Page 148 of Something Like Hail

“I’ve never been thejealous type,” Marcello said musingly. “With one exception. Theconclusion I reached then is that I was the one at fault. His namewas Tolga, and we first met when—”

“Felix isn’t at fault,”Noah said, cutting him off. “He’s hurt, and I don’t know what to doabout it.”

“Wealwayshurt the ones we love,”Marcello said. “I’m afraid that comes with the territory. To becapable of love, a heart must be open, and that leaves it exposed.There is no other way.”

“I guess not,” Noah said ashe stood. “I better go.”

“Just a moment!” Marcellosaid. “I need one more favor from you.”

Noah watched as Marcello wrote a note on apiece of paper that was then folded, placed into an envelope, andsealed. This was held out so he could take it.

“Would you mind deliveringthis to Nathaniel on your way down?”

Noah resisted an eyeroll. “Sure.”

“Excellent. Thank you. Oh,and please don’t leave before getting his response.”

Noah stared long enough to be sure thatMarcello was serious. Then he nodded and took the elevator to thesecond floor. Once standing before Nathaniel’s office, he wastempted to slide the letter beneath the door and leave, butMarcello had described him as a man of integrity. Noah wanted tolive up to that, so he knocked instead.

“Yeah,” a voice grunted inresponse.

Much to his surprise, the tone wasfriendlier when he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Hey! Noah!” Nathaniel rosefrom his desk. “How’s it going?”

“Okay,” he replied.“You?”

“Not bad. Come in. Do youwant something to drink? It’s either water or coffee.”

“I’m okay.” Noah walkedforward and held out the envelope. “Marcello wanted me to give youthis.” When he saw that Nathaniel was going to set it on his desk,he added, “You should read it now. I’m supposed to wait for yourresponse.”

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, Noah finallyfree to roll his eyes. Then they both laughed.

“You think I’d be used toit by now,” Nathaniel said. “Working for a madman.”

“How long has itbeen?”

“Since I started here?”Nathaniel puffed up his cheeks and blew out, eyes scanning theletter he unfolded. Then he looked up. “About ten years now.Amazing how time flies.”

“Yeah,” Noah said. Henodded to the letter. “What’s he want?”

“I’ll give him my responsein person,” Nathaniel said tersely, folding the note and putting itback inside the envelope. “Do you have a few minutes? Please, sitdown. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk yesterday.”

They had talked plenty while Noah filled outform after form, but he didn’t want to be rude, so he sat.

Nathaniel settled into the chair behind hisdesk, turning back and forth slightly as he too seemed to searchfor a topic. “I’ve been meaning to thank you,” he said at last.

“Thank me?”

“Yeah. For taking over theGentlemen’s Agreement Club. I didn’t want to, and in my opinion,it’s been hanging over Marcello’s head like a sword since the day Imet him.”

Noah laughed nervously. “You’re making meregret my decision.”

“You’ll do fine,” Nathanielsaid. “Marcello has more to lose than either of us do, and thatmakes him a target. Not just from his enemies. When you’ve got thatmuch money, even friends can turn on you. If they get desperateenough. Know what I mean?”

Noah nodded. “I could see that.”

“Still, you should becareful. You know I’m here if you need any advice. I’m not alawyer, but I have plenty I can call, and if there’s anything aboutrunning a company that trips you up, bookkeeping especially, thenjust say the word.”