Page 14 of For his Surrender

“Yea... twice, actually. If that’s all you got me out of my house for, then I can leave now, right?”

I snort.

“No, damn it!” I exhale heavily and close my eyes, controlling my irritation, because I know that is exactly the intention of the son of a bitch. “I was hoping you’d be my witness...”

“Your best man at the wedding?” He gives me a crooked smile, enjoying seeing my misery.

“Whatever...”

“You’re going to have to do better than that...” Turns the little bit of whiskey left in his glass and then directs me a look full of challenge.

“May I remind you how you invited me to be best man at your wedding?”

“It doesn’t matter, you were lucky to even be at my wedding!”

“Until five minutes ago, I was the reason your wedding happened!”

“And you’d be right if I didn’t have an eternity head start on any discussion we might have” he says, arrogant as only the two of us know how to be.

“And who instituted this?”

“The male friendship code?”

“The male friendship codes saysPals before gals!”

“That part sucks!” He dismisses my comment with the hand.

“Oh, of course! And let me guess? I can’t contest that because you have the upper hand on our discussions for the rest of our lives, according to the code of male friendship, which you yourself are questioning the validity of?”

“Exactly!”

“Holy shit! Fucking son of a bitch! If the administration career doesn’t work out, you really can pull out that law degree, you’d be a fucking incredible lawyer!” I say, and he shrugs. “Alright! Whatever! Will you, João Pedro Govêa, be my best-man?” His eyes narrow and he shakes his head, agreeing.

“Are you sure about this, Marcos? I mean, this could turn into deep shit. This woman, how do you know she’s not a problem disguised?”

“I just know...”

“That’s actually not a very good answer.”

“She’s poor, she needs the money, João. Why would she ruin it?”

“That’s a terrible answer. Aren’t you worried that she might be someone interested in money and that you are literally opening the door to your bank account for her?”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow and make a tired expression.

“What?! You asked me that same question when I was in your place!” He takes on a disapproving tone.

“It’s different!”

“How’s that any different?”

“I’m the one who went to Antonella, not the other way around. And besides, she’s been working for me for months!If she had any intention of seducing me for my money, I probably would have found her naked in my bed by now.This, of course, is the most efficient way to seduce me” I say the last sentence with a smile on my face, João Pedro dismisses it with one hand and rolls his eyes.

“You should be more careful, Marcos. We’re talking about a wedding, for someone who cared so much about me, you’re pretty relaxed about your situation.Have you at least investigated this woman?”

“All of my employees go through a thorough background check before they’re hired and you know it, because that’s standard procedure in any family.We learn to distrust people even before we learn to walk, João Pedro.”

“Then why exactly are you relying so blindly on your baseless certainties, goddamn it?” He puts the glass on the table without any mildness.The whole playful tone has been set aside, and in its place, there is a frown.

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