Page 42 of Unbalanced

Malcolm stomps across the office like an angry toddler, while Rochelle stands in the doorway fuming with her arms crossed. I signal her that it’s alright and she closes the glass door before marching away. Malcolm has made an enemy out of the best legal secretary in the city. Not smart. Then again, I’ve never taken my cousin for smart.

He slams a piece of paper down on my desk. My pen rolls off the edge, landing on the floor and throwing off the balance of my desk arrangement. I glare up at him.

“How can you do this?”

“Easily. I drafted the paperwork and emailed it off.”

“Don’t be cute with me, Alden,” he snaps.

“Well, at least you’re using my whole name.”

I lean back in my chair and tighten my grip on the baseball. I’m tempted to throw it at him.

“What exactly is your issue, Malcolm?”

“You know exactly what you did! You billed me seventy-five grand. Where the hell am I coming up with that kind of money?”

Standing, I place the baseball back onto its little stand on my desk and pick up the pen. I don’t say a word until it’s back in the proper place.

My cousin, quietly fuming, is entertaining. This calls for a drink. I walk over to my dry bar in the corner and pour myself a scotch.

“Actually, that’s just my standard retainer. You’ve already used a good portion while having me travel to a site, inspect a building, forging my name on documentation, and I’m sure you’ll need me to finalize paperwork for this sham of a business arrangement.”

I turn and face him as I take a sip of my drink.

“This is not fair. You know the financial position I’m in.”

“I’m not the one who put you in this position, Malcolm, and it’s certainly not my responsibility to save you. You callously took advantage of me by using my company letterhead and reputation. Did you believe there wouldn’t be a cost for that?”

“I explained why I had to do that.”

“No, you didn’t have to do anything. You chose to be shady and a liar because you were hoping I’d never find out. Then the people you’re working with got skittish, and you had to crawl to my feet and beg for help and forgiveness. I gave you the help, and now…you’ll pay for my forgiveness.”

“You’re such an asshole,” he growls, vibrating with barely contained rage.

“No, I’m protecting my company and my reputation.”

I walk back to my desk, grab the contract that I prepared for this moment, and hand it to Malcolm.

“What the hell is this?”

“That is the contract you will sign. It states that the law firm of Mitchell, Keating, and Watson has been retained as your legal representative. It also states that your lawyers have no prior knowledge of any problems, holdups, or any wrongdoing.”

Malcolm’s face pales as I continue.

“Now…if this deal is as legitimate as you claim, then you should have no issue signing the contract or paying me for my services. I expect you to ensure that all of this remains above board from this moment on.”

I pick up my pen and hold it out for him.

He doesn’t take it. He just stares down at the paperwork.

“You knew I’d show up here.”

“Of course I did. Now sign, or I will remove myself from the situation and make sure you sit in jail for the next twenty years.”

“Is this because I fucked Camille? She said you were cool with it.”

I snort and shake my head.