By Zephyria 
What is this? What’s with that reaction?
I instinctively frowned at his cryptic words and expression, but then it hit me. I realized how that man had managed to find out my address.
“You were just unlucky that day. Things like that don’t happen often.”
I spoke stiffly on purpose, but I couldn’t help the feeling of embarrassment. Consequently, my tone naturally became sharp.
“More importantly, why is that a relief? What does it have to do with you that I’m gay?”
Despite my questioning tone, he answered with the same composure.
“Because it means I don’t have to convince you why you should sleep with me.”
At this point, I had to repeat myself.
“I believe I told you, I’m picky about my partners.”
It wasn’t a completely wrong answer. It was just one of the many reasons why it wouldn’t work.
“I have no intention of sleeping with you.”
Ending with a cold tone, I shut my mouth. Nathaniel Miller also said nothing. We stared at each other in silence. Suddenly, the memory of how I had frantically pressed my lips against this man just a few hours ago flashed through my mind. I felt my pulse double in speed instantly, but pretending not to notice, I hurried to change the subject.
“Will you leave now? I need to wash off the pheromones you poured out before I go to sleep. I have to go to work tomorrow.”
There was another meaning hidden in the last sentence I added on purpose: You should go and get ready for bed, too. After staring at the anxious me for a moment, Nathaniel spoke in his characteristically languid tone.
“I still have one more proposal.”
“What now? What is it?”
I was starting to get nervous. Just as I pressed him, wondering what kind of nonsense he was about to spout, the man spoke.
“Join my law firm.”
Another awkward silence followed. I simply stared intently at Nathaniel Miller’s face without saying a word.
“……What?”
Only after a few seconds of a void was I able to ask, my face completely distorted. Despite having thrown bombs at me in succession, Nathaniel calmly brought the cigarette to his lips.
“Quit being a prosecutor and come to my firm. There’s no need to live like this, suffering without any gain.”
Then, he meaningfully looked around the studio. It occurred to me that even if I stretched the length of my studio diagonally, it probably wouldn’t even take five of Nathaniel Miller’s large strides to cross it.
This man would undoubtedly offer a generous price.
It was certainly a great temptation. But at the same time, it felt like a trap.
“My father is a criminal.”
Nathaniel met my eyes as I spoke without emotion.
“I know.”
Seeing his completely unsurprised reaction, I thought, As expected. It would be absurd for him to propose that I join the Miller Law Firm without doing a background check. He must know a great deal about me to make such an offer. At least, everything that is visible on the surface.
Though he would never know that particular thing.
“So what? Is that a problem?”
To his question, I replied just as bluntly.
“Then why are you making such a proposal to me?”
Inwardly, I even wondered if he was mocking me. However, the answer that followed was completely unexpected. After exhaling a long plume of smoke, Nathaniel answered without hesitation.
“Because you’re competent.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise at these unexpected words. To think such words would come out of that man’s mouth.
“……What did you just say?”
To me, who asked because I couldn’t believe it, he gave a smirk and asked back.
“Do you want to hear it again? I’ll tell you as many times as you like: you’re competent. To the point where I believe you’d bring in a massive amount of money if you joined my firm.”
I had no idea what part of me he was scoring so highly. I am just one of many ordinary prosecutors. If there’s anything different about me, it’s only that I’ve had sex with this man.
“You have so much money, and you still need more?”
When I asked with a displeased look, Nathaniel answered indifferently.
“Money is a good thing. People would line up to lick the soles of my shoes for just 100 dollars.”
It wasn’t an answer I liked, but it was the truth. I simply shut my mouth.
“Your answer?”
Nathaniel asked, his lips curling up as if he liked my reaction. The answer was already decided.
“I’ll pass.”
“Why?”
As if he had expected my answer, he asked calmly. I replied nonchalantly.
“Someone has to protect the weak from unscrupulous lawyers like you.”
“Hahahaha.”
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. Since it was the first time I’d seen him laugh so cheerfully, I was surprised once again. He was laughing with his eyes narrowed, as if he were genuinely amused.
“What a waste. I should have scouted you before you graduated.”
“That was your luck,” I said calmly.
“And mine as well,” Nathaniel replied.
Without another word, Nathaniel took a deep drag of the remaining cigarette. The burning tip glowed red and then flickered out. Finally, he crushed the cigarette against the edge of the desk and spoke.
“A shame. To have all my proposals rejected.”
It seemed he had no intention of persuading me further. Suddenly, I wondered if the two proposals he had just made were sincere. Were they just nonsense spoken to see my reaction? Either way, my answer would have been the same…
Before I could think deeper, Nathaniel picked up the suit jacket he had draped over the chair. Skillfully putting on the jacket, he turned toward me and said goodbye.
“Then, Prosecutor, I’ll see you again.”
I remained silent with my arms crossed. Nathaniel’s steps as he crossed the room seemed somewhat unstable. Perhaps the fatigue accumulated since the previous day was putting a strain on his injured leg. While I silently watched him slowly move the leg he used for the cane, he closed the door and disappeared. Finally left alone in the studio, I let out a deep sigh and collapsed onto the bed. My pulse began to race wildly belatedly.
‘Because you’re competent.’
Those words kept echoing in my head. I never imagined that man would say such a thing to me.
To say that immediately after proposing to be sex partners.
He was a man whose inner thoughts were completely inscrutable. Does he want to sleep with me, or does he want me to work for him? Or does he perhaps want both? Is he testing me?
For me, there were only questions to which I had no answers.
“Nathaniel Miller……”
After softly repeating his name, I grimaced and ruffled my hair frantically. Letting out a sigh, I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my throat and turned toward the sink. I roughly rinsed the plastic cup I had used for champagne the day before, filled it with water, and drank. Then, something caught my eye. After emptying the cup and setting it down, I headed toward the desk. The cigarette butt Nathaniel Miller had crushed was still there. I reached for a flashy business card I had never seen before lying next to it. The stiff, thick paper—I didn’t know what kind it was—shimmered and dazzled the eyes depending on the angle. On it was a single phone number and the name of the owner, which I knew without even checking.
Nathaniel B. Miller.
I stood there in silence, looking down at the card for a while, then slowly tore it in half and threw it in the trash. What a useless trick.
Tsk. Clicking my tongue, I went straight into the bathroom to shower. As if determined to scrub away every last trace of that man that might remain, I rubbed and washed my body longer and harder than usual before getting into bed.
And when I opened my eyes the next day, I realized it was time to pay the price for my debauchery.