* * *

"Holy shit!", Alice exclaims with a frightening gasp, as she begins to wonder how on earth she and Joe will get out of this.

"Calm down.. It's a Saturday morning. No one is supposed to be here." Joe replies, taking in a deep but very controlled breath. Then he continues while staring coldly at the door and clenching his jaw, "I told Bernie and the other security guards I'd be spending the night here.. working. It's probably one of them."

"You should go check it out then." Alice replies, trying not to appear too anxious.

"Yeah.", he concurs.

They both stand up and head for their clothes. After throwing his boxers to the other side of the office desk, Joe quickly tucks his legs in and drags up his suit trousers. He wears his vest and puts on his shirt. Then he begins to button them up while heading towards the door.
Alice dresses up rapidly as well. She carefully zips up her black skirt, pulls back her hair, covers herself with her top and quickly grabs her shoes. Then she hurries into Joe's bathroom to hide.

Joe keeps staring at her low-key and waits for her to go in before finally taking another breath and then opening the door. "Hey! Didn't I tell y'all I was busy!", he yells at the persistent knocker. But after seeing his visitor, he exclaims in shock,
"D.A. Richards! Good morning.. Umm.. To what do I owe the pleasure?.. More so, on a Saturday morning."

"Good morning, Joe. I was told I'd find you here. We need to talk." he responds assertively.

Considering the situation with Alice inside and apparently becoming aware of what D.A. Richards wants to talk to him about, Joe attempts to dismiss him, "Bale, please can it wait until Monday? I have a lot to finish up right now. And.. as you can see, I spent the whole night in the office. It's not exactly set for visitors."

Upon hearing this, Richards sighs tensely and then replies almost with a serious whisper, "I wouldn't be here, Joe if it were not extremely urgent. So, will you let me in or not?"

Joe clenches his teeth in response, before letting him in. They enter into the main office. Right now, Alice is still hiding in the bathroom. But from this moment on, she starts to listen to their every word.

"This.. urgent matter. It wouldn't have anything to do with the Sanchez case, would it? Because if so.. then we're not allowed to have this conversation.", Joe states firmly while leaning back to rest on his office desk at the centre front. Then he tilts his head a bit and folds his arms over his untucked shirt.

"Oh, spare me the legal bullshit, King." Richards proclaims almost callously. "I also went to law school. I am the D.A. remember?"

"Apparently.", Joe responds sarcastically, as his demeanor darkens even more. Right now, he has got his 'no bullshit' face on.

Upon noticing Joe's growing anger, Richards continues almost earnestly, "Joe.. You need to let me nail this guy. He is a cold blooded killer. You can't imagine the danger we would be unleashing on this city, if we were to let this murderer walk. He is a criminal, Joe."

"He is also my client." Joe responds, and then after squinting he adds, "He is a client of the firm."

"For heaven's sakes, Joe. He is a bloody drug dealer and you know it!", Richards rebuffs.

"And what the hell do you want me to do?? Huh!! Lose the case!", Joe roars in response.

"I'm not saying you should lose the case!" Then Richards takes in a deep breath and adds in a calmer tone, "Joe, all I need.. is for you to buy me some time. Right now, there is an ongoing investigation and.."

"..I don't care about your investigation! Bale, I have a job to do. I have a duty to this firm and to my client.. to be at my best at all times."

"..For Christ sakes, Joe!", Richards rebuffs.

"If you want Sanchez put away, then you need to do so in court.. according to the law.", Joe states.

"You self-righteous prick!" He scoffs and starts to shake his head, "..You refuse to see anything beyond two meters of yourself and your bloated ego."

"You don't say..", Interrupting with a cynical laugh, Joe proclaims, "Mr. District Attorney.. Right now, I could say the very same thing about you! But it's obvious you already know yourself very well." He adds, "Always the biggest dick in the room."

"Well, that's not my fault now, is it." Richards responds, broadening his arms.

"Mahn.." Joe scoffs, "Are you done?"

"Not quite." Bale responds.

Then Joe turns his head sideways and heaves out a heavy sigh. Afterwards, he licks his lips and stares straight back at Bale Richards.

Almost condescendingly, Bale continues, "Okay, you know what? You know what, Joe? I'm going to tell you a little secret, right now. A Classified State Secret."

"I don't wanna know.", Joe rebuffs.

"Well, you're gonna hear it anyway!.." Bale retorts. And Joe bites his lower lip again in anger.

"Eric Sanchez is not the real leader of the Pierda drug ring. He may be one of the main distributors in the States, but he is mostly just an errand boy and a money launderer. The real Capo is a much more ruthless and powerful man. No one knows what he looks like. No one knows where he is from. No one even knows his fucking name. Some call him 'El Sol'. Others call him 'El Fuego'. And his most recent alias.. is 'El Rojo'.

A few weeks ago, we intercepted a letter right here in New York sent to Sanchez's home by someone named 'Mr. Red'. Now, we believe that this person is definitely our guy. A man who runs several arms dealing factions across the Americas. He has affiliates in Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, you name it! He is also on the FBI's most wanted list. This man is some serious bad news, Joe and an answer to so many morbid questions. As long as he walks, no one is safe. But if we can keep Sanchez entangled in his case a little longer, then his master who is confirmed to be here right now in New York will remain close enough for us to finally catch him. Joe, we can bring him down."

"You mean you can bring him down. Before the FBI does.. And then take the glory for his capture.. becoming known as Bale Richards, the D.A who vanquished the greatest crime boss in history!"

"That's not the point, Joe..", Bale retorts.

"And then.." Joe continues, "You can finally work your way up to becoming Attorney General, much sooner than anyone ever thought possible.. considering.. in the legal world and in the world of politics, you are technically still in diapers. And if we're being honest, nobody really likes you." He concludes with brewing laughter.

"..Watch your mouth, Joe." Bale warns.

"I'm sorry, Bale. You just.. You never cease to amaze me sometimes." Joe wipes his dry nose, in muffled laughter.

"Well, at least, people know me.. for much more than second-grade sports cars, cheap suits and community penis."

Joe chuckles cynically and continues, "Bale Richards! The youngest Attorney General in US history! Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Ambitious cock! You'll do anything to make yourself look good.. even break the law."

"Step off the high horse, Joe! It doesn't suit you." Bale scoffs with a similar sarcastic laughter, "We both know you are no saint. Just because you succeeded in weaseling your way into this fancy office doesn't mean that somehow you are now morally superior. Your very career is based on lies and deceit. This firm is full of corporate vultures and you, my friend are one of them. We're not so different, you and I."

"I am nothing like you.", Joe whispers sinisterly as he stares deep into Bale's eyes while they stand face to face with each other, so much so that their noses are almost making contact.

"Keep telling yourself that.. Quantico.", Bale replies.

"Richards, I swear to go..!", Joe barks, clenching his teeth so hard that his voice sounds so vicious and undeterred. Even Alice in the bathroom gasps in fear that he might get angry enough to punch the D.A.

"..But I just don't get it! Why are you defending him? You have lost family to drugs and cartels. You of all people should know how dangerous.."

Joe cuts off Richards' speech by grabbing his shirt. As he glowers at him, his eyes begin to display the buoyant flame of fury kindled within them.

"Come on, King.. even you wouldn't be foolish enough to assault a D.A.", Bale replies confidently, with a chummy whisper. Then after taking a breath, Joe slowly releases him and steps back, "No. But I can tell him to get the hell out of my office."

At this point, Bale begins to frown without any hint of sarcasm or chummy hostility, "You don't want to make an enemy of me, Joseph King. I could make your life a living hell."

There is a long pause.

Afterwards, Joe reiterates calmly, "Make sure you shut my door on your way out."

Bale squints again. Then he eventually responds, "You're lucky you and I go way back, Joe. But know this. Your ice is getting thinner and thinner by the fucking day."

Afterwards, he turns with pride and slowly starts to walk away. Half way down, upon sighting the rolled-up lace panties caught in between the leaves of the aesthetic plant beside Joe's door, he stops and turns his head. "A G-string, Joe? In your office?.. Really???", he questions in visible disappointment. Afterwards, he gradually turns away and straightens out his expensive suit. Then he finally proclaims before exiting the office, "Joseph King! You're still as pathetic as I remember."

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