Versailles Series Book 9: The Lawyer [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 48

H E R A

Inabot ko ang kamay ni Dr. Llanes, ang Dean ng Law Department na siyang nag-interview sa akin. Matagal na nila akong iniimbitahan na magturo ng ilang subjects pero dahil marami akong ginagawa ay hindi ko sila napagbibigyan. Ngayon ay naghahanap ako ng pwede pang gawin kahit marami pa akong kaso na hawak. Speaking of which, I need to talk to Damon about this.

"The department is happy to have you, Attorney Marquez. After all, you are one of our best alumni."

I smiled formally. "I look forward to meeting the students."

"So eager as usual. The school starts in three weeks, Attorney Marquez. We will send everything you need in your email."

I nodded. "Thank you." I glanced at my watch. "I need to get back in the office. Call me if you need anything."

As I drove back to the office, I filled my mind with things to say to Damon. He might not be thrilled but I needed a change in the environment. Somehow, the office suffocates me. My house suffocates me. I need a new place where it is clean of any memories of Enteng. The thought of him brings another pang of pain in my chest. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as the throbbing that became too familiar already to me slowly crept in.

I haven't seen him in the office since that fateful day. I didn't even try to read or watch the news of what happened. I cleaned the rest of my week of meetings and just confined myself to my office the whole day. My team might be wondering but they didn't dare to ask me.

I looked at myself in the elevator as I arrived at the building. I'm clad in a black ensemble because, during the past few days, I realized why I loved dull colours so much. It helped me put up the façade that I am somehow strong and invincible even if I am broken inside. Now that I am rebuilding those walls, I need to be my old self again.

I walked into the office with my head held high as I usually did. I headed straight to Damon's office with a clear goal. Cath looked at me with a worried expression.

"Attorney...okay lang po ba kayo?"

I nodded. "I'm fine. Is Damon in? I need to talk to him."

"May thirty minutes po siyang vacant. Pasok na lang po kayo."

I knocked on Damon's door before coming in. He is in his usual self but somehow, there is also something different about him. The aura around him is dark like mine.

"Hey, I need to talk to you about something." My eyes are trained on him in case he doesn't want any disturbance this morning.

He walked around his table and leaned on it while his eyes dragged across my body. "You look, different."

I shrugged. "I can still wear my old clothes, can I?"

"Some of our colleagues are concerned about some changes in your... demeanour. You've been confining yourself in the office. Even Ryan has noticed the decrease in your meetings. What's going on?"

"Since when did they care about my demeanour?" I waved my hand. I need this over with. "I have taken up some teaching units in the university. I'll be there every Tuesdays and Thursdays. You don't need to worry about my cases. Ryan has been a great help."

Damon's eyebrows furrowed at what I said. "You're already busy as it is, Hera. I'm not stopping you if you really want to do it but you have evaded the offer for the longest time. What is happening to you? On top of what you just said, you're accepting cases here and there. You come to the office ahead of me and I leave before you. Are you okay?"

I placed my hand on my hips. "I needed to be occupied."

Damon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Something happened...with you and Enteng, right? I haven't seen him and the news recently-"