Chapter Two
MICHAEL
Sebastian alone — my older brother — had sent me more than twenty messages. All of them so neurotic and typical of him...
Turner Architecture had been founded six decades ago by our grandfather, passed on to my father and, upon his death, taken over by the eldest of his three sons.
Sebastian had a degree in Architecture and, unlike me, had always taken his career very seriously.
He had a respectable resume and had won several awards in the field.
Not to mention that he competed with our middle brother for the position of most responsible in the family.
The difference was that Logan, our other brother, had taken a different path in life and was now a doctor.
And I confess that I was quite comfortable with someone else taking on that responsibility.
However, a few months ago, everything changed.
Sebastian’s wife was diagnosed with a heart condition, and he decided to step back from his role as CEO so he could be with her during her treatments and surgeries.
So, the role was passed on to me. I didn’t think much of it at first and just delegated important decisions to other people.
However, something also happened in my own life that forced me to make an effort to at least appear more responsible.
Still, Sebastian seemed to not trust me entirely, which meant that, in events like last night’s, he would pester me with tons of instructions.
I ignored all his questions, summarizing everything in a single answer:
MICHAEL:
Everything went well. The event was a success. And I didn't destroy our family's precious office. Don't worry.
Judging by the time, I confess that I thought he was still sleeping. That's why I was surprised to see him typing a reply.
SEBASTIAN:
You know my fear isn't just about the office.
You're in enough trouble, so you need to toe the line and clean up your public image.
It was clear that Sebastian wouldn't miss a single opportunity to remind me how fucked up my situation was.
I decided to ignore the other messages. All I wanted to do was go home and get some sleep.
I left my cell phone on the seat next to mine and started the car.
I had just driven through the parking gate and was turning left onto the street in front of the hotel when the phone rang.
I picked it up, placed it on the dashboard of my car, and answered it on speakerphone.
Normally, I would ignore it, since I was driving and, again, I needed to avoid getting a ticket as much as possible.
But I wasn’t going to let myself miss a call from Janet.
Janet Rodriguez was currently the most important woman in my life.
No, I had no romantic or sexual involvement with her – because she was married, and she was old enough to be my mother. And she was also not related to me. However, at the time, I would dare say that she was more important than my own mother.
Janet Rodriguez was my lawyer.
Yes, I know that may sound very cold. But in reality, it was the exact opposite of that. Because Janet wasn’t currently handling any lawsuits that concerned financial or property matters.
She took care of the most important and vital case there was for me.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Like I said, Janet wasn't my girlfriend or my relative. But she was tough, direct, and not one to mince her words.
Well, she had been my family's lawyer for over twenty years, she had seen me grow up, so she could indulge in those 'familiarities'. And I even liked it, because it showed how committed she was to winning the case.
“What did I do this time, Janet?”
“An employee of your company, Michael? Are you serious? It hasn't been twenty-four hours since we had a serious conversation and you promised to get things right, and shortly after that you hole up in a hotel with a woman, and an employee at that?”
I scratched my head wearily. I knew she was absolutely right, but I couldn't help but voice a complaint:
“Have you got someone to spy on me now, Janet?”
“I didn't have to do that. Your enemies already did. I just got pictures and videos of you drinking with the girl, making out with the girl, going into the hotel room with the girl at one thirty in the morning, and her leaving alone and disheveled just now, at seven fifteen.”
Holy shit!
I cursed every swear word I could think of in my head. How the hell could those motherfuckers stoop that low?
“The case is completely lost, then?” I asked finally, dreading the answer.
“Meet me in half an hour in my office and we will discuss the threats and proposals made. Don't be late.”
“I won't be late.”
I was going to be late. And I had the feeling that even she knew that.
Besides being on my way out of the hotel, a long way from her office, I still needed to stop for a strong coffee.
The effects of the drink were really strong in my system.
In addition to the headache and the churning stomach, I was also feeling very dizzy, which made me wonder what the hell kind of alcoholic mixtures I must have made during the night.
As soon as Janet hung up the call, I, irritated by the whole story, punched the steering wheel hard, trying to vent some of my anger.
Just then, I noticed something on the ring finger of my right hand. Something that definitely wasn't there before.
“What the fuck?” I grumbled, racking my brain to try to remember how it had gotten there.
An even greater wave of despair washed over me as memories of it invaded my mind.