Gabe stopped laughing. His face turned fierce again as he glared at Stella, ignoring Mister Kesler, who was still sitting calmly behind. Music. Stella, listen. Stella, my patience is gone. Sign now or I swear that in that courtroom I will expose all your shameful secrets. I’ll make it so you can never show your face in this city again.
Stella froze. Her tears streamed down her face. She felt so small in the face of Gab’s power. Behind Stella, Mr. Kesler slowly stood up. His movements were calm but radiated a powerful aura of authority, a stark contrast to his worn clothes.
Son, Mr. Kesler’s voice was deep, resonant, and grave music, making Gabe turn instinctively. Are you sure you want to continue with this arrogance? I advise you to speak respectfully to your wife and to your elders, because in the legal world you boast about, ethics are paramount.
Gabe glared at Mr. Kesler, his eyes burning. His emotions peaked at being lectured by someone of a lower class. Who do you think you are to give me advice? What do you know about the law? I’m Gabe Mendoza, a skilled attorney from the biggest firm in the city. You’re just dust under my shoe. Get out of my sight before I have the guard drag you away.”
Mr. Kesler just let out a long sigh, shaking his head slowly as if looking at a spoiled, lost child. Gabe had no idea that the shout music he had just unleashed was the biggest mistake of his life. He had just music awakened the giant whose portrait he worshiped on his office wall, but whose real face he didn’t recognize.
The atmosphere in the courthouse lobby suddenly fell silent as if all the air had been sucked out by the escalating tension. Gabe, his pride wounded by the old man’s rebuke, snorted rudely, his hand holding a pen pointed at Mr. Kesler’s face trembling with suppressed rage on the verge of exploding.
“Listen to me, old man,” Gabe growled, his eyes blazing with threat. “I don’t care who you are. If you open your mouth again, I’ll sue you for harassment. This is between me and my wife. Who doesn’t know her place?”
Gabe turned his rage back to Stella. He grabbed her arm roughly, making her cry out in pain. “Gabe, you’re hurting me.” Stella whimpered, trying to pull away from his grip. Sign it now. Music! Gabe shouted, forcing the blue folder against Stella’s chest. “Don’t expect some prince charming to come and save you. Realize your position, Stella. You are nothing without me.”
Let her go,” the voice boomed. It wasn’t from Stella, but from Mister Kesler. This time it wasn’t the voice of a frail, weak old man. The voice thundered with authority and a resonant dignity that would make anyone’s courage shrink. Gabe was startled. He instinctively released his grip on Stella’s arm.
Mister Kesler took a step forward. The sound of his wooden cane hitting the ceramic floor was sharp and piercing. He stood tall, his chest out as if the weight of age that had stooped his back had vanished. His once dull old eyes now glared at Gabe with a gaze as sharp as an eagle’s zeroing in on its prey.
“Since when does Kesler and partners hire street thugs as senior associates?” Mister Kesler asked, his tone cold and measured. “Gabe froze.” His eyes widened. The name of the law firm was pronounced with a very specific intonation, one that a common person wouldn’t know. Kesler and Partners was his workplace, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country.
“How do you know the name of my firm?” Gabe stammered. His arrogance was beginning to crumble.
Mr. Kesler didn’t answer. He slowly adjusted the collar of his worn plaid shirt. Then, with a calm but meaningful gesture, he ran his fingers through his white hair, pushing it back. His face was now clearly visible under the lights of the courthouse lobby. The firm jawline, the aqualine nose, and the distinctive mole under his left eye were all clearly visible.
Leo, Gab’s colleague standing behind him suddenly went rigid. The briefcase he was holding slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor with a thud. Leo, what’s wrong with you? Gabe turned, confused by his colleagueu’s sudden, pale and ghostlike appearance.
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