Named after her father, this primary consultation space was decorated with the memorabilia that used to adorn that office before she succeeded him. Framed diplomas, certificates, plaques and other crap going all the way back to college hung on the walls – along with a polished maple fraternity paddle mounted between a pair of commemorative ceramic beer steins. When he could keep them open, Jay’s eyes kept straying to that ceremonial paddle. Too tired for anything but glum resignation, he wondered how soon and for how long and in front of how many people who openly despised him would he be beaten with it. Julia had left little doubt on the ride in this morning that things were about to go from very bad to indescribably worse for him.
“They all hate you too, you know.”
The limo was so comf
