Page 11 of Bonus Daddy
Shit. That probably meant I’d have to do the thing I dreaded most.
Therapy.
“Didyou find the Phillips trust file?” Lo said, her voice crackly through the walkie-talkie.
“Yes,” I hollered back, my hands too busy knotting my tie to respond using what we’d dubbed the Jersey intercom system. With a final adjustment, I debated running upstairs to make a protein shake but realized I was already behind schedule. So I scooped the files up and headed toward the door. I had a meeting with Cliff Phillips today, and I would not keep him waiting.
When I stepped out onto the sidewalk, Dominic, Cliff’s driver, was waiting out front with a smile and a black coffee for me.
Cliff Phillips had become a friend over the many years I’d worked for him. When Terry had hired me straight out of law school, he’d brought me to a meeting with him, and the old man had taken a liking to me.
Eventually, Terry handed the man’s estate over to me. Not only did I work with him regarding his personal estate but also another two dozen family and corporate trusts. He was kind and down-to-earth, unlike just about any billionaire I’d ever met, with the exception of my sister’s family and closest friends.
He was so down-to-earth, in fact, that the moment he saw me, he called me out on my shit. Just like he did every time we met.
“You look tired,” he said as I sat at the conference table. “You’re young. Gotta take better care of yourself.”
I glared at him. “I’m not young, Cliff, and I’m feeling my age every day.”
He leaned back in his chair, making the leather cushion creak. “I’m in my eighties, you ass. Trust me, I know what old feels like. And you’re not old. You’re in your prime, son. And as someone at the end of their journey?—”
“Don’t say that,” I interrupted. “You’re sharp as a tack.”
He chuckled. “Yes. My mind is solid, but the docs said the cancer’s bad this time.”
“You beat it before.”
“I did. But I had my Betty then.” He let out a long sigh. “Nowthat she’s gone, I’m not really living. Which is why I need you on your A game. I don’t want any bullshit after I’m gone.”
Straightening, I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“I mean it. Yes, I busted my ass for decades for what I have. The companies, the real estate, all the money, and I’m grateful for it all. But my proudest achievement is my family, my daughter, my grandchildren and my great grandchild. My priority is ensuring everything is set up correctly for them.”
I nodded. His estate plan was complex and had been several decades in the making. A man didn’t go from selling peanuts at Metros games to owning the stadium without planning ahead.
We spent more than an hour going through the new trust paperwork and the updates I’d made. And at every turn, Cliff asked clarifying questions and made suggestions. For someone with very little formal education, he missed nothing.
I’d have hours of work ahead of me to make all the requested changes, but I admired a man who knew what he wanted. So often, my high-net-worth clients dithered and struggled to make decisions, making the process miserable. No one wanted to confront their mortality, but rich people especially liked to pretend death would never come for them.
Cliff rang for coffee and sat back in his chair, surveying the field and the skyline behind it. Every time I came here, it was like I was ten again, attending my first game with my dad. He’d saved for months to purchase the tickets, and the day had been the best of the short life I’d lived up until then. I’d been to dozens of games as an adult, and I’d brought him into the owner’s box a few times, but none of those experiences would ever compare to that sunny day in July when the two of us sat in the outfield bleachers.
“Anyway.” He waved a hand. “When are you gonna get married? Best thing you’ll ever do.”
I kept my attention on my notes, not wanting to get baited into this conversation again.
“I mean it,” he insisted, his voice loud in the large room. “Partnershipis beautiful. Raising kids? God, it’s the hardest and most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. And I should know. Not only did I raise Charlotte, but then Landon and Lennon too. And now we’ve got Amelia in the mix.”
The emptiness I typically kept at bay wormed its way through me. “Not sure that’s in my future.”
“Nope.” He shook his head like he was rejecting my answer. “Work less and you’ll see. There’s a woman out there who’s perfect for you. Someone who will make you want to cut out early and live a little.”
I sat back, glaring at him. “Really? You’re my biggest client, and you’re condoning poor work ethic? If I start skipping out early, who’s gonna pay the bills?”
He scoffed. “Don’t I pay you enough? The offer still stands. Come work for me. You could have a nice office here. Plenty of vacation. Handle the nonprofit and all the trusts.”
He’d been trying to poach me for years. But Murphy and Machon was my home. Terry had been like a second father to me since Sully and I met that first month of law school. And I’d never give up the client relationships I’d spent years building.
“We’ve talked about this. I can’t be your personal lawyer.”
