Page 51 of The Betrayer
Chapter 21
Paul
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TWO WEEKS, AND TOMORROWI was going home.
I looked at the calendar on my phone and the schedule I was returning to that Tara had sent me. It was packed, but it would be good to get back to my regular routine. I also couldn’t help but look back at the past two weeks—the running from meeting to seemingly fruitless meeting, the dinners, the endless hours of work on something I had thought all but tied up neatly in a bow.
The important thing was that it was done, and I had done it. More than securing the funding, I had supervised INT’s buyout from here. It had been a long few days and an even longer couple of nights, but we had gotten it done.
The buyout was moving ahead, and nothing could stop it now.
I finished the last email, shut my laptop, and stretched, rolling my neck to get the crooks out. When I checked my watch, I calculated the time difference. It would be 7:00 AM in New York, and I doubted my father would be up. But this was the last item on my to-do list, and I was getting hungry.
I was surprised when he picked up after only a couple of rings, even though he was halfway around the world.
“Dad?”
“Hey, Paulie.” My father didn’t even sound like he had been asleep—he sounded wide awake.
“Are you really up this early?” I couldn’t help the shock in my voice.
“You sound surprised.” I could hear him doing something in the background—was he shaving?
“I’m not sure I remember the last time you were up before ten in the morning.”
A derisive snort answered me as though my statement had been entirely asinine. As though he hadn’t made a practice of wandering into the office at noon every day for the past few years.
“So, China still treating you well?”
I heard running water turn on, then switch off after a few moments.
“Yeah, it’s been good. I’ll be glad to be on the way home tomorrow, though.”
“We’ll be glad to have you.” My father sounded slightly distracted, and now I was sure he was moving around the bathroom.
“So, I have to get to work, and walking takes extra time. What can I help you with?”
