desk working, and the next, two detectives came in and arrested me. Said they had proof I was stealing from my job.”
“Neith, it’s Enzo,” he cut in. “Don’t say a word. What precinct are you at?”
“The 84th,” she answered, voice trembling.
“We’re on our way. Tell them I’m your attorney so it’s on record, then don’t say another word. Nothing. I don’t care if they ask for your coffee order. Say nothing. Got it?”
“Yeah. Yeah,” she said again, her voice stronger this time. “Yeah, I got it.” She was breathing heavily, the anxiety clearly getting to her. “Enzo…they’re not going to keep me here, are they?”
“I’m not gonna let that happen. Just do what I say and you’ll be fine,” he promised.
They disconnected, and Seven looked at him with wide eyes, suddenly looking younger and far more vulnerable than he had moments ago. He seemed almost in a daze as he asked, “You’re not gonna let them send my mom to prison, right?”
Claws raked over Enzo’s insides at the fear in his voice. “Of course not, baby. We’re gonna figure this out. Let’s just get her out of jail first, and we’ll go from there.”
“Right,” Seven said, his eyes vacant.
When he made no move to leave, Enzo guided him from the stall and out of the bathroom. “I’m gonna put you in my office and go talk to Lourdes. Then we’re going to get your stuff and head to the precinct. It’s going to be alright. Trust me.”
Seven’s gaze snapped to him. “I do,” he assured him, nodding his head vehemently. “I really do.”
Enzo frowned. “Good, baby. That’s good. We gotta go now, though, okay?”
Seven nodded woodenly, putting one foot in front of the other. “Yeah, okay.”