Page 151 of The Grump Next Door
Don’t wonder if he’s wondering where I am.
Just go.
Because Gloria’s wrong. Sometimes running away is exactly what you need.
Even if it feels like leaving half your heart behind.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Same Shit, Different Day
Dean
The conference room smells like disappointment and overpriced coffee. Same as always. Except now I hate it.
“—quarterly projections show a fifteen percent increase in billable hours,” Gideon drones on.
I’m supposed to care. That’s my job. Caring about billable hours and win rates and whatever soul-sucking metric we’re measuring this week.
Instead, I’m watching a pigeon outside systematically destroy someone’s lunch. Good for you, pigeon. Burn it all down.
“Dean?”
Shit.
“What?”
Gideon’s giving me that look. The one that says pay attention, asshole. “Your thoughts on the Morrison settlement?”
My thoughts? My thoughts are that it’s been three days since Poppy left and Muffin won’t stop scratching at the guest house door like she’s waiting for someone who’s never coming back.
“Aggressive but fair,” I say. Safe answer. Always works.
“That’s what you said about the Henderson case.”
“And?”
“The Henderson case was a custody dispute. This is one involves blackmail.”
Crap.
“Right. I meant aggressive but… fraudulent.”
The room goes quiet. That special quiet that happens when you’ve just said something spectacularly stupid.
“Meeting adjourned,” Feldstein says. His voice could freeze hell. “Dean. Stay.”
Everyone files out. Gideon shoots me a what the hell look. I shoot him back a mind your business look.
“Want to tell me where your head’s at?” Feldstein asks once we’re alone.
“Right here.”
“Bull.” He leans back. Studies me like I’m a problem to solve. “You’ve been off lately. Distracted. Sloppy.”
“I’ve been—”
“You missed the Patterson deadline.”
