How bored my best friend's voice brought me back from my office problems to the restaurant where we were having lunch.
_ What is your problem? I asked, not really interested.
Jake was a party guy and adventurer. Every fourth was the same, we went out for lunch and Jake always said, 'What a Boredom.' He really did not know how he could get bored when he had a club that only closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
"Do you know what it is?" He asked, "Do not you think we should go on a trip or something?
There he goes, I thought. What did he do this time? Whenever Jake got one, we'd go on vacation.
_ What happened? I asked.
He drank water, trying to dodge the question. He stuck the steak on the plate playing with it.
_ I have no idea what you are talking_ desconversou_ I can not just want to spend quality time with my best friend?
I stopped eating and stared, was he trying to make me feel guilty? He shifted, giving up with an irritated sigh.
_ I admit it. I'm guilty. You wanted to hear me say that?
I admit that hearing Jake say he was wrong was very good, especially since it did not happen very often, but he said nothing. He hides my victory smile behind the wineglass I was drinking.
"Kristen caught me cheating on her," he told her. "In my office. She went to make a surprise but it was me who made her a surprise.
_ As I thought. It's none of my business_ I went back to eating without paying attention to him.
_ What's up man. Help me! She broke my whole apartment and wrote offensive things on the walls. I had to hire someone to redecorate the place and give it an extra painting.
_ You betrayed her. If he turns around then I look at him. Where are you sleeping? If you are redecorating and painting your apartment.
_ In the apartment above the nightclub_ he answered by drinking the rest of the wine in his glass, then he made a face _ Man, sometimes I wonder why we are friends.
"Sometimes I wonder the same thing," I said with a half smile.
I knew why we were friends but did not admit it to him. Jake was the only person in college not to treat me differently for my family's money. After that we became best friends. I was a quieter guy, but Jake knew how to be wild. I was his brake and he was my accelerator. We had fun together.
The waitress came closer again, she had been doing this ever since we arrived. Eating us with our eyes. Jake with his playboy style and his tattoos make him the kind of evil boy. Women love it in him. I with my expensive suit and my face called attention too, but there was always the money. And it irritated me. They looked at my expensive suit and thought about how much money I had. They were not really wrong, I had a lot.
"Can I help with anything else?" She came closer to Jake smiling with bright, anxious eyes.
"I do not know, baby, can you?" Jake lowered his voice, keeping her voice hoarse and low. I kicked his cinnamon under the table. It was always like this. But this time I did not have time for that.
"Just the bill, thank you." She looked disappointed, but withdrew to get our bill. No wonder Kristen put her foot in your ass.
He laughed without seeming to really care.
_ Man, you should understand me. Being a nightclub owner has no chance of anything happening. Pretty much it rains woman in my yard.
"I bet I do.
The waitress came back with the bill and I paid. At the door of the restaurant Jake slipped his arm around my shoulders.
_ Do you have to go back?
"Of course," I shooed him off, pushing his shoulder against mine. "The family business is not going to run alone.
We started walking down the street. Toward my building where the offices were. Jake accompanied me reluctantly.
"Man, how long have you been gone?" He asked.
I made a face, a valid question. Recently at work we had problems about buying another company, they did not pay the due taxes and caused me big problems. Months creating a business plan for buying a company that ended up being just a big headache. So more months to get the company to make a profit so I could sell it for a lot of money.
My whole life has stopped because of this purchase. I was always so busy that I did not have time or sleep. Imagine to have sex.
_ Almost a year? I asked out loud, without worrying.
"Wow, you're practically a virgin," Jake said.
"Who is a virgin?" I asked irritably, I could be a lot. But certainly not a virgin_ I was busy.
We entered the building, greeted the reception desk and climbed the elevator to the top floor. My office had not yet arrived from lunch, that did not bother me. She worked for me for years. We walked into my living room and Jake sat in the chair in front of my desk. I sat down too.
Maybe I should have come to the club this Saturday. Catch a kitten.
I thought about it, reconsidering. Maybe relieving stress will help me.
"Maybe I will."
I started to tinker with some papers on the table while Jake got up and went to lie down on my couch.
"You're not leaving?" I asked, watching him settle down and stretch his legs like he was at home.
_ Not yet.
Jake was an only child, and sometimes he acted like a spoiled child, but he was my best friend. We studied together at school and went to college together, we lived in the same house and we went through a lot together. We had lunch once a week, the Wednesdays.
Two hours later my father walks through the door. He looked worried. She looked at the sofa and gave a half smile.
"This kid does not have a house, does not he?" He asked jokingly. My parents treated Jake like a son and they liked him very much. They were very proud of him when he decided to open his nightclub.
"He's bored apparently," I replied, picking up the ball of massage therapists and throwing it at him. I hit my target.
_ The businesses seemed to be doing well_ my father said worried_ Are not they?
"Yes, sir," he answered as he sat down. "The club is always full.
_ That's great, boy. I hope it stays that way.
_ Me too.
My father approached me. And I noticed he had something to talk about. And no matter what it was, I would not like it.
_ Hey, son ...
"Let's cut this father," I interrupted, all my instincts saying it would be bad. "You do not have to soften me, just go ahead and say what you mean.
"Oh, that sounds good." Jake stood up, approaching. From his face he wanted to fool me.
My father shrugged.
_ I got a bride for you.
Did I really listen well? I could swear that my father said he got me a bride. It may be in my head, after all, not even this big-mouthed guy on my side was not saying anything. As surprised as I am.
"How is it?" I asked to make sure I heard it.
"It's like I said, I got you a bride." You're getting married next month.
Next month? With whom?
"Wait a minute, Mr. D, even I'm confused," Jake interrupted. "Why are you marrying this guy with so much prey?
- Dam? "I got up, I fucked my tie." That's nothing, I did not even know I was engaged.
My father sighed as he sat down.
"Do you know that my friend, Thomas Reymond?"
_ The guy with the batteries? _ Jake asks interested.
"Yes, yes," my father agreed. "His business is not going well.
"I thought his business was fine.
_ In fact they are not, they are in problems. Your business is failing. And he asked me for help.
_ I do not understand_ I started to walk_ if you want to help him, just do it. Why do I have to get married for this?
_ Why, why we are friends. But before that I am an entrepreneur. I can not just help without gaining anything in return.
Jake shook his head, understanding everything.
"If Paul marries one of his daughters, then he can take half of his company.
"He's marrying the eldest. The younger sister is still in school, "my father agreed again." Because he could not handle the company itself, I can not simply borrow the money he asked for, after all, it's a fairly large sum. Then Paul will marry his daughter and be responsible for running the company.
"You can forget," I said irritably, not even being consulted on the subject. "I'm not getting married.
"You're going," my father replied, and this time he was the father who reminded me when he taught me things about running this company, the ruthless business man I remembered. "Because I've already committed and signed a contract. Are you going to marry.