“To you it might be absurd but it might well be within that man’s ability to perform.”
I held back the temptation to roll my eyes. Darryl was trying to get a rise out of me. I could’ve saved him the trouble and told him that he no longer had the power to do that but that’d only make him act more like an ass.
“You’re right,” I said instead. “The advisor you recommended may just be better than I am. And if he is, I have zero problem admitting it.” I shrugged. “Hell, I’d even recommendmyclients to him if his investments perform as well as Leonard claims they do. I just need his name. Possibly a business card if you have one.” I held my tone even and devoid of any emotion. I wasn’t playing this back and forth game with Darryl. He had information I needed and that was it.
He sat there for a moment staring. I could see the wheels of his mind turning, trying to figure out how to play this to his advantage. Finally, he stood.
“You like my office?” He spread his arms wide.
For the first time, I glanced around, taking in the oak furniture, along with the dark shelves that were lined with articles and award that Darryl or some of his athletes had won.
“Yeah, sure,” I agreed. “The name, Darryl?”
He let out a humorless chuckle. “Phillip Morris,” he replied as he rounded his desk.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Like the tobacco company?”
He briefly looked up from his desk to me and nodded. “Yes, but he’s got two Ls in his name instead of one,” he answered while scribbling something down. He yanked the piece of notepad paper from its stand before coming around the desk again and handing the paper to me.
I looked down.
“I don’t have his business card on me but that’s the number to his office, address, and website of his company.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Darryl.”
“Oh, I’m Darryl now? Out in the lobby I was Mr. Wright.”
I did roll my eyes that time.
“Like, I’m a damn stranger,” he tutted and shook his head.
“We are strangers.”
He stiffened at that. “We aren’t—”
“We haven’t seen or spoken to one another in almost seven years.”
“At your insistence.”
“And I appreciate your giving me this, Darryl,” I lifted the paper, “but after today, we’ll go on not seeing or speaking to one another. Thank you.” I began backing up and turned toward the door.
“I hear you’re dating again. Well, you’ve been dating for a while now, but I mean, athletes.”
My hand paused on the door handle. I knew he was goading me but stupidly, I took the bait.
“What do you know about my dating life?”
“Just that Tyler Townsend better watch out. He doesn’t know what he’s in for if he makes a mistake.”
“A mistake? Are you—” I shook my head. “How do you know about Tyler?”
He shrugged. “Word gets around, especially when the same woman dates more than one athlete.”
My eyebrow spiked at his insinuation. I wasn’t about to dignify his pettiness with a response. I pulled the door open.
“Maybe someone should tell Tyler not to let his heart get involved, seeing as how unforgiving you are.”
I stopped, letting the door shut a few inches, but not all the way while my hand was still on the handle. “Are you serious right now? A mistake? Unforgiving? I wasn’t the one who had a baby with another woman during our marriage.”
