“Don’t use that voice on me, Enzo. I still sign your paychecks. Save it for your boy toy.”
“Fiancé,” Enzo shot back.
“What?” Seven and Lourdes gasped in unison.
Enzo looked at Seven in confusion. “Why are you shocked? Did we not talk about this last night? We even talked about your dowry.”
“That… You…” Seven dropped his voice. “I didn’t think you were serious.”
Now, Enzo looked shocked…and hurt. “You didn’t?”
“This is all adorable,” Lourdes said, her tone letting them know it was just the opposite. “But I’m afraid I cannot allow Seven to work underneath you. Especially if he’s your fiancé. That is a huge power imbalance.”
“Please,” Enzo snorted. “If either of us is running the other around, it’s him.”
“I hope this isn’t your idea of a proposal,” Seven said, voice barely above a whisper. “I expect a ring and you on one knee.”
Enzo grinned. “Noted.”
Lourdes looked two seconds away from firing both of them. “Call it whatever you want, but the firm cannot take on this type of liability, and we definitely can’t have you working a case that brings the firm no money. I cannot pull you from cases worth millions of dollars in billable hours so you can play Clue with your future…whatever he is.”
Enzo blinked at her. “I’m sorry?”
Lourdes shook her head. “No, I’m sorry, but it’s just not happening.”
She picked up a floral teacup, a tea label dangling over the edge, taking a delicate sip. She took two pens from the cup on her desk and set them next to the remaining stack of papers. “Sign these and be grateful you both still have jobs.”
Enzo’s brow went up, then he huffed out a humorless laugh. “Oh, I see what’s happening here,” he said. “This is my fault. I made it sound like I was asking. I wasn’t. Reassign Seven to work under me while I keep my future mother-in-law out of prison, or I’ll take my clients and walk.”
Seven gasped like he was in a telenovela, his hand going to his mouth. What was happening? Yesterday, Seven didn’t know if he could even call Enzo his boyfriend, and now, they were getting married and Enzo was threatening to quit his job? This was mental.
Clearly, Lourdes felt the same. Anger flashed in her eyes, her face pinched as she set down her delicate mug with purpose.
“Enzo, we should talk about this…” Seven started, trailing off when Enzo raised a hand.
Lourdes rocketed forward in her seat again, pointing a sharp nail the same color as her lipstick in their direction. “Don’t threaten me, Enzo. You won’t like how this plays out.”
Enzo gave her the same flat stare she’d given him earlier. “Now, who’s making threats? You and I both know that I don’t need this firm anymore, but you most definitely need me. I’d already planned on leaving as soon as Seven graduated law school. I have no qualms about pushing up my timeline.”
“What?” Seven whispered.
“Then we could start our own practice,” Enzo said softly, giving him a look that made his heart float and his stomach feel hollow.
Oh.
Seven’s thoughts churned. He couldn’t let Enzo throw his whole career away over him. Over his mother. The thought of them opening their own practice made him feel warm all over, but that wasn’t for at least a year or so and that wasifhe even passed the bar.
Seven tugged at Enzo’s sleeve. “Let’s just go. I’m sure your mom can recommend a different law firm, maybe one that will take my mom’s case for free. It’s not worth blo?—”
Enzo cut him off. “It’s not about the money. My mother and I will cover any legal fees. This is about worth. There’s no attorneyout there that will defend your mother better than me. I never lose.”
It was true. Enzo had never lost a case. That wasn’t luck. It was by design. Enzo was an exceptional attorney, but it was easy to win when the deck was always stacked in his favor. But Seven also benefited from Enzo’s privilege just as he’d benefited from Jericho and Atticus in the past. It really was all about connections.
Enzo considered Seven for a minute. “But you make a good point. With a Mulvaney, the Navarros, and the Contis all mixed up in this case, there’s not a single law firm in town who’d refuse the publicity, billable hours be damned. The publicity alone is worth any monetary loss. I need to make some pho?—”
“Alright,” Lourdes said, exasperated. “You win. Take your little case and your little boyfriend and get out of my office. But if this blows back on the firm in any negative way, I’ll make sure the tire marks are on your back and yours alone. Got it?”
Enzo’s face split into a grin. “Of course,” he said. “I knew you’d see it my way.” He took Seven’s hand and started pulling him back towards the door. “Love that lipstick on you, by the way.”
