Page 9 of Standing Still

“You’re an author?”

“Don’t say that means I can work from anywhere,” I say angrily. “I have a life, family, and friends back in New York. I’m not just someone who writes books. I have a business.”

Larry pats his hands out in front of him, as though I’m overreacting or something.

“And what about my business, my family, and friends?” Ben asks quietly from the other side of the room. He is still standing by the window. “Are you going to let this stipulation end up with the company sold out from beneath us?”

I look around at everyone. “How is this even legal?” I ask Larry after a moment. “We can’t challenge it?”

“You could, but it would be a lengthy process, and potentially cost a lot of money.”

I glance at Ben again. I already know that isn’t something he is going to want to do. It’s obvious this is unexpected. He must have believed my dad was giving him the whole company. It’s just like Acer George to pull something like this. The question is, what the hell did he hope to achieve?

“So, what do we do?” I ask, feeling somewhat bewildered by the whole thing.

“Well, there’s not much point in this meeting, is there?” Ben says, his fists clenched at his side. Everyone looks at him. “She’s not gonna stick around. That’s her MO after all.”

Ouch. I try to maintain eye contact, but the way he is looking at me, an enemy would be more desirable right now.

“So that’s that, right? This is so fucked,” he says as he grabs up the paperwork he left on the table. “Why don’t you just call me when you decide what is gonna happen to all the men and women who work at the company? I’ll be sure to pass on the news to them when you turn tail and run the fuck away.”

“Wait,” I hold my hands up. “Why are you yelling at me? Don’t put any of this on me. This is all down to my father. This is exactly the crap he would pull, and I don’t know why you’re even surprised.”

“You don’t know your father,” Ben says. “You haven’t bothered to know him for years,” he came around the table, walking towards me. “Did you even know he had cancer, Elle?”

I stood my ground. I kept my head held up as I stared into his familiar eyes, but inside my heart broke. Because no, I didn’t know. I didn’t think me knowing would have changed the outcome. From what I’d gathered, the disease was far too progressed for treatment to work, but my money could have helped him, in the earlier stages maybe, or just keeping him more comfortable.

Shot fired, target acquired, everything shattered. And Ben knows it. For a moment, he pinches his lips together and there is a hint of remorse, but he tightens his jaw, glares at Larry, and walks out without another word.

“Elle, I’m sorry,” Larry says to me.

I hold up my hand. “We should end things here for now. We can meet again when things are less…. Volatile.”

“Yes. If that is what you want.” He shook his head regretfully. “Believe me,” he said in a quieter voice. “I tried to talk Acer out of this, but he was determined.”

Angela and Stephen left the room, probably embarrassed as hell about what they just witnessed. No matter what Larry said, it wouldn’t help make things better right now. I could barely think straight. Ben is so mad. I want to be mad right back at him, but in all honesty, I can see this from his side, and he has every right to be pissed.

“Do you know why your father might have done this?” he asks.

I gather my wits, pick up my purse, and look Larry right in the eye. “I have no idea. Please call me when you need to go through things, but I am hoping to leave for New York tomorrow.”

Larry nods sadly. There is no sign of Ben. The receptionist, who I do remember from school, gives me the evil eye, but what’s new? I’m going to be the Wicked Witch of the East before too long. She was a gossip in high school. I’m sure she’s worse now. And she no doubt heard every word Ben just screamed in that room.

“Elle?”

I turn to see Susan has followed me outside. I try to shake off some of the feelings from that meeting because she doesn’t deserve to be at the end of any discontent.

“I’m Susan. Sorry we didn’t get a proper introduction. That was some shit in there, huh?” she rocks back on her heels. “Typical Acer.”

“Sorry, how did you know my dad?”

“He was by boy toy,” she grins.

I am taken aback, but her smile is infectious.

“We were goodfriends,” she clarifies. “Spent a lot of our spare time together but were happy to have our separate lives too. I’m pretty peeved about him leaving me that money, though. I told the old fool I didn’t want it.”

I frown at her. Beyond her friendly, open demeanor, I can see the sadness. Dad really meant something to her.

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