Besides, I don’t think he would give Joanna time to come talk to me if that was the case. He would come through my door with so much fury on his breath that the hinges would come off when he slammed it—if he even bothered to close the door before he came across my desk.
No, that can’t be it.
There has to be another reason that he’s here.
The door opens, and I don’t draw an easy breath until I see that there is no rage burning in Lawson’s eyes. “Hi, Bram. It’s been a while. Thank you for meeting with me.”
“Hey.” I nod. “It has been a while.”
The last time I saw my best friend was the day he signed the paperwork to sell me his share of our company. That feels like a lifetime ago, even if it’s only been five years.
“How have you been? How’s the family?” He closes my door, and I notice that there is a troubled look on his face.
“Good,” I reply with a statement that is as general as possible. “What brings you to my office today?”
Today. Ever. I didn’t think I’d see him in this building again.
“I wish I was here under different circumstances.” He fidgets, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. It’s one of his ticks. It used to be close to the top of the list of things I hate, but it’s fallen off in recent years since I don’t see it every day. “I’ll just come out and say it. Bram, I need your help. Can you spare a few minutes for an old friend?”
My help? Friend? I didn’t expect either of those things to come out of his mouth when he walked in.
“Of course.” I nod and feel my pulse return to normal. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” He sighs and walks toward my desk.
With anyone else, I would sit behind my desk to maintain that illusion of power. That was one of my father’s lessons, one of the few I listened to. I can’t do that with Lawson. We may not be in the same place we once were, but I still have some respect for the man I used to know; although it’s dwindled after hearing how he treated Kiana. Still, we’ve been through a lot, so I owe him my time, at the very least.
“What’s going on?” I slide the chair next to Lawson out and turn it toward him before I sit down.
“Well…” He begins fidgeting again. “I may have misjudged my financial situation when I decided to sell my portion of the company and retire…”
Misjudged? No. You became an enabler for your asshole son who kept gambling until you couldn’t pay his debts anymore, then that fell to your daughter.
But I can’t say any of that. There’s no way for me to know.
“Really?” I pretend to be surprised.
“Yeah. What can I say? I got two kids and a wife with expensive tastes.” He grimaces, but smiles; it seems to be so easy for him to lie. Then again, we’re both lying through our teeth right now.
“Your expenses have always been rather high.” I nod as if I’m agreeing with him.
“Bottom line, Bram? I need a job. Something to get me out of the house every day, if nothing else. The extra money won’t hurt, obviously.” His smile might as well be plastic.
“A job!?” I exhale sharply.
I didn’t see that coming. I was expecting him to ask me for a loan or something.
“Come on, man. I know you could use my help. I hear things…” He leans back in his chair.
Yeah. People talk. He’s still got friends here at the company, even if he abandoned them all when he left. Fuck.
“Plus, I miss you. If I’m being honest. I hate how we left things...” He looks down and sighs.
“How you left things.” It’s an instant reaction, not the carefully worded response I should have given him, but I can’t take it back once I say it.
“I know. It’s my fault. I had my reasons.” He sighs again and brings his hands together.
“I’m sure you did.” I narrow my eyes.
I know what they are. Every fucking one of the details. I shouldn’t, but I’m more involved than he realizes. I was the one who had to clean up his mess after he blew his fortune to keep Hudson’s head attached to his neck. Now Lawson is sitting in front of me with his proverbial hat in his hand—fidgeting.
“I know it may be awkward at first, especially between the two of us, but I believe we can get this company back to where it used to be. I’ll put in the time—I’ll put in the work. You have my word on that.” He nods with his usual glare of assurance.
“Things are different now, Lawson.” I look down for a moment.
More than he realizes. More than I want him to realize—especially right now. If he finds out that I’m involved with his daughter, then the business relationship will be the last thing on his mind.
On top of that, I’m still pissed off. Not just because of how he left things when he sold me his shares—I know what was going on behind closed doors at his house. I know how he was treating his family. But, at the end of the day, the man in front of me is the same man who served beside me in the desert. He watched my back. That’s not something I can just ignore, and I can’t turn him away, no matter how complicated bringing him back to the company will make things.
“Please, Bram. I don’t deserve a second chance after I left you high and dry, but I still consider you a friend. I hope you feel the same.” His jaw quivers and he fidgets faster, a sure sign he’s nervous.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I do.”
Fuck. It’s the truth, no matter what he’s done.
He won’t call me friend for long—not after
