Page 72 of The Revenge Plan

“Is it?”

“Yep. Saw it on the news. They dragged his body out of his gaudy boat. My phone has been going off the hook. Why weren’t you picking up?”

Because I was consoling my wife who I hate. I didn’t know how to explain it without being told how ‘obsessed’ I was. “I was working. I had my phone in the other room.”

“So you didn’t know that your in-law blew his brains out.”

“You just told me.”

“Gosh. How’s your wife taking it?”

“How else would she take it; he was her father.”

“Yeah, yeah. Pass my condolences to her.”

I thought if I should tell him the other news. He was going to know, eventually. I would rather it be now. “By the way, she’s pregnant.”

“Who?” he was slow to connect the dots but when he did, “You mean Hailey!”

“What the fuck! When did that happen?”

I told him everything.

“Are you sure it’s yours?”

“It’s mine.” I knew it was mine, I didn’t need confirmation.

“Fuck. So, what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet.” It was the truth. I hadn’t thought about what I’m going to do about the entire situation except for what I had done so far, keep her close.

“Make sure she doesn’t use it against you. You know how she is. Fuck. Your luck, man.”

“Tell me about it.” As I said the words, I could hear them sounding insincere. I didn’t consider it unlucky that I was about to be a father. I felt the opposite, actually.

“Speaking of, Julian kicking the bucket might be good for us. His dumb-ass sons don’t know how to negotiate for shit and we could get a better deal out of all this.”

“Good. I want you on top of this.”

“You’re sure? It has always been your thing?” It was, but it felt less fun now that the main villain was no longer alive.

“Yes. I’m sure.”

I got off the phone, took a shower and changed. There’ll probably be people outside waiting to hear a comment from Hailey. I went into the elevator and as I was about to press the basement button; I hovered over the button to her floor. She’s not ready to face them. Plus, she looked a little stressed last night. I should let her go to the wolves, I thought it was her problem not mine. Her sad face floated in my head. I jabbed the button to the parking floor and sent her a text.

Don’t go to work today. There are probably reporters swarming this building and your workplace.

I was doing it because she was pregnant with my child. That’s the only reason I didn’t want to see her stressed.

???

The office was in pandemonium at the news that Julian had passed away. Everyone wanted to know what the strategy was going forward. They had already congregated in my office by the time I came in. The CFO, legal counsel and Ax were all huddled over my desk and arguing.

“Let’s go on with the sale. They came to us first.”

“We can’t. It’s too early. It will make us seem callous. The reporters will have a field day and the stock price…”

“What do you think?” I nodded at Ax. Surprised to see me walking in. They all went quiet.

---