Be a Doll(45)

I nodded my thanks and delved for the coffee, not cringing when the hot liquid scalded my mouth. “Get the legal department in my office, Jonatan. And hold any phone calls unless it’s my wife.’’

“Yes, sir.’’ I expected him to leave now, but he didn’t. I put down my coffee and leaned back in the chair, watching him fidgeting in front of my desk, something he never did.

“What is it?’’ I asked with more acid in my voice than I anticipated.

His blue eyes scanned my face warily as if weighing if he should open his trap or not, but we were past questioning it now. Right when I was running out of patience, something I was already deeply lacking on a good day, it appeared he finally found his balls.

“Maybe you should enjoy your coffee and read the newspapers before we get the legal department here. They’re on standby, sir.’’

My frown deepened and I traced my lower lip once, staring at my competent assistant. He was lucky that he was valuable and that I trusted him with his work, otherwise he’d be on his ass on the sidewalk now.

“Get me the legal department. Now, Jonatan,’’ I retorted darkly and this time he ran out of my office and took great care in closing the door after him, probably welcoming the separation it provided.

I took a deep breath, forcing air to go through my lungs as I pushed away images from my mind of Lila sleeping in our bed this morning. Instead, I replaced them with the memory of Moran and his disrespectful behavior both toward my wife and me. That only fueled my despicable mood furthermore.

Waiting for the legal department and burning with too much tension that needed an outlet, I pulled my cell phone out from the inside pocket of my suit jacket and dialed my father’s cell phone number.

After the second ring I wondered if he would have the guts to answer, but finally his detached voice, quite similar to mine, invaded my right ear.

“Mathis. I can’t remember the last time you called me.’’

I fixed my eyes on the abstract painting in yellows, reds and oranges hanging on the far wall, a piece by some local artist whose reputation was getting greater by the day, and smiled darkly. “But I do. It was when GM Enterprises made its first million. I remember the thrill of proving to you that you’d been wrong in saying I wouldn’t amount to anything and that my business venture wouldn’t go anywhere.’’

“A strike of luck,’’ he countered stiffly.

My grip tightened around the steaming cup and I welcomed the growing burning sensation in my fingers. “That was repeated quite a few times by now. I must be damn lucky, then.’’

A beat of silence followed my words, and I had no doubt that my father probably was thinking of next comebacks to hit me with, hoping it’d destabilize me. But I wouldn’t be.

“I’m heading to an important meeting so what’s the purpose of your call, Mathis.’’

“Moran.’’

“Charles Moran? What about him?’’

“I invited him and his wife to my home for dinner, last night.’’

“Let me guess,’’ he said and beneath his distant tone of voice I perceived a slight gloating that only fueled my anger more. “Your dear wife didn’t deliver quite as well as you’d have expected from such a high priced escort.’’

I grimly laughed down the phone. “On the contrary, Dad. Lila was perfect, as I knew she would. The issue was Moran. You see, he let it known that you’ve been running your mouth regarding your thoughts on my wife.’’

“I’m entitled to my own opinion, Mathis. It’s not because your company is—‘’

“I’ll stop you there. You don’t disrespect Lila. Me? Do whatever the hell you want, that’s what you’ve been doing for a very long time anyway, but Lila? She stays out of it. She’s not a prostitute or an escort, and even if she was, she deserves respect.’’

“What do you expect, Mathis? That I would open my arms to her? That when asked by my friends about my son’s wife I’d be gushing?’’

“Of course not. You don’t even respect or think highly of me, but at least I thought you’d have the decency to dodge the subject and offer the courtesy of knowing her before judging her.’’ I pushed away the stack of newspapers waiting in front of me in an angry move. “But that’s not why I called. I called you because I want you to be the one to explain to Mom why Lila and I won’t be coming back for the Sunday lunches, why I don’t even want to see you anymore. You tell her.’’

And I hung up, right on time when someone knocked at the door.

One down.

One to go.

***





MATHIS


“I want Moran’s company mine ASAP. Got it?’’ I stared down at the three members of the legal department, two gentlemen around fifty and a new addition, a woman in her early thirties. All three of them quickly nodded and stood up, iPads in hand and ready to get me a new company I had first envisioned working with. Moran made the wrong move and underestimated me. He stepped on my toes and fucked with my wife. I’m going to take his suffering company and make him watch while I restore it to its prime shine, and more.

My mouth twisted in a cold smile at the thought, I ignored my employees when they left my office mumbling their respects or whatever they said. I was too busy plotting my next move.