AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks, Alt, appreciate the update.” I try to sound as sober as possible but my tongue feels heavy in my mouth. It is good news. I’ve been looking to acquire an empty parking lot next to the foundation for about a year now with hopes to expand.
“You okay, buddy? Sound a little down and out.”
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I lie.
I’ve known Alton since undergrad. We were both members of the rowing team at Yale and when he went to law school and I went to grad school, we kept in touch and remained friends over the years. The moment he passed the bar and opened his law firm, I was his first client. Now his firm is the largest in Chicago and one of the most sought-after for new graduates to get their foot in the door.
“I’ve known you a long time, man. Who is she?”
I laugh. “You bastard, how the hell do you always know?”
“I’m a lawyer; I read people for a living.”
“I thought you scammed people for a living,” I tease.
“Want me to stop by and help you finish that bottle of whiskey you’re probably already halfway through? I’m still at the office, about to leave.”
“Sure,” I say, leaning one hand against a window, “why not.”
Not even fifteen minutes later, Alt has a glass in his hand and is sitting in the chair beside me as we both look out the window.
“You always have the best liquor. Hannah always insists on the organic, non-GMO bullshit that tastes like ass”—he takes a long sip, savoring the taste—“and not in a good way.”
I laugh and shake my head. Hannah, his wife, is a decade younger than us and she is always on him about his health, but it’s for the sake of their two children and the fact, in her words, she doesn’t want him dying early.
“You’re an old man now. She’s gotta make sure you’re around long enough since she’s going to outlive you anyway.”
“She is an amazing woman.” He sighs, kicking his feet out in front of him. “She keeps me young, keeps me on my toes. God knows I don’t deserve her; I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
“How are the kids?”
“Good. Josh just started middle school last month. The boy is whip-smart, loves science. And Elle is already running her fourth-grade class the second she walked in there. Just like her mother.” He laughs, shaking his head. “She’s going to give me a run for my money; I can already feel it, and everyone else does too. She’ll be running my firm someday.”
“Sounds like life is good then.” I can’t hide the pathetic jealousy in my voice. I sound like the depressed Debbie Downer friend over here.
“Okay, we covered me. So I’ll ask again.” He looks over at me. “Who is she?”
I swirl the whiskey around in my tumbler, bringing it to my lips and knocking back the final mouthful.
“She’s my best friend’s daughter. Jonas Ramsay.” I stare straight ahead as I say it, not even wanting to hold back or hide it anymore.
He laughs, then looks at me, his smile falling as he realizes I’m not joking.
“Holy shit, you’re serious?”
“Yup.”
He whistles and shakes his head. “I did not see that coming. How? Does he know?”
“You think I’d be sitting here with you if he knew?” I look over at him. “It’s a long story but he asked me to hire her and I did. She’s so smart, extremely driven, just graduated from Northwestern actually with her master’s in forensic accounting. She found the fraud with that Pierce deal.”
“No shit? She looking to work for a law firm? I could use someone like that.”
“Nah, she’s too good for all this shit we do for a living. She’s starting a nonprofit to help children. Wants to invest in startups and volunteer.”
“So she’s Mother Theresa, okay. Where’s the flaw?”
“I just told you, her father.” I laugh and stand up to walk over to the window. “I feel like—no, I am an asshole. I knew better for sure. No way in hell it was ever going to end but like it did.”
