Page 38 of Snapshot

Here’s a picture of Allie. Very pretty girl.

The next message is a picture of a blonde. It’s a professional headshot. It looks like the photo she probably uses for LinkedIn. Her full name is Allie Conner. She’s 34, so only four years older than me. She graduated from Harvard Law, so we have Harvard in common. No kids. Comes from a good family. Denny hasapparently already run her through the details of the will. She’s already agreed to hand the company back to me after the one-year holding period.

I’ve said no to all the other women Denny has sifted through. At least eight now. All the other girls she suggested were text messages but when Denny found Allie, she was so excited, she called, urging me to commit right then and there. I was relieved when Lennox interrupted. I rushed Denny off the phone, saying a friend had an emergency. I didn’t realize it was somewhat true.

Denny

So, what do you think now that you’ve seen her picture? We’ll need an iron-clad prenup, but I think we should move forward. Can I confirm?

She won’t wait forever. And she’s really not asking for a lot of compensation.

Me

How much?

Denny

128 million. And whatever property she purchases while she’s your wife.

I scowl at my phone.

Me

That’s not a lot to you? Then what in the world do you consider “a lot of compensation?”

Denny

It’s a big favor, Dex. There has to be a big incentive. I need your decision. Fast. The lawyers will have a mountain of paperwork to prepare.

Me

You’re not asking me to pick a place for lunch. You’re asking me to pick a wife. I need a moment to think.

Even if it’s just a year, it’s still a marriage. That’s a long time for a miserable marriage if we don’t get along. Especially during a very difficult first year of transition. Grandma ran Hessler Group like a well-oiled machine because she had been doing it for decades. Even while Grandpa was still CEO. He was either frowning or drunk, so Grandma filled in all the gaps.

Fulfilling the responsibility was no easy feat. Grandma prepared me best she could, but I still have some things to learn. And my future wife is in for the surprise of her life.

Still, I can’t help but think…

Should it really be this fucking complicated? Should I have to bribe my wife with 128 million dollars to tolerate me for a year? I’ve only ever known advantageous women. The kind who smiles like a Disney villain when they know they’ve got me by the balls. Just be a good person, and I’ll be one right back. It’s not that hard.

I grumble out loud, my agitation drowned by the loud music. After turning back around, I set my phone face down on the bar. It goads me—flip me over…just one text.I could get this over with. It’s inevitable and I’m sure Allie’s fine. But…

What’s stopping me?

“Need something?” the bartender asks, suddenly reappearing as if I summoned her.

Fuck it. “Changed my mind. May I have a double? I’ll grab a ride home.”

“Sure.” She grabs the bottle of bourbon already on the counter from my drink before. “Problem with work?” she asks as she pours my drink.

“In a way,” I mumble. “Is she still dancing?” I point my thumb over my shoulder.

The bartender looks over me to the dance floor. “Dancing her heart out.”

“Good, then I’m fine. My bullshit doesn’t matter tonight. I came out to cheer Lennox up. She’s just gone through hell—got fired, went through a breakup, lost her apartment. She has no job, no money, nowhere to live. She really needs someone to cut her a break right now?—”

My heart jolts so hard that, at first, I’m worried I’m on the brink of a panic attack. But my breath is steady. My head is clear. In fact, I’m thinking more clearly than I have been in a while.

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