Page 5 of Mister Rival

“And?”

“We all want to get paid, and you know Bobby and I are heading off on vacation next month… You haven’t forgotten that, right?”

“How could I forget?” I roll my eyes. I love Mason. He keeps me in line and organizes the shit out of my life, and checks everything over with a fine tooth comb, hence why he’s the only person I really let talk to me like this.

If I lost him, I don’t know what I’d do. “Did you forget the eye-watering salary you negotiated, plus that handsome quarterly bonus I give you from the kindness of my heart?”

“That’s because you love me,” he says as he closes the distance to my desk like a mini hurricane and plonks down in the chair, still clutching the files. “And you wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Which is why I can still afford to pay you, with or without this deal with Ali.”

“You’re being an ass, and you know it.”

“I like riling her up.”

He frowns, ever the do-gooder in our working relationship. “Why?”

I sigh. “We went to school together. I liked her, but we had a disagreement, then she started dating the meathead jock and forgot I existed.”

“How did that pan out for her?”

“Married him. A daughter. Divorced for two years.”

“Ouch, but that reminds me, and before you say anything, it could be a good reason to make nice with Alison?—”

I raise an eyebrow. “Spit it out.”

“Your high school reunion,” he sings like he’s Liza Minelli. “It’s coming up next month.”

I scratch my chin, liking the scruff I’ve decided to grow. According to my sons, it makes me look old, but I was going for distinguished. “Is that right?”

“Yes, and they need an RSVP ASAP, it’s being held at the Palm Springs tennis club.”

“I hated high school, and everyone in it.”

He looks up from the invitation he’s waving around, ready to mock me, or question my motives. The truth is, I didn’t like high school. It sucked. I wasn’t popular, and chicks didn’t dig me, but that wasn’t the only reason. Kids weren’t nice, they hardened me way too early in life. Then again, maybe it would be surreal — if not a little juvenile — to return the favor of flushing one's head down the toilet, just for old times’ sake. I’m not the only successful one in my year. There’s been a couple of major ball players, including basketball and NFL, a politician, a fashion designer and a musician. But I’m pretty sure I’m the only billionaire.

Regardless, all the memories I don’t want to remember suddenly come flooding back.

“It’s also black tie, and it looks like they’re going all out with a sit-down dinner and after party.”

“That’s great, count me out.”

“Dad, don’t be such a stick in the mud.” Joshua leans against the doorframe, folding his arms over his broad chest. “You love any opportunity to rub your success in people’s faces.”

Mason holds up a finger. “Only in the faces of those who are assholes, still wear pinstripes, or bullied him in high school.”

I roll my eyes. “I also don’t have any desire to rub my success anywhere. If you live within a thousand-mile radius of LA, you’ll already know who I am.”

My son is dressed impeccably in his dark navy suit, crisp white shirt, blue tie and polished black shoes. He always looks good, maybe not quite as sharp as my middle son, Bradley, and let’s not even discuss Noah; he tells us suits are for weddings and funerals, preferring designer jeans and a button down, sometimes with a scarf thrown around his neck. He thinks he’s Johnny Depp, circa nineteen eighty-seven. “He’s grumpy today,” Joshua remarks with a smirk. “Are you on those diet pills again, Dad?”

I shoot my son a look. “Very funny. I’ve already had to deal with Alison Archer this morning, now I’m graced with your presence.”

“What did Alison want?” Joshua unfolds his arms. “Don’t tell me you’re still going back and forth with the Anderson deal?”

“That he is,” Mason pipes up, then adds behind his hand, “I think they have a love-hate thing going on. I’ve always said they’d make a cute couple.”

“And the reunion would be a great place to make Ali’s ex jealous.” Joshua shrugs. “Everyone knows he’s always been an ass.”

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