Felix's POV
1 day later
I sat in the visitation room, and not long after, Mike, my lawyer, walked in. In his business suit and suit case, he looked quite good, I must say. But not quite as good as me.
"Hi, Mr. Martini — I never thought I'd see you here, or on the other side of the table, for that matter."
I smiled at his joke. Not so long ago, the same young lawyer had shadowed me, learning from me how to get the truth out of the perpetrators. It's funny how now I have to depend on him to get me out of here.
"Nice to see you again, Mike. I hope I didn't interrupt you or inconvenience you."
"You're kidding me, right? You sponsored my education throughout law school; you trained me; and you still gave me a job in your firm."
"I don't want you to do this for me because of all that."
"It's okay, Mr. Martini." You don't have to get so sentimental. You're a good man, and I'll get you out of here." Mike pulled out a chair and sat opposite me. He placed his suit case on the table and brought out a few files.
"So, Mike, lay it all on me. What am I being charged for?"
"Well, fraud, harbouring an illegal migrant, human trafficking, kidnapping, and the list goes on. It's not looking good, sir, so that's why I need you to tell me the truth. Did you do all this?"
"Yes and no."
"I'm afraid I don't get you, Mr. Martini." Mike questioned Felix to gain clarity on the matter.
"Please just call me Felix, okay?" Look at it this way: does Cindy look unhappy to you?" Felix questioned Mike, and without thinking much about it, Mike answered.
"No, she actually looks happy every time I see the two of you together,but sir, the court doesn't care about that; there's a list of evidence piled up against you."
I placed my head in my hands. I couldn't believe it. Just yesterday, Cindy and I were happy,planning our lives together, and now it's all crashing down before my eyes.
"Do you have any idea who reported all this to the police?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, sir."
"Who is it?"
"Well, it's Kyle and Sharen." Mike answered.
I slammed my fist against the table, which got me a warning from the police guard.
"Dammit! I should have known it was those two "
"Did you have any misunderstandings with those two?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Well, let's just hope the world will believe that."
"Why are you saying that?"
"Let's just say that those two are riding the media waves looking all innocent. They are saying that you held Cindy hostage and threatened them if they told anyone," Mike explained, and that response alone left Felix thinking that the odds of him winning were severely reduced.
"So what do we do now?"
"Mr. Felix, you are a lawyer."
"Yes, I know I'm a lawyer, but at this point, I can't rely on myself."
"Sure sir. I have to leave now and prepare for your case."
I nodded at him, and he began packing his belongings and began to walk away.
"Mike wait. How's my wife coping?" Felix asked. He had not seen Cindy for some time, and that left a gaping hole in his heart.
"I'm actually on my way to see her at the station."
"Wait, what is she doing at the station? I left her at home."
"Well, considering that your wife is involved, she was called in for questioning as well, and your mom—"
"What about my mom?" Does she know?"
"Mr. Martini, of course she knows it's all over the tabloids and news, and I wouldn't be surprised if they put it on some billboard and the firm—"
"What's wrong with the firm?"
Mike kept quiet until I asked him again.
"Our clients are beginning to get a little nervous about doing business with us."
I looked down at my table and looked up at Mike again.
"The firm will pick itself up again. Just make sure my wife is okay. Please, I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Yes, Mr. Martini. "I'll make sure that your wife is okay ".
***
Cindy's POV
I sat down in a small room with grey walls, which made me feel so depressed all of a sudden. I sat on the most uncomfortable chair in the world with a stainless steel table in front of me. And right ahead of me on the wall was a mirror. I've watched enough movies to know that it was a two-way glass mirror.
"Cindy, for the very last time, just tell us the truth. If you don't tell us the truth, this Martini guy will get away with this crime."
I looked up from the table and then at the woman.
"My name is Mrs. Cindy Martini, wife of Mr. Felix Martini, a human rights defence attorney in New York City."
"Cindy, this man had kidnapped you and confused you and—"
"And what!? I'm not stupid, okay, and the last time I checked, I was happily married to the man of my dreams, only to have people like you drag him out of our home like some kind of thief."
"This man is confusing you, my dear."
"He is not confusing me at all!" Cindy yelled at the officers for treating her like she were some confused woman.
"Cindy, I demand you tell me the truth or else."
"Or else what?"
I turned only to see a well-dressed man at the door. A man wearing a suit with his suit case on his hand
"Good afternoon, detective. I believe I'd like to speak with my client, please."
The detective didn't seem thrilled, but he left the room anyway, leaving just the two of us.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Mike Hagers, and I'll be your lawyer."
"Who sent you?"
"Mr. Felix Martini did."
I quickly rushed to Mike's side; I'm sure he could sense the desperation in me.
"Is he okay? Did they hurt him or—"
"He's okay, Cindy. You two must love each other very much."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because Felix's main concern was your safety. He didn't have to say much; it was all in his eyes. His love for you "
The detective left Mike and myself in the room alone to talk. And boy, did I have a lot of questions to ask him.
"Please tell me he's going to be okay."
"That I can't promise you, but I will try my very best. So please sit down".
I did as I was told, although I was still shaking with fear.
"I know you're probably not aware of who sold this story to the public —"
"It was Kyle and Sharon, right?"
"How did you know?"
"If there are two people who wouldn't want to see me and Felix happy, it'll probably be those two."
"Well, Cindy, you're correct, my dear".
"I should have known what they were planning; I warned Felix and told him that I had a bad feeling about what Sharen told me on our wedding night."
"Cindy You need to tell me what Sharen said; in fact, you need to tell me everything from the very beginning. It's the only way we're going to save your husband."
I simply nodded my head. I had no choice but to put my trust in him.