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Lower Floor Chapter 1
Amanda"The words flowed from her lips, illuminating her radiant gaze, showing him that there was no beauty more ethereal than that emanating from her pale face. Then he took her in his arms, their foreheads touching, thinking that if this was a sin, he would gladly burn in the flames of hell.""Luminous gaze?"I let out a scoff and tore the page from the notebook, crumpling it into a ball and leaving it on the floor, where a small mountain of paper was starting to accumulate. I searched for a new page and began writing again.I was one of those people who needed to put their ideas on paper for them to take shape. If I tried to do it on the computer, I'd draw a blank. I hadn't even written three lines when a shrill sound startled me, causing me to draw a huge line across the page, ruining it completely.I dropped the notebook onto the table, frustrated and angry."Again? This is the third time this week," I thought, exasperated.Almost instinctively, I got up from the chair in front o
Lower Floor Chapter 2
EMILIANAThe trial was about to conclude, and I couldn't have been more pleased with how I had conducted it. I was confident that the judge would rule in our favor. I turned my gaze to find Mrs. María Contreras, my current client, with a worried expression. I discreetly reached out and squeezed her hand to provide some support.We all stood up as the highest authority in the room exited through a door in one corner of the courtroom. He gestured for us to sit down again."After hearing both parties, I am ready to give my verdict. However, I want to hear the closing arguments. So, Attorney Basile, you have the floor," he indicated with a wrist motion.I stood up and moved closer to the podium. Normally, we didn't need to do this; I could have spoken from the desk. However, I felt more comfortable and in control of the situation this way."Until the child reaches the age of majority, the child has the right to be supported by their parents," I pointed out that point succinctly since it h
Lower Floor Chapter 3
AMANDAWe took a seat at one of the picnic tables on a beautiful day: clear skies, birds singing, children playing and tormenting their parents, who had the mistaken idea of bringing them into the world but still loved them with all their hearts, as they were a part of them.I hated days like this; so much sweetness made me want to vomit, especially if I hadn't had my daily caffeine fix.My so-called friend, Joshua, was watching me with an amused expression, noticing my discomfort. If I had less self-control, I would have punched him, but being the lady that I was, I settled for showing my teeth in an almost animalistic gesture. Yes, I was the epitome of grace and elegance.Apparently, my action genuinely scared Joshua because he shrugged and handed me one of the coffee cups he had brought. I looked at the drink with adoration, as if God himself had appeared before me in this form, snatched it from his hands, perhaps a bit too aggressively, and took a long sip. My mood improved consid
Lower Floor Chapter 4
EMILIANA"Are you kidding me?" I asked Camilo. The idiot denied it, letting me know he was dead serious. I ran a hand over my face; I could already feel the migraine starting to pound in my head.How had this idiot come up with the idea to commit me like this without consulting me? In moments like these, I hated knowing every single law; otherwise, I could have killed him and pleaded ignorance of the penal code to the judge. And yes, I'm aware that "not killing your neighbor" is something you can't just overlook because it's basically one of our societal pillars."It's not that bad, Emi. I just asked you to accompany me to my younger sister's performance," he said with a relaxed expression, leaning further on my desk. I inhaled and exhaled several breaths of air to calm myself down before doing something I would regret later."Allow me to correct you: you told Kat that I would be delighted to go... And you hadn't even mentioned it to me!" I shouted, banging my fists on the table. I co
Lower Floor Chapter 5
AMANDAThere were many things I regretted in my life: being too picky when it came to dating someone, not being able to function without a good cup of coffee, leaving everything to the last minute, hiding when something bothered me... Well, the list was extensive.However, I was sure I would never regret anything more in my life than what I was about to do; I must have been crazy to let Joshua convince me to come here.I looked at the sign of the pub where they had printed the name in golden letters: Shamrock, it was an Irish bar we used to come to when we had free time.I understood that the owner was a friend of one of the guys in the band, although I couldn't quite remember which one exactly, I could hear the lively music and laughter of the other guests from there.I checked my outfit for the fifth time that night to make sure I looked good enough; if I ran into my ex, I didn't want to give the impression that I had stagnated since we broke up.I was wearing straight-cut khaki pan
Lower Floor Chapter 6
EMILIANA Was liked by that girl, of that she was completely and absolutely sure. She wasn't arrogant, but she was aware of my attributes, and I could notice how she looked at my lips with desire while she smoked, although I don't think she even realized it herself. Her body reacted to my proximity, and internally, I felt satisfied that it did so. At least, she wasn't entirely indifferent to me. I thought I saw her suppress a moan that was trying to escape, though perhaps it was just my inner desires playing tricks on me. "Do crowded places scare you too?" she asked, blushing like a frightened little mouse. But I didn't let myself be fooled; I knew her well enough to know it was just a facade of innocence. I smiled, amused by the idea she had come up with. "In reality, I hate people," I asserted, moving away from her because I sensed I was making her uncomfortable. I leaned against the wall and finished smoking my cigarette, dropping it on the ground and crushing it with my boot. "I
Lower Floor Chapter 7
AMANDA I needed to get a spiritual cleansing as soon as possible, and I might even dare to ask Joshua for the number of a shaman because officially, no one had worse luck than me. Let's put everything in context. I was chatting with my neighbor, a woman I couldn't stand, and the feeling was undoubtedly mutual. Yet, my body had reacted strangely to her presence. For a moment, I even forgot my own name, and all that existed was Emiliana, with me acting like a satellite orbiting around her. I could only breathe easy when I distanced myself from my neighbor and returned to the bar. But my mind refused to forget the image of her lips. Unconsciously, I brought a finger to my own lips. Were they as soft as they looked? Probably. My heart was pounding, and I was sweating as if I had run a marathon. Being distracted, I didn't pay attention to where I was going and ended up colliding with someone. I looked up, ready to apologize, and there, I confirmed with absolute certainty that I was cur
Lower Floor Chapter 8
AmandaEmiliana's apartment looked like something out of an interior decorator's magazine. Everything, from the door to the window on the right that faced the street, revealed the amount of money and time that had been invested in it.Strangely, it didn't look like the cold, single woman's lair that the woman walking behind me seemed to suggest. I saw the built-in kitchen separated from the living room by a roughly two-meter-long counter. The living room had a white couch, a glass coffee table in the center, and a 50-inch TV in front of it.I liked the small decorations that showcased Emiliana's intense personality. There was also a dining area with enough seating for six people."What do you think?" she asked, taking off her coat and leaving it on the couch. "Can I take your trench coat?" she inquired, standing next to me.The fabric brushed against the burns on my wrists, making me wince. Emiliana looked down, furrowed her brow, and focused on them."We need to treat those," she sai
Latest Chapter
- Lower Floor
Chapter 15
EMILIANAThe Baseli house was an hour outside of Rome. I had to get up earlier than usual to avoid the traffic jam on the highway. I was born and raised in Palermo, but when I was ten, my mom was offered her dream job as an economist at a company that specialized in textile exports.Of course, my dad and I supported her. We weren't the most affectionate family, but we showed our love through actions rather than words. Despite the complicated relationship my dad and I had, it was entirely different with my mom for both of us.My father literally saw through his wife's eyes, and although he didn't like to show affection in public, I was aware during my childhood of how much he loved both of us.It was fortunate for me because I was genuinely repellent to displays of affection. I detested excessive cuddling and felt like vomiting every time I heard couples using ridiculous nicknames. When they started with that sappiness, I knew it would last a long time, and it didn't surprise me. No sa
- Lower Floor
Chapter 14
EMILIANAThe Baseli house was an hour outside of Rome. I had to get up earlier than usual to avoid the traffic jam on the highway. I was born and raised in Palermo, but when I was ten, my mom was offered her dream job as an economist at a company that specialized in textile exports.Of course, my dad and I supported her. We weren't the most affectionate family, but we showed our love through actions rather than words. Despite the complicated relationship my dad and I had, it was entirely different with my mom for both of us.My father literally saw through his wife's eyes, and although he didn't like to show affection in public, I was aware during my childhood of how much he loved both of us.It was fortunate for me because I was genuinely repellent to displays of affection. I detested excessive cuddling and felt like vomiting every time I heard couples using ridiculous nicknames. When they started with that sappiness, I knew it would last a long time, and it didn't surprise me. No sa
- Lower Floor
Chapter 13
AMANDAThe last time I had a lesbian crisis was when I was in the third year of high school. I had gone out with some friends to a bar, and I ended up kissing a stranger. To understand the context, you should know that at that time, I didn't even know how to define myself. I wasn't sure if I liked women or men.Add to that a really conservative family and the fear that someone I knew would see me and tell my parents. From experience, I was aware that nothing good would come of it.The next day, my friends told me what had happened, although they didn't make a big deal out of it because, according to them, it was just a kiss to "strengthen our friendship." I remember that I never thanked anything as much as the fact that heterosexuals followed any fashion that added experiences to their daily lives.We left it at that, and the topic was never touched again. Ten years later, it still tormented me. Right now, my immediate problem was something else, and it had a name and surname: Emilian
- Lower Floor
Chapter 12
EMILIANAI wasn't a believer, but something must have possessed me to insist that Amanda stay. Since she walked through the restaurant's door, I couldn't take my eyes off her; there was something captivating about the way she moved.I felt satisfied when I received her call. For a moment, I thought she wouldn't reach out. It had been challenging to keep her out of my thoughts while I worked, although the new case I had on my hands made it easier.I eventually gave in to my father's scheming. As much as I detested his interference in my career, I wasn't foolish enough to reject an opportunity, especially when it was handed to me on a silver platter. It wouldn't speak well of my lawyering skills.Alexander handed me the file the police had managed to put together so far. If there was one thing I had learned from having my father as a mentor, it was how to find loose ends and, once they were secure, start pulling until you reached the truth. And this case was full of them, so many that i
- Lower Floor
Chapter 11
AMANDAI finished talking to my grandmother, and our conversation allowed me to relax and see things more clearly. Of course, the first thing she did was offer once again that I could come live with her whenever I wanted. I had lost count of how many times I had declined her offer. I cherished my independence, and as much as I loved my nonna, I wasn't willing to give it up for anything or anyone. We hung up after she insisted on me calling Emiliana. I didn't tell her much about Emiliana, just that she was a lawyer and lived one floor below mine.I turned my phone in my hand a couple of times, pondering if it was a good idea. I hated how my mind overanalyzed decisions, but it was even worse to make a decision and then realize all the things that could go wrong. I got up from my chair and started walking around the apartment. Maybe she was busy and couldn't answer my call."But wasn't it her who asked you to call her?"To hell with this! I was being irrational. Emiliana wouldn't have of
- Lower Floor
Chapter 10
EMILIANAI arrived at work twenty minutes late, and the secretaries watched me, amused and puzzled because punctuality was not one of my traits. The weekly meeting we had among all the senior lawyers at the firm was about to start, and if I didn't hurry, Alejandro Cagliari would not hesitate to reprimand me in front of everyone.The conference room was at the end of the hallway, and on my way there, a tall, slender brunette joined me, looking at me with amusement since we were both running late. Miranda Smith had been working with us for three years, the least experienced in the business. I had recruited her myself after being a guest at her graduation thesis defense."They're going to kill us," she said, juggling the various folders she had with her. "Alejandro doesn't handle waiting well."I furrowed my brow. "Neither do I," I muttered under my breath. I had never been known among my colleagues as a sociable and charismatic person, quite the opposite, actually."Which reminds me...
- Lower Floor
Chapter 9
**AMANDA**The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. I had left the curtain open, so the sunlight was filtering in, worsening my discomfort. I yanked the fabric shut, but it seemed I miscalculated the force I used, and I almost ended up with a broken head due to the rod by the window. Fortunately, I moved quickly enough to avoid it.Now the whole room was bathed in the charming rays of the sun, a real delight."See what happens because of you?" I hissed aloud. Talking to myself and an inanimate object showed that I still wasn't entirely in my right mind. Unfortunately, once I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep, and attempting to do so would only worsen my migraine.I got out of bed, preparing to tackle the mess. Once my room was relatively presentable, I went to the bathroom. I was one of those people who liked to shower first thing in the morning; otherwise, I felt like I hadn't really left the bed. Given how my day had started, a shower wouldn't hurt.The water was j
- Lower Floor
Chapter 8
AmandaEmiliana's apartment looked like something out of an interior decorator's magazine. Everything, from the door to the window on the right that faced the street, revealed the amount of money and time that had been invested in it.Strangely, it didn't look like the cold, single woman's lair that the woman walking behind me seemed to suggest. I saw the built-in kitchen separated from the living room by a roughly two-meter-long counter. The living room had a white couch, a glass coffee table in the center, and a 50-inch TV in front of it.I liked the small decorations that showcased Emiliana's intense personality. There was also a dining area with enough seating for six people."What do you think?" she asked, taking off her coat and leaving it on the couch. "Can I take your trench coat?" she inquired, standing next to me.The fabric brushed against the burns on my wrists, making me wince. Emiliana looked down, furrowed her brow, and focused on them."We need to treat those," she sai
- Lower Floor
Chapter 7
AMANDA I needed to get a spiritual cleansing as soon as possible, and I might even dare to ask Joshua for the number of a shaman because officially, no one had worse luck than me. Let's put everything in context. I was chatting with my neighbor, a woman I couldn't stand, and the feeling was undoubtedly mutual. Yet, my body had reacted strangely to her presence. For a moment, I even forgot my own name, and all that existed was Emiliana, with me acting like a satellite orbiting around her. I could only breathe easy when I distanced myself from my neighbor and returned to the bar. But my mind refused to forget the image of her lips. Unconsciously, I brought a finger to my own lips. Were they as soft as they looked? Probably. My heart was pounding, and I was sweating as if I had run a marathon. Being distracted, I didn't pay attention to where I was going and ended up colliding with someone. I looked up, ready to apologize, and there, I confirmed with absolute certainty that I was cur
