Page 28 of Fierce-Matt

He wasn’t even trying to be funny.

It really bothered him to be compared to the man that no one liked and very few respected. James Kelly was feared and he was a dick, but he paid well and that was how he kept his staff.

He won anything thrown his way because he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and not play fair.

His father and mother didn’t run the firm that way and they made it clear changes were effective immediately and anyone who didn’t like it could leave.

Matt hadn’t been an attorney at that point, so never practiced that way.

Not that he would have.

He was serious about his job.

He was out to be like his father, not his grandfather.

“It wasn’t intended to hurt you, but to bring you back to earth.”

“You were good about doing that to me for years,” he said.

His mother never had a problem putting him in his place.

“Everyone needs it now and again. You’re a good kid, Matt. A brilliant attorney. I had my doubts because you were always goofing off, but your father said you wouldn’t be that way when it mattered.”

“No. I don’t even do it as much now outside of work,” he said.

“I know. Why is that? Not that I’m complaining. I’m thrilled the practical jokes stopped. Or they aren’t as much. I will admit playing the video of your brother as a cheerleader at that football game in front of Eve the first time she met our family was funny.”

He’d done it to embarrass Ben because his brother had embarrassed him enough in life.

He always took it in stride when people did it to him. Just like he knew Ben would when the video went up.

“Let’s just say that the older I get, the less women enjoy getting picked on.”

His mother clapped her hands. “There is a fine line between gentle busting or getting people to laugh and making them the butt of the joke. I’m glad you see that.”

“I learned,” he said.

“Hey, don’t harp on Macy. She wasn’t right for you.”

“But she wasn’t wrong either,” he said.

“You think she was the one?” his mother asked. The appalled look sent his way said his mother felt the way he’d assumed all along about his ex.

“No. Not at all. She wasn’t wrong that I wasn’t serious about anything other than work. I think I joked so much because I didn’t believe she was the one. I was making the relationship fun. Something to do when I wasn’t working.”

“To burn off steam. You used her.”

“Yikes,” he said. “This is the morning for me to get singed.”

“You have it coming to you,” his mother said. “But you’ve got thick skin. It’s one thing that I’ve always admired about you. You dish it out but have never been afraid to take it.”

“It shouldn’t be a double standard.”

“That’s right. As for Macy, she only wanted you for your name.”

“You never liked her, Mom. Be honest.”

“I’m always honest. Nope. She was money hungry. She makes the rounds trying to step up in life.”