This Life: A Novel Read Online Free Page A

set up for the deposition with Señor Ruiz this afternoon?
Good, bueno .” “Nicole? Hi, Carmen here. Listen, I’m still waiting for
your… Yes, that’s right. I can’t really proceed without that. Lunchtime? Sure,
that will be fine, just leave it with Miguel.” “Good morning, who am I speaking
with? Oh, Stephanie, I’m sorry, you sounded different just now. I need to talk
to someone in the DA’s office…”
    While Morales took care
of business, Blake summoned up local news on the BlackBerry. Every local
television station was broadcasting from the courthouse steps, where Lang and
Gruber were answering questions:
    “Lang, can you tell us—”
    “Mr. Bertrand, please.”
Lang grinned like a cat that just ate someone’s pet hamster.
    “My client and I can’t
comment on specifics of his divorce,” Gruber announced, “and by the judge’s
order neither can anyone else. However, my client’s name remains Lang Bertrand,
so please address him accordingly.”
    “Bastards.” Blake
killed the BlackBerry’s Internet connection.
    Gradually the bathroom
emptied of occupants except for Morales and herself. Her attorney wrapped up
her latest phone call, and then said, “Blake? Let’s talk.”
    Blake emerged from the
stall and leaned against one of the sinks. She didn’t know what to say, so she
simply watched Morales expectantly.
    Morales examined Blake
for a moment. “I thought I told you to take some breaths.”
    “You did, but I don’t
understand why.”
    “Because you’re
off-balance and need to center yourself.” Morales gestured at the mirror over
the sink, and Blake looked at her reflection. “See what you’re doing?”
    Shaking her head, and
watching herself do so, Blake replied, “Just waiting for you to explain what
this is all about.”
    “ Mira que cosa tiene
la mujer esta. ” Morales gave Blake a quirky grin.
    “This isn’t I Love
Lucy .” Blake couldn’t help grinning back, though.
    Morales pointed to the
mirror. “You’re touching that scar on your forehead. I know what that means. Do
you?”
    Blake shrugged her
shoulders. “That I should get plastic surgery to remove it?”
    “You do that when you
feel insecure. Breathe, Blake.” Morales took a deep breath and beckoned to Blake
to follow her example. They breathed together a few times, and then Morales
nodded satisfaction. “That’s good. Now listen. I know you wanted to take the
Bertrand name away from Lang, but we talked about what you can do if that
request was denied. Let him have it. The name Blake is still yours alone. Roll
with that.”
    Again, Blake breathed.
She felt like screaming instead. “But the raven—”
    “Per Judge Stone’s
divorce order, neither of you can use the raven logo anymore. Find a symbol
that represents Blake to you, and make a new logo from that.”
    “I hate this.”
    “I know.” Sadness
filled Morales’s eyes. “Divorce is a kind of death. You’ve lost something you
loved, and you’ve got to grieve and that never feels good. The good thing,
though, is that there’s life after divorce. You can resurrect yourself. Make it
your mission to bring Blake back to life.”
    #
    Seven hundred million
dollars.
    At about three o’clock in the afternoon, the
Wishman family quoted that amount as their selling price. By half past four Charles still hadn’t
been able to haggle them down any more. With her post-divorce assets Blake
couldn’t buy the Wishman Spears building single-handedly, but she felt
optimistic that she could probably put up enough collateral to obtain a bank
loan for the rest. Or she could recruit one or more investors to put up the
remainder.
    “Tell them it’s a deal.
Give them my real estate attorney’s name and telephone number, and tell them I
can meet with them anytime they choose to close on this.” Blake’s hand trembled
after she ended the BlackBerry’s connection with Charles.
    Seven hundred million
dollars…was one hell of a lot of money, even for Blake.