Protect & Serve(114)

There was dead air.

“You want one point five million? You greedy son of a bitch, I should tear up the contract right now…”

Beep.

I ended the call and tossed the phone. It had barely hit my gym bag before it started vibrating again. I accepted the call but didn’t say a word.

“…Luke, are you there?”

“Now it’s two,” I said. “And if you ever talk to me like that again, I’ll go fight for another organization so fast your fuckin’ head will spin.”

“Geez, okay, I’m sorry,” he sputtered. “But let’s not be unreasonable. Two million dollars is a lot of money, Luke, and with your take on the ticket sales your gonna have more than you know what to do with. How about we do the one and half. I can make that happen.”

“Two million,” I said, firmly. “You do that and my thirty-five percent and we have a deal. No talking to my agent or any of that bullshit. You can make the deal right now, Don.”

“Okay, Luke. Just let me put in a quick call to the other shareholders and I’ll see what they have to say about it.” He was on the defensive, big time.

“That’s not what I said, Don. We make this deal right now, or it’s not going to happen.”

He let out a long sigh that made him sound like a deflating air mattress over the phone. “Okay Luke, you’re killing me here.”

“I’m not even close to doing to you what I could, and you know it,” I said. “So do we have a deal, or not?”

“Fine,” he said, with forced enthusiasm. “It’s a deal. You are going to fight Eric Simmons for the world title this coming April. I’ll get on the phone with his people and iron out the details. How does that sound, ch-”

I ended the call before he could get the words out.





9





Bria





“Bria, how’s it going with the Baxter account? Do you want me to show you how to organize those records for the presentation?”

Jamie Hearn was a weasel of a man. The sound of his voice was like nails on a chalk board.

“It’s fine, Jamie, I got it.” He never took the hint.

Fresh out of law school, Jamie was the sort that couldn’t help but be annoying. Ever since the partners brought him on at the end of last year, he couldn’t keep himself away from me. He operated under the pretense that since I didn’t take the bar yet, I must be in awe of someone like himself.

Jamie passed on the first try and made sure to remind me of the fact every chance he got. No matter how many times I’d told him I wanted some on-the-job experience before I got my license, he took it upon himself to believe that I simply didn’t have it in me. What he failed to consider is that I graduated at the top of my class, and did so at a far more prestigious school than the clown college he went to.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind helping. I mean, I shouldn’t spend my time down here in the records room. Lord knows my time is better spent doing things other than receptionist work. But, I have to admit, your personality is so magnetic I just have to keep up on what you’re doing.”

“Uh, thanks,” I muttered, without looking.

I didn’t need to look up to know he was wearing that same blue power suit with the striped tie.

“What do you say we go get a latte after you finish up in here? My treat!”

“No thanks Jamie, that’s not the best idea. Besides, I still have a lot of work to do down here.”

“I just don’t understand why you won’t go out with me, Bria. What could be so scary about that? We’re both single, and I know you’re not the kind of girl who’s scared to take a walk on the wild side.”

The way he talked made me equal parts frustrated and creeped out.

“No, Jamie. I’m not afraid of your wild side, I’m afraid of entering into anything other than a professional relationship with someone at work. Have you ever heard of fraternization? The partners don’t look too fondly on that,” I said.

“Pshh,” he made his lips smack each other in a way that grated on my last nerve. “Those rules don’t apply. It’s cute that you think that, though.”

“What are you talking about?” I shot him a look that I hoped would bore straight through him. He didn’t even seem to notice.

Instead, he plowed ahead with his nonsense. “You’re just a paralegal. Those rules are in place so there is no conflict of interest between two professionals on the same level. You’re more like an assistant, and half the partners are dating, married, or having an affair with their secretaries. Besides, I just asked you if you wanted to grab a coffee. It’s not like I want to marry you.”