Page 108 of The Renter

“We can keep discussing this, but … let’s stay in the moment.”

“Okay.”

I can tell he’s satisfied with the progress we made on these subjects. Adam excuses himself to make a phone call, and I make out a few little details before I hear the phrase prenuptial agreement.

I slam the rest of my whiskey.Is this fucking happening?

93

Wednesday, October 12th

Greg insisted we meet at a member’s only cigar lounge at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. It must be something serious. We’ve only had meetings here when we need to discuss more philosophical questions. I find him in his usual seat, an oversized leather chair in a secluded room. My favorite bottle of whiskey is on the table.Is he leaving Harris Ventures?

“What’s all this drama for?” I ask, hoping to make him laugh.

“Twenty-six-year-olds.”

I cock my head.All this is about Dani?“What about them?”

“I get the appeal. I see how much fun you’re having, but why are our attorneys working on a prenup?”

He’s mad at me. Grabbing the back of my neck, I shake my head for a moment. I should have told Greg first instead of the lawyers, versus the other way around. “Sorry, man. It’s very preliminary. We’re in the early stages of discussion.”

Greg taps my empty glass with his before taking a long sip of whiskey. I drop an ice cube into the glass and then pour.

“Your divorce finalized in April,” he reminds me. “You’re seriously thinking about getting back on the horse?”

I chuckle before I say, “I love her.”

“That’s great. That doesn’t mean you have to marry her.”

“Why shouldn’t I marry her?”

“She’s twenty-six. You’re forty-four. Did you know what you wanted from your life at twenty-six?”

I’m not naive to the fact that I’m an entirely different person now than when I was at her age. “Life happens.” I shrug. “Why not be with someone that makes you happy?”

“Adam, being romantic.” Greg shakes his head, amused.

Our decades of friendship and business partnership are clear in this informal meeting. Greg is mybusiness wife, after all, and I owe him all the details that could impact my finances.

“I’m mature enough to know that life isn’t a fairy tale.” I take a sip of my whiskey. “The prenup will be everything you want it to be. No premarital assets. No shares of Harris Ventures or any of my interests. It will be extremely low risk for me, assets protected.”

“Are you pandering to me?” Greg raises a brow.

“Spend millions getting divorced, you learn a few things.” I laugh bitterly before taking another sip.

“Good man. This is the Adam Harris I’m familiar with.” Greg smiles, finishing his glass and then pouring another. “I was bracing to hear you say she’s getting half of everything because you’ve suddenly forgotten everything you’ve learned in business.”

“I’m preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.”

“In the event you are pandering to me,” Greg adds. “I’m reading the prenup and making notes before it gets sent to you. We have to protect what we’ve built.”

“Deal.”

“She wants all this?” he asks after a moment.

“I hope so.” It comes out more honest than anticipated. I hope she could see a future with me. I know the timing isn’t what she wants, but every year that passes is another year older I’ll be when we have a kid. “I don’t want to be mistaken for grandpa when we have kids, you know?”