Page 17 of My Best Friend's Grump Brother

I looked at the other file that Selena had handled for me a few days prior. I had to admit I was

surprised by how thorough she was in her work. She made sure to date everything and even

highlighted important information in different colors for various points. I even liked that she

had left small annotations in the margins to help summarize the document.

She really did know what she was doing.

I leaned back in my chair and placed the file on my desk. I closed my eyes, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself. This week had been a lot to deal with. This high-profile case, and now Selena. I liked being in control and ensuring everything ran as needed for order. I hated chaos and unpredictable things; it’s one of the many reasons I did not like people, especially the chaotic ones—like her.

I snapped my eyes open. No, I could not think about her. She wasn’t even here today.

My door opened unexpectedly, and I knew that only one person in this life would dare to enter my office without warning.

“William, what are you doing here?” My colleague and college friend walked in with the biggest grin. “If it’s not money or case files, get out.”

His grey eyes shined brightly, and I knew from his cocky smirk that he had just won a case alone. “Why am I the best attorney in the state, Sinclair?”

I rolled my eyes at his antics. “Congratulations on winning the Willsberry case. Do you want a cookie?”

He plopped down onto the chair on the other side of my desk and leaned back with his hands behind his head. “A cookie, a raise, a motherfucking vacation. You told me not to take this case because it would be an easy loss, but look at me now, sucker!”

He had not changed the slightest bit since college. Aside from his beard and a few added pounds of muscle, the man was the same. He still liked to trash talk even in the office and thought he was God’s gift to this earth.

I had recruited him for the firm because I needed someone with a big pull in Chicago, and he had been a wasted talent at his old firm. I needed superstars on my team, and William Archibald was as superstar as they came. His name alone was enough to open the majority of doors within Chicago, but his ruthlessness as a lawyer, as well as his charisma, made him a formidable ally. I would rather have a shark like him with me rather than against me.

“So…”

“What?” I looked at him, confused.

“I say we should celebrate. When was the last time you were out on the town?”

Never.

“I can’t,” I cleared my throat and sat straight up. “You have fun, though.”

“Why are you such a buzz kill? Where is Daniel Daze Sinclair? The man I used to chug kegs down with and get the hottest girls at the party? You are such a stick in the mud. Live a little, brother.”

“I live plenty.” This wasn’t true, but he didn’t need to know that. “I don’t need to be out late at night in a club that smells like desperation, sex, and drugs.”

William frowned, “What kind of establishments do you think I go to?”

“Brothels.”

He faked a gasp, “Do I look like I need to pay for sex? I’m one sexy motherfucker, even on my worst days. And according to The Bulletin, I am sexier than you.”

Oh yes, that trashy publication in Chicago that had nothing better to do than to pry into the lives of high society. I hated it and did my best to stay as far away from it as possible.

“I’m sure you paid them off to get on that list.”

“Jealous.”

His fake hurt did nothing for me. William was a party boy at heart. He loved the thrill of the

party, and I'm sure that even when he is eighty years old, he will still be downing tequila like

it was water and sleeping with anything with a vagina. I was still shocked he hadn’t gotten

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