Isabella~
"Bella, why are you so stubborn?" When I finally open my eyes, I'm lying on top of the file stacks. Fortunately, he threw the heavy files, which I had given him to hold, onto the floor, making it easier for me to retrieve that specific file.
"Let's go." Despite the agony from falling in my ankle and lower back, I can't help but be excited to receive that specific file. I attempted to stand up from the floor but was unable to do so due to my ankle pain.
"Let me help you." He reached out to touch me, but I didn't want to accept his assistance in keeping my body in balance.
I can do it on my own. I don't want to be reliant on him like I was in the past. That's why I didn't allow him to help me in searching the files I wanted to read.
"No, Mr. Thompson, I will manage." I tried to stand up again by pushing my body, but I was too pained to do so.
"Bella, why are you behaving so stubbornly? Your ankle turned blue due to swelling. Why don't you allow me to assist you?"
"No, Mr. Thompson, I will..."
"Shut up." This time, he didn't listen to me and grabbed me in his arms to take me into his office.
I felt his closeness, and my heartbeat accelerated. His familiar sandalwood scent pulled me back to our earlier times. This is the second time I felt his muscular arms around my waist. When he came home after drinking one evening, he touched me for the first time. In the past, I craved his touch, but now it's numbing me.
My mind feels blank on his touch now. I feel as though everything has stopped around me, including the sound of my breathing. What's going on with me? I raised my face to meet his, but he appeared to be entirely preoccupied with getting to his office. My gaze fell on his sharp jawline; his handsome face had always melted my heart and fluttered butterflies in my stomach, but I had to get rid of this feeling now before it made me vulnerable again.
"Mr. Thompson, please put me down." I squeezed my eyes shut so I wouldn't be able to revisit the past.
He didn't seem to hear anything I had to say, so he continued strolling until he gently placed me on his office couch.
"Let me call the doctor and see you." When I heard his voice, I opened my eyes.
"No, Mr. Thompson, you don't need to worry about me; I will manage." This time, I dared not meet his intense blue gaze. Because it's beating so quickly, I'm worried he's listening to my heartbeat.
"But your ankle..." He gave me a worried expression.
In the past, I wished he had shown me this concern for me, but he never did. I still recall how he stood out from me when I badly burned my hand while making a cake. On his birthday, I was preparing his favorite cake, but he threw it away without even tasting it, ignoring my injured hand. I sobbed the entire night, feeling awful about myself for spoiling his birthday celebration.
However, he expressed his concern today without even asking. I don't want him in my life anymore. For me, he is simply a client. I must dash all his hopes before he attempts to approach me differently than his lawyer.
"Mr. Thompson, bring those files to me; I do not require your pity." Once again, I hid my inner turmoil beneath my icy exterior.
I realize that by always wearing this mask of coldness, I am not only lying to him but also to myself. I told him I came early because my meeting with another client was over today, but that was another lie I told him. The fact is, I couldn't sleep well last night because I had to visit him early in the morning. What's happening to me after all? Why do I feel differently for him when I have already healed from my past wounds and moved on with my life?
"Bella, let me at least put some cream on your ankle." He grabbed my feet tightly and applied ointment. Although I wanted to tell him to stop stroking my feet, he didn't give me a chance to say no.
I turned my attention to my work before my emotions led me to my vulnerable state.
"Mr. Thompson. Please record the year and date of each case, exactly as I am describing it." I motioned for him to keep an Excel spreadsheet open on his laptop.
He silently followed my instructions and completed the sheet for me. After sharing all the necessary details with him, I asked him to organize this data according to his life events. He gave me a perplexed expression but obediently followed my instructions.
"Show me the sheet." I attempted to get up from the couch to look at the laptop screen, but my annoying ankle again prevented me from doing so.
"Let me get there." He sat next to me on the couch. Once more, his scent attempted to distract me, but I made myself concentrate on my task.
"Mr. Thompson, I have shortlisted a few cases; tell me what's the reason for those cases." To shorten the case list, I filtered the Excel sheet.
"These are ten major cases from my life, and seven of them proved to be a great milestone in my career." As he recalled his successful cases, his voice betrayed his pride.
"I want all 10 case files to read." Observing him develop his confidence makes me feel lighter.
"I only have three files here in the office; the rest are at my house." He spoke hesitantly.
"Case of Jordan Lucas's bank robbery. The drug racket case of Jordan Lucas. Jordan Lucas's organ trafficking case. This folder contains just three files, all of which are associated with Jordan Lucas. How about the remaining cases?" I questioned him.
"In that list, you presented all 7 cases related to Jordan Lucas, and you know that I never lost any case against Jordan Lucas." He eyes gleamed with confidence on mentioning about his achievements.
"Okay, then on Monday we'll visit you." I placed two files in my bag and opened the one for which my ankle was twisted.
"Do you remember anything about all those cases I mentioned?" I questioned him.
"Yes, how can I forget about Jordan Lucas? He was the first person whose case I started my legal career with, and it was thanks to his cases that I achieved success in a short period." The joy in his voice returned as he reminisced about the old days.
"Mr. Thompson, please tell me every detail you remember about Jordan Lucas." I grabbed a notepad to make notes about Jordan Lucas.