Pets, Paranormal Box Set

All a Steer Can Do Is Try-2

“Did you look over the numbers for…what’s the name of that company again?” Lambert asked as he waded through the once-neat paperwork before him. His blond hair had a bit of gray at the temples. It made him appear very distinguished. And damn it, I shouldn’t care.

“ShadowCreek Financing,” I replied. “And yes, I did. It’s a sound investment. You should go with it.”

He graced me with a flat, brown-eyed stare. “I don’t really need your opinion. I just wanted to know if you did what I told you to do. ‘Yes’ or ‘no’ is sufficient.” Deep breath, Clifford. He’s been acting like this for years. It’s nothing new.

I kept my answer simple this time. “Yes, I did.”

We went back and forth like that for an hour, and then, as he signed the last line on a document and mumbled to himself, I said, “By the way, I’ll be out of town on the weekend.”

I gathered up the documents and returned to my desk. I counted down in my head. Five, four, three, two, one. Wait for it…

“f**k no, you can’t go out of town this weekend. I need you to manage the merger with ShadowLand. I’m going to Greece with Samantha.” His latest bed partner. I’d lost count over the years. This didn’t even include the liaisons with men on the down-low, either. He thought I didn’t know about the rent boys. Who went through his Amex bill, I ask you?

“It’s ShadowCreek, and yes, I’m going. I haven’t had a vacation since I’ve been with this company. You’re more than capable of handling the merger by yourself from one of your yachts, or at least, you used to be. Maybe you’ve gotten soft.” Look at me, being all forthright and s**t. Must be a lack of blood flow somewhere.

Lambert turned apoplectic. “I don’t care about your lack of vacation time! You do what I say, when I say it. I built this company to what it is today, no thanks to your ungrateful ass.”

I noticed he avoided addressing the idea that he’d gotten soft. “Actually, we came up with the idea for this company together, and then I let you run with it. I’ve let you act like a dumbass and use me like a wet tissue for years—without complaint—all because of some misplaced sense of loyalty, and feeli…Look, all I’m asking for is three days off, only one of which is a weekday. What, are you afraid you can’t handle running this company without me, Bertie?” I taunted as I unlocked my computer screen and brought up my email before looking at him again.

He flushed. “Don’t call me that, and s**t yeah, I can do this on my own!” Oh goodie, reverse psychology is working. He threw his hands in the air. “Fine. Go take your goddamned days off. In fact, take the rest of the week off. I’ll show you, damn it. I’m in charge of this company, not you. I made it great, not you! I don’t need you. Get out.”

I didn’t pull back my verbal punches. It was past time. What an ungrateful little prick. “You’re a narcissistic imbecile, Bertie, and you’re a closeted little fuckwit. You need me, and you’re in denial, but your head is so far up your butt, you can’t see past the sphincter. Hemorrhoid, much?”

He appeared stunned for a few fleeting seconds, guilt and rage turning his face white, then red, until finally, his nostrils flared. “Just because we fooled around in college doesn’t mean you have the right to talk to me like that. That’s old news, bygones. Whether or not I choose to be an out gay person is none of your business. I’m in charge of this company, and you’d better remember that.”

“You said that already, Bertie.”

I grabbed my laptop, disposed of my tea and left without another word. I resolved to myself right then and there that if Lambert tried to call me while I was away, I wouldn’t answer the phone. He’d have to learn the hard way. I was done with this s**t.