“Remind me to find a new lawyer.” I smile at the glare she gives me. “What was that nice man’s name again? Connor?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?” I challenge her.
“Ha. Funny. Now you can do the dishes.” She drops a hand towel in front of me and turns away.
“I was going to do them anyway.” I mean, I usually do. I hadn’t volunteered tonight on account of the one-hand thing.
Maddie turns away and starts tapping on her phone. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her brows furrow into a hard line.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She pulls the ponytail from her hair and smooths her black locks down. “Apparently there was an extra meeting today, and Conner “forgot” to tell me. I just got his detailed report on all that I “missed”. Argh! I could kill him.”
“He really is an ogre,” I say.
“Hunchback,” Maddie corrects me. “Now, I’ll be kissing butts for the next two months.” She drops into a chair and pinches her eyes closed. She looks exhausted.
“I’m sure things will work out.” I try to be positive for her. That’s what friends do. They take turns seeing the rainbow at the end of the tunnel while the other’s life falls apart. Maddie is the one who sticks by my side, reminding me that I’m not the lost cause my mother and Rodney always claimed me to be. I can be her voice of reason right now, even if all I want to do is stress about why Rodney called. Again. Haven’t I given him enough already? I can’t give him more. I won’t.
Thirty
Ward
Ishutoffmytruck and stare at the monstrous office building in front of me.
The wordsPreston Developmentlight up the north side with bright gold letters.
What am I doing here?
I reach for the keys to start the ignition, but pull my hand back. I promised my dad I would come, and I’m here. The least I can do is check out the place one last time before I tell my parents, in no uncertain terms, that they can pass on the business to someone who wants it.
I open the door and force myself out of the truck.
The lobby is just as I remember it. Enormous and over the top in every way. Marble floors, gold light fixtures, and walls made of glass.
The weird statue things are gone, though.Huh.
I bypass the lower level and head straight to the second floor.
I can see my dad through his transparent office walls. He’s with two guys I should remember but don’t, studying a model of some kind. Probably another project that’s going to make them millions.
Dad looks up as I step through the doorway. “Ward, so glad you could make it. You came at the perfect time.”
He nods to the other guys and they leave, both smiling at me as they do so.
Did people use to smile here?
“So, what did you want to show me?” I ask, ready to get this over with.
“This.” Dad motions to the model, and I step closer, examining it from a bird’s eye view.
There are two huge rectangular buildings, connected in the center with a large courtyard. In each building, there is a shared common area and laundry room.
It looks like another one of his high-end apartment buildings. Though the rooms are much smaller. Maybe they are rentals.
“A new resort?” It’s too strange of a setup to be anything else.
