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“She said, I will always love you Tyler, no matter what happens.” The feelings from that moment crash through me, just as they have done a thousand times before. “I can still feel what I felt in that moment. It was like her words knocked the wind right out of me. I nearly burst into tears on the spot.”
“Ohhh, you poor guy.” She begins stroking my leg once again. “What did you do?”
“I instantly felt sick, so I turned and ran down the hall to the bathroom. I’ll never forget standing in the mirror, looking at my reflection and feeling like a total fucking loser. I had wasted the last three years waiting for her. After I got myself together, I left. Neither of them knew that I had overheard their conversation, but I didn’t talk to Vanessa for a week. She had no idea what the hell was going on.”
“Did you ever tell her?”
“Yeah, we had a long talk a couple weeks later. She told me that I was her best friend and that she loved me too. She may have loved me, but as the year wore on it became obvious that Tyler really needed something positive in his life.”
“So Tyler was back in the city?”
“Yeah, we were the three amigos once again.” I pause, thinking back to how difficult my senior year of high school had been. It seemed like the longest, most torturous year of my life. It was a tough year for Tyler as well. He had full reconstructive surgery on the ligaments surrounding his knee and his kneecap had to be put together using wires, pins and screws. At the time, his doctor thought he was too young for knee replacement surgery, but he should have it done now.
“Hello?” Mandy leans forward looking me in the eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. That spring I decided to harden my heart, accept a scholarship offer from Stanford and leave everyone behind. I gave Tyler and Vanessa my blessing and moved a couple thousand miles away. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”
“That’s because you didn’t truly leave it all behind,” she says shaking her head. “You still carry all of the pain. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Tell me about this,” I reply, picking up the newspaper and laying it on the table in front of her. Enough of this emotional bullshit; it’s time to get down to business.
Chapter 7
Mandy
Trey switched topics so abruptly that I immediately realize I must have hit a sore spot. Doesn’t he realize that we all struggle with emotional baggage? The only way to get over it is to talk about it, rationalize it and put it in the past. If he can’t do that, he is going to continue to waste his time with people like Liv. That would be sad for both of them.
However, if he wants to talk business, I’ll talk business. “Those two just got put away for a mandatory fifteen years, plus they have to pay over twenty million in fines and restitution,” I tell him, firming my tone. “The Justice Department is seriously cracking down on corporate espionage.”
“Corporate espionage, huh?” he asks, knowing exactly why the article was left in eyeshot.
“They were selling trade secrets to a foreign company, so both the FBI and Justice Department got involved. Those guys didn’t have a chance.” I give him a firm glare, hoping he will take the hint.
“So, it’s more serious when a foreign company is involved?” he asks casually, using his impressive poker face.
“Oh definitely, but it depends a little upon which country we are talking about. Switzerland doesn’t draw the same contempt as China, Russia or Iran for example,” I explain, purposely throwing Switzerland into the mix to gauge his reaction.
“So sharing non-public information with a Swiss company probably wouldn’t draw in the Justice Department or FBI?” he asks, again showing no signs of duress.
“Probably not, depending upon the nature of the information and whether or not it compromises national security.” I notice a small sigh of relief. “If you were to sell short the U.S. Company or purchase additional shares in the Swiss Company based on that information, however, all bets are off.” I casually turn my attention toward the window.
“I wouldn’t do anything that stupid,” he replies, punctuating it with a yawn and a stretch. “It’s not like I’m going to need the money.”
Shit! I immediately realize that he has figured out who I really am and he was just baiting me with that note and the earlier phone call. After a very long minute, I look back in his direction. “That wasn’t a real phone call earlier, was it?”
“No. I don’t even have a broker.” He laughs, obviously proud of his little stunt. “I knew all along that blow job was too good to be true,” he whispers, leaning toward me.
