Relover

The Criminal

You walked purposefully across the office floor, your mind a steady churn of calculations. You didn't allow yourself to dwell on the unease prickling at the edges of your thoughts, you couldn't.

You reached your department and crossed the cubicle area into the inner room where your office, Patrick's office and the reception were.

"Did my lawyer arrive, Paul?" You asked as you reached the front desk.

Paul nodded, "Yes, he just arrived."

You took a peek at the small glass window in the wooden door that lead to Patrick's office but you didn't spot the man.

"Where's Pat?"

"He went to the archives to return some blueprints."

"Tell him when he comes back to not interrumpt me. I will be talking with my lawyer." Without waiting for a response, you walk away.

You shut the office door behind you, exhaling a tense sigh. Across the room, Brahms was pacing by the window, his usually composed face was etched with lines of worry. He turned at the sound of your footsteps, his brows furrowing as he took in your expression.

"Y/N," he greeted tersely, forgetting the usual friendliness. "You could've given me a little more to work with before calling me in like this."

You crossed your arms, forcing yourself to remain calm. "Brahms, I called you because this is serious. Cesare's letter wasn't just some empty threat, he's got... specifics."

"Specifics?" Brahms muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he returned to his habitual pacing. "Yes, a bit but not all of it. You and I made sure of that. There shouldn't be anything left to dig up, not even a trace."

"And yet, he found something," you replied, struggling to sound indifferent. "I thought you were the expert, Brahms. How did he manage to slip through all the cracks you supposedly patched?Whatever he has found out now, it doesn't matter. Just... make it go away..."

His eyes flick to yours, and there's a split-second hesitation, a hint of something you despise. "You want this buried," he says finally before biting one of his knuckles. "I assume that's still possible... given the precautions we've taken."

His lack of confidence irritates you. "Cesare is a spoiled yuppie with too much time on his hands."

"Sure, he is a spoiled man-child..." he nods, though you found his tone maddeningly careful. "Still, he has managed to unearth something significant enough to threaten with. That is... not insignificant."

You scoff. "I'm not worried, Brahms. We've been careful. You've been careful." You hold his gaze, leaning forward slightly. "You know I wouldn't let a detail slip. If anyone made mistakes, they are outside this office."

He sighs faintly, glancing down, and you notice the shadow of a smirk or maybe a grimace. Brahms doubts you, doesn't he? You try to shake those thoughts away. He is way too deep in this with you to think of escaping without a bruise. He may question, but he is in no position to run away from you.

"Of course," he murmurs, his voice flat and professional. "You've been careful."

You remind yourself that Brahms has always come through, even if he needs a push now and then. He wouldn't dare abandon you, not when he's as entangled in this as you are. "Don't let that delusional man-child rattle you, Brahms. He wants to make us believe he is clever but we both know he isn't. It's empty posturing!"

"Empty posturing," he repeats, but his voice carries a faint note of challenge, testing how much you believe your own words. "Yet here we are."

You clench your jaw.