AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Trent
If you had told fifteen-year-old Trent that he’d be spending his Friday night at the Boston Opera House when he was older, he would have laughed in your face and probably stolen your wallet for being so goddamn gullible.
But here I am.
Pretending to understand the Italian lyrics ofLa Bohèmewhile sitting in a private box owned by none other than the Preston family.
The things I do for a friend.
Still, I’m here.
After my talk with the good doctor and Rex himself earlier today, it became apparent that I’d be a shitty friend if I didn’t stand by Rex’s decision to sell the club.
Of course, I already knew Lawrence was the one who put the idea in Rex’s head about selling the Guardians off. However, now that I’ve met him and his father, Lawrence Preston Junior, I’m not so sure that the deal is even going to happen.
Lawrence Junior wasn’t particularly happy to share his prestigious opera box seats with the riff-raff. And by riff-raff, I mean me.
One quick sweep of my tall frame was all it took for him to learn everything he needed to know about me.
I guess old money can smell new money from a mile away. And from the way that he scrunched his nose at the sight of me, he isn’t a fan of the poor making their own way in this world and rising out of the gutter to attend events that only the rich should be able to enjoy.
Even Rex earned a distasteful glower from the prick, but since Rex’s age is closer to his own, I guess the old fart is more tolerant of him.
Not that I’m hurt by his assessment of me.
Even looking feeble in his wheelchair, I despised him on sight, too.
His son, on the other hand, is still a conundrum to me.
He hasn’t said much since our arrival, letting his father do most of the talking for him. I’m not sure I can respect a man who lets his wealthy father monopolize the conversation while doing absolutely nothing to be welcoming to his invited guests. Come to think of it, though, his invitation to the opera tonight was probably only extended to Rex, and I’m the unforeseen intruder he didn’t account for.
Maybe that’s why he’s kept silent.
To do some assessing of his own.
As the opera’s first act concludes and the intermission begins, I quickly stand up, looking forward to stretching my legs. Knowing that Junior can’t stand up as easily and has to strain his neck to shower me with his disapproving glowers is just the cherry on top.
“How are you enjoying the show so far?” the younger Lawrence asks me, finally gracing me with the acknowledgment of my existence.
“Immensely,” I lie.
“Good. I’m glad. I know that opera isn’t for everyone.” He smiles. “I’m also glad that Rex invited you to join us this evening. It finally gave us a chance to meet each other.”
“I wasn’t aware that you wanted to meet me.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asks with a faint British accent that I’m a hundred percent certain he only uses to show off.
“Well, for one, you gave no indication that you did. I’m not a hard man to find, Preston. If you really wanted to meet me, you could have called me or my secretary and set something up that didn’t require using a tux,” I retort with sarcasm. “But I understand that you’ve been living in London for the past few years, so maybe you’re a little rusty on how real business is conducted. Usually, it’s done in a boardroom, not an opera house.”
Instead of being insulted, like I intended him to be, Lawrence’s smile grows wider.
“Rex told me you were a straight shooter. I like that in a person.”
“Ah, but do you like it in a general manager? That’s the real reason you wanted to meet me, isn’t it? To see if my personality is compatible with yours so it could make life easier for you to mess around with my team.”
“And here I thought it was Rex’s team?” he retorts with a toothy grin before turning his back to me to join Rex and his prejudiced father.
My back molars grind as I walk towards them, too, not wanting to be the odd man out of any conversation tonight.
