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Roger
“Roge, bro, good to see ya again, baby!”
Gerald did it. He accomplished the impossible.
He actually managed to talk Jared Barron back to the negotiating table. It means I have to see this dickhole again, but it also means my future isn’t totally fucked. I need this deal right now. Anything to take my mind off Natalie. Working on 755 could potentially occupy my brain for a good twelve to sixteen hours a day for the next two years.
“Hi, Jared,” I say as politely as possible. I once again seat myself across his desk while Gerald sits beside me. Two of Jared’s three lawyers are again on the couch off to my side.
The third lawyer, weirdly enough, is standing slightly behind and to the side of Jared. He’s holding his briefcase in a stiff manner. I wonder if he’s supposed to look intimidating. If so, it’s not working.
For starters, he’s a skinny dude with a razor-burned face. His boyish face and fat lips make him look like he just got out of law school.
Gee-whillickers, I’m so scared.As if. Jared’s pretty cowardly if he’s made Lawyer-Baby his bodyguard for this meeting.
Gerald smiles widely at everyone in the room. “Well, I’m really glad we all were able to put aside our little differences, and get back to business together once again.” His eyes land on me and he raises his eyebrows expectantly.
Time for me to say the tiny speech he prepared. I clear my throat. I really don’t want to do this, but ‘business is business’, as they say.
“You know how hotheaded I can be, Jared,” I begin. I hope I sound at least a little sincere, for appearance’s sake. “I’m sorry for the way I acted. It was unprofessional. But I’m ready to do this deal, which is going to be in the best interest of both of us.”
“I fucking betyou’reready to make this deal!” Jared exclaims as he leans way back in his chair. I wait for the chair to flip over, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t and Jared keeps talking. “This is a goddamncoupfor you, isn’t it? 755 is prime midtown real estate. I hear you’re planning on turning it into a mixed-use space? Businesses and residences?”
“That’s right.”
“Going all green with it and shit, too, right?”
“That’s right.”
“La-di-dah. Pretty fucking impressive, Roge.” He glances up and over at Lawyer-Baby. “It’s pretty fucking impressive, right?” Lawyer-Baby shrugs. Jared looks back at me. “He’s not impressed, but what do lawyers know?”
I look at Lawyer-Baby. He is indeed unimpressed. But there’s something else about him… Why is he standing so awkwardly…?
Gerald can sense my growing impatience. He leans forward and takes a three-hundred-dollar fountain pen out of his inside suit pocket. “Shall we go ahead and sign the papers?”
Jared leans forward and eagerly takes the pen. “Oh, yeah, let’s sign away.”
Gerald happily sets the documents on the table and turns them to face Jared. Jared makes a show of looking it over, but I can sense he’s stalling. Finally, he laughs like something funny has just occurred to him.
“Oh, dude,” he says, leaning back against his chair again. “I was at the opening of that new Thai fusion spot over on the Upper West Side a few nights ago? I was telling everyone I saw there about our little tizzy. How you almost fucked up the whole deal we were doing, but that I was gonna give you a second chance.”
What’s he doing? Goading me again?
“Oh yeah?” I say, my voice steady, giving away nothing.
“Thing is, they’d already heard all about it!” Jared laughs loudly. “I guess I’ve been blabbing. You know how that goes. I blab to someone, who blabs to someone, who blabs to someone. Like a game of telephone among the rich, famous and shallow!” He cracks himself up again.
Gerald glances nervously between me and Jared. I make a point of not moving a muscle. “Let’s just go ahead and sign, and then we —”
“I’m looking it over,” Jared shoots at Gerald.
“It’s the same contract as before —”
“I’m sorry I got such a big, fucking mouth, Roge. But, look who I’m talking to. Roger Zane loves publicity, am I right? I mean, your ass was already hanging all over the front page of the papers! Figure you ain’t got much left you need to keep private.”
I shrug and play it cool. “I got nothing to hide.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of, either, I bet, huh?” He makes a lewd gesture with his arm and fist like a dick. Then he puts the pen down. Shit.
