The Laws of Love

Chapter 11

Marc knew from the beginning that it was a bad idea to date someone from work. Then what happened happened. Jesse hadn't set foot in the firm for almost a month, which would have gotten him fired if Marc hadn't pulled the strings, and Victoria had asked for a leave taking advantage of the accumulation of vacation periods on her record. If that was all Jesse was doing wrong by not dealing with their breakup, Marc could intercede for him”which he had been doing since day one”but it kept giving him reasons to raise a voice and order.

He had given in to her every plea. He tried to talk reason with Victoria, to no avail. He even made some inquiries behind their backs to make sure that the reasons that the woman gave to justify the divorce were true and that she was not cheating on him with another, thinking that if so, she could make the process more bearable. But no, just as he figured, Victoria was being legal. He even suffered from the decision made, which is why Marc stopped intervening.

Jesse took this personally and decided to get attention in every possible way. Getting drunk every night, making nasty comments, chasing Victoria around even when she'd asked for a space… The icing on the cake had been driving drunk and then crashing the car on the interstate, when he could have been killed instantly. Marc was not only worried, but also tired and angry at his brother's inability to solve his problems... Or to see them, in general. It was obvious that he didn't want to hear about them. He flatly refused to find another apartment, because he believed that sooner or later, Victoria would call him with an apology in her mouth.

Marc tried to make him see that this would not happen. But for the record, Jesse didn't listen. The jerk lived in Hollywood, thinking that real life was like a musical when in reality it usually ended worse than Clint Eastwood's blockbuster triumphs: like the rosary of dawn.

It was about time he opened his eyes, because he had no musical gift to allow himself to go blind for a lifetime and still earn it, like Stevie Wonder singing his biggest hit on the radio in the Mercedes. How could a man be pissed off when For Once In My Life came on ? Which wasn't his style at all, but even he wanted to face the day with a smile, like those stupid hippies who read self”help books.

"You could be a little nicer," Jesse complained, glaring at him. His eyes were bloodshot and he seriously reeked of a dung heap. If he had been told that he had spent the night among the residual remains of a desecrated grave, he would have believed it. You would have to be seen if you were in my situation. And don't tell me you wouldn't have brought this about, because I have enough self”righteousness on every shoulder I go to cry on for you to repeat it to me.

“If I were in your situation, I would try to be reasonable and not sabotage myself on a daily basis. Jesse, it's time you realized what's going on. Your life has changed. You have to get used to the idea and move on.

His brother remained silent for a long time, which was already strange in an extroverted and talkative personality. He wasn't living his best times and Marc tried to understand that, but there was a big difference between understanding other people's frustration and allowing them to pour it out on others, making them complicit in his ineptitude. And he was already an age, by God. If not aware then, when?

During that brief meditation that he had with himself, Marc gestured for Yasin to get going. Then Jesse turned to him with a more or less self”assured expression.

When he spoke, his voice trembled, but it was latent that he had made a decision.

“I'm not in your car because I don't have a place to sleep... I was living in the garage until last night when I searched the Internet for a house in a more or less cheap neighborhood. I meant to come see you first thing in the morning, but I got drunk and... Here I am, half amotetao, half ajumao . ¹ I thought it would be quicker to sneak in and get your attention rather than waiting at Nick's counter for you to decide to receive me. I wanted to ask you a favor about moving forward.

“Clear. Tell me.

"I need you to handle my divorce," she announced, looking at him very seriously. I don't want any guy I don't know sticking his greedy hands into my relationship, or what's left of it. I want an amicable divorce where the lawyer knows both of us.

That was exactly what Marc was thinking about and what he had been dreaming of since their wedding. Read ironically.

“Jesse, that part of the Law is not my thing. You know.

“I have learned that you are carrying out what is probably the most scandalous, difficult and mediatic divorce of all time. If you can handle that, you'll be able to take care of our separation, which doesn't have any complexity.

"Are you sure you won't have it?" Marc inquired, arching an eyebrow.

She exchanged glances with Yasin through the mirror, who returned the gesture. "He doesn't believe it, neither does he," he seemed to say. "He will make a scene at every meeting and start crying, grabbing her by the legs and announcing that he will be her slave."

Marc nodded, attesting.

“Not. I am already becoming aware. Please. I need you to take it.

You know the laws better than anyone...

"And he jumps them better than anyone," Yasin added without taking his eyes off the road. He took advantage of the fact that he was entering the caravan in the center to wink at Marc, who rolled his eyes.

He cocked his head at Jesse.

"I can get you a much better mediator," he suggested full of ideas, "more experienced, and close enough that you don't even realize you're paying him." He makes it seem like he does it for fun, but without losing professionalism.

To be faithful to the truth, he was not lying when giving his opinion of Yuri Sandoval. As always, he kept information to himself, such as that for that very reason he should destroy it or that he would love to put it in a horizontal position, but those were subtleties that did not fit into the subject. Obviously, he wasn't praising her for nothing either. It was a strategic move disguised as morality.

If he had Jesse close to Yuri, a very nice, friendly guy, and on top of that with a Psychology graduate who served him much more than he imagined “understanding and getting to know others thoroughly”, he would find out their weak points effortlessly. Jesse was incapable of maintaining a professional relationship with anyone, at least strictly. She would end up beating around the bush and tricking Sandoval into being her best friend, her adventure partner, her poker ally... In short, her strategy served little more than infiltrating someone into her life...

And on top of that, it would help Jesse. Two birds with one stone.

How manipulative and wretched he was. Sometimes he found it especially repulsive, but his self”loathing was often overshadowed by the wonderful results. Blessed be Machiavelli for drawing The Prince and giving him on whom to base his aggressive policies in favor of the conservation of power.

Jesse hesitated.

"You can introduce me to me, but in any case I'll prefer you."

She leaned her head back and sighed. You know I never ask for favors. Just this one, Marc. We barely have to distribute assets, we signed the separation because I'm a wasteful, and we don't have children... It's just a matter of negotiating custody of the dog. And if you want to put a restraining order on me,” he added.

Marc stiffened.

What do you mean a restraining order? What have you done already?