Page 4 of Trick or Tease

GARRETT

I n my office, I slid two envelopes across my desk. Chris and Lee exchanged curious glances before looking at me again.

I shot them a reassuring smile. “The partners were really impressed with your work on the Westbrook deal. You guys made that deal possible. Your late nights and all the long hours you put in to get that thing closed ahead of schedule didn’t go unnoticed.”

Chris raised an eyebrow, surprise evident on his face. “They noticed? That’s a first.”

I smirked. “Hey, don’t get used to it. I argued against this whole thing, told them we spoil you two enough already, but they’re the bosses. I’m just the associate.”

Lee laughed, her eyes narrowing as she picked up the envelope. “Right, because we’re drowning in perks here.”

“Exactly,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “But apparently, they wanted to show their appreciation. So, here you go.”

They both tore open the envelopes. I watched their faces, wanting to savor the moment. Chris’s brows shot up, and Lee’s mouth fell open.

“Wait, is this—” Lee started, her voice trailing off as she looked at the amount on the check.

Chris whistled. “This is a lot.”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Don’t get too excited. They’re probably just trying to butter you up before they dump more work on us. You know how they are.”

Lee shook her head, still staring at the check. “No, this is… this is huge. Did you?—”

I cut her off, leaning forward and folding my hands on the desk. “Look, I didn’t do anything. It’s from the partners. They wanted to show their appreciation. That’s all.”

Chris glanced at me, a knowing look in his eye. “Garrett, did you?—”

“Don’t,” I said, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t go making this into some big thing. You earned it. That’s it.”

They both stared at me for a moment, and I could tell they weren’t buying it. Lee opened her mouth to say something, but I held up a hand to stop her.

“Seriously,” I said, leaning back again. “Take the check, say thank you, and move on. We’ve got bigger fish to fry. I’m going to bust ass to land us another client. Bigger. More work. And I’ll expect the same level of dedication.”

Chris smirked, tucking the check into his pocket. “Alright, boss. Thanks. But don’t think this means I’m going to start liking you.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Lee smiled, slipping her own check into her bag. “Thanks, Garrett. Really.”

I waved her off. “Alright, enough mushy stuff. Let’s get back to work. We’ve got clients to impress.”

As they headed out of my office, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.

They deserved it. They’d put in the hours, the effort, the late nights.

We all had. And if splitting my bonus three ways meant they felt appreciated, then it was worth it.

I remembered being in their positions when I first started.

They put in the time and legwork and the partners and associates got the payouts.

It was only right that there should be some trickle down.

And the money would have been nice, but I didn’t need it. They did.

The partners didn’t care about them. They cared about the bottom line, the deals, the money.

And while I understood that, it didn’t sit right with me.

Chris and Lee had poured their hearts into the Westbrook deal, and they deserved more than just a check.

They deserved recognition and respect. Hell, they deserved a damn parade for the hours they’d put in.

But the partners? They didn’t see it that way.

To them, Chris and Lee were just cogs in the machine, replaceable parts that kept the firm running smoothly.

I hated that mentality. I’d always believed that if you take care of your people, they’ll take care of the business. It’s how I was taught to lead.

They needed to feel valued, even if it was just from me. I handed them those envelopes and told them to take some time off. A month, maybe more. They deserved it. And I needed to figure out my next move.

The truth was, I was worried. The Westbrook deal had been my golden ticket, or so I thought.

But Ron’s reaction? It wasn’t what I’d hoped for.

Instead of praise, he’d handed me a reality check.

I needed to bring in my own clients if I wanted to make partner.

No more riding on his coattails. It was sink or swim, and I wasn’t about to drown.

My phone buzzed on the desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. Another text from Billy. I ignored it again, flipping the phone face down. I didn’t have time for whatever farm drama he was dealing with. I had bigger fish to fry.

I wasn’t born into this world like my boss.

I was a stranger in New York basically, without the old money connections that fueled so much of the business in the city.

I wasn’t even sure where to start to recruit clients.

I didn’t have memberships to the exclusive clubs and golf courses.

I was younger than a lot of the old money guys and didn’t run in the same circles.

Deciding to figure it out later, I stepped into the elevator after the long day.

The doors slid shut. I leaned against the mirrored wall, closing my eyes for a moment.

The hum of the motor was a welcome reprieve from the hum of the office.

When the elevator dinged and the doors opened to the parking garage, I stepped out.

My footsteps echoed in the cavernous space.

The garage was eerily quiet. It made my skin prickle. I walked toward my car, keys already in hand, when a black cat darted across my path. I chuckled despite myself. “Great,” I muttered. “Just what I need.”

I kept walking toward my car but the sound of footsteps behind me made me pause. I glanced over my shoulder but didn’t see anyone else. The garage was empty. My heart quickened, though I told myself it was nothing.

I wasn’t the type to get spooked. Living in the city toughened a man up. The dumb cat had put me on edge, it seemed. Maybe my blood sugar was low and that was why everything felt off.

Then I heard what sounded like children laughing. The sound seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. I shook my head, dismissing it as my tired mind playing tricks on me. That nine a.m. bagel wasn’t cutting it.

The Westbrook deal had fried me. I’d been running on empty for too long.

I started walking a little faster, my Tom Ford dress shoes clicking against the concrete. My car was a few rows over. I just wanted to get in, drive home, and be alone with my thoughts. I wasn’t scared. Just tired.

The laughing grew louder, and yeah it was fucking weird. I spotted my black Mercedes S-Class and pushed the button on the key fob to unlock the doors.

I spotted something on the trunk of my hundred-thousand-dollar car. “What the hell?”

I reached for it and saw it was a creepy clown mask. Okay, what the fuck is going on?

Hot breath brushed against the back of my neck. “Garrett.”

I turned around swinging. The hell if I was going to get mugged. The man ducked before my punch could land.

Billy laughed, clearly thinking he was hilarious. And then I did hit him. Only in the arm and just hard enough to make his laughing ass stumble.

“What is wrong with you!” I snapped. “Are you nuts? If I was carrying a gun or pepper spray, your ass would be laid out right now.”

“I know you left your guns on the farm,” he said, rubbing his arm. “And I assumed you don’t have pepper spray since you’re not carrying a purse.”

I glared at Billy, my heart still pounding from the scare he’d just given me. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” I snapped, shoving the clown mask into his chest. “What the hell are you doing here? And why are you sneaking up on me like some kind of psycho?”

“I texted you I was coming, but apparently, someone is too important to talk to his brother,” Billy said with a grin, completely unfazed by my irritation.

“Missed you too, by the way.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder.

“Since you ignored me, I thought I’d surprise you.

You know, bring a little Greenleaf charm to the big city. ”

“Charm?” I scoffed, brushing his hand off. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. And what’s with the mask? Are you trying to traumatize me?”

He laughed that easygoing laugh that always seemed to annoy me and make me miss him all at once. “Oh, come on. It’s just a little fun. You used to have a sense of humor, remember? Or did the city suck that out of you too?”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “You haven’t changed a bit, have you? Still the same idiot who thought it was a good idea to jump out at me dressed as a scarecrow.”

“And you’re still the same grumpy older brother who pretends he doesn’t love Halloween as much as I do,” Billy shot back, his grin widening. “Admit it. You missed me.”

I crossed my arms, trying to maintain my annoyed facade, but deep down, I had missed him.

Billy held up his phone and pushed the button, playing the spooky child laughter I heard earlier. “Honest answer, gut reaction, don’t stop to think about it—how scary is that clown mask?”

“Not as scary as how bad I’m gonna whoop your ass.”

The words were out before I could think about them. It was the country in me coming out. You could take the boy out of the farm, but there was no taking the farm out of the boy. No matter how long I lived in the city and dressed the part, there was still a farm boy under the sleek suit.

Billy grinned and shut off the stupid recording. “It’s a serious question. It’s for work.”

“Harvesting pumpkins in a mask now? You’re ugly but not that ugly.”

“Hey,” Lucy said, walking up with Sabrina.

Holy shit. Sabrina fucking Lamb.

It had been a few years since I’d seen her, but mother of god, Sabrina was looking like a Michelin-star meal and I wanted to dig in. I wanted to devour her. Inch by slow inch.

She smiled. “Hi.”

I knew I was staring but I couldn’t look away.

Holy shit.

I felt like a teenager all over again.

She was the one to finally look away. She had grown up hot. Perfect tits. A nice round ass. She was a knockout even in jeans and a flannel shirt.

“Hey, butthead,” Lucy said and shoved my shoulder.

I blinked and remembered where I was. Lucy was smiling.

“You’re here,” I managed to get out.

Lucy nodded. “Yep. Here. We were hiding behind that SUV.”

“Did you see his face?” Billy asked. “I told you that mask was too much.”

“Too much for what?” Garrett asked.

“Something I’m working on at the farm. I’ll fill you in later.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to see you guys, but what the hell are you doing here?”

“You know why I’m here,” Billy said with a shrug.

And then it clicked. I did know why he’d driven five hours to surprise me and it had nothing to do with a clown mask.

“Fuck off. I’m not going home.”