Free Three by Brad Murray Page B

intoxicatingly close to
Geoffrey’s face. The hint of her perfume danced seductively into
his nostrils, the heat of her breath warmed his cheek. It was
almost too much for him to take – he wanted her in the worst way;
in that moment more than anything he had ever wanted in his
life.

    “Geoffrey,” she whispered into his ear. The
sensual sound of her voice enunciating his name softly into his ear
took his breath away and sent electrifying chills throughout his
entire body.

    “Geoffrey, I think you’re nothing but an
insecure, pretentious ass who would have failed law school had his
powerful daddy not fixed things. I think everything you have has
been given to you and that deep down you know you’ve never really
accomplished anything on your own in your entire life. You have no
friends, no one who truly loves you. And for that, I am sad. And
there’s nothing remotely mesmerizing about you. Not one. Single.
Solitary. Thing.“

    “You just keep telling yourself that,” he
said, looking down at his now empty glass. “But I know what you
really think. You’re just like every bitch I ever met. You love
that money – all hookers do.”

    Charlotte gasped and her mouth hung agape.
Geoffrey had outdone himself in terms of offensiveness. She wanted
to offer a retort but thought the better of it as her eyes caught
Ben’s athletic silhouette entering the bar. Now that Ben was here,
Geoffrey wouldn’t be so bold.

    “Hey Gorgeous!” said Ben, softly kissing
Charlotte’s forehead. “What’s up Three?”

    “Don’t call me that,” said Geoffrey, still
staring down at his glass and refusing to make eye contact.

    “Oh, don’t be so sensitive,” laughed Ben,
slapping him on the back. He motioned for Charlotte to move down a
seat so that he could act as a blockade between his fiancée and his
job.

    “You two getting along?”

    “Like a pimp with his ho,” said Geoffrey
dryly.

    Ben chuckled hollowly. “Let’s celebrate.
Your father told me this morning that he’s considering you for
partner. That’s great, man!”

    “Yeah, with his daddy pulling the strings…”
muttered Charlotte.

    “Screw you,” Geoffrey reacted. “That
partnership has nothing to do with the Judge. I’ve earned it!”

    “Hey, hey. Can’t we all just get along?” Ben
chuckled. “Let’s get some drinks. Looks like you’re running on
empty anyway.” Ben leaned over the counter and motioned to get the
old man’s attention.

    “Excuse me sir?” he said. The old man didn’t
hear him and was busy fidgeting with one of the buttons on his
vest.

    “Yo, Methuselah!” yelled Geoffrey. “Turn
your hearing aids up!”

    The old man looked up, confused. The sight
of Geoffrey sucked the twinkle from his eyes, and he lowered his
head liked a whipped dog. He crept slowly towards them, his back
curved from scoliosis. The closer the old man got, the harder
Geoffrey laughed.

    “Who the hell hired you?” said Geoffrey.
“Somebody needs to put you out to pasture.”

    “Shut up Three!” said Ben. “Don’t mind him
sir, he doesn’t mean anything by it. Can you get me and my friend
here a scotch on the rocks and a vodka tonic for the lady?”

    “Sure…sure thing,” said the old man. “Comin’
right up.” He smiled politely and turned to the absurdly vast
collection of high-end liquor bottles, considering nearly each one
before carefully reaching for the one he needed.

    “Jesus, we’ll be lucky to get our drinks
this week,” snarled Geoffrey.

    “Relax,” said Ben. “You should try being
nice for once.”

    Geoffrey said nothing. Instead he sat
silently, arms crossed, his inner furnace boiling. The combination
of the annoyingly slow old man and the outright insolence of
Charlotte had really pissed him off. But it was Ben who set him off
the most. He had never respected Geoffrey - that much was clear. He
had always regarded him as if he were an annoying little brother,
tasked by his parents with keeping the