Rafe wasn’t an idiot. The man knew how to play the game just as well as any lawyer could and Alan often wondered why his ‘frenemy’ didn’t pull a Ted Bundy and represent himself half the time. Lord knew he liked everything his way at all times and detested being told what to do. It was no small wonder that in the legal world, Adler was known as a nightmare to work for, but making it onto his team of advisors automatically granted an attorney celebrity status. Book deals, TED talks, interview requests. Some even making cameo appearances in tv shows. Needless to say, any position on the team, even fifth string, was coveted despite the stress-induced migraines and early greying hair.
Regardless, Alan wasn’t about to let Daniel get any part of it.
The attorney held out, jaw clenched, fingers tapping against the desktop, shoulder and back muscles wound so tight he was ready to spring like a jack-in-the-box at any second. Hold out. Call his bluff. Alder wouldn’t hire someone subpar to represent him just to get Alan to do what he’d wanted…
Then again, this was Rafe Adler.
It wasn’t until he heard that tinny familiar voice on the other end, that Alan lept across the desk, knocking over a lamp, papers, and the desk calendar, to rip the phone from the man’s hand, quickly hitting the end call button. Eyes closed for a moment, he finally tossed the phone back to Rafe and hit a button on the desk phone. “Roberta…reschedule my four o’clock meeting and order me the usual from Momofuku. I’m going to be pulling an all-nighter on a new case.”
When he clicked off, Alan let out a sigh. “Well played, Adler. Well played.”
It was like playing a chess game. Every move calculated, every reaction ————— EXPECTED. He would never bluff when it came to business but to know someone’s weakness and twist it into his own personal benefit was a game that he had been doing ever since he was in diapers. Drop the right name here and there and watch the color vanish for one’s features. Pretty much like it was happening to Alan right now. For a moment there, Rafe actually believed that he would end up with the second best and not the prized horse he was betting on…
But Alan acted the way he PREDICTED.
Everything happened so fast that he only had time to take a step away from the desk after Alan snatched his phone, a victorious and mostly COCKY grin adorning his features as the attorney couldn’t end that call fast enough. Of course, he would. To allow his former lover to have all the things that he could have plus the bragging rights that would last a lifetime ————— there was no way in hell that the blond would allow such thing to happen. Even at the expense of his own personal belongings, now scattered all over the floor in his frenzy to stop that call no matter the cost.
“Well, this was fun.” His gaze was now on the screen of his phone, the call ended and the screen blinking before resuming its previously dormant state. “Was it so hard, McMichael?” A shrug followed his actions, one hand reaching for the nearby chair and pulling it closer as Rafe set down like a king on his throne and high above every other miserable peasant out there. “You’re cute to assume that I bluff. It’s not bluff when it’s a guaranteed win, Alan. And due to this, you can call your ex-partner when we are done and start with the victory celebrations.” Who wouldn’t rub this success in the face of all of those that had annoyed them in the past. “Shall I even schedule a meeting at my office to deliver him the news in person? I’m sure Daniel would be shocked to see you there.”
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