Chapter One – Kian
Kian
Present Day - March
Beep. Beep. Beep.
With a groan, I reached over and fumbled for my phone to turn off the annoying-ass alarm that was blaring. Was it my imagination, or was it louder than normal?
After turning off the alarm, I set it back on the side table and ran my hand down my face. It felt like I had only fallen asleep a few minutes ago, and now I was back up. Same shit, different day, as my brother says.
I sat up and swung my legs over the bed. Before I even put my feet on the floor, my phone notifications were going off with incoming emails. With a sigh, I stood, went to my dresser, and pulled out some workout clothes. I needed a quick run before I started this day.
The sound of my feet hitting the pavement was music to my ears. Even with it being winter, and freezing out, I loved running. I didn’t get to work out nearly enough, so anytime I could sneak in a run or a trip to the gym was a blessing. It was the only thing that could clear my mind and lower my anxiety.
“Good morning, Mr. Carter. ”
I smiled at the doorman of my building, Charles Ludwig. “Morning, Charles. How are you today?”
As he held the door open, he grinned. “My day has been magical. Just found out my daughter is having a baby girl.”
I reached my hand out to shake his. “Congratulations, Charles. I thought she wasn’t going to find out the sex of the baby.”
Charles laughed. “She wasn’t, but they had to do a sonogram yesterday, and they asked again, and she and her husband broke down. I’m glad they decided to tell everyone and not do one of those reveal parties. I’ve seen some really outrageous videos of those.”
With a chuckle, I replied, “My sister had a gender reveal party, and everything that could go wrong did. She swore never again. When is the baby due?”
Another wide smile broke out across his face. “Two weeks.”
“I’m sure you and the wife are over the moon.”
He nodded. “Yes, we both are. I’ve been saving up my vacation so that we can spend as much time as we can with her and Brian, that’s her husband.”
I nodded. “How much time do you have?”
With a slight frown, he replied, “I have three weeks saved up, but they’ll only allow me to take a week off.”
It was my turn to frown. “Is that right?”
“But a week is better than nothing.” He tipped his hat to me, saying, “Have a good day, and I’m glad to see you were able to get a workout in.”
Laughing, I said, “So am I, Charles. And congrats again, Grampa.”
Once I got into my apartment, the first thing I did was call the owner of the condo building I lived in. I didn’t like to wear my lawyer hat outside of the office, but when I did, I could lawyer the shit out of things.
By the time we got off the phone call, Charles was cleared to take his full three weeks, and the policy of one-week-at-a-time vacation was being removed.
I checked my phone to see my father had called once and my mother had called three times, in addition to the countless emails that were awaiting my attention. It wasn’t even seven in the morning yet. Deciding to ignore her voicemail—as well as those emails—for now, I headed into my bathroom and turned on the shower.
After showering and shaving, I reluctantly grabbed my phone and started for the kitchen. As I waited for my smoothie to mix, I listened to the three voicemails from my mother, all of them telling me to call her as soon as possible. My father had also called while I was in the shower, asking me to call my mother. Unlike most kids who probably have their parents’ numbers stored as Mom and Dad, I had Lacy and Doug. It didn’t feel right to have anything else.
I pulled up my emails and didn’t see anything pressing, so I wasn’t sure what was going on that she needed to speak to me at the crack ass of dawn. It could all wait until I got to the office.
I poured my smoothie into an insulated cup, grabbed my briefcase, and headed to the subway. It was the same routine I had been doing for the last seven years: wake up, work out if I was lucky, shower, drink a smoothie, and head into the office. Stay until well past sundown, grab takeout, and maybe go on a date if I even had time tomeet anyone who didn’t work at the law firm.
Once on the subway, I took out my phone and called my mother .
“Kian, I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.”
Sighing inwardly, I replied, “Considering it isn’t even nine in the morning yet, I hardly think you can say that.”
“Don’t get smart with me; I’ve already had to deal with your brother.”
“Oh, lucky him.”
“I need you to come to my office when you arrive.”
“Sorry, Mom, no can do. I’ve got a conference call with Parker Construction and their lawyers to see if we can settle.”
“You’re settling? Do the families know?”
I rolled my eyes. After years of proving to my mother and fatherthat I had what it takes to be a good lawyer, they still questioned my every move. There was a reason my sister only lasted two years and decided to return to school to get a different degree. And when my younger brother chose not to follow in the footsteps of his parents, older sister, and brother, my father practically told him not to bother coming home for the holidays. He had taken it literally. I wasn’t sure when was the last time I saw my baby brother. He had gotten a degree in structural engineering and worked for a company that sent him all over the place. Last I heard from him, he was in England.
“Of course, they know; they’re the ones who asked to settle. They’re tired of the gamesandjust want this to end.”
“But if we go to court, we could potentially get millions of dollars for them. That’s more money for everyone.”
“That still doesn’t bring back their loved ones.”
“That’s true, but the money will improve their lives, not to mention the payout for the firm. You’re one of our top billers, Kian. Don’t start going soft on me now. ”
Clearing my throat, I replied, “It was more about holding the company accountable, Mom.”
She tsked. “When will you be in the office?”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Be sure to stop by my office. That isn’t a request.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The call ended, and I closed my eyes and dropped my head against the subway’s seat.
“Hate your job?”
The voice startled me, and I turned to see an older man sitting beside me.
“Something like that. Doesn’t help my parents are my boss.”
He laughed. “Let me guess, you’re a lawyer.”
I raised a brow. “The only way you would know was if you were one as well.”
“Thirty years, corporate law. My first few years I was driven and on my way to becoming a partner.”
“I feel like a but is coming.”
“One day, I woke up and decided I was tired of getting up, grabbing a muffin and coffee on the way to the office, eating at my desk, and getting home around ten at night. Rinse and repeat. Day after day.”
Nodding, I said, “I feel that in the depths of my soul.”
“Trust me, son, it won’t get any better. If you feel like you’re getting burned out, you’re already burned out.”
“Being a lawyer is the only thing I know how to do.”
He smiled. “I thought the same thing. Then I learned to appreciate this moment.”
“This very moment?” I asked.
Laughing, he said, “No, you’ll know the moments you want to remember. It’s when you’re experiencing utter happiness. Those are the moments you want to cherish, not stressing out and doing more harm to your mind and body than you should be.”
“Do you mind if I ask what you do now?”
“Not at all. I’m a writer.”
A strange sensation washed over me, and I closed my eyes and quickly opened them again. “Did you say you’re a writer?”
“I did, indeed.”
I slowly shook my head in disbelief. “When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer.”
“And you chose the path your parents wanted you to take?”
I could feel my brows draw in as I turned and looked more directly at the man beside me. “I’m sorry, I’m just feeling like you have an open window into my life.”
His laughter this time was full-on deep from his belly. “Son, I was you once upon a time. I had a dream that wasn’t my parents, but I was raised to do the right thing…or should I say, what my parents wanted me to do. Sound about right?”
“Sounds spot on.”
The stranger shrugged. “I woke up one day and decided I was tired of living a life I hatedandmade a change.”
I nodded as I let his words sink in. I was about to speak when my phone rang. I took one look and sighed. It was Jim Larson, an associate in the firm. “Excuse me, it’s the office.”
He tipped his hat and winked.
“Jim, what’s going on?”
“Where are you, Kian?”
“I’m about to get off the subway; why, what’s going on?”
“I need to speak to you the moment you come in. ”
“Get in line; my mother beat you to it.”
“Shit. Well, I need to talk to you as soon as you’re done. I’ll be in my office.”
“Okay, talk soon.”
I hit End and turned back to talk to the stranger beside me, but he was gone. I looked around but didn’t see him anywhere. When the subway came to a stop, I got up, took one more look, and exited.
My mother paced back and forth in front of the large windows overlooking Central Park. It truly was a priceless view.
“Mom, are you going to keep pacing or tell me why you called me into your office first thing when I have meetings to get to?”
She stopped and looked at me. “Don’t worry, I called your assistant and told her to send your associate into the meeting in your place.”
Leaning forward, I glared at her. “You did what?”
“Don’t look so taken aback. Now, we need to talk about this settlement with Parker Construction.”
I stood. “There is nothing to talk about. The meeting is about to start, and Alex isn’t ready to sit in on this deal.”
Turning, I started for the door. When my hand landed on the knob, she said, “You’ve lost your touch.”
Closing my eyes, I counted to ten, opened the door, and walked out. I quickly made my way to the elevator and down to the twentieth floor, where the meeting would occur. I didn’t miss the relief on Alex’s face when I walked in.
“Kian, you made it. ”
I shook his hand. “I’m sorry for the delay.”
“They’re ready to start.”
Before I even had a chance to sit down, my father spoke. I hadn’t even seen him in the room when I walked in.
“Ladies…gentlemen… We’ve convinced our clients not to settle.”
“What?”
A chorus of voices asked, mine included.
My father stood, smiled, and said, “We’ll see you in court.”
He turned on his heels and left the room. When all eyes in the room turned and looked at me, I was at a loss for words. For the first time in my life, I was stunned into silence. And for the second time that day, I was given another reason to change my career.
Betty, my assistant, stood when she saw me charging down the hall toward my office. “Mr. Carter.”
“Not now, Betty.”
She hurried around her desk and followed me into my office. I came to a stop when I saw Jim leaning against my desk.
“Jim, what are you doing here?”
Betty nearly ran into my back. She gasped and said, “I wanted to let you know Mr. Larson was waiting for you in your office.”
Turning to look at her, I forced myself to smile. “Thank you, Betty. Will you please get my sister on the phone?”
“Yes, of course. ”
When she left the office and I heard the door shut, I focused on Jim. “You knew what they were going to do, didn’t you?”
He sighed. “I had a feeling it was coming. When your father found out you were settling with Parker, he nearly blew a fuse. I thought if I could talk to you before the meeting, you would be prepared.”
“Well, I wasn’t prepared, and the meeting was at nine this morning.”
He nodded. “I thought it was at two this afternoon.”
I set my briefcase down on the desk and looked at him. “Why in the world would you think it was at two?”
“Because that was what your father said in my meeting with him yesterday evening.”
“He lied.”
Jim let out a snort oflaughter. “No kidding, he lied. Now what?”
I sat in my chair and slowly shook my head. “I don’t know.”
Looking confused, Jim asked, “What do you mean you don’t know?”
I turned and looked out my window to see the small bit of Central Park. “Did I ever tell you when I was in high school I wanted to write crime novels?”
“Um, no, I can’t say you did.”
I smiled as I looked at Jim. We had met in law school, and he was hired here at the firm based on my referral. He billed almost as much as I did, and my mother and father adored him for that simple fact.
“The only reason I became a lawyer is because I knew it would make my parents happy. ”
“That’s not new news.”
I laughed. “No, I guess it isn’t. My dream was to become a writer, though.”
Jim adjusted himself in his seat. “Is there a point to all of this?”
My phone buzzed, and I hit it. “Did you get her?”
“Yes, she’s on the line, Mr. Carter.”
“Thanks so much, Betty. Go ahead and take the rest of the day off, paid.”
There was a moment of silence on the line before she asked, “I’m sorry. Did you tell me to take the rest of the day off?”
“Yes, paid. Just put in that you were running errands for me. Go get yourself a massage or do something for yourself. Enjoy the day—fulfilling moments like this are hard to come by.”
Jim raised a brow.
“My daughter has a school play this afternoon.”
“Perfect, then. I’ll see you in the morning. Before you leave, cancel the rest of my meetings today.”
“All of them?” she asked.
“Yes, all of them.”
“Um, okay. Should I let Mrs. Carter know?”
“No need. I’ll talk to her later. Enjoy your day, Betty.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Carter.”
Jim grinned and leaned forward. “Did you know her daughter was in a play?”
“I saw it on her phone. It popped up as a reminder. If you don’t mind, Jim, I need to speak to my sister.”
Standing, he held up his hands. “Sorry I couldn’t warn you in time. ”
“Yeah, next time, just tell me over the phone.”
“I would have but your father walked in. He scares the hell out of me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Later, Jim.”
I picked up the phone and cleared my throat. “Hey, Macy.”
“Hey, little brother. What did they do now?”
Quickly filling my sister in, I waited for her response.
“What exactly do you want me to say here, Kian? You know how they are. You were going to settle because the clients want closure, but they only see dollar signs. Nothing with our parents is ever going to change.”
Sighing, I dropped back into my chair. “I know you’re right. I just don’t think I can do this anymore. I feel like today was the last straw.”
“Then do what your heart is telling you to do, Kian. Leave.”
A bitter laugh escaped. “And do what, Mace?”
“You and I both know the answer to that question.”
I paused for a moment and thought about the guy on the subway.
“You know, there was this older gentleman on the subway today. He started a conversation with me, told me he used to be a lawyer, left it, and is a writer now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, the crazy thing is, I was interrupted by a call from Jim, and when I got off the call, the guy was gone.”
“I would call that a sign, little brother.”
I nodded my head as I stared down at my desk. “A sign. A moment.”
“I’m assuming you want my advice. ”
“Please.”
“Quit. Go back home, take some time off, and enjoy the last bit of winter and the beginning of spring in Moose Village. Aunt Opal will be over the moon, not to mention Sally. You need a place to clear your head, and I hate to say this, but detox from our mother and father.”
New York City wasn’t home for us. Sure, my mother and father had a law firm in New York City, but we had grown up in Upstate New York in a small town called Moose Village. Granted, most of the time, our parents were in New York City, but me, my sister, and younger brother Mark lived in Moose Village. It was where my parents were born and raised, and they wanted us to have the same upbringing. Right down to our parents being MIA like theirs had been. Sally, our nanny, was the one who raised us. We turned out the way we did because of her. Once we were all grown and moved out, Sally’s role turned to caretaker of the house.
“Home.”
“Yes. I’m sure Sally would love to take care of someone. She’s lonely in that big ol’ house all by herself.”
Smiling, I leaned forward and stared at the briefs that needed my attention.
“You’re right.”
“So you’ll take some time off then?”
I stood. “I’m going to do more than take time off. I’m going to quit.”
My sister started to cough andthen cleared her throat. “You’re going to quit?”
“I am.”
“Lord above, please don’t let Mom know you talked to me. You know I’ll get blamed for this. ”
With a laugh, I assured my sister I would keep her out of the conversation.
“Hey, Kian?”
“Yeah?”
“I think you’re doing the right thing. The happiness has been gone from your eyes for far too long.”
Smiling, I replied, “I love you, sis.”
“Love you more! And good luck!”