He read over the documents before signing on his client’s behalf as a listed POA. Mike was coming by later to sign his portion.
When I took the documents back and looked them over to ensure all the signatures were there, Preston leaned against the table. “Nice Rolex.”
Fucking hell. Here we go. “Yeah, thanks.”
He pulled up the sleeve of his Armani suit jacket to show off his wrist. “I got this Cartier last month from my bonus at the firm.”
“You got a bonus?” I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm. I didn’t even give him the satisfaction of looking at it. “Still daddy’s speciallittle boy, I see.”
This was typical Preston behavior—always trying to show off anything he could because, for some reason, he thought it would bother or intimidate others. I could give a flying fuck about the brand of watch or anything else he had on.
I could feel his glare, and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. “Everything looks good. Once my client signs his end this afternoon, I’ll have copies sent over to you.”
We both stood and Vance, who I could only assume was there for moral support since he didn’t do shit the entire meeting, followed suit. “Ya know, it’s a shame you feel so invested in a slum like this,” he said, gesturing around. “You could be working forbetterif you joined us.”
“I’d rather jump naked off a twelve-foot step ladder into a five-gallon bucket of porcupines thaneverwork fororwith you.”
“Think about it,” he said, ignoring my comment. “You might even be able to afford one of these someday,” he said, gesturingto his watch. “And maybe a new suit or two…” He eyed me up and down.
I pressed a palm to my chest, feigning offense. “What’s wrong with my suit?”
“Oh, nothing.” He looked me up and down again, letting out a snort. “It’s…nice.”
“Thanks. Your girlfriend picked it out this morning.” Behind him, Vance coughed, seemingly to cover up a laugh based on the look Preston shot him. “Anyway, it was nice doing business with ya,Pressy.” He clenched his jaw at the name; I’d been calling him that since middle school, and he fuckinghatedit. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.”
I turned and left the conference room without another glance, heading back toward my office.
That really set the tone for the rest of my Friday. Everything else went smoothly, and by the time five o’clock rolled around, I was in a decent mood and ready to start my weekend. Hell, hopefully, the day I had would continue through the night, and I would find someone at Agora later to get me out of this goddamn second slump that I was now three fucking months into. It was mid-January. It was a brand new year. And I had a feeling things werefinallygoing to change for the better. At least Ihopedthey were.
I slipped a few things into my outgoing mail tray and put away the case files I’d been working on before standing from my desk. My head snapped up when I heard quick footsteps approaching my door, and Gabe appeared a moment later. “Oh, thank God, you’re still here,” he said, somewhat out of breath.
“I was just about to head out. What’s up?”
“I just got a call from a client, and they need me to meetwith them. I don’t know why, but they said it was extremely important.”
My brow furrowed. “Okay…what does that have to do with me?”
He held up a manila envelope. “I ended up scoring Liam Halloway and his businesses as a client for us, and I need to give him these copies of our contract agreement. He told me to just give them to Morgan, and she could give them to Grace. So I planned on stopping by Morgan’s on my way home to do that, but now I have to go meet this client.”
I knew where this was headed, but I played dumb. “Okay. Again, what does that have to do with me?”
Gabe sighed. “Look, I know this is probably the last thing you want to do…and I wouldn’t ask you unless it was important.”
I grinned forcefully. “Then don’t ask me.”
He tilted his head with a smile. “Can you please drop these off at Morgan’s apartment?”
“No.”
“Seriously, Wes?”
“Look, I had areallygood day today, and now you want me to sully that by asking me to enter the depths of Hell itself?”
“It’s Morgan’s apartment…”
“Exactly.”
“You wouldn’t even have to go in. You knock. She opens the door. You hand her the envelope and then be on your way. You’re headed in that exact direction…your complex is across the way from hers.” He stared at me. “Please.”
