Chương 9: Lawsuit

Amani gasped in shock, her complexion turned sheet white when she heard the amount Nicholas called.

"May I call my friend?" Amani asked in a tiny voice. She really could use Becca's hug right then

"Is she a lawyer?"

"No! She's just my best friend..."

"I'll contact a lawyer for you then..."

"No, officer, please... Y-you, don't understand... I can't afford to let this go to court. I would surely lose my job if I get entangled in a court case right now!... Please may I know who the person is? Can't I go to him or her to beg for forgiveness?... Or is there anything you can do for me?"

Amani was desperate and Nicholas could see it all over her from the way she was talking to him

"You know what?... Right now, I'm gonna go get you a phone so you could call your friend, then I'll feed the dog... Fluffy I mean. And then we can talk about this person.

~••~

Nicholas was the only son of Matteo's younger sister who got married to an American billionaire. After studying accounting and business management in college. He decided he loved chasing criminals more than being a businessman.

He would do what he loved doing best until his father decided it was time for him to take over the family business when he is ready to retire.

Nicholas sighed deeply. A frown of concentration etched into his handsome face as he walked out of the interrogation room where he placed Amani. He thought it was better than putting her in a holding cell.

If not for the fact that he loved his cousin, who was also his best friend so much, he would have gone to meet him at work and beat the crap out of him for being so mean. He smiled at the thought of being able to beat Leonardo so easily. Well, maybe they would have beaten the crap out of each other, since Leonardo, even though was a businessman, trained his body as much as any military man.

He knew Leonardo could afford to buy hundreds of the laptops that got broken without even feeling its effect on his bank account, what he didn't understand and his cousin has not made clear to him was why he was being petty over a broken laptop, and towards a woman for that matter?

He handed fluffy together with his debit card to a young corporal. "Please take him to the vet for a checkup and also get some food suitable for his breed"

After the corporal left, he brought out his phone to call Leonardo.

~••~

Leonardo laid stretched and seething on his special chair inside the room that adjoin his office. He just came back from the hospital where he was advised to rest his neck with the brace on for at least ten hours to allow his stretched ligaments to heal.

He asked his secretary to hold his calls and cancel all the important business meetings that he had for that day. He couldn't even arrange a visual meeting because of the brace he had around his neck since he knew people would wonder, gossip, and might even ask questions about what happened to him

He was a very private person but now, practically the whole world is now focused on his business because of the lie Lisa told about him on social media. And they're about to be more in his business because of the greedy reporter that took advantage of his father, she wanted a piece of the action but he would make her pay for being nosey instead.

His phone rang, making him groan out loud with irritation. He wanted to curse Toni for not taking away the darn thing with him when he left, then he remembered that the ring tone was for his private phone that only a handful of people who are mainly family knows about.

He stretched his hand to the coffee table where the phone was lying and picked it up. The caller ID says, Captain America. Which was the nickname he gave his cousin, Nicholas

"Hey man!..."

"You're a dick head, Leo..." Nicholas said when he heard Leonardo's voice through the phone. "But of course, you know that already, don't you? You don't need me to remind you of that fact all the time." Nicholas said with a hint of laughter in his voice

"No, I don't need a constant reminder... But why am I a dick head? Why are you even calling me back so soon? Don't tell me you're missing me already or there is no more crime in California for you to investigate?"

"It's about the girl you asked me to babysit for you... I just want to know... What has she done to you, really?... Somehow I'm finding it difficult to believe that, you want to sue her because of just a broken laptop?..."

"Not just a broken laptop. I've got a stretched ligament that makes my neck ache like hell. Right now, I'm wearing a fucking brace that makes me look like a joke! The Doctor said it must stay on for ten fucking hours, can you believe that!? I had to cancel all my meetings, couldn't even arrange a visual meeting because people will wonder and gossip..."

"Damn!..."

"Yeah damn!... And guess who was the bitch reporter that took advantage of Papa to get an interview with me?..."

"That was her!?..." Nicholas asked with surprise

"Damn right that was her!... You know how I feel about reporters... I hate those critters! Sniffing around and looking for lies to write about people

"You still want me to charge her then?"

"Of course! Have I given you a reason to do otherwise? She committed an offense, didn't she?... Then let her bear the consequence of her actions" Leonardo replied in a nonchalant manner

"Well cuz, I don't think that's a very good idea..."

Leonardo was surprised when he heard what Nicholas said: "You're kidding right?..." He asked. He couldn't believe his cousin was trying to convince him not to sue the girl after everything he just told him.

"No, I'm not kidding!... But do you know why?"

"Tell me!...''

"Because the case is trivial and..."

"How the fuck is it trivial?..." Leonardo cut him off mid-sentence "You don't endanger people's life and expected not to pay for your crimes!" He added angrily

"Cool down and allow me to make my points will you?..." Nicholas calmly said and chuckled at his cousin's anger

"I wonder what you want to say since you probably find this funny but let's hear your point, " Leonardo said grouchily

"I actually don't find this funny. What I found funny is how your brain is not thinking straight... As I said, the issue is trivial... It's not worth your while. And you're not thinking straight because you're allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment. Your newly developed hatred for women..."

"Wow, wow, wow!... Pause right there! Hatred for women, where did you get that from!?..."

Nicholas launched. "Okay be honest with me... Would you have hated her this much if she was a man!?"

"Would a man have parked so carelessly on a two-way major road as she did without thinking!?... It's high time somebody makes them realize that they can't just do whatever they want and expect to get say with it. It doesn't work like that with me no more!"

"Them!?... Damn! I knew I was right about that theory!..." Nicholas said excitedly and laughed. "Are you at war against women then?..."

"I don't give a shit about your theory man... You've gone off track and you've still not given me a valid reason why I can't sue her ass!"

"You're still letting your emotions crowd your judgment, Leo!... You don't like the limelight. Don't you know that going after this girl would put you in the middle of the fucking dance floor with the disco lights shining directly on you!?

"How?..."

"Think cuz!... It's a woman's world we live in! A woman just accused you of rape and abuse on social media. The next day you're thinking of suing another woman... One who couldn't afford a lawyer of her own by the way...

And for what reason?... Just because she unknowingly broke your laptop in the process of saving a cute puppy's life!?... Just how petty does that make you look!?"

Leonardo couldn't refute what his cousin said because he realized he made some valid points

"You will be the big bad wolf. A billionaire bully who was going after a reporter that couldn't even afford to get herself a lawyer!... Do you get my points now!

"Yeah, got it!"

"You can still punish her in your own way you know... Nicholas said and chuckled softly. "She's willing to come and grovel at your majesty's feet if that's what it would take for you to forgive and not take her to court..."

There was a short pause that followed Nicholas's statement before Leonardo finally answered...

"If she's prepared to sign an undertaking that says she would be at my beck and call every single day for six weeks then I'll have Toni draw up the contract and bring it over... If not then tell her to prepare for a lawsuit."

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