Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
TREVOR
Trevor
I miss you, baby.
Paige
Unless it’s a question about our child or the pregnancy, keep it to yourself
Trevor
I saw something today. Can I call you? It’s about Bobby and Krista
Bethany
Give me 5
Bethany
Could you come get me?
Trevor
Yes, Where are you?
Bethany
The gas station by 5th and Main.
Trevor
On my way
Trevor
Are you interested in moving out?
Unsent
Paige and I are having a
Unsent
Paige could use some help
Trevor
I would like for Paige to have someone there. Maybe, check with her?
Bethany
I’ll think about it
Trevor
I didn’t say anything
but tell her if she asks
Paige
Bethany is moving in. Jacob is ready when you are
Unsent
I’m sorry, I miss you
Trevor
I’m on my way
Bethany
Your wife is heartbroken. What did you do?
Trevor
I fucked up. I’m working on it.
Bethany
Work faster
Trevor
She asked for time.
Bethany
I overheard Bobby say something today.
I’m pretty sure it has to do with you.
Don’t ask about him and I again. It’s complicated.
Call me.
Paige
Jacob doesn’t feel good today
Trevor
I’ll make his appointment.
Paige
I don’t think he needs the doctor, just rest
Trevor
Can I rest with him? I don’t want to miss tonight
Paige
Of course. Bethany will let you in.
Unsent
I miss you I love you my world
Trevor
I’ll be there at the normal time
Paige
Do you know anything about Carter with a young, hot redhead?
Mrs. Wells seems to be convinced it’s Jill’s niece. She came up to me immediately this afternoon. It … doesn’t look good for him. Have you talked to him?
Trevor
He’s been doing that ride share thing
Unsent
I wouldn’t worry too much
Trevor
They do it whenever their rentals are all out.
One too many IOU’s makes it tough to maintain any rentals in a small ass town.
Paige
We are leaving at around 9:00. You can come after. It’s your turn for an evening with our boy.
Trevor
I’ll be there with bells on
Paige
Thank you for taking care of the brakes.
Trevor
I miss you. Let me come home. I want to hold you. Of course, anytime. I love you.
Paige
Carter and Becky?
Trevor
That was unexpected.
Paige
That’s what you say?
Trevor
I can hit him?
Paige
That’s better.
“That brings us to the final two items. First, we need to know why our ODFs are dropping. It’s bringing down our bottom line, and while we’re at it, we need to check labor efficiency.
” Richard slams down the small packet of papers in front of Glenn Moore, a brilliant, quiet new transfer who has been relegated to errand boy by my father.
I know him better as Asher. “Here’s the raw data.
Get me those numbers, Glenn. I need them and a solution ASAP. ”
Asher—or Glenn—doesn’t even flinch when the papers slap against the conference table.
He takes off his glasses and pulls out a cloth from his pocket.
The smooth, unbothered motion of wiping his lens fills the room with awkward silence.
Someone muffles a cough as he switches to his other lens, meticulously cleaning it, too, before inspecting them and replacing them on his face.
Once they’re perfectly placed, Asher slowly pushes the small pile away from himself using only his index finger.
“Yessir, already done. I put them on your desk. Yesterday.” I smirk at the display, carefully hiding it behind a sip of my fifth cup of coffee.
Asher is older than me, possibly closer in age to Bobby.
He’s a broad guy who definitely doesn’t look as smart as I know he is.
Someone disguises their laugh as another cough, but Richard is not entertained by the show of quiet power.
He scoops the pile of papers and drops it into the trash.
“Alright, Mr. Moore, I’ll let you figure out what you’re missing in your own time.
” Bobby’s deep chuckle follows my father’s words like the Yes Man he is, but he’s not the only one.
A smattering of others let out uncomfortable laughter around the room.
“You”—silence stretches, immediate and taut, when Richard stands directly in front of Bobby, his finger outstretched and nearly skimming his nose—“are my final order of business. In my office. Now.”
Bobby pales, but then straightens his shoulders in some sort of false bravado. “Yessir.”
“Meeting over. Get back to work.” They both stand and leave, but he’s only a few steps out the door when I hear my name. “Get Trevor out here.”
Yep. The fucker is finally calling me by my name.
I stand, buttoning and straightening my suit, making the same careful moves Glenn just took a moment ago. He looks when I stand, and we give each other a mutual, casual head tilt. I don’t acknowledge anyone else in the meeting before leaving the conference room.
My phone vibrates, and I swallow my laughter at the message on the screen. Not Paige, but still someone important.
Bethany
I am not making that for dinner. Absolutely not. You’re psychotic. We are not related.
Trevor
You are being dramatic. Spam has its merits. You have to try it at least once, and Paige didn’t get sick as often with the saltier, sketchier meats.
Bethany
You’re using my unborn neph-nieces against me. Monster
I’ll add it to the grocery list. You’re lucky I adore your family.
Trevor
I am lucky you adore my family.
Thank you, again, for doing this.
Bethany
Stop thanking me. It wasn’t for you. Nerd.
We haven’t talked about the series of events that led to her moving in with my family, but I know it has to do with the day I picked her up and the man trying to stare me down.
Bobby stands outside of my father’s office and points his finger aggressively in my direction, shockingly similar to the way my father did it to him.
“If you told that old man or your sister what you think you saw, you’re going to regret it.
Shit is brewing, Trev. I’d do my best to avoid further complications if I were you.
” He shoulder checks me when he passes by, heading into the office.
Finger by finger, I relax my fist until I’m able to stand unbothered.
I know what’s about to happen, and Bobby thinks he has shit in motion.
“Trevor, my boy, sit down. Do you have your laptop so you can bring up the forecast you came up with the other day?” I raise my empty hands, and he shakes his head in brief and quickly forgotten disappointment.
“No matter. No matter.” He’s patting his pockets—pants, jacket, then shirt, until he pulls out a flash drive.
A very familiar flash drive. “I have everything right here.” He turns to a visibly confused Bobby and frowns.
The lines on his aging face deepen with the scowl. “Bobby, take a seat.”
“Richard, I—”
“I’ll talk.”
Bobby’s mouth shuts with an audible click, and his jaw pulses with that temper he showed me in the hallway, but he only bites when he thinks he’s the big dog. I’d love for him to lose it now, but he tucks his tail and sits silently where he’s told.
“Trevor has found something remarkable, and his numbers have skyrocketed in the last few weeks. He is out-earning you by double this month, and I need you to get your head out of your ass and match him. I don’t care how you do it.
I just care that you do.” Richard wanders to his bar area, pouring a finger of scotch for himself.
He turns to me and lifts it as if offering one to me.
My eyes widen in surprise, but before my father can take my expression as acceptance, I stand, buttoning and straightening my jacket.
“I have a call I need to make in ten, but I appreciate the recognition, Richard.” This is what happens when half my clients aren’t being pulled out from under my nose.
“Richard? Come on, Trevor. Call me Dad when it’s only family around.” He gestures to Bobby and chuckles as if I’m being hilarious or ridiculous, but nothing beyond cold disbelief fills my skin. The last interaction I had with him in this office went vastly differently.
“As for you—” The door shuts behind me with a loud click. I pause long enough to hear Bobby get an earful about underperforming. The word probation drops, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results of my hard work.
It’s amazing how much can change in only a few weeks. The morning after the fourth, when my father insisted that I come in to finish cleaning up his mess, I decided to take my concerns about certain behaviors to him.
“I need to tell you something.” I don’t wait for permission, looking both ways in the hallway before shutting my father’s door behind me.
“Jesus, William, don’t be dramatic. Just tell me whatever it is you need to and get back to work.
” Dad wanders around his office, stopping and deliberately straightening a plaque declaring him The Twentieth Annual Trumann Charity Tournament Champion.
What’s not on the plaque is the list of only six men who participated.
At his massive oak desk, I take my customary seat across from him, but change my mind and stand up again. Anxiety and bile climb up my throat in equal measure at what I need to do, and pacing sounds far more palatable.
“What’s the—” My voice croaks, so I try again. “What’s the fraternization policy here?” I already know, but I want to make sure before I continue. I pray maybe it’s changed.
“I don’t give a shit how my employees get their dicks wet.
” He chuckles at his own crass response before he quiets and shoots me a look full of unwelcome interest. “Why? Did you finally give in to the little Wilder girl?” His laugh is warm and genuine and makes me sick.
He slams his fist on his desk a few times to emphasize that pleasure in my supposed infidelity in my marriage.
Unfortunately, he’s not done. Nauseating pride coats his voice.
“’Bout time, my boy.” He nods and taps his hands on the desk.
He looks up suddenly, eyes sharp. “Oh, Paige found out, didn’t she?
” That’s why you’re all twisted up. Hell, you got married so young I know you didn’t sign a pre-nuptial. We can probably get her to sign—“