Page 2 of Forbidden Fruit

“I don’t know anything of the sort.”

“I’m insulted. After everything I’ve done for you?”

“Everything you’ve done for me has been billable, Kay.”

She sighs and looks back at the stack of papers. We’ve had this conversation a hundred times, but now it’s different. Now, I’m not arguing for anything. I already have it.

“You’re sure there’s nothing else you’d like to give me?” she asks.

“A hard time?” I say. “No, thanks. You can keep that.”

“Damn right, I will.”

We sit across from each other, and it feels like we’re in one of those old Westerns. I half expect her to pull a revolver from that Louis Vuitton bag and start shooting.

“It’s been loveless, you know,” I say.

She rolls her eyes, something she’s perfected over the years. “Oh, you think?”

I give her a minute to come back with a quip. When she doesn’t, I lean in closer. “This is a good deal, Kay.”

“I should have taken that acting job instead,” she says.

“You’d have been wonderful on the big screen.” I smile at her. She can’t keep her lips from twitching. There’s the flash of why I ever married her, but I have to think back years and years to remember.

“You’re going to give her everything, you know,” she says. “The next one.”

I shrug. “That’s between me and the next one.”

She drops the stack of papers, and it sounds like a coffin lid slamming shut. I look at the signature line on top. She hasn’t signed.

“Where’s Jack?” I ask.

“Where do you think?” she says.

“Last I saw him, he was on vacation. Then, vacation again. He called it a sabbatical.”

“He’s finding himself.”

“Was he lost? Because I have a whole office full of people who don’t seem to have a problem finding him.”

“Clive. Please.”

“I’m happy to do something for him,” I say. “When he’s earned it.”

She leans back and picks up the papers again. “So the answer is no, you won’t promote my son.”

“Not this year.”

“Ever.”

“Maybe ever.”

Her eyes flick back to me, all cold blue and plastic. “And I thought you were softening in your old age.”

“I’m soft enough. Look, Kay, this is what you agreed to. This was the deal. You want to change it now?”

I reach for the papers like I’m ready to leave if that’s what she wants. Her eyes dart around the room like she’s trying to find something to throw at me. But then she lets out a huge sigh.

---