Page 1 of Retribution

Prologue

Reed

Nothing can truly prepare you for the unexpected moments in your life. I mean, I had to see it to believe it. It’s unexpected for a reason. You can’t prepare yourself for something that was never meant to happen; something that shouldn’t have happened.

I’ve never fully understood the concept of grief until I had to experience it through the eyes of my 9-year-old.

It’s been 64 days since her death.

44 days since her funeral.

32 days since I discovered the truth.

14 days since my world came crashing down around me.

3 days since I picked up the scattered remnants of my heart.

2 hours since I had the phone call that would alter the course of my life forever.

Chapter 1

Reed

I stare at the documents I’ve just opened in the mail. None of this makes any sense. I bring my hand to my jaw and rub through my stubble, stressed. Taking a sip of my coffee and leaning back in my office chair, I take a glance at the busy traffic in the city below. I wonder how many of those people have been divorced. The divorce rates in America sit at around 50%.

Am I about to become part of that statistic?

I’m pulled away from my thoughts with a knock on my office door. I glance up and look through the glass door to see Maddy, my assistant.

I beckon her to enter, and she opens the door with a huge grin on her face. I’m not exactly in the mood for any of her usual jokes this morning, so I keep my lips pressed in a tight line. Her grin drops when she notices my obvious sour demeanor.

“Reed, how on earth are you not celebrating?”

I huff and shake my head, eyeing up the papers in front of me. I have no idea what I would have to celebrate. Congratulations, Reed. Your wife, the mother of your child, has served you with divorce papers. Just, perfect.

I stay silent, waiting for the follow up conversation.

Maddy sits at the chair in front of me with a concerned expression across her face.

“Are you not happy? I thought this was exactly what we wanted?”

Now this girl sounds like she’s gone absolutely nuts. There is no way we’re on the same page here.

“Maddy, can you please enlighten me on what it is you’re actually talking about?”

Placing my elbows on my desk, I lean forward, propping my head upon my folded hands.

“Named partner? It was emailed out this morning, I thought –”

Shit. I wiggle my mouse and head straight to my email. My mind was so distracted the moment I’d opened my divorce papers this morning, I didn’t even care to refresh my emails.

The Future of Atlas & Burhan

There it is. I read the email’s subject with bated breath.

Following the recent retirement of Mr. Richard Burhan, one of the most reputable lawyers in the Atlanta district, we have been on the hunt for our next named partner. After conducting extensive interviews with some of our best and most successful lawyers, we would like to congratulate and welcome our next named partner…

Mr. Reed Breckenridge

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