The Blackwood Scandal

V

rm glow of McGillicuddy's Pub, my favorite haunt after a long day in

y called out, waving

rtender for a drink. "You have no idea. I'm starti

Don't think so, Avery. You're

he cancer got the better of her. A few months after she passed, I got a scholarship to study at NYU and moved to Manhattan, I was determined to make a better life for myself, and I had to work multiple jobs to put myself through law school. That's when I met Kimberly, who was also studying nursing at NYU, we were roommates. She now works as a nurse at the NYC hospital. We became fast friends, bonding over late-night pizza and stud

imberly asked, noticing m

ty. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... sometimes

I do. But you're making a differen

iend. That's what kept me going, after all – knowing

eels like I'm just spinning my whe

, You're doing great. I mean look how far you'

t week - he cheated, she wants alimony. Or Watsons' custody battle - he's a deadbeat dad, and she wants full custody. And don't

eone's got to handle those c

'm just going through the motions. I need a case that c

hat?" s

's going to make me feel like I

can make the biggest difference. You never know what's going to come along and change every

ht. Thanks, Kim. You always know w

e on, I need your help finalizing the

r her and Alex, her fiancée. Kimberly met Alex at the hospital wh

Still debating

planning is driving me crazy. Flowers,

chuckled, sipping my whiskey. " I

erything is perfect," Kimberly s

thing under contr

s almost midnight. As Kimberly's phone buzzed

e got an early morning shift tom

ould head out too," I said takin

om the stuffy atmosphere inside. Alex was waiting by the car, a sleek b

okay? Take it easy and I

he car, Alex came around to open the passenger

Alex"

looking out for her,"

I laughed. "T

watched them drive off, the taillights of their car fading into the night. I lingered for a moment, t

e driver's seat, I took a deep breath, eased out of the parking spot, and began

OR

s ba

windows of my high-rise office. I turned back to my friend and business

s down, his expression quickly shifting to

ed the drawer, and pulled out

I said, my

etter, his eyes

ox this morning," I sai

it? Are you sure it's the same per

s anonymous. But they know things...thin

"George, thi

s. If they go public with this, It's

ep my composure, but a flicker of

d to rebuild my life. This goes deeper th

demands. You need to handle this, George, and not by paying him o

ast thing I want is to involve the cops. I ca

rney. You could request a non-disclosure agreement, and ma

w, intrigued despi

roe LLP. They're known for their discretion and their success rate. The owner, Avery Monroe, comes highly recommended. Patel s

know, Chris. This is bigger than a family business dispute. My fa

t." Chris continued, his voice steady and reassuring "How about this? I set up a meeting with her on Monday, I'll approach it as if I'm working o

ook me in until I turned eighteen and was old enough to claim my trust fund. I built Blackwood Inc., a billion-dollar tech company I started up with Chris, who I met in college, we were both studying business at Harvard. Chris was the kind of guy who preferred a quieter path. He wasn't interested in the spotlight. He wanted success, sure, but he also valued privacy, something I envied but couldn't quite grasp. My name w

is's voice br

f the thoughts. "Okay

r you to meet with her." he said pulling out his phone

Thanks for

ore setting the glass down. He paused

es

us game. If they're willing to go this far, there's no tellin

aid, Chris. I've been through hell and back. I

as it closed behind him, the silence of the office returned.

like a noose tightening around my neck. The past I'd tried so hard to bury was claw