Chapter 22
I didn’t bring work home today, so I shower and head to my study to review the cases I’ll be presiding over in the coming days.
I stay there for quite a while, until I get tired and go up to my room.
I glance at the clock—it’s already past eleven at night, and Amélie still hasn’t come home.
Should I call her? No, I don’t think so.
I look for water in my room but can’t find any, so I decide to go back downstairs. I’m thirsty.
Once I’m in the kitchen, I hear the front door open. I peek out and see it’s her, carrying several bags. She comes in slowly, as if trying not to make noise, so I decide to mess with her.
“What time do you call this?”
“You scared me, Owen,” she says, hand on her chest. “What are you, my father now? Though you’re old enough to be, right?”
“You’re pretty cheeky, you know that? Quite a mouth on you.”
“I’ve been told that before. It’s just the way I am, but I like you, old man.”
“When you say it like that, you make me sound like I’m fifty.”
“No, but you’ll get there soon enough.”
I make a face at her, and she smiles and runs up the stairs. That girl is something else, but surprisingly, I like her style, even when she calls me old.
I go back to the kitchen smiling. It’s like the house came to life after she arrived.
Even I smile more now, despite being serious and ruthless in court.
At home, I can smile without feeling guilty.
After I lost Luma, my life changed drastically.
I hardly went out—maybe to a bar to meet my informant, or occasionally to a club with Mattia.
Other than that, it was just work and home, nothing else.
But now I have this desire to live, to do different things, and I don’t feel guilty anymore.
I drink my water and go up to my room, lie down on my bed, and tonight all I can think about is that little devil, Amélie.
Her smile, how she makes Ellie happy. I caught her crying once, just once.
I asked if something had happened, but she didn’t want to talk about it.
I think she must miss her parents. After all, she lost them as a teenager, had to take on responsibilities at such a young age, but that doesn’t dim her brightness—it’s so natural to her.
Wait, why am I thinking about her so much?
Lately it’s been like this—she’s all I think about.
Should I distance myself, or move forward?
I’m stuck in this agonizing uncertainty.
Tomorrow I’ll talk to my friend. He’s the only one who can give me some guidance, despite being an arrogant idiot.
When I need to talk, he’s the one I call.
With that thought, I drift off to sleep. I need to wake up early tomorrow.
The next morning…
I’m in the car on the way to the office when I call Mattia.
“To what do I owe the honor of a call from you at this hour of the morning?”
“Are you still sleeping, by any chance?”
“I wish. I’m already at the restaurant. Matteo woke up early today. But tell me, what do you want?”
“Can I stop by to talk?”
“Of course. I’ll be waiting in my office.”
I hang up and ask my driver to head to the restaurant. We arrive minutes later, and as always, he parks at the side entrance. I go in that way and head straight to Mattia’s office.
“Don’t tell me you came to ask for help winning over your little devil.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have come.”
“Sit down. You talk about me, but you’re worse than I am. No wonder you’ve got that nickname going around.”
“Oh, I have a nickname, do I?”
“Yeah, I’m not telling you what it is, but it fits. Come on, tell me what you want.”
“I think you already know, right?” He bursts out laughing.
“I knew that girl was going to put an end to this puritan phase of yours.”
“I’m not a puritan. I’ve never denied being with women. I’m a man, and I have my needs.”
“Yeah, that was once every two or three months, and you didn’t even kiss them.”
“Well, yeah, but with Amélie it’s been different. Even though I still haven’t taken her to bed, our moments together are intense—really good.”
“And why haven’t you slept with her yet?”
“Damn it, she’s a virgin. I want it to be special.” He puts his hand on my forehead.
“Are you sick? Want me to take you to the doctor?”
“Stop being an idiot. I shouldn’t have come here.”
“That little devil really got her hooks into you, huh? I think it’s time to move on with your life, don’t you?”
“I’ve thought about it a lot, but I don’t want to feel guilty afterward.”
“Owen, I know what you went through, and I really admire your strength, but it’s time to leave that in the past. Luma was a wonderful person, but it’s over. It’s done. Have you thought about Ellie? She needs a mother, and I’ve told you that before.”
“Yeah, I know. Amélie is so young—she has her whole life ahead of her. She’s just starting out in her career, and she’s doing really well.”
“A relationship won't get in the way of her life—she'll keep up with her studies and her job. If you like her, don't overthink it, just hold on to her. Don't be a fool like I was.”
“I'll think about it.”
“Did you hear Emilio's opening his nightclub on Friday? I've got three invites—Emma and I are going. Want to come with us?”
“It'll be good to get out. I haven't done that in a long time.”
“It's a deal, then. We'll meet at nine in front of the nightclub.”
I leave and head straight to the office, thinking about what Mattia told me. And yes, I think it's time to be with someone, but I'll take it slow. I don't know what she wants, and I have to respect that too.
I head to the courthouse for another day.
Today I have three cases to judge. I've already studied them, and they won't be difficult—I've reviewed the evidence too.
Even though there's a jury, I like to examine each case personally.
That's why they say I'm ruthless, because sometimes I don't agree with the jury.
But this is my job, and I like to do it right.
We arrive and I go straight to my bench, sit down, and begin the first case, then the next, and finally the last.
After bringing down the gavel and sentencing the defendant to twenty years in prison, I rise from my chair and leave. It wasn't as exhausting as I'd imagined, and the evidence was sufficient to convict him. I did my job and left. Time to see my girls. I head straight home.