Page 40 of Seduced By a Billionaire

Pete shrugged his shoulders, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Just asking. You seem even darker than usual.”

“I guess it’s been a little rough without you at the helm this last month.”

“I’m sure. I really appreciate you carrying the load. I’ll make it up to you. You can take a long exotic vacation when I get back. On the firm’s dime.”

“Until then…”

“Yeah let’s get to it.”

“I don’t get it. Somethings not right about that. It’s a solid plan, a win-win for everybody. An abandoned eyesore will be developed, and it will provide affordable housing for thirty plus families, effectively killing two birds with one stone,” Kyle said.

“You’re preaching to the choir. Damn it’s good to have you back my friend. I’ve missed having you to bounce things off of. The class-action suit is moving forward and I’m really out of my element on that one. That’s your specialty and I don’t mind copping to it.”

“Okay we’ll start there, fill me in.”

“Barclay Technology is trying to buy their way out of it. They claim that they didn’t know that the chemicals they dumped into the ground were dangerous which is complete and utter bullshit! We contend that they lied to government regulators and knew all along what they were dumping,” Pete said. “They’re trying to intimidate the plaintiffs. Offering them settlements far below what they’d have to pay if they lost in court.”

“Are they getting to them?”

“A few are waffling.”

“All about greed. They just wanted to save money rather than do the right thing and put the safety of the environment and the citizens above their bottom line,” Kyle said thoroughly disgusted. “When are these company heads going to realize that they have to live on this planet too? Their kids and grandkids are inheriting this mess. You can’t eat or drink the all-mighty dollar.”

“Yeah but they can find a way to turn a profit if all the water is undrinkable, then they can purify and bottle it so only the moneyed can afford to drink,” Pete chimed in equally disturbed. “In the meantime, the company is asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.”

“On what grounds?”

“They claim we haven’t shown irreparable harm.”

“Jesus, what’s it going to take?”

“I have a bad feeling about this one Kyle. They have the ear of some powerful local officials. They don’t want the company pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere. Even at the expense of safe drinking water.”

“That’s where I’ll start. I’ll begin by reaching out to our clients and see if I can calm them down. What else?”

“My tires were slashed the other night and one of the junior partners had his house burglarized. Nothing taken just ransacked. Could be unrelated.”

“Jesus!”

“Yeah. You can see why I’m a bit rattled.”

“Man, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah well, I’m just glad you’re getting back into it.

“I am glad to be back to the land of the living. For a while I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back to work.”

“Dude, I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. After Brooke left last year, I kind of lost my head for a while, then your accident… but I’m back in the game,” he grinned.

“Glad to hear it.”

Pete opened his brief case and unloaded a stack of files plopping them down in front of Kyle. “Careful what ya wish for.”

“Why don’t you come back this Friday. After a short meeting then we can have a little social time.”

“Sounds good to me. Will yournurse,” Pete mimicked quotation marks, “be joining us for the social hour?” He asked slyly.

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