Page 86 of Hula Girl

A real class act, I think, after I’ve given all I’ve got and am sitting on the cold floor.

Look at what Ava’s missing out on.

No wonder she loves me. I laugh at that.

She loves me.

I love her.

What the hell are we doing?

I don’t get any further in this grand debate with myself as I soon pass out, cuddling with the towel I’d used to clean the sick from my mouth.

* * *

In the morning,everything hurts.

Everything.

But I have no choice but to dress in a suit and head into the office. There are tedious board meetings to sit through for most of the day, which I do without complaint. I’m only biding my time, anyway, until I can resign.

All goes smoothly. I make no objections to the issues raised. I vote with whatever my father wants, which happens to align with what my grandfather advocates for, too. Today is the first day I’ve seen him in over a year, and he barely acknowledged me. I’m guessing it’s because my dad told him my decision to leave the firm was final. It’s of no concern to me anymore. Going through the motions is all I can muster, anyway. All I can think about is Ava.

I’m so lost in thoughts of her, that when the day of meetings is finally over, I’m still in my seat at the board table after everyone has left.

“Well, that wasn’t exactly the performance I’d hoped for to boost the board’s confidence, but it’ll do.”

I’m slow to look up in response to my father’s words. He’s loosening his tie. It was a good day for him, and now he’s ready to unwind. Well, as much as he ever does.

“I did what I had to do,” I reply, standing.

“So, you did. And what now? I suppose you have plans with your fiancée?”

I hesitate, wondering what lie to tell him. In the end, I say the thing that I think is closest to the truth.

“No, we don’t. She’s caught up at work.”

“Ah, right. I suppose Randall’s issues mean everyone over there has to step up and put in even longer hours.”

I have no idea what that means. But I do know how to ask probing questions. I’m a lawyer, after all. “Right, there’s a bit of a panic over it. How would you handle something like that?”

Senior raises his eyebrows. “Well, I should hope I’ll never have to deal with that. I mean, it’s a delicate thing, dementia in the managing partner.”

Dementia? Holy shit. Is that what Ava meant when she said she was going to have to dedicate herself even more to her job? And why didn’t she tell me about Randall? She must be devastated.

“There are a lot of public relations issues to take care of with that,” Senior continues, “let alone the internal factions lining up to go at it once he’s stepped down.” He takes a deep breath and lets it out as a whistle. “Something like that is another reason why it’s all the better that I’ll have your shares tomorrow to bolster my position here.”

I don’t reply to that. Even without my shares, he’ll still be the managing partner. That wasn’t enough for him, though. He wanted the controlling interest of the firm, simply for his ego’s sake. Being king of the castle was worth pushing his only family out of the way. As much as I once strove to be like him and bought into all the power plays, I’ll never understand his desire to consolidate all the control at the expense of those he’s supposed to love.

“Anyway,” he says, “we meet with Legal at eight tomorrow morning. Then you’ll be free to … what will you do?”

“Hmm?”

“I assumed you were going back to Maui. But with this fiancée of yours in the picture, what’s the plan? I hear she’s fiercely dedicated to Randall’s firm.”

“We’re working it out. Probably do some sort of splitting of our time between L.A. and Maui.”

He nods, but it’s clear he’s not convinced. It doesn’t matter, though, because he’s lost interest.

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