One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 81

It seems like forever since I’ve made the offer to Jeff. Days pass, and he doesn’t respond. I do my best to work in my new office, but it’s still difficult to concentrate, even without being able to see him. I spend so much of my time thinking about Julia and wondering what Jeff is going to do.

I have a file open on my computer, but I’m not really looking at it. I am just reviewing something one of my associates has already done. Probably for the best that I do that for now, until we get all of this sorted out. If I were to try and handle any accounts myself at the moment, there’d be no guarantee that the work would be up to par. It’s a shame, and difficult for me to admit, but it’s true.

My phone rings just as I’m starting to respond to an email. I almost ignore it since I’ve finally started to get some work done, but when I glance down to see who is calling and see that it’s Shawna, my head lawyer, I pick it up right away. "This is Braxton," I say.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Merriweather," she says in her very official sounding legal voice. "How are you today, sir?"

"I’m doing just fine, Shawna," I say, lying through my teeth, as I have been lately since people have been asking me that question. "How are you?"

"Good. I just got some news I thought you’d want to hear right away." Her tone sounds optimistic, and I have to brace myself to hear what she has to say.

"What’s that?" I ask, hoping not to get too excited just yet in case it’s not what I am thinking it might be.

"Well," she begins, and I wish she’d just get to the point already. "Jeff Thompson has agreed to the settlement."

I feel my heart begin to pound in my chest. So he has agreed to the settlement! I lean back in my chair, close my eyes for a second, before I finally manage to say, "That is great news," trying to keep myself sounding pleased but not ecstatic, which is how I’m actually feeling. I hate the idea that I am about to give that asshole five billion dollars he’s done nothing to earn, but at least I will be rid of him, and I won’t have to worry about him threatening my livelihood or, more importantly, Julia ever again. Not to mention it will also be easier for her to go ahead and move forward with the divorce decree.