Free The Right Time by Delaney Diamond Page A

immigrants, he wanted a better life for himself and his family, and hoped to leave behind a legacy for his son, Keith, who happened to be seated across from his father in one of the maroon guest chairs, fiddling with his phone.
    “Have a seat,” Brit said, motioning to the chair beside his son.
    “How are you doing, Ransom?” Keith greeted him.
    Half Chinese and half Caucasian, he’d inherited many of his father’s physical attributes, but was muscular and a bit taller. He’d passed the bar, but after practicing law for a few years, settled into the administrator position Brit handed to him.
    “Doing well.” Ransom crossed his legs and waited.
    Brit closed the file in his hand. “I know we’re all busy, so I won’t waste your time,” he said. After many years in the States, his accent had almost disappeared. He interlaced his fingers atop the desk. “Keith informed me of some not-so-good news on the Creplar case in Atlanta. I’m sure you’re familiar with it, so I won’t go into the details. It seems we’re going to need someone to manage the negotiations until we arrive at a resolution. Attorney Belch is…ill—very ill, and will need to take a leave of absence for some time. We need someone who can jump in right away, which means not only taking over the management of the case, but spending quite a bit of time in Atlanta to make sure everything goes well. It’s a huge undertaking, and I want you to make it your priority. We’ll get support in place for you here, to help with your other cases. Would that be a problem?”
    If by “ill,” Brit meant Belch had fallen off the wagon, then they had a terrible problem indeed. Belch was one of the best damn lawyers in the entire firm. He’d been given a second chance and managed to stay sober for over three years, but apparently he’d just used up his second chance.
    “Absolutely not a problem, sir. I’d be happy to take the lead.”
    “Thought so. You have family in Atlanta, don’t you?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do. My brother lives there with his wife and kids.”
    There was someone else who lived there, too. A certain flight attendant he’d thought about off and on over the past few weeks. He toyed with the idea of looking her up. Just to say hi. See how things were going with her and her lousy boyfriend.
    “Great. You’ll be able to spend some time with your family—but not too much, of course.”
    Although he smiled, Ransom knew Brit meant what he said.
    “You have nothing to worry about. I’ll make this my priority,” Ransom assured him.
    “I know you will. That’s why I picked you when my son told me about the problem. Keith will brief you on the travel and housing details, and then I expect you to get completely up to speed so we can get this case closed out satisfactorily for our client.” Brit nodded to his son. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”
    The two younger men stood, and as they were walking out, Brit said, “Oh, Ransom, my secretary tells me she hasn’t received your RSVP to the cocktail party yet. Are you planning to attend?”
    His heart rate increased. “I haven’t received an invitation.”
    Brit frowned. “That’s a gross oversight. Clear your calendar. You’re on the list. If you don’t get your invitation within the next few days, contact my secretary.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    They walked out.
    “I guess I’ll be seeing you in Atlanta very soon,” Keith said, as they rode down in the elevator.
    “Looks like it.”
    “Do you have lunch plans? We can cover some of the details.”
    Ransom studied the younger man—five years younger, to be exact. He often thought of Keith as a spoiled rich kid, one who bragged too much and thought too highly of himself, with a questionable moral compass, even for an attorney. But he also suspected Keith admired him. He wouldn’t be surprised if he had suggested to his father that Ransom replace Belch.
    “I have a meeting at two, so we’ll have to make it