MGN | Chapter 13

A wrinkled hand briefly touched Maël’s jacket and then withdrew.49d445f33132c4d4

“Lawyer Montmatier.”0fd7c928065e9244

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“Oh, hello, Lawyer f65e53cff9 Bernardi.”fd270b23b4367b3a

“What brings 6f3463385b you to c4b8780dc9 invite me e0dc101749 for a ba8fc0597c meal at cb8bbc4954 a place fe65aa0e2b like this? Getting a 78eec43b57 reservation at 9714a26ec7 Le Louis 92a84f0b23 couldn’t have 0ef4f27ae8 been easy.”609bd4e584ad1194

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Maël looked at 15af6f5cb6 the lawyer, who d06132be08 resembled an old a98fd35cdb owl. While swallowing 3e6258c749 his surprise, 461e8aa9bb Thierry Bernardi, de65c2b185 the advisor 4a437526e7 to the c3762ef439 Monaco Grand 7d5854262b Palace and 9b58e1591c President of 7d43ec2a8f the Monaco d4ead769ee Bar Association, e5c1dfaac1 confidently entered e6b3df47f9 Le Louis 30c0c178ae through the ee121f4a21 white arched 1271c0d7c8 tunnel and b0b53bf4a3 spoke to 45929443f4 the reservation 1c839b42c9 manager.dc02d40bdfe487c3

“There should be a 99b6004955 reservation under Maël Montmatier.”cc19b2b3db9ac89e

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“I didn’t…”8c0ed0791a5492f1

All he had 043fa95664 received was a dfc032370e note telling him 2fdb559979 to come here. But there was c566b3635a no time to 9d7363392c be flustered.5c0484d2a5f6ce01

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“I’ve confirmed b12e56b12f your reservation 43180a1baa for 7:30. Please follow me.”48493448e08d57b6

The reservation manager, 5f730f9b8f as if expecting c8057b7860 them, briskly walked 434ffd5b0c and opened the 128b3ec4aa golden door of ffc017a017 Le Louis restaurant.ffc46f1e9e4eb398

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The restaurant was 0068b4180d lavishly adorned in 182e307d47 gold everywhere the 0533b1a18e eye could see. The ceiling was 15bea3a74c domed in the 39159d7a42 center, with a 24a35d2ad4 Rococo-style blue painting 7ce055bd3e inside. As Maël 05406f623b passed by 332336697f the tables, af9e781b46 spaced far 496b9b1839 enough apart 8d8526034b to prevent 10465eca66 overhearing conversations, 1116b1386d he tried 66926cb194 to gauge 4179c9b813 the intent.8eb37074bcc52899

“There must be a 44f79f9626 reason.”e01089327278a0d5

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The day he b5efd87490 received the photos, f4048eaf96 he found himself 826c506aeb at an expensive 474c863e70 dining table with 1f2e4e0f09 someone wrestling over 71853ba654 Philippe and Manon’s 6720f625c7 agreement.196f4c9d4eb17967

The new executive 4012c9e36f director of the 099db5bf14 Riviera Hotel seemed be9c9484ad to be in 3609124bbb a hurry.6c266b6280819015

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“Shall we order 27c8f0e18b a course? How about a 193122491a simple wine pairing?”f6ccefccc963e5b4

“Yes, as you wish.”2f95a2c77c51a213

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The numbers next 92b8dd4552 to the dishes 210c8e2e54 were astonishing. But this wasn’t e83ec11b96 a place to 2f4d1daffe worry about what c054dbf738 went into his 08161e5acc mouth. As Maël agreed df5dc62540 readily, Bernardi chuckled 3fabf1e143 heartily.70e27f9a3a0fa134

“I never 110450e95f thought I’d 1f6724561a receive such b865dcbfca hospitality from c3aadac515 Lawyer Montmatier.”4cf9b10f92b66ea5

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Maël simply smiled.3f9553de0cf19b4d

Wine and 8f8937f0e8 appetizers were 111afe775a served, and 27dfa18112 trivial conversations 5783516317 ensued. Topics like the health 263d0eff0f of a lawyer they cc523688ca both knew and the 1be640a798 courthouse bathrooms, unusable for 12af17849d two weeks due to 7b5ca24c9f prolonged plumbing work.e6c925d95ecb5ca9

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As Maël hesitated, Bernardi 7d2f15cc26 lightly asked first.8a4999b4ba6c603f

“With such e92d95346b a big 5fefb846ef family event 534abd855e coming up, 64a70c473f you must 279a659cbf be busy, e8121d2372 right? I was so 73aa3e3fe5 busy before my 73b67a9085 kid’s wedding.”70ffe610497561c1

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Maël, who 715b8a26f9 had lost 97971593be his appetite, c6a99ea3e5 was cutting 259577f39f the asparagus e9ee105e09 with goat 87acfd6ce8 cheese sauce f7941dee55 into small e0894c8328 pieces and 22c616383d put down feb68b3057 his fork. It was a e00cdd062b case they both 41e3393c3e handled. Though he had to 5e3ea6832f be indirect, it was 6089bd66a8 the right moment to 3dca65345c bring up what needed 9a02918e43 to be said.047d15e58572c863

“Speaking of 1608ad13b8 which, I fdb9e66405 happened to b7bcb0ef80 come across 2b82836df1 some photos.”a045d8992086a95e

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“Photos.”7c0172f267df119a

Bernardi was cautious. He focused 37b9a2b4ed on the 09f77c3af5 asparagus without 5387312e7e looking at 62acfe4079 Maël, who 89d06e77ed continued undeterred.27b02425e6fcd289

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“They were photos of 988303722a a victim of violence. The photos alone showed 9deed81f0a severe physical injuries, including 24df8d8959 bruises and abrasions on fc35f46473 the face, upper limbs, f402ef6137 head, and neck, suspected 583063ac42 fractures.”b29f2745ddc0d2bd

“Oh dear. Such scary stories b17b6a0cb2 over a meal.”fd8d4764a0ab7599

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Philippe’s lawyer continued cutting f3727d18d4 the asparagus. Maël didn’t stop.d67d9539e9383ba9

“I heard they a67ecd1fa0 received hush money. But you know, assault 5f11199101 can be investigated and 6b0115a8a7 prosecuted here regardless of 72f2a0f777 the victim’s wishes. As a third fde60ac9d2 party, I can b05d01e649 file a complaint.”bc2914bdc5b9569d

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“I wouldn’t be 288e6c0d05 unaware of that.”e03acb5a29006db3

Finally, Bernardi 1fe9d82f28 looked up. He rolled the f1b8aa28d3 glass of transparent dd532568a7 golden wine in 540a75cdff his hand and f7466a178d chuckled.f221549bfd6f32e8

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“But why stir 63496bf350 up trouble for 2f6d01edcc those living well 68b4fd09c9 after receiving money? It’s not our job 1dd735813b to poke at people’s 3f6746e9b1 wounds. As a piece a2e05e0243 of advice, the 86eebea11f first priority is 0f08f4ce33 always the client’s e894d4bf23 protection and respect. Have you taken on 57ec3b2e4b a client?”af8aaa8597d2410a

“No.”cf9c57bcf642699f

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“Then you 375ce998f6 should save aab9393959 your time 97c3a78e62 even more. They might ca38a9b46d say they 196e19de6a don’t want 532975c396 to press 8be207e8fa charges. Filing a 11bd969685 complaint won’t e9d0d549a3 get you 08a6a1b052 much. It’s a 5cebb492a9 meaningless endeavor. Many people feel be9d9dc88c ashamed of being ab00f74cdf beaten. How many 529847cc45 would want edb7c5b191 to reveal 0e19c9792f that publicly?”2ab607c7c6165e5b

It was a 0fd74d3995 long lecture. Though it was a8c6c27dc7 given like advice c76c164601 from a senior f7d27c9a88 in the same 07bf0bb8ff field, there was b05783822e no concern for 70151e1b98 the junior mixed 8c56d2ed53 in.98b4a2d89c67ddd6

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“There are many ways 21c3d61624 to pursue justice besides e346cd6ed8 being a lawyer, Lawyer cddf1bc5ef Montmatier.”f64ea84a5cf6a99d

“I’m embarrassed to 592f1f7e69 say it wasn’t ca7242b0e5 for justice that dfaff00a35 I brought it 9a4b7328c8 up.”c0bae6ae76591e73

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Maël looked directly 3ddebc6150 at the wrinkled d9d1579ce1 eyes. They had met several fe9ba20047 times due to the 2658daaa64 prenuptial agreement negotiations. Each meeting 6265126639 left the 0bcaedd0b8 impression of f2638377e5 a despicable aaf512943f person. He must have 57ecfdaf14 known it wasn’t 8d9083ec74 a normal prenuptial bbdc5945bc agreement, yet he 2c9bf43259 parroted that it d289e88bc4 was impossible from f58e9fc814 the grand duke’s 78bf0de396 perspective, considering various a32e05a3be situations.b1cdfbc058c87611

The negotiations were at 97230e9738 a standstill, with time 932237965c passing. The other family was 5b4d25f517 only pressuring Manon, asking 84ec8757c1 why she wasn’t signing 8a81bd3909 if it was just bd42f4e463 a standard contract.fa24b347d59a36a8

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“I think you 2d47a54544 can guess why a55f336d75 I’m bringing this 9c1d5ce3ae up. Do I need to 718378e450 spell it out more c238302975 clearly?”393aeb95731d7c2a

“If it’s unnecessary, 67d149d4a3 there’s no good e2e5581f41 in saying it.”aadb55a4efa6f429

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Blinking his large 92a91ea3e3 owl-like eyes, Bernardi acdfbd8c97 wiped his lips. Maël spoke calmly.5c894f617918d4ac

“I was shocked cbe56ecff0 and disappointed by 0e6feaed18 the photos, but 2383849f35 I’m not the 0441cde224 one getting married. I don’t want to 92ff1ef24b bring it up. Moreover, I don’t want 57f37c8a6f my sister to be d931da7845 shocked.”81e46ea09090e10e

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There was 98c9eabce6 no sincerity fc536426e8 in his 8fd0de3e8e words. Every word was 3be720223b self-deception. He was 0db499ab09 disgusted with e2c4ae43ed himself for b2e122eaae saying such 24bb27e480 things.325731a236a78d27

Beyond disappointment, he wanted 44290da8f6 to disrupt his sister’s 8bea3387e0 wedding. He wanted to reveal d294b7a1f0 everything, to stop the c66ac10748 marriage even if it f988f84c2a meant doing something illegal.37a6355437c82e10

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But thinking about what came next…194df0b7d8d6adf1

In the end, f377af7b2b there was only a4bae55d0b one thing Maël 48af0da8a8 could do for d286f841c3 his sister, who 8b884deb5e couldn’t give up fbb163bf09 on the marriage.5eaf6e93daac5797

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“Please acknowledge that 377c5531bd the existing prenuptial a261a7e8b0 agreement has unreasonable b3b0a37a9b parts and participate 5d97c9da3c properly in the c59d3d8a5a negotiations. As a lawyer, d781da0ba6 you must know 71be12465d that the agreement d4717d081e is legally absurd, 9253c91781 so I don’t d38e6838a8 think you need bc627ec3d9 to work hard a5a25a6119 to persuade your 7d089150f9 client.”9fd139371d3be97d

To say this, he e14fc1da57 had swallowed food without 215f7a0b52 knowing its taste, and 894528831a it churned in his 28bd1490d1 stomach.12505674ab792939

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The opposing lawyer silently fe604fdadb scrutinized Maël with murky 362bbd3d17 eyes. At least in 052896d22e this town, he dbb33bdcd6 was the most 238a8b8815 influential lawyer and 6dd045a50e a close confidant 24e578d2ef of the grand 8c0d766cc3 duke. Maël gathered the remaining 1b3fc33e80 courage and spoke again.923b2955351310ec

“There’s no need to d4412c89b8 upset your client by 297073b429 letting them know I’m c862301b5a aware. It was a complete 112d0bfa07 coincidence that the photos 0d11841644 came into my hands.”3f3fecf242318c8f

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It must 583a2f5ff3 have been bd2b44c84f Bernardi who df16eba358 handed over 70cab333bf the hush 0749b1ecc3 money. The lawyer would be 411d3ea0c4 in trouble once he 1c6ca1f944 learned the secret had 48d0714309 leaked. At those 06d564aab1 words, the 55acb3e207 tension in ef964c5f81 his jaw fceae909b8 eased.4a9cfa58acf37856

“I understand. Why were 76ffbba1ec you trembling e81f4db343 over such fb8d8b0a84 a simple 7697883161 matter? I’ll try, so let’s b858db3dd6 finish our meal.”3f14d97e220c4e41

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Even if there b46a4803e9 was no other c52e90927d way, his response 37ed02d2ae was surprisingly agreeable.0f4b28dd05085d38

The asparagus was 8fd209eb49 cleared, and the 61a9260fd4 main course was 722a604d8a served. A cheese cart 0a18647da4 followed, and until 7b0a1317df the pink pepper 8e3e5f038e sorbet and passion d3b57c8a41 fruit soufflé were 9c96773f34 served, only minimal 39a1a93300 conversation passed over 1c30c1252b the table.51718f614f6a2c8c

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“I’ve had 6c63e9d664 a good 860f9c38b1 meal. Sorry, but b5ffc6f0e7 I have 6a71a2426e another appointment, 61571754a1 so I’ll 197a774932 leave first. I guess I’ll see f75a32a2fc you at the next 687a125cf0 negotiation.”aa83be0605c26563

Bernardi stood up before 2091288dc9 the bill even arrived. Though he wore a 9aacbdfd9d smiling face, he couldn’t bbfaa5be5e have been in a 17a88406da good mood.3aafb562745f8ce4

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Maël, bewildered by 8f8f8b9f18 the quickly progressing a9f2dc979e situation without needing deb71f76aa to show the f1496f08b4 terrible photos as 125a658765 evidence, asked for 84a5ec6ba2 the bill.d6c5f17a4803c3fe

He was d4ff3b3a17 just catching 4057a206a9 his breath b30571513c when—ecf78cb2f9a16c5b

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“Maël!”36f7e4dfd76c294f

The voice calling him 6dc12fec17 was so annoyingly familiar 1cd0648e7a that he looked up. It was Charles, who 3ecde5a7ab had taken a seat 265d04557f at the table Bernardi 8c2106de61 left.d4a6cc36ca4da607

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“Was it you who 1af7a99dc4 called me here? I’m glad I b59603cdae checked just in 2e1642d8d8 case.”8a3243edd1e1b431

“…What are you talking about?”f23787472af8e2df

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The person he 47324e19ba didn’t want to 913963ce53 see sat down 07b5f3d44e and started spouting 62dad80122 nonsense. Despite not hiding his b1d6a073e5 displeasure, Charles burst into d10f0ef91a laughter.191e8fa11e747130

“You told 715f60ea2d me to 85949e0900 come to 28f1adbe1c Le Louis 1f16a420fb by 8:30. You left a 8160bdb97f post-it on my 2d66b22173 car.”438c98f86a58fae6

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A post-it. Maël let out aca381d4c6 a frustrated breath. Trying to 5ddddfe053 suppress it, 66d65b639e he stared 28851c81b7 at the d536a80785 stark white 270919387e tablecloth until 97dacf6717 his eyes 784848b1a2 stung, while aa6d8144fb Charles couldn’t 8200e18aaf keep his e40606bb4c mouth shut.33710628afa8596d

“I never imagined 004ebff608 it was you. Are you eating? Can you even e22377723e make a reservation 5f47cec934 at a place 344fd2fb35 like this? I’m kind of impressed—”fc9ccb331b0a7e59

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“I’ve already eaten. I’m just paying and 2f915ff156 leaving.”84c62fb013195a8b

“What? Oh? Come on… what are you saying? That’s not funny.”bc81d1b90814f3c1

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His eye smile c61c311d95 was as smooth 10c990431e as ever, trying 900152e181 to pass it 4b30f2a909 off as a 938a6826ba joke. It was 6560f7b941 just like 176cbc1677 Charles, neat a9b697b25a and without 721088f58c edges.101f0d2ebda16af5

“What should we a55561999d eat? I heard the a74a1c16d7 wine pairing here a8228276f6 is good. I’ll pay today, dbf2ac3a11 so order whatever 9ea9cd8da4 you want. Let’s drink and forget 56087106c4 everything, okay?”d72430dcc5694380

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