The Briefcase

“Mr. Grey?”  Grey took one look at the man and knew he’d interrupted something.  “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve come to return the money you lent me.”  He lifted the briefcase and extended it toward the mussed-looking older man.  Grey caught the whiff of cigar smoke and booze and felt relief to be rid of him.

“She wouldn’t take it?”  The man said, a smile creeping across his face.  Grey was uncomfortable with the sheen around the man’s lips and chin.  He winced and tried not to imagine too specifically what that shine might have come from.

“No sir.”  He answered simply.  “Thank you.”  He felt like a heel.  “Really.  Thank you for the help.”  He was grateful, even though the gratitude made him feel slimy.  Even though the fact that this son of a bitch was ready to step in when Jonah refused made Grey boil and rage.  He hated Jonah for leaving him no option but to crawl to this miserable fuck.

“So what now, son?” Said the man, reaching over lazily and unburdening Grey of the case.

Grey blinked.  “Now I go to city hall.”  He responded blandly.

Vaughan’s eyebrows lifted.  “You sure about this?  There must be another way—“

“Thank you again for the loan sir.”  Grey said repressively.  “If you’ll excuse me, I’m in something of a rush.”  He nodded politely and turned to go.

“Son—“

Grey seized up, his foot already planted on the next step down, and he turned slowly.  He hated when the man called him that.  “Mr. Grey?”  He answered evenly.

“Why don’t you take this anyway—as a wedding present.”  The older man held out the briefcase, offering it back up.

Grey squinted at the offering.  “Thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t accept.  That’s… far too generous.”  The older man and the younger stared at one another for a long moment.  A slow chuckle sounded from Vaughan Grey and Grey felt the hair on the back of his arms raise underneath his coat and shirt.

“You come see me.”  The man said, chuckling.  “You bring me whatever contract she has you sign and we’ll just see what we can do.”

Grey felt his nose twitch.  He never wanted to see the man again, had no desire to seek out his aid for any reason.  “Of course.”  He responded smoothly, revulsed by the man’s swaggering grin and his loose silk robe and his leathery old face with the glistening evidence of foreplay all over his lips and chin.  “I won’t to keep you.”  Grey said with a humorless smirk, and, with yet another courteous little nod, he turned once more and left that place.  He heard the man laugh heartily behind him, heard the door close, and only then did Grey draw his next breath.

It was beginning to rain.  He needed to go pick up the girl he was going to marry.