Chapter 1

''The defendant after being found guilty by the jury, is sentenced in fifteen years of imprisonment. End of session''. With these words, judge Patton concluded one more trial and got up from the stand. Leaving the court room, he headed to his office and sat on his brown leather chair leaning to the left so he could easily look out of the window and then, he let his weight fall back. Every time a trial was over, he felt tired. Even though he loved his job, he never enjoyed the sentences but usually there was no other way. After all, that was the main reason he had decided to become a judge: To uphold justice according to the law, taking into concideration the severity of the crimes and the causes that led to them. This is what he wanted to do with his life ever since he was a boy and he tried really hard to succeed. He was known to be very strict in the legal world but no one could doubt his sence of justice. It was more than just a job to him and always did his best. The knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. ''Come in'', he said as he kept looking at the window where drops of rain had begun to gather. He heard the door open and the sound of heels on the wooden floor. He immediately knew who it was.

''You sentenced another client of mine. Again!'', said a rather tall woman dressed in an elegant black suit paired with high heels of the same colour. He put his chair back to its appropriate place and with a smirk looked at her green eyes looking playfully at him.

''Perhaps you should choose them more wisely, dear Erica.''

''Easy for you to say, Andy, but I don't have the luxury to choose'', she replied and then sat on his desk. ''Dinner tonight?''

''Nah, I'm not in the mood. I prefer to stay in''.

''Yeah, you should for a change! You' re out every freaking night, it's become tiresome!'', Erica joked but Andy remained silent, unwilling to continue this conversation. She took the hint and got ready to leave. ''OK, I' ll drop it. Goodnight!''. But before she reached for the door, she changed her mind and turned to him. ''You don't mind me making fun of the fact that you are such a lonely and reserved guy, right?'', she asked touching his shoulder.

''I know you too well for that, Erica'', was his answer. She smiled and after saying goodbye again, she left him alone. When Andy got home, he parked his car and went up to the twentieth floor of the skyscraper where he had made his home for the last decade. He closed the door behind him and finally enjoyed the tranquility of his apartment. After such a hectic day, he found bliss sitting on his sofa, gazing at the impressive view from the huge window of the living room. He took a hot bath in order to wash the day off and left his black hair uncombed. Later, he headed to the kitchen, prepared a pepper and mushroom omelette and enjoyed his dinner with a glass of wine. For the night he decided to watch a movie but before he even got to it, the bell rang. ''Who could it be?'', he asked himself annoyed by the interruption. His question was answered when he opened the door. ''What's up, Timothy?'', he asked his neighbour.

''I have the night off, so I came by to see how you're doing'', he answered coming in.

''Please, do come in!'', said Andy as he closed the door and followed his visitor, who sat on the sofa showing he intended to stay. ''I suppose there must be another reason for this unexpected visit''.

''Unexpected but pleasant'', Timothy commented but noticing the look Andy gave him, he decided to get serious. ''You're right, there is another reason. I wanted to inform you that it's my birthday next week and I'll throw a party, in which of course you are invited''.

''Thank you for the invitation but you know I don't like that stuff…'', Andy said reluctantly.

''Sure, I know but you could make an exception for your friend'', Timothy suggested. ''Come on! How many times have I asked you for something?''

''Alright, stop the whining. I'll do it''.

''There you go!'', said Timothy as he patted Andy on the back, who looked at him in a way that suggested he did not appreciate that kind of gesture. ''Well, I'm leaving you alone now and I'll fill you in on the details, okay?''

''Okay, Timothy. Goodnight'', he said dragging him to the door.

''Oh, I forgot'', he said suddenly. ''You should also tell Erica to come, if she wants to''.

''Fine, I will''.

''Good. So… Goodnight again'', he said with a satisfied smile and Andy closed the door behind him.

His clock woke him up at 7.00 a.m. He got ready and the phone rang while he was putting on his black coat. He smiled at the number on the screen.

''Good morning, Heather. In what do I owe the pleasure?''

''Hi, Andy. I'd like to ask a favour. Can you take Annie today from school? I have an obligation and I'll be late''.

''I've told you that I don't consider it a favour spending time with my niece.

''Thanks, bro. You've come to my rescue once more''.

''How is your husband? Is he busy too?'', Andy asked losing the sweetness from his voice.

''I beg you, Andy, don't start again. I've asked you a thousand times not to badmouth Dean constantly. He is my husband and Annie's father. Please, try to reconcile with him. At least, for our sake''.

''Fine. Besides, I am already putting up with him for you and the child'', he said bringing the discussion to an end. ''Don't worry, I'll make sure I get to school in time''.

''Thank you''. Andy said farewell to his sister and hang up. Stop accusing Dean! He despised Dean. He spent the whole day at work and neglected his family. He was away on business trips for weeks, while occasionally there were rumors of affairs with many beautiful employees of his company, who were fired after he got tired of them. How many times hadn't Andy tried to get through to his sister! But she was relentless. She loved him and couldn't live without him. Even though this whole situation was tearing her apart, it would hurt much more, if she lost him. And when she got pregnant, Andy realized that his brother in-law would always be a part of the family and Heather would never let him go. His sister's marriage had taught him one thing: Better to stay alone. He preferred a lonely life, avoiding heartaches. Even if there were moments when he needed companionship, he knew that too much love leads to sorrow and that was a feeling he did not want to feel. No woman would wreck him. He would never allow any woman close to his heart only to break it and he was very content that so far he had achieved that.