“Truthfully, I don’t give a damn what you tell them. They don’t deserve an explanation. They weren’t there on time. I don’t wait for anyone. They can fly up to New York to see me if they really want this deal.”

“But, Mr. Garret—”

“Are you questioning my decision, Sarah?” I ask, my voice bristling with impatience.

“No, of course, not,” Sarah gasps, horrified to have pissed me off. “I’m sorry, sir. My only concern is for you.”

A twinge of guilt touches my heart. She’s a kind soul and old enough to be my grandmother. She should be treated a little gentler than the many PAs who’ve come and gone over the years. There were times when it felt like they were coming in through a revolving door. They were in and out so quickly. One of them lasted all of two hours. One moment she was trying to get my coffee order correctly, the next, she fled out of the doors in tears.

But not Sarah.

She’s hung in with me for the last 2 years, is excellent at her job, and shows no signs of going anywhere. I’ve even started to rely on her, which would make it extremely unfortunate if she left.

“I realize that, Sarah…I shouldn’t have been so sharp, and I’m sorry.” I’m rarely in the wrong, but admitting when I am, has never been a problem for me.

“I completely understand, sir. I’ll tell the investors that you had an emergency at home which needed attending to immediately.”

“Tell them whatever makes you feel happy.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“It’s extremely late. Shouldn’t you have left the office hours ago?”

“You know how it is, sir. There’s nothing for me at home but my cats, and half the time, they act as though they were happier before I got home.”

I chuckle, though I do wish I could do something more for her than giving her a salary that puts her in the category of most highly paid PA in the world. She’s too valuable a person, and not just an assistant, but a person, to be left living alone with her cats. Funny thing is she doesn’t strike me as a cat lady. Her clothing is always impeccably free of hair. Lucky her, because I’m allergic to cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, people…

“Right. Good night, Sarah. See you at work tomorrow.”

“Have a safe trip, sir.”

I hang up with a slight smile, satisfied in the knowledge that there will never be repercussions as a result of doing as I damn well please. The unfathomably solid returns I’ve generated over the past seven quarters for Garret Industries has become a phenomenon. The kind that’s gotten my picture on the cover of every financial magazine since I took over what used to be a struggling parts manufacturer and turned it around.   

I lean back against the leather seats of the car carrying me towards the airplane hangar where my jet is housed. To be honest, I’m actually glad I’m leaving LA two days early.

I could never understand why it’s such a big draw for people. I hate it. Sure, the weather’s nice, but underneath the glitz, glamour, and tanned bodies, it’s just hollow. New York is much more my speed. Sophisticated and stylish, but gritty. Real. Willing to come to blows if need be and crack open a beer once the fight is over.

My phone buzzes.

“Are you sitting down?” my best friend, Mark asks.

I frown. “Yes. Why?”

“Charlotte is getting married.”

“Why do I need to be sitting down for that? I’m not the poor bastard she’s marrying.”

“I don’t know. I thought it might affect you. It looked like a difficult breakup.”

Yeah. It was difficult. For her. She miscalculated.  She thought she could bring me to heel if I thought other men wanted her. I told her they were welcome to her. The day I’d walked into my apartment and found her spread-eagled on the bed with another man on top of her flashed into my head. Her shocked face, when I said, “Carry on. Finish.” I had the place fumigated after that. The screaming and crying, the swearing of how she loved me and would never hurt me again. What a load of bullshit. As if I cared. She did me a fucking favor.

“You still there?” Mark asks.

“Yeah.”

“So anyway, she called me not five minutes ago to announce that she’s marrying this guy in Vegas this weekend. I didn’t even know she was seeing him until, like, two weeks ago.”

My driver opens my door and I get out, walking towards my jet. “I wasn’t aware that the two of you stayed in touch.”

“I wouldn’t call it staying in touch. She texts or phones every once in a while to tell me how amazing her life is. I always assumed she expected me to take the information back to you, so obviously, I never did. Why would I give her what she wants?”

I nod at the captain, and run lightly up the steps.

She was hot, fun to be with and great in bed. That deserved to be acknowledged, too. Her magic trick needed a pack of condoms and a male volunteer.

“You still there?” Mark asked, raising his voice over the noise around me.

“Yeah. Still here.”

“You know she wasn’t right for you. Let’s be honest, she’s not the forever type. You know that, right? Women like her, who needs them.”

“I know.”

“It’s your pride that cares more than anything else.”

I cut him off there. “Why do I get the impression you think this bit of news has devastated me?”

“Hasn’t it?” he mumbles.

“Fuck no.”

“Uh, there’s something else.”

“You’re fucking kidding me. What else is there?” I checked my watch, and pick up the glass of freshly squeezed tomato juice, the air stewardess places in front of me.

“You’re gonna laugh. I swear to God, you’re gonna laugh.”

“I wouldn’t bet the farm on that, bro.”

“She asked me to be the best man.”

I nearly choke on the juice. “You’re shitting me.”

“Nope.”

“And you said?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you said you didn’t even know she was dating this guy until recently.”

“I didn’t. I’ve never met him.”

“So why?”

“Ah, man. You know I’ve always had a thing for her friend. She’s going to be maid of honor and you know how closely the maid of honor has to work with the best man.”

I laugh. “Well, she sure knows where everybody’s buttons are.”

“I guess it’s the ultimate revenge, huh? Asking your best friend to stand up at her wedding.”

“Actually, it doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Still, what kind of guy allows the best friend of his ex to be his best man? She must have his balls in her purse, man. I wonder what she offered in return for this?”

I didn’t have to wonder. I know. A man doesn’t forget the kind of things Charlotte Leyton is willing to do to keep a man coming back for more. I guess that must have been one long night for her.

“Look, if you mind, or prefer I don’t do it, I’ll say no,” Mark offers.

“Mind? No, I don’t mind. Go ahead and have a great time. Bang the maid of honor. Fuck the bride for all I care.”

Mark chuckles. “Yeah, I’ll try. Bang the maid of honor, I mean. Uh…one more thing.”

“What?”

He gives a bark of forced laughter. “Umm…Charlotte wants to ask you to come, but doesn’t have the nerve.” Mark saved the best for last.

Doesn’t have the nerve? Clearly, Mark has no idea what Charlotte is made of. “I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous.”

“I know. I felt the same way, but I promised I’d pass on the invite, just the same.”

“Thanks, I’ll pass,” I say, marveling at Mark’s naivety. Charlotte is easily one of the most cunning and manipulative women I have ever had the misfortune to meet. She’s just dangled a carrot in front of Mark so he’d do all the donkey work for her.

“But it could be fun, huh? Las Vegas. We could burn some money together, maybe get smashed and get laid,” Mark suggests excitedly.

There, he just did her dirty work for her.

“No offence, but I’d rather sit in a dentist’s chair for two hours, than be within a mile of Charlotte again.”

“Anyway, we can talk more about it when you get back,” Mark says hopefully. “I’ll be waiting with a couple of beers by the time you get there.”

“Yeah, man. Will do. Talk soon.” I hang up without telling him I was coming back tonight.