A Good Time

Chapter 2-2

Griffin scanned his living room to make sure it held nothing of value his dear old dad could pocket on his way in or out. Small things lay around, none important. His dad couldn’t take anything from him now.

Ten years ago, he’d thought he’d hit the jackpot. His life was going exactly as planned. He’d fought to be at the top of his field, one of the youngest to reach that kind of success. He had Selena in his life; then his father reappeared.

Even then, he’d held no expectations about some great relationship, but he figured he at least deserved some answers about why his father had left, to get his side. If nothing else, he could rub his success in his father’s face. Show Malcolm he didn’t need him.

But he didn’t have the chance. Malcolm had gotten the better of him. He charmed his way into Griffin’s life, talking about how he’d wanted to get in touch for years but didn’t know how. How he’d felt ashamed to come back.

All part of his game.

Griffin swallowed the last of the whiskey in his glass. More than one before facing Malcolm and things would get uglier than he could afford. The doorbell buzzed at nine thirty. Just like Malcolm—keep everyone waiting.

Griffin answered the door, and the shock at seeing his father registered in his brain, like looking into a fun house mirror that instantly aged him.

Malcolm looked good. Thinner than Griffin remembered, and grayer, but the charming smile, so much like his own, was the same.

“Griffin.” He entered the room with his arms spread.

Here came the deplorable exaggeration of affection. Griffin stepped back to allow Malcolm plenty of room and to make his feelings clear. “Malcolm.”

“I see you’re still doing well for yourself.”

Griffin closed the door, trying to hold back anger and resentment. He’d done well despite his father’s absence. His mother had carried the load for both parents. He’d promised himself he’d stay calm and get rid of Malcolm for good. A business transaction. One last time.

He turned to the man who was the object of his disgust and watched Malcolm appraise the room the same way he had ten years earlier. As far as Griffin knew, Malcolm hadn’t come back to town since then. Every transaction happened via phone and wire.

“I guess business is good, eh? I mean, all the kids are playing some kind of game or another, right?”

Griffin tucked his hands in his pockets and waited. Sometimes silence proved to be an effective tool.

“What, you got nothing to say?” Malcolm crossed his arms.

“I’ve already asked what you wanted and I never received an answer. That would be a good place to start.” They continued to stare at each other across the room.

Malcolm broke first. The man wasn’t much of a poker player or businessman. “I haven’t seen you in ten years, unless you count what I read and see in the paper. I thought maybe we could get to know each other.”

Griffin’s chuckle of disbelief came out more as a growl. “Are you getting so old you can’t remember which ploys you’ve already used? You tried that ten years ago. I guess you’re here for your last check.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way.”

“Mom’s dead. More than two years ago. Did you know?”

Malcolm shook his head. Griffin couldn’t read the expression in the older man’s eyes.

“This will be the last time you ever contact me. You have nothing else over me. You can’t hurt her anymore. You don’t even deserve money now, but since you had the balls to actually show so I could say this to your face, I’ll give you that.” He crossed the room and opened a drawer to the side table. “How much this time? And remember, it has to last.”

Now the wheels turned in his father’s head. The realization that he couldn’t get to Griffin through loved ones ruined his plans. First Selena, then Mom. Griffin made sure no one would ever get that close again. But Malcolm still knew about Selena, and Griffin would do anything to save her parents any more pain. Add in the damage to his reputation, and paying his father became worth it.

“You drive a hard bargain. You’re a lot more like me than just looks. Keep it simple so no one can touch you. I tried to tell your mother so many times. She never understood.”

The pen in Griffin’s hand began to bend, so he released his grip. “Unless you want to get tossed out on your a*s without a check, I suggest you shut up and give me a number.”

“Fifty thousand.” He smirked as if the number would shock Griffin.

Hell, he’d expected twice as much. “I’ll cut you a check for ten. I’ll wire the rest when you leave town.”

Malcolm tilted his head, but then nodded. Griffin scribbled out the check and ripped it from the book. Handing it to Malcolm, he said, “Now get out.”

With the check tucked safely into his pocket, Malcolm smiled broadly. “A pleasure doing business with you. We’d make quite a team. If we were together, there wouldn’t be a safe heart in all of Chicagoland.”

Griffin took one step forward and Malcolm jolted from his spot. He quickly left the condo. Griffin returned to his bottle of whiskey and wondered how much he’d need to make him forget where he came from.