Dominic

Ilie awake for hours after Gabriella leaves, staring on the ceiling, my cock aching, my ideas bouncing from one matter to a different. It takes greater than the standard three cups of espresso the subsequent morning to make my mind begin working. I’m pouring myself the fourth when the telephone rings.

It’s Andreas Papachristou, who owns the Hellenic, one of many different two impartial casinos on the town. After the preliminary greetings and small discuss, he will get to the explanation he known as. “The votes are in, Crawford,” he booms. I maintain the telephone away from my ear. Andreas has two quantity settings—loud, and louder. “Congratulations. You’re the Businessman of the Yr. The banquet is in a month. Begin engaged on a speech.”

What? I shake my head in bemusement, questioning if I heard the opposite man accurately, and gulp down my espresso. Nita is in view, and I maintain up the mug in mute enchantment. I’m going to be jittery later, however it’ll be value it to really feel awake now.

“Say one thing, Crawford,” Andreas prompts. “I’m honored, you shouldn’t have, I can’t consider it, thanks—any a type of issues will work.”

Businessman of the Yr. The consideration makes me really feel unusual. “I really feel previous,” I blurt out. My mother and father gained the native enterprise affiliation’s award 5 instances in a row. The primary time they’d acquired the award, I’d been sixteen, a bored teenager who’d been unimpressed by his mother and father’ contribution to town. I’d gone to the banquet—I might need been a bored teenager, however I hadn’t been rebellious—however I’d skipped the speeches in favor of creating out with Sneha Patel within the parking zone. “You certain you’ve gotten the proper particular person?”

Andreas laughs. “Sure, Crawford, I’m certain.” His voice softens. “Stuart can be pleased with you.”

My coronary heart pangs, because it does each time I consider my dad. Of the various days spent in hospital rooms, hoping towards hope for a miracle. Some drug, some chemo, some radiation that might cease the tumor rising in his lungs.

The five-year survival price for Stage 4 lung most cancers sufferers is lower than 5 years. My dad hadn’t crushed these odds. He’d died shortly, all issues thought-about, and with the readability of time, I’d come to think about that as a blessing all by itself. He hadn’t suffered. He’d been surrounded by his household when he died. My mom, me, Aunt Patricia, Uncle Robert, my cousins, we’d all been there.

Mother had fled Atlantic Metropolis after his demise. I’d understood her want to flee the recollections that haunted her. My very own response had been totally different. I’d thrown myself into the Grand River. It wasn’t rational, and it wasn’t logical, however to me, the Grand River had develop into an extension of my father. And if it did properly—if I did properly—I might preserve his reminiscence alive.

Denton Mitchell won’t ever get his palms on my on line casino. I’ll by no means let him take what my mother and father constructed and destroy it. I’ll by no means let my father’s reminiscence be spoiled in such a approach. By no means. I’ll run the Grand River into the bottom myself earlier than I let that occur.

I’ve been silent too lengthy. I say one thing to Andreas. Belatedly bear in mind to thank him for the information he’s given me. Then I dangle up, gulp down the espresso that Nita left me—I didn’t even hear her come into my workplace—and attain for my telephone.

Yesterday, Raj advised me that Randall Paulson had known as off the sale of the diner. I promised him I’d look into it. I’d began out by checking in with Jerome and Maggie on the diner, and Raj had been appropriate—the 2 of them have been undoubtedly nonetheless planning on retiring and transferring to Florida. Jerome and Maggie have one baby, a daughter, Grace, who lives in Tampa together with her husband Tarek and their three kids. On the diner, Maggie couldn’t cease speaking about being nearer to her grandkids.

Which leaves Paulson.

I do know Randy. Not too properly, however we’re each members of the identical nation membership. We’ve even golfed collectively infrequently. There’s no purpose Randy shouldn’t promote to the Grand River. Our supply value is greater than honest. Even at better of instances, the diner by no means made some huge cash, and these are usually not the perfect of instances. Most vacationers come to Atlantic Metropolis to gamble, they usually are inclined to eat within the casinos. The Grand River alone has six eating places, catering to each finances. You need fancy cooks and costly steak? We’ve obtained it. Award-winning Chinese language meals? We’ve obtained that too. Twenty-four-hour, All You Can Eat buffet? Sure, after all. We have now every thing a visitor may need and extra.

Jerome and Maggie stayed in enterprise as a result of they have been fashionable with the locals. However a brand new enterprise would discover it onerous to thrive.

Randy owns a trio of luxurious automobile dealerships. He sits on Metropolis Council. He doesn’t have time to be messing round with being the owner of a small diner.

He isn’t a idiot. He is aware of all of this, which is why he was amenable to the sale within the first place.

So, what modified?

I’m prepared to wager that I do know the reply. Denton Mitchell has introduced strain to bear.

I dial Paulson’s quantity. “Randy,” I increase, doing my greatest Andreas Papachristou imitation. “How’ve you been?”

“Dominic,” he replies, a particular notice of wariness in his voice. “I can’t complain. You?”

“Ah, you understand how it’s.” I rise up and cross the room to look out the window. It’s an excellent day. Clear blue skies, not a cloud in sight. “I’m trying outdoors and questioning why I’m not on the again 9 proper now, a chilly beer in my hand. You in? I’m shopping for.”

He is aware of what this name is about, and it’s not about golf. There’s a split-second of hesitation, after which he acquiesces. “Certain.”

We avoidthe troublesome dialog as we undergo the entrance 9. It’s solely after we get to the extra secluded tenth gap that I broach the topic. “So,” I say bluntly. “Raj tells me you’re not promoting to us anymore. What’s Mitchell obtained on you, Randy?”

Paulson shanks his drive. His ball disappears right into a thicket to the proper of the green. I wince. “Sorry,” I murmur apologetically. “Let’s faux that didn’t occur.”

He snorts. “Please. You’re a horrible golfer. I don’t want any favors from you.”

I take my shot, which predictably rolls into the tough. Randy provides me a sardonic grin. We begin strolling towards our balls, and Paulson clears his throat. “Pay attention, neglect in regards to the parking zone, okay?”

“What the fuck does Mitchell have on you?”

“Nothing.” He sighs. “Crawford, I do know the scenario is fucked up. However Mitchell is cornered, and cornered males make silly choices. I simply don’t need the effort. Not for a goddamn parking zone.”

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