“You’re my fixer, not my CEO. Don’t forget that.”
“You never fail to make that distinction, and you seem to forget that I’m not just your fixer. I’mthefixer. You and all your cronies turn to me when you’ve made a mess you can’t clean up on your own. If you’d like to sever our business association, say the word. I won’t be going hungry.”
“If I leave, so do they.” The threat was unmistakable.
“Do you honestly think I’m stupid enough to work for only one group of overgrown juveniles who don’t know how to hold their liquor, keep their pants up, or mind their manners on social media?”
Silence.
“Now, here’s how this is going to work. You’re going to keep your mouth shut. You’re going to stay on the guest list, but you arenotgoing to show. You’ll give the president your apologies and assure him that you expect the stomach bug to pass quickly.”
“Now, listen—”
“No. You did this. You bought this mess. I cannot protect you from being devoured if you insist on walking into the lion’s den.”
“I’m going. I’m paying you to make sure there’s no blowback—”
“We left blowback behind three days ago. You cannot be anywhere near her. We don’t know what she remembers, and her profile is too high. There will be other opportunities for you to rub shoulders with the president.” Why was this so difficult for him to understand? He could be difficult, but he’d never been this intractable. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”
A long sigh. “I don’t answer to you.”
“No, but you pay me to help you avoid doing stupid things,and I’m telling you that going to this event will be the highlight of your personal stupidity reel.”
“The president has requested that I attend.”
“I got that when he sent you an invitation.”
“You don’t understand. He called and personally asked me to attend.”
“Again, he doesn’t want a stomach bug. You’ve known him since you were sixteen. Send him your sincere apologies and tell him you’ll visit him in DC as soon as he spends more than three consecutive nights in the White House.”
“I’m going. Make sure she isn’t there.”
“If you insist on going, then I’ll have to insist on going with you.”
A taut silence, then, “I’ll make the call.”
The phone disconnected.
ZANEFOUND BRUCEin the third spot he checked. Bruce waved him over and patted the space beside him on the park bench he’d commandeered, probably for the evening.
Zane took a seat and noted the tremor in Bruce’s hands. It was more pronounced than it had been last year. “How’s it going, Bruce?”
“I’ve been better. I’ve been worse. You?”
“I’ve been worse. Can’t say I’ve been much better.”
Bruce’s lined face split into a huge grin. “You kissed that girl and she didn’t throw you off a high-rise. Congratulations!”
Zane chuckled. “Did you expect her to throw me off a high-rise?”
“Not if you did it right.”
Zane leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “I’vemissed you, Bruce. You sure know how to make me feel like I have my life together.”
Bruce patted his back. “I’m here to keep you humble. Men who start thinking they’re invincible screw up their lives and the lives of those they love. I would spare you that if I could.”
“One of these days I’m going to write down all your words of wisdom and publish them.”
