“Sebastian really talked you up,” he continued, watching me like a hyena as I took a seat. “We didn’t have to let you in on this deal, but we did.”
His half brother Archer let out a dramatic sigh. “Seriously, Greg? This is likeThe Godfatheror some shit. Evan has just had the worst day of his life.”
“Thank you, Archer,” I said.
“He’s demoralized, deballed!”
“Thanks, Archer.”
“It’s like someone took his manhood, put it in a Vitamix with some organic strawberries and coconut milk, and drank it.”
“Thank you, Archer,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Namaste,” he replied, giving me a little bow.
I turned to Greg. “I’m working on the land acquisition.”
“Are you? Because the daughter of the owner is not your wife, which was, if I am not mistaken, a stipulation of your receiving the land.”
“We’re in talks.”
Greg sneered. “Talks? Is this why Camilla cheated on you—because you’re all talk and no action?”
I jumped up.
“Fuck you, Greg.”
“Whoa!” his brother Walker said. “Sorry, Evan, Greg’s in a bad mood. Crawford’s back in town, there’s rumors that Harrogate isn’t going to serve alcohol at town meetings anymore—”
“Why would they…”
“Don’t ask. Small town.” Beck shook his head. “They’re heathens over there. Nothing like Manhattan.”
“Which is why we really need this deal to go through,” Carl Svensson added. “That property was a key piece because it linked the assemblage to the HighLine trail.”
“Yes, I know. I’m working on it,” I assured him.
“Really?” Greg asked. “Are you going to get back together with Camilla?”
“Hell no!”
“You should. That’s the only way her father is going to give you that property. Honestly, Evan,” he said in disgust, “we didn’t go into business with you because you’re special, we did so because of your connections to the Sutherlands. And now you have lost those connections. Orson Sutherland is not going to just hand over the property because you two shook hands. So I suggest you get back together with his daughter and give me my property.”
“Fuck you.” I stood up and buttoned my jacket. “I’ll secure the property, but I’m not getting back together with Camilla to do so. So you’ll just have to wait.”
Greg’s brother Mike, Archer’s cofounder, was coming off the elevator when I walked out of the conference room.
“Meeting over already?” he asked me.
“Your brother is a piece of shit.”
“Which one?”
“All of them.”
“Yeah, sounds about right.” Mike patted me on the shoulder. “Greg’s just in a bad mood.”
“That’s what I keep hearing.”
