“Custom Glass will be here at noon, cops are on their way,” Haverty says.

“Good. I forgot we turned off the alarm earlier. My parents should have received a call if the glass was broken.”

“Blame it on me. Tell them I forgot to set it when we left last night. No biggie.”

“Go home.” My hand twitches, as I look him in the eye. “I’m pissed off and don’t want to take it out on you, plus I want some privacy when my father gets here. I’ll clean up and talk to the police, then wait for the glass to be repaired.”

“No way, you dumbass. I’ll wait. I’m not leaving you alone after someone just threw a rock through the window. I’ll talk to the cops since you’ve had your share of conversations with them, and then keep my distance when your father’s here.”

I want him to leave so I can have another drink. The fucker. “Fine.”

“Go chill in your office and stop giving me that wicked look, alright? You get this way whenever you’re craving liquor; an angry little shit to people. That should tell you something.”

“I know. My father says the same thing. Everyone’s on my case about drinking and I’m fucking tired of it.”

“Well so are we. Let’s install a heavy bag in your office so you can punch the hell out of it instead of reaching for a bottle every chance you get. Fuckers like you need something to control your emotions besides liquor, and that might do the trick.”

“Fine,” I repeat and bite my lower lip.

“I’m not Sophia, you know, the lip bite thing does nothing for me.”

Haverty’s known to push me until I lighten up whenever he believes I’m in a mood. I laugh and shake my head at his last remark. “Ha, well how ‘bout this?” I grab my dick with one hand and lick my lips in a playful way.

“Dear Lord, what are you doing?” My father’s voice echoes through the room as he walks in from the back door. “If the broken glass doesn’t drive customers away that sure will.”

We laugh, and Haverty gets a broom and trashcan to clean the mess.

“We’ll be upstairs. Let me know if the cops need to speak with me,” I request.

“Will do.”

My father and I head to my office. The article’s on the floor and I set it on a side table for now as he stands at the balcony, dressed identically to me.

“Is the alarm working?”

“Yeah, we forgot to set it last night.”

He flashes a questioning look and joins me on the black sofa that’s placed in the corner of the room. It’s the furthest spot from the door, and blends in with the black walls. I’ve fucked Sophia here many times, once during our busiest hour of the night, and it’s private enough that no one would ever know.

Haverty’s voice resonates into the office as the police arrive for a report.

“Any thoughts on who did this?” my father asks.

“Not a clue. We fired someone recently, but I doubt it was her. Hav thinks it’s just a random act.”

“So tell me why I’m here? I know you didn’t call me down to keep you company while Haverty takes care of things. Spit it out, before your mother and Sophia show up and start poking their noses into everything.”

“Cove, sorry to interrupt,” Haverty stands at the door with a hand full of papers. “Glass guys are here early, had a cancelled job, and I’m still talking to an officer, and you have like three glass options and I haven’t a clue which is best. I’m not an expert here on your building. Suggestions?”

“I’ll be right down.”

He takes off and I set the article in my father’s lap. “Look this over while I’m gone. One of my employees brought it in; she came across it in her mother’s house, Kaitlyn Moore. I’d like to know why she has it and if you know her.” I study his face for an expression that may give a clue to his coming answer, but he’s void of any emotion. “Alright then, back in a flash.”

He’s kept things from me before, but not much, and only if he thought the information would hurt our family in some way, which is why I’m worried. If it’s bad, something to do with Paul, like she worked for him or some shit like that; then I’ll be hard-pressed to get an answer.

I nod to the cop and meet the glass guys out front. They talk a lot of shit, have a ridiculous sales pitch if I buy some specialty glass I’ll get free window cleaning for a few months, and in the end I get frustrated with the excess of choices and tell them to replace it quickly with the same thing. I’m not waiting for a special order to arrive. Who the fuck knew there would be so many options, I mean, glass is glass. Fucking fix it already.

And wouldn’t you know it; I walk back into my loft office and he’s gone. Took off. My father fucking left. Must have slipped out the way he came in. I give him a call but it goes to voicemail. If that’s not a sign something’s run amok... .

I can’t believe he did that. Disappeared without talking to me. At least Sophia’s incoming ring is a welcome distraction at the moment.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Don’t you hey beautiful me. What gives? A window broke? Is that true or is it another story to cover up what you’re already hiding? And why did you send your father out? Talk to me, goddammit! You said you wouldn’t be long, and you made me look like a fool in front of your parents. If you wanted me to tell them a broken glass story then why didn’t you let me know? Your mother thinks I’m crazy!”

I smile at her wild tantrum. I shouldn’t, but her loss of control turns me on, makes me want to hold her down and fuck her until she calms down, or until she forgets the subject at hand, plus hearing her voice is a nice diversion to my morning. I love her when she’s sweet, when she’s nasty, and also when she’s out of control. There’s never a dull moment with my wife.

“Are you coming home soon ‘cause I want to say these things to your face. And another thing...”

“Yeah, I’m on my way.” I hang up before she has a chance to respond. That will keep her in a rage until I’m home.

I look over the balcony and see Haverty shaking hands with the officer while the window crew clean up the glass. One guy took off to pick up the new piece and it should be installed within the hour.

“Hey Haverty,” I call out on my way down the stairs. “Feel like staying until they finish? I have a change of plans.”

“Sophia?”

“Maybe.”

“She yelling at you?”

“Perhaps.”

“Ha, wait ‘til tonight. If she finds out...”

“She won’t,” I cut him off and head for the door.

“What happened with your father?” he asks.

“Nothing. He jumped ship.”

“I’d say that’s something, not nothing. By the way, tell your wife she owes me money.”

“What?” I pause at the front before stepping out. “What for?”

“She pays me to keep you from taking drinks from the bar. I thought you’d like to know before I become a millionaire.”

“Bullshit,” I say, but can tell by his laugh that he’s not clowning around this time. “How much?”

“Enough to make it worth my while, and since it’s probably your money in the first place, maybe it will get you to think twice about pouring another glass. Two a day, that’s it, so you’re cut off until tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe the two of you are working together on this.”

“What, you mean like you and I working together to sober her up as well?”

“Good point.”

“Want some advice, shit finger?”

I shake my head, but know he’s gonna say it anyway.

“Buy your wife some chocolate on the way home, do something nice for her.”

“What for?”

“You’re such a dumbass. Man, you have a lot to learn.”

“Just fucking say it, Haverty.”

“First of all, because you love her... you do love her, right?” he asks, and tosses me my hat.

“I’m not answering that question. Is this another thing she paid you to do or say to me?”

“Listen,” he raises his hand to shut me up. “And second... this is important... do it because you’re about to step in shit. Try to pacify her before you head out tonight. If I have to watch over her then she better be in a good mood. I’ve found it’s always helpful to give a gift before you do something wrong, rather than after.”