“What, lay off? You’re the closest to a famous face these people are likely to see.” Adrian dropped into his leather executive chair. “Take a load off, bro.”
Ethan gripped the arms of his chair and struggled desperately to maintain control. “It’s good to see you.”
“Did you call to say you were coming? Because I don’t recall seeing that memo.”
“I didn’t know where I was going until an hour before I left.” His voice sounded strangled to his own ears. “I needed to get away.”
“Sure, I get that. Only, I’m leaving in . . .” Adrian checked his watch, a gold Rolex. Naturally. “Eight hours.”
“New York. I know.”
Adrian’s sideways glance took Ethan straight back. It was his brother’s tell, a hard inspection that was partly masked by how fast and indirect it came. Adrian became overly casual. “Must be important, whatever brought you north.”
In that instant, Ethan realized that his brother already knew.
The first time around, he had been too preoccupied with all he had bottled up inside to notice. But as he sat there and studied the man he thought lost and gone forever, he realized his brother was waiting to hear that Ethan was checking out.
That could only mean one thing. Ethan had been laying down hints for some time. Planting seeds. Why? Had he suspected all along that he would lose the contest? Had he planned this departure in advance of the contest, regardless of what happened? His head spun with the sudden flush of fear that everything this time around was actually different. What he remembered no longer applied. Events were not the same, his memories didn’t mesh . . .
Adrian began shifting his chair in tight quarter circles, an unconscious motion that mirrored the billing clock he was always tracking. “Sorry, bro, but I’m due to meet opposing counsel in a big case.”
The words were exactly what Ethan needed to clarify his direction. He did not have time to doubt. If the threat was real, he needed to act. He needed to act now.
Ethan said, “The situation involving Sonya’s company.”
“You’ve been paying attention. Yeah, the attorneys for the opposition are coming in today. Basically their goal is to tell us our case isn’t all that great. But Sonya insists we take them on in court.” Adrian glared at the blank yellow pad on his desk as if angry the page did not hold answers. “I can’t say I blame Sonya. Her life’s work is on the line.”
Ethan did not remember his brother being so stressed over his wife’s court case. He knew Sonya had been working on an alternative method for treating chronic pain and her investors had suddenly decided to buy her out. But Adrian’s raw blend of fear and pressure and anger was something new.
Ethan pushed away the uncertainty and said, “About New York.”
Adrian slowly refocused on the room and his brother. “I’m flying up with the partners today. Sonya follows tonight. We really need this break. We’ll have two days together, then it’s back to the trenches for us both.”
“Can I come?” Ethan said what he had decided on the drive. “I won’t attend the matches. And I guarantee to stay out of your way. I have an investment opportunity. Something that’s just happened.”
Adrian studied him a long moment. He had been trying for years to get Ethan to join him for the US Open, Adrian’s all-time favorite sporting event. He lifted the phone, punched a button, and said, “Gloria, call the hotel and see if they can add one more room to our booking. I know . . . Still, try to sweet-talk them. That’s my girl.” He hung up the phone. “So what’s your business plan, a new line of bikinis?”
“This is real, Adrian.”
“Is that so.”
“Real enough that I’m investing all my winnings.” Ethan showed his brother the second-place check.
“What? All of it?”
“Every cent. And I need your help. I don’t have time for this to clear, and I need the money tomorrow.”
“You’re asking me to give you”—he took the check and inspected it carefully—“twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“In cash. Please.”
Adrian gave Ethan another dose of that tight courtroom gaze. “Is it drugs?”
“What? No, Adrian, this is totally legit.”
“Is it.”
“I have never lied to you.”
“No, that’s true enough.” When his phone rang, Adrian answered while still staring at the check. “Yes, Gloria. Did they. A last-minute cancellation. What do you know. Okay, book it in my brother’s name, please. And try to get him a seat on our flight up. Thanks. No, wait, Gloria, I need you to do something else. Come in here, please.”
When he hung up the phone, Ethan said, “Thanks for trusting me. It means a lot.”
“Sign the back and make it out to the firm.” Adrian watched his brother. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Ethan struggled through several responses, then settled on, “This could be a major breakthrough.”
“Seeing as how you’re investing the first real money you’ve ever had, I sure hope so.” Adrian looked up at a knock on his door. “Come in, Gloria. I need a draw from petty cash, please.”
“Okay. Congratulations, Ethan.” She accepted the check. “How do you want this?”
“Whatever. Hundreds would be fine. Thanks.”
Adrian continued to show Ethan that hard courtroom stare. “Add another five thou and put it down to my account, Gloria.”
“Right away. Oh, and downstairs reception just phoned. You asked to be informed when Jimmy Carstairs and his team arrived.”
“Put them in conference room B, please. And call Hank and say my brother’s coming over. Tell him I want Ethan made ready to meet clients, and Hank is to put everything on my tab.” When the door shut, Adrian said, “Three things. First, I insist on sharing some of the risk. You can’t just go and dump it all. I want you to hold a little back as a buffer. And don’t argue with me.”
Ethan fought down yet another surge of emotion. Adrian had always been there for him. Up until their final confrontation. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m not done. There’s a men’s shop across the street. I want you to go over there and buy a jacket, a suit, dress slacks, a sweater, some dress shirts, shoes, a couple of ties . . . No arguments, Ethan. Ask for Hank.”
Ethan had to swallow twice before he could say, “And number three?”
“Get a haircut. You’ll be traveling with the big dogs. You need to look the part.” Adrian was already rising from behind his cluttered desk, shifting through the piles of papers and coming up with a couple of thick files. “We meet downstairs at four. Cars will take us to the airport. Be on time.”
“Thanks, bro,” Ethan said. But he was already talking to an empty room.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Ethan flew to New York in an outfit unlike any he’d owned before. The trip itself was part of a growing divide between his memories and the new reality.
His brother had captained the University of Florida tennis team through two winning seasons. Adrian’s passion for professional tennis was real and enduring. Every year since joining the firm, Adrian traveled to the US Open in New York. Big firms like his had at least a couple of events they used for client stroking. Adrian happily served as the firm’s official host whenever his caseload permitted.