AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you all right, Xander?” Arnoldo broke into my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. I wasn’t ready to accept the implications of that reality just yet.
“Yeah,” I replied, “I have work to catch up on. I’m afraid I’ve fallen behind, and we can’t afford that. There’s much development to accomplish.” I offered a lighthearted remark, but it contained a grain of truth. My work was my life’s mission, and I couldn’t let it falter.
“You’re not falling off the rocker. You’re the best in the business, and that’s high praise. Everyone wants to work with you, and some even aspire to be you. You’re a formidable son of a bitch, and having a girlfriend won’t change that. It shouldn’t change that. Just find the right balance. I’ve never seen you this happy and at peace. No one can be as tolerable an asshole as you are.”
“Are you getting soft, Reyes?”
“Oh, shut up before I show your girlfriend the baby pictures of you on my phone, or worse, I’ll post them,” he threatened, a wide grin on his face.
The great and challenging aspect of Arnoldo was that he had been there through thick and thin, through every failing and adversity. He, along with Ronan, Mikkel and, Lucio, were my earliest and most enduring friends. It had its share of ups and downs, but they’ve been with me forever.
“I’m heading out. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow. And, Dillon,” he said, grabbing his briefcase, “happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
After the lawyers had left, I checked on Azzaria, and she was still asleep, her peaceful demeanor giving me some reassurance. The remaining hours of my sleepless night were dedicated to catching up on the workload for the week.
? Japanese Call
? Auditing filing
? Emailing HR about staff affairs
? Reviewing the organizational roster
? Confirming my interviews
? Forbes 50 Under 50 photoshoot confirmation
? Contact Azzaria’s College
These seemed like straightforward tasks, but by the time I had completed them, the sun had risen, and the clock had struck 6 a.m. I had seriously grown tired of battling insomnia.
Nevertheless, I had caught up on my work, and the feeling of achieving world domination was invigorating. The world was back on its axis.
I opened my bottom filing drawer and retrieved an envelope marked “Financial Disclosures.” It contained all the fees and loans that Azzaria owed. Her graduation was less than two months away, and she wouldn’t have been able to clear these debts on her own, even with her substantial salary.
One day, I would tell her that I had taken care of it, giving her with a fresh start. I wanted her to build herself and lead a life free from the shadows of the past, filled with happiness and fulfillment.
…Total fees owed by Azzaria Willis… one million, seven hundred thousand dollars… to be paid three weeks before the upcoming graduation date.
She had received a scholarship for her undergraduate program at the age of sixteen, but her graduate program didn’t offer scholarships, so she had to manage the financial burden herself, with some assistance from her mother. Still, the amount was insurmountable, so I took care of it.
Notification Alert:
Two million dollars has been transferred from account number 00977282 to 02862828.
Good deeds.
Good day.
“You work too much,” she stated as she woke up. By the time Azzaria had risen, I was already dressed and ready for my workday.
“I don’t work enough, but good morning. How did you sleep?” I asked.
“I slept great,” she yawned, then moved over, straddling me. “Your bed is soft, and Pebbles came to cuddle me. I love her so much.” I couldn’t help but smile; I appreciated how well Azzaria got along with my dog Pebbles.
“Pebbles stealing you from me?” I playfully pouted. “She’s lucky she’s so cute.”
