Page 11 of Trick or Tease

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Lee smiled, slipping her own check into her bag. “Thanks, Garrett. Really.”

I waved her off. “Alright, enough mushy stuff. Let’s get back to work. We’ve got clients to impress.”

As they headed out of my office, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. They deserved it. They’d put in the hours, the effort, the late nights. We all had. And if splitting my bonus three ways meant they felt appreciated, then it was worth it. I remembered being in their positions when I first started. They put in the time and legwork and the partners and associates got the payouts.

It was only right that there should be some trickle down.

And the money would have been nice, but I didn’t need it. They did.

The partners didn’t care about them. They cared about the bottom line, the deals, the money. And while I understood that, it didn’t sit right with me. Chris and Lee had poured their hearts into the Westbrook deal, and they deserved more than just a check. They deserved recognition and respect. Hell, they deserved a damn parade for the hours they’d put in.

But the partners? They didn’t see it that way. To them, Chris and Lee were just cogs in the machine, replaceable parts that kept the firm running smoothly. I hated that mentality. I’d always believed that if you take care of your people, they’ll take care of the business. It’s how I was taught to lead.

They needed to feel valued, even if it was just from me. I handed them those envelopes and told them to take some time off. A month, maybe more. They deserved it. And I needed to figure out my next move.

The truth was, I was worried. The Westbrook deal had been my golden ticket, or so I thought. But Ron’s reaction? It wasn’t what I’d hoped for. Instead of praise, he’d handed me a reality check. I needed to bring in my own clients if I wanted to make partner. No more riding on his coattails. It was sink or swim, and I wasn’t about to drown.

My phone buzzed on the desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. Another text from Billy. I ignored it again, flipping the phone face down. I didn’t have time for whatever farm drama he was dealing with. I had bigger fish to fry.

I wasn’t born into this world like my boss. I was a stranger in New York basically, without the old money connections that fueled so much of the business in the city. I wasn’t even sure where to start to recruit clients. I didn’t have memberships to the exclusive clubs and golf courses. I was younger than a lot of the old money guys and didn’t run in the same circles.

Deciding to figure it out later, I stepped into the elevator after the long day. The doors slid shut. I leaned against the mirrored wall, closing my eyes for a moment. The hum of the motor was a welcome reprieve from the hum of the office. When the elevator dinged and the doors opened to the parking garage, I stepped out. My footsteps echoed in the cavernous space.

The garage was eerily quiet. It made my skin prickle. I walked toward my car, keys already in hand, when a black cat darted across my path. I chuckled despite myself. “Great,” I muttered. “Just what I need.”

I kept walking toward my car but the sound of footsteps behind me made me pause. I glanced over my shoulder but didn’t see anyone else. The garage was empty. My heart quickened, though I told myself it was nothing.

I wasn’t the type to get spooked. Living in the city toughened a man up. The dumb cat had put me on edge, it seemed. Maybe my blood sugar was low and that was why everything felt off.

Then I heard what sounded like children laughing. The sound seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. I shook my head, dismissing it as my tired mind playing tricks on me. That nine a.m. bagel wasn’t cutting it.

The Westbrook deal had fried me. I’d been running on empty for too long.

I started walking a little faster, my Tom Ford dress shoes clicking against the concrete. My car was a few rows over. I just wanted to get in, drive home, and be alone with my thoughts. I wasn’t scared. Just tired.

The laughing grew louder, and yeah it was fucking weird. I spotted my black Mercedes S-Class and pushed the button on the key fob to unlock the doors.

I spotted something on the trunk of my hundred-thousand-dollar car. “What the hell?”

I reached for it and saw it was a creepy clown mask. Okay, what the fuck is going on?

Hot breath brushed against the back of my neck. “Garrett.”

I turned around swinging. The hell if I was going to get mugged. The man ducked before my punch could land.

Billy laughed, clearly thinking he was hilarious. And then I did hit him. Only in the arm and just hard enough to make his laughing ass stumble.

“What is wrong with you!” I snapped. “Are you nuts? If I was carrying a gun or pepper spray, your ass would be laid out right now.”

“I know you left your guns on the farm,” he said, rubbing his arm. “And I assumed you don’t have pepper spray since you’re not carrying a purse.”

I glared at Billy, my heart still pounding from the scare he’d just given me. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” I snapped, shoving the clown mask into his chest. “What the hell are you doing here? And why are you sneaking up on me like some kind of psycho?”

“I texted you I was coming, but apparently, someone is too important to talk to his brother,” Billy said with a grin, completely unfazed by my irritation. “Missed you too, by the way.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Since you ignored me, I thought I’d surprise you. You know, bring a little Greenleaf charm to the big city.”

“Charm?” I scoffed, brushing his hand off. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. And what’s with the mask? Are you trying to traumatize me?”