The Caterer

Chapter 50

D ELANY WALKED INTO HIS OFFICE. Today was the day. He nodded to Katy, who bit her bottom lip. A backup of Bobbie’s desktop and phone waited on his desk. He sighed. He could do this. His best friend did this to himself. Bobbie used their friendship to get rich and hurt other people, presuming Delany would keep being na?ve and in the dark, and he might have been. That was one thing Alice gave him. She removed the blinders and helped him see what his fear of others cost him.

Katy came in with his paper and coffee, setting them on the edge of his desk.

“I owe you an apology,” he said. “You tried to tell me who Bobbie was, and I blew you off. Gave him a pass. I am sorry for not doing my part in seeing what was going on.”

Katy took a moment, her mouth ajar. “I appreciate the apology, Delany. Thank you.”

“Thank you for staying with me.”

She smiled. “You’re not getting rid of me any time soon. ”

The lawyer came in and Katy left pulling the door closed behind her.

“It’s wiped clean,” the lawyer said. “Bobbie wiped his hard drive and his phone.”

He suspected something. Not hard given Delany had been avoiding him since the encounter in his office, not taking his calls, pulling other people in on his projects.

“I have it.” Delany handed him the backups.

“Here’s the paperwork you asked me to draw up.” The lawyer handed him a file, Bobbie’s termination settlement. His stomach tightened, Delany fighting the urge to throw up. His palms were sweaty. Let him wake up and find this all a bad nightmare.

“I’m sorry, Delany.”

Bobbie came in midmorning, creeping toward Delany’s desk. Delany did one more scan of his emails, still no word from Tabby.

“How are you doing?” Bobbie sat across from him. “Everything good?”

“Why do you ask?” Delany looked at him. Bobbie tried to play it cool, but sweat lined his top lip and he fidgeted more than normal. He gave Delany too wide a smile.

“You haven’t been returning my calls.”

“What did you see coming out of your conversation with Alice?”

Bobbie started to stumble and give an excuse. Delany raised his hand. He didn’t care. “Today is your last day at Macon. Today is your last day in my life. I know about the deals you made with companies we merged with, how you bullied people into giving you what you wanted, and went behind my back. I know you lied to me. I know you were working with Nadia to keep Alice out of my life. I know about the deal you made with Jonas for The Cora. I know you set Alice’s food truck on fire. What I don’t know is why, but I guess I don’t care. ”

Bobbie’s face twitched. He watched Delany, choosing his words. “Bulldog…”

“I hate that nickname. I have always hated that nickname. And maybe that should have been a sign to me of how big a jackass you are. It’s not outsiders I can’t trust, Robert, it’s you.”

“You can’t prove any of it,” he said after a moment. No denial, not an apology or any sign of remorse or accountability, only the arrogance that he’d covered his tracks and would get by scot-free.

“The police have a copy of your hard drive and phone from last week. You can thank Tabby Black for that little innovation. I was going to offer you severance, make it so you were okay.” He took the pages out and tore them in half. “But now I want you gone. You will never use my name to further your life again. Let’s see who wants you when you have nothing but bravado to back you up.”

“Delany—I’m your oldest friend… It’s that woman… They’re lying!” He stood.

“Emails and text messages and eyewitnesses tell a story of how you played me for a fool.” He stood and leaned into his desk. “You’re lucky I’m not suing you for all the BS you pulled here—those trips, all the favors you extorted. You’re lucky I am not full-court press. I defended you against your old company, paid for your legal fees, and you lied to me! You’ve been using my name to garner favors and support since we were kids. You think your father would be proud of you? You think this is how J.R. got by, why everyone in our community revered him?”

“Don’t mention my father!”

“He is rolling in his grave, Bobbie. Your father was not slick. Not manipulative. Somewhere you know this isn’t how he’d want you living your life.”

Bobbie took a breath before resetting his tie and standing fully. “You’ll regret this. ”

“My only regret is ever trusting you.”

Bobbie stormed out of the office, security waiting. Katy stood from her desk. Delany sat and put his head in his hands. His door closed a moment later. One down.

He drove to Baltimore that night. His mother reached for his hand; he could do this. He nodded weakly. It was the right thing—the right thing. His mother waited in the car while he knocked on Nadia’s door. Helene opened it and ran into his arms. He breathed her in. For his little girl. He told her to go see her grandma before he went inside and called for Nadia. She came out from the kitchen in her pajamas and fuzzy slippers.

“You fired Bobbie?”

“Why are you two still texting? Alice is gone.” He hoped to catch her off guard, but she just smirked and raised her wineglass.

“Good riddance, I say. That man has been leeching off you since we were kids. I’m glad you finally saw what Bobbie is.” She stepped closer and took a long drink.

He removed the tri-folded collection of papers from his jacket pocket and handed it to Nadia. “These were filed in Baltimore yesterday; I am going for primary custody of Helene. She’s going to live with me, and you can see her on the weekends. Also, I am suing for the $240,000 you owe me in overpaid child support.”

She laughed and slid the papers back into his jacket pocket, holding him.

“We should celebrate getting Bobbie out of your life. My mom can keep Helene. Aruba is lovely this time of year. Bali. We don’t have to leave the room.” She went on her toes to kiss him, Delany taking a step back.

He reached for her wrist without the wine and slid the papers into her hand. “Nod, listen. I’m asking for Helene to come live with me. ”

“You can’t take my daughter.” She set her glass on the table and skimmed the pages.

“Our daughter, Nadia. She’s both of ours. I am not going to let you use her to fund your lifestyle anymore.”

She pouted slightly. “Bobbie told me you came to your senses with the caterer. I know we didn’t get along, but I think you’ll come to see I was right.” She held out the pages for him.

“I’m serious.”

She chuckled. “Give it a few days and you’ll realize this is a mistake and the best thing for all concerned would be for you to come home and us to be a family.”

It was the same look Bobbie gave him, the one that said he’d been a sucker for twenty years and this little showing of backbone didn’t mean anything. He ran his hand over his mouth, widening his stance.

“We’re not a family, Nadia. We have never been a family. It’s over. I’m not your ticket to the Gucci life. Go to Aruba on your own dollar because you are not getting any more money from me.”

That seemed to break through, Nadia recoiling slightly. “Don’t start what you can’t finish, Delany. You have no idea what I can take you for.”

He got closer to her and pulled up to his full height. “Don’t threaten me. We both know I have better lawyers and a mountain of evidence.”

Nadia stepped back and cocked her head. “I see your game. Two can do this. You wait, I will take you for everything you have. I am going to get total custody of my little girl, and you will give me every penny I ask for and more! You hear me!” She kept raging. Delany reached for Helene’s bag and walked out. She sat in the back of his car, laughing with her grandma. The evening felt warmer somehow, the breeze on his face a reminder that he could do this.