Your Honour, I'm In Love

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮

Lucia had been nervously waiting for the next day, and the day finally came. She had picked out her outfit the night before, going through way too many outfit options, but could you blame a girl for wanting to leave a good impression? She had picked out a black, high waisted pleated wide leg pair of pants, and a white button-up blouse, and on top of the white blouse came a black blazer to match the pants. A classic combination, paired with a pair of not too high high heels, because she really didn't want her feet to hurt, especially on this day. She applied some light, makeup and put her hair up in a tight bun before leaving her room.
'Hey darl', you going somewhere?' Her mother asked from inside the kitchen. She had seen Lucia walk in the hallway, so she saw that she was all dressed up as if she's going to go somewhere important. 'Yeah, I called dad's old friend yesterday morning and he said I could swing by between two and five. I'm just gonna go as early as possible, just a little after two.' Lucia explained as she entered the kitchen, leaning against one of the counters. 'Oh, okay! Will you be back home for dinner? I made your favourite.' Her mother smiled at her. 'Ah, well, mom.. I don't know if I'll be home by then.. I don't know how long Mr. Viscuso expects me to stay.' Lucia watched her mother's face turn a bit sour. 'Oh... okay.. do you want me to pack you some food?' Her mother asked, just in case. 'Ah, no, mom.. you don't have to. If I get hungry, I'll just pick something up from a restaurant near the place.' Lucia replied, checking her phone. The time read 02:12 P.M. 'Oh, would you look at the time! I have to go now, ma, see you!' Lucia kissed her mother's cheek before she hurriedly left the house and called a taxi.

*

After some time driving, the taxi driver brought her to a tall building in the city centre. Lucia paid the taxi driver before nervously entering the building. As she entered, she was greeted by a big room with the front desk, and behind that desk sat a lady, typing away on a laptop. 'Uhm, excuse me..? Miss?' Lucia approached the front desk. 'I'm Lucia Malgeri, and I talked to Mr. Viscuso yesterday.. he told me to come here between two and five..' Lucia nervously tapped on the front desk's tabletop. 'Oh, you're the lawyer girl, aren't you?' The front desk lady asked as she typed a few more things. 'You can go to that elevator over there, and press the button for the fifth floor. The first door to your left will be the room you're looking for.' The lady smiled. 'Oh, alright, thank you so so much!' Lucia smiled back at the lady before she walked as casually as she could to the elevator. Her hands trembled as she pressed the button for the fifth floor once she was in the elevator. The elevator started going up, and after a few seconds, a ding sound went off and the elevator doors opened. Lucia stepped out of the elevator and walked to the first door on the left, just like the lady told her to. She took a few deep breaths as she stood in front of the door, before knocking on it.
'Come in!' A deep voice came from inside. Lucia slowly opened the door and entered the room. It was an office that was quite lavishly decorated. There was a mahogany desk, and behind that a leather chair, where Aldo Viscuso sat. Lucia closed the door behind herself. 'Please, sit down, miss Malgeri.' Aldo gestured towards the seats on the other end of the desk. She nodded and sat down on the plush chair, making sure she sat perfectly straight and still. 'No need to be so nervous, miss Malgeri. I do not bite.' Aldo chuckled. 'This is my son, Matteo. He'll be staying here during your visit, pay no mind to him.' Aldo gestured towards a handsome looking man at the other end of the room. The man was looking through some books on the bookshelf, and gave Lucia a brief nod. 'Oh, alright.. if I'm gonna be honest, I didn't even notice him.' Lucia laughed nervously. 'Well.. alright. The reason why you're here, is that you want to be my lawyer, correct?' Aldo laced his hands together as he leaned forward on his desk. 'Yes, Mr. Viscuso... I have all the qualifications needed.' Lucia grabbed the proper papers that she needed from her bag, and she put it on the desk for Aldo. 'Oh, you came prepared.. and please, just call me Aldo.' Aldo grabbed the papers from the table, looking them over, nodding in approval. 'These papers look good..' He spoke, his tone full of approval. 'Thank you.. Aldo. I worked very hard for them.' Lucia smiled. 'But why... why do you want to be my lawyer?' Aldo asked, putting the papers back down on the desk before looking at Lucia with a serious gaze. 'Ah, well, my dad.. my dad got worried about me, because I'm a lawyer and all, but I got no clients. So he gave me your number, in hopes that I could be your lawyer since you were having legal troubles with your business.' Lucia fidgeted a bit with her hands. 'I understand.. you are aware of what my business is?' Aldo tilted his head slightly. 'Uhm.. it's just exporting olive oil to America and other countries, right..?' Lucia answered hesitantly. Aldo shook his head with a chuckle. 'Not only that, ragazza*. I would've expected your father to tell you, as he knows, since he's my old friend, but I guess he didn't... my business is dangerous. In this business, we're all criminals.. some stuff are legal, but most of it is.. well, off paper, if you understand what I mean by that.' Aldo explained carefully and quietly, watching as Lucia's expression turned to shock. 'No, wait, really..?' She asked in disbelief. Aldo nodded. 'If you no longer wish to work for me, I understand. It can be dangerous sometimes, even if you're just my lawyer. You have to decide carefully. I'll give you some time to think about it.. but I want an answer by the end of the week, okay?' Aldo stood up, and went towards the door, opening it for her. Lucia quietly left the room, she had nothing to say. She was absolutely speechless. If she says yes, she gets a job, and good money.. but she'll be in a little danger. If she says no, she'll have no job, and no money, but she'll be safe...
How could she possibly decide?

*ragazza = girl