Chapter 17 - VINCENT WANTS TO “FIX” ITVincent asked me to dinner.
Public restaurant.
My choice.
Anthony sat across the room.
I tolerated that.
Halfway through dinner, Vincent said:
“Derek’s business partners are nervous.”
“Why?”
“They know who I am.”
I put down my fork.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“What are you planning?”
“Nothing you haven’t asked for.”
I stared.
“That sentence is manipulative.”
He sighed.
“Your mother said that too.”
“Stop using Mom as a character reference.”
His mouth almost smiled.
Then he became serious.
“I can make men stop returning his calls.”
“No.”
“I can make financing disappear.”
“No.”
“He hurt you.”
“And you are not going to punish him for me.”
“Why?”
“Because I called you to survive six minutes. Not to hand you the next six years.”
Silence.
Then:
“Understood.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
I leaned forward.
“If Derek loses his job because his firm finds misconduct, fine. If a court convicts him, fine. If our divorce leaves him with less because of documented financial conduct, fine. I am not using you to create consequences outside that.”
Vincent looked down at his plate.
Then:
May you like
“You sound exactly like Anna.”
This time I let him say it.
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