"Milo, Mr. Ward is on line one."
"Tell him I'll call him back Donna, I'm in the middle of something"
Donna stands from her desk and opens the glass door to My office.
"What is your issue?" she challenges
"Donna I don't have time for Ward, I-"
"You're avoiding him because he wants to get you back out there, I understand you're going through a lot with your father's estate but that doesn't mean you should just bury yourself in work."
"I'm not burying myself in anything and this has nothing to do with my father, I don't know if you noticed but I have cases to work on. I barely have the time to make myself dinner anymore, the last thing I need to do is waste a Saturday night drinking with Jim."
"Yeah like you're not gonna spend it drinking in here"
"I-"
"Yes Milo, I know how much you drink in here on the weekends before you go home. If you're going to be drinking at least do it socially with people who want to see you instead of alone in your office"
"fine" I groan as I pick up the phone
"Jimmy! How are you man? Sorry, I haven't returned any of your calls I've been so swamped with the merger and then settling everything with my dad."
I put on the best smile I can as I wave Donna out of my office.
"Have a good night Mr. Morello" Donna yells over her shoulder as she saunters out of my office.
As it gets into the later hours of the night I can't help but stare at the clock, hoping time would stop and 10 pm would never come but eventually, it does. I stand and start to head toward the door and walk to the elevators. The ride down feels like an eternity until I finally hit the ground floor and walk out of my building. I walk to the car on the street waiting for me and slump down into the back.
"Take me to Illusion" I groan.
As the car parks outside the club, I step out onto the street and grab my umbrella out of the back seat. I tip my driver and tell him I'll catch a cab home. I take a deep breath and start to head toward the door and walk past the line.
"Nice to see you back Mr. Morello, I'll let Mr. Ward know that you're here"
I pat the bouncer on the back and slip him a 20 from my coat.
"Thanks, Nick"
As I walk inside my ears are already ringing from the bass of the music, the lights blind me and it smells like alcohol and cheap cologne. I don't even make it 10 steps inside before my old friend ambushes me.
"Milo! I didn't think you'd actually show up" he shouts over the music
I lean in to respond
"Yeah well I'm here now so let's go get some drinks"
James Ward a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, pretty boy from the bay area that I met in Law school. He's a hard hitter in the courtroom and has an ego the size of Texas, but he's the closest thing I have to a friend here.
"So how's everything going at work?" He asks loudly
"Same old firm, a lot of new business that came our way after my dad passed" I say as I reach for my drink
"I'm really sorry to hear about that man, silver linings I guess" He quips as he takes a sip and stands up walking to a quieter table in the club.
"This place is doing pretty good, I remember when you bought it and it was just speakers and a bar"
"Yeah well I invested quite a bit of money into it, but I knew it would get off the ground eventually. It's all about the staff"
"Yeah I saw Nick when I was coming in, glad to see he's still here"
"He's the best. Let's cut the small talk though, when are you gonna get yourself back out there?"
"I don't have time for a relationship right now man, be happy I was free tonight" I shoot back
"Alright alright, I won't push the issue. But seriously, you used to be such a lady killer out here"
"Well, I'm a bit more mature now Jimmy. No one out here is really worth the time, too much superficial bullshit nowadays"
"Well I feel you there"
"I need a cigarette," I say as I finish my drink and set down the glass. "I'll be right back"
"Milo, if you try to get me with an Irish goodbye I will show up at your apartment and drag you back out here, so help me god." He says wagging his finger at me
Shit. Well, there went that idea.
"Yeah yeah, grab me another drink while I'm gone would ya?" I say as I walk toward the back door.
As I walk out the back the fresh breeze hits me and my ears finally don't feel like they're bleeding. I reach into my jacket and retrieve my cigarettes and slide one in between my lips before I start feeling around and realize- Shit, I don't have my lighter but right as I go to put my cigarette back in the pack defeated a hand reaches out and holds up a lighter. As I look down at the hand it's pale with a tattoo of a lotus flower on it, badly painted black nails with chipped paint. As I follow the arm I see more pale tattooed skin until my eyes meet a woman with dark hair and curtain bangs up in a high ponytail. Her smile reveals dimples on each cheek. I take a drag and light my cigarette with her lighter.
"Thanks for that. Do you smoke?"
"No, I just carry the lighter around so when lost rich boys forget theirs I can give them a light"
"Hardy har har, Hilarious"
As I step back to look at her she's wearing low wasted tattered jeans with fishnets underneath to where the top of the tights sticks up past her oversized belt. She has on a cropped Guns N' Roses shirt.
"I like your shirt, You listen to Guns N' Roses"
"Yes and before you ask my favorite album is Use Your Illusion II and my favorite song is You could be mine"
"I mean I wasn't going to ask you any of that but okay"
"I'm just pretty used to men assuming I don't actually know the bands"
I take a long drag off my cigarette and nod my head "Yeah well they can go fuck themselves"
She giggles a bit and tilts her head "I like your vibe rich boy" She reaches out her hand and says "My name is Grace"
"Nice to meet you Grace" I say as I softly shake her hand "My name is Milo"
"Milo?" she says with an attitude as she puts her hands on her hips "What's your full name?"
"Milo Morello"
"Full name"
I let out a sigh "Milo Augustus Morello"
"Ooh I like that a lot better, 'August' that's what I'll call you"
"Oh yeah? Are we on a nickname basis already?"
"No, but I'm not gonna call you 'Milo'. That name is lame"
"Fine" I agree frigidly looking at my watch. "Well Grace it was nice meeting you but if I don't get back in there my buddy is gonna come out here and embarrass me" I start to turn around and put my cigarette out.
"Oh but I like the sound of that" she says as I start to walk inside
I really like you Grace but I can't get too close, I can't get hurt again.
YOU ARE READING
Cursed Past
RomanceAs Milo tries to move on from his father's death and make the best out of a bad time a familiar face shows up in his life as he tries to balance what is best for him and what is best for the criminal organization his father built, the only family he...
