Page 86 of Broken Grump

“Do you know where their offices are? The building is right on the outskirts of Little Tokyo.”

“Uh-huh. I think so.”

“Great. See you then.”

“Yep. See you.”

I was completely bluffing and have no idea where the actual office building is. But that’s what handy-dandy Google is for.

As soon as we’re off the phone, I look up the directions and see that it’s only about half an hour away from me. However, the drive will be during the midday rush, so I decide to afford myself extra time for that.

***

I arrive a little early, but as my abuelo always said, that is what it means to be perfectly on time.

I’m waiting outside on a concrete boulder that aligns a beautiful waterfall when Steven strolls up in an oversized suit, with crazy hair, and a disheveled briefcase.

“Oh! Hello, Addie!” he exclaims once he sees me.

“Hey, Steven.”

Then, his bag bursts open, and papers go flying around.

“Here, let me help you!” I spring to my feet and start chasing documents around. It doesn’t help that it’s particularly windy today.

“Whew!” He calms the few wisps of hair he has left once we manage to collect most of them. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries.”

I, then, watch as he buckles the tarnished buckles back together.

“All good?” I ask with an eyebrow raised.

“Yep.” He sniffles and then stands up straight. “Let’s go on in.”

For both of our sakes, I hope to God that nobody—and especially not the esteemed Clyde Waldheim—saw our antics before.

“Attorney Steven Sawyer and Addie Flores, here to meet with Attorney Waldheim,” he announces to the receptionist.

She clicks away on her keyboard before smiling up at us and saying, “Wonderful. He’ll be right out. Please, feel free to take a seat.”

Their office is incredible. And it’s clear the entire designer, or whoever they relied on to decorate it, was heavily influenced by their proximity to the hub of Japanese culture.

Steven also takes notice, and he seems particularly interested in a piece depicting the back of a woman who is also holding a samurai sword.

“Beautiful, no?”

“Very.”

I begin to wonder about his romantic life, as he doesn’t wear a ring and has never once mentioned having a partner.

But before I can go down that rabbit hole too far, Clyde presents himself in the lobby. He’s incredibly tall, and his presence alone commands a lot of attention.

Right away, Steven hops up and rushes to shake his hand.

“How are you, Steve?”

“I’m well, Clyde. Thanks for asking.” Then, he references back to me, and I take that as my cue to walk over. “This is Addie Flores. The woman I’ve been telling you about.”

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