Page 60 of Lost Room Lawyer
“That goes for you too,” he murmured.
As we pulled away from each other, there was a sudden knock, and the door swung open. Startled, we both stepped backfrom each other. I awkwardly clasped my mouth and turned my head.
Viktoria stood in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry … I … Am I interrupting? Linda said …”
Before she could draw any false conclusions, I grinned and did what needed to be done.
“Hi! No! Of course not. We’re just finishing up here. Let me introduce: This is Juri Vinzens, a client of mine. Juri, this is my wife, Viktoria.”
Juri remained composed, having encountered enough unusual situations in the past. He approached Viktoria and shook her hand. My wife managed a smile, but I could see the suspicion in her eyes. The situation had caught her off guard.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as Juri put on his jacket.
“I was in the area and thought I should tell you in person.”
Her gaze shifted between Juri and me. I nodded, encouraging her to speak freely.
“Rina Simeon passed away last night.”
“What? So soon? That … can’t be.”
I was stunned. If Viktoria hadn’t brought me the news herself, I wouldn’t have believed it. All I received from her was a solemn nod. My eyes shifted to Juri, who was piecing things together.
“But … My God …” I stammered.
I was at a loss for words. My thoughts were in disarray, and all I could think about was Nico. He had told me himself how close he was to his mother. She was his anchor. His best friend.
“And … how is Nico? Is there anything we can do?”
“Leo is with him and taking care of everything. The funeral is next week.”
I lost my sense of direction. As I felt dizzy and swayed slightly, it was Juri who supported me by the arm. I clung to him, incredibly grateful for his presence. I noticed Viktoria’s quizzicallook, but I didn’t care. My mind was completely consumed by thoughts of Nico.
There had to be something I could do.
18
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Hector
I was taken aback by the number of people at Leo’s house for the funeral. As Viktoria had informed me, Rina Simeon was known far beyond the Swiss borders for her sculptures and statues. One of her bronze sculptures even stood in Taipei.
The burial was a small, private affair, which was fitting given the many mourners who had traveled from around the world.
“This is crazy,” Viktoria whispered beside me, having swapped her shift to attend.
“Yes,” I agreed, equally impressed by the large crowd.
“Have you heard anything from your intern?” Viktoria’s concern was evident, as she had been in touch with Nico frequently before Rina’s death.
“No,” I replied, trying not to show my anxiety. Right after Rina’s death, Nico had sent me a medical certificate via email, giving him a few days off.
Of course, we were here to pay our respects to his mother, but it was hard to ignore my anticipation of seeing him. With so many guests, it wouldn’t be easy to find him.
Something had shifted within me over the past few days, possibly influenced by my conversation with Juri. I found myself reflecting on my identity and how Nico and I had ended up in such a challenging and heated predicament. He continued to occupy my thoughts, and while I understood he was going through a tough time, the situation still left a bitter taste, as I felt helpless despite our connection.
“Hello, Viktoria. Hector. I’m glad you’re here.”
