AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m really working my legs against the machine now, trying to keep my mind on business while my eyes watch her. She’s twisted her body to face Ricardo and has her head resting in the hand that’s propped up by her elbow. She’s toying with him. I can tell by the way she’s picking at the grass and smiling to herself as she speaks. At least Ricardo is trying his best to remain professional.
“Have you made the donation yet?” I ask Gioele, attempting to focus on anything other than her.
“Not yet.”
“I want you to double it,” I tell him sharply, thinking about Riley and that cell my brother was keeping her in. My heart thumps fast, and my lungs start to burn as I thrash out all my energy on the moving platform beneath my feet.
“Double? That’s one million dollars!” Gioele almost chokes.
“Can I not afford it?” I bite back sarcastically, and when I take my eyes off her to flick them over to him, I see that he’s already making a note of it in the black book he carries.
“And you’re sure you want to remain anonymous?” He checks the same as he does every year when I make my annual donation to the children in crisis charity. My answer is always the same.
“Yes.”
“I have to ask, Raphael.” He shifts his ass on the bench uncomfortably. “Why do you insist on being so generous and refuse to take any credit?”
“Generosity is a weakness,” I answer simply.
“Weakness?” Gioele shakes his head in disagreement. “Generosity shows empathy, and people love that shit.” He sniggers.
“I have no desire to impress people with empathy, Gio. If you want someone to take credit for it, then take it for yourself.” I lower the resistance to cool off, and I take a drink of water.
“Anything else?” I check, wanting this meeting over with. Riley is far too much of a distraction for me to be discussing anything important.
“There is one other thing.” Gioele has that unnerved look on his face that I fucking hate.
“Speak.” I step off the treadmill and pick up my towel, wiping it over my brow before draping it around my neck.
“Your will. It’s our policy to update it every five years.”
“Your policy, not mine,” I remind the old man, taking more water and catching my breath.
“Yes,” he agrees. “But still a matter we need to discuss.”
“So, renew it.” I shrug, leaning my back against the giant apex beam and staring out at Riley again through the glass. She’s got Ricardo riled up about something, and it makes me grin to myself.
“It’s just that, well…”
“Spit it out, Gio,” I snap impatiently. If there’s one thing I can’t tolerate, it’s dithering. I don’t have time for useless words.
“I just feel that having the old woman as your soul benefice isn’t enough. We should make additions in case she is no longer… with us.” He reels that last part off quickly because he knows of my affection for Sylvia.
I watch Riley stand up from under the tree, her hands brushing any stray blades of grass from her ass, as she follows Ricardo back toward the house.
“Are there any other people you’d like to see taken care of if anything should happen to you?” he asks me, trying his best to be tactful. Gioele’s known me long enough to know that there are few things in this world I care for.
Something hollow scrapes at my chest when I think back to how different my life could have turned out. I doubt I’d have a fortune to worry about leaving behind, but I wouldn’t feel as lonely as I do right this second.
“I’ll think on it,” I tell him, avoiding eye contact with my father's old best friend and watching Riley walk along the gravel path. She stops to smell the roses as I hear Gioele’s briefcase click shut, signaling that business is done for the day. I’m surprised when he comes and stands beside me, admiring the same view I am.
“Beautiful,” he comments, watching Riley pick the biggest, brightest rose from the bush. I can’t help smiling to myself when I consider punishing her for it.
“I assume she is the young lady you had me look into last week,” he says, keeping his eyes on her as she brings her finger to her lips and sucks it. She must have pricked herself with a thorn, and I bite my own lip when I imagine sucking it for her.
“Do you ever think about getting out of the business, Raphael? You’ve made a fortune ten times over. You could retire very comfortably.”
I wonder if Gioele ever asked my father that question?
