Read Online Billionaire Secrets of a Wanglorious Bastard by Alexei Auld - Free Book Online Page B

bother showing, which made me sad. I could've used one of her hugs. It was more action than I got from Rhage, that was for damn sure.
    Tani said to me, “When we were summer associates, this guy named Doug—”
    Enos butted in. “He said, I'm sorry, I thought it was the fish!”
    Tani chortled. “That's right!”
    Everyone busted out laughing. Everyone but me. I flashed a fake-ass smile. Inside I cried.  
    Tani said, “Rufus, you just had to be there to get it.”
    Enos said, “And Johnny?”
    Tani wildly waved his arms. “I'm sitting down. I'm sitting down.”
    Someone I didn't recognize said, “That's him, man! Oh shit! You got him down!”
    He high-fived Tani.  
    I tried to laugh. “Sitting down on what?”
    Tani said, “You should have been there, Rufus.”
    Enos said, “Yeah, you really missed out.”
    No accent? I needed to cover for him. “That's a great American accent you're putting on, Hiro.”
    Tani said, “He's my hero.” He raised his glass. “Who else could pull it off?”
    Did Tani mean Enos pulling off the Hiro stunt or Hiro putting on an American accent? I felt really hot and sweaty.  
    Enos pointed at me. “You really care, cuz. Thank you.”
    I scanned the bar. “Are you sure it's safe?”
    Enos said, “Why wouldn't it be?”
    I said, “If you get caught, you're—”
    Enos said, “Set for life.”
    I said, “How's that?”
    Enos leaned in to me. “Partners assuming I'm Japanese? Confusing me with another associate—”
    Tani said, “Who summered with us, but never came back.”
    Enos took a swig. “Set for life.”
    I said, “What about his checks?”
    Enos said, “I get paid in cash. Remember that envelope Gladys gave me on your first day?”
    Could it be that easy? “Wouldn't you be seen as a willing participant?”
    Enos burped. “They created a hostile work environment for me. I told a partner that I really was Enos. That there was a mistake. But they still called me Hiro. So I feared losing my job.”
    I said, “Which partner?”
    Enos said, “The best one. A dead one.” He toasted Tani. “Of course. I'm rich in this bitch. You, on the other hand, need protection.”
    I didn't want to hear it. “Not interested.”
    Enos said, “Rufus, we have a good gig here at Krueller. Nobody knows we're related because they're all inbred idiots. They have no clue that we have each other's back.”
    “What about Tani? We related to him, too?”
    Enos buzzed his lips. “He's an unofficial member.”
    Tani raised his glass. “Unofficial.”
    Enos said, “Enough about him. You could be me, cuz. Get with Rita.”
    “You on this shit again? I told you, my girl—”
    “Then just do her once.”
    “My girl?”
    “Rita. Just once. That's it. Then you'd be bulletproof. Protected because of some quid pro quo hostile work environment shit. They can't fire you. And to get this? All you have to do is stroke once, unlike my ass engaging in some elaborate bullshit on the job. Just once. Now, you need—”
    “I still have hours to bill.” I got up to leave.

    ***

    Instead, I went to a new coffee shop and drowned my sorrows with latte.
    A voice said, “Don't you think you've had enough?”
    I was wired, so I popped up. “What?”
    It was Sif, with a coffee pot in hand.
    I said, “You work here, too?”
    “Compared to what's driving you here, I don't think you can call it working.”
    “You wouldn't know a thing about where I work.”
    “Krueller, right?”
    “You stalking me?”  
    “You came here. And Tully told me.”
    “He doesn't know the half of it. Nobody does.”
    “I think I have an idea.”
    “Trust me, you don't.”
    “Let me guess. Billing is everything. People are weird. Partners are even weirder. You're there all the time and questioning why you did it in the first place.”
    “How did you—”
    “I left Krueller last year.”
    “You didn't like it?”
    “Let's just say it wasn't what I thought it was. And I wasn't what they thought I was.”
    “Now