The Certainty of Deception Read Online Free PDF Page B

house, he texted with McKenzie all night.  The fucker rubs it in my face that he’s still in contact with her.”
    “You’re over exaggerating, little brother.”
    “Am I?” I grumbled.  My smile still unwavering.  Not even Jared and his pompous ass could ruin my good mood.
    “You are.”
    The elevator doors opened.  I shoved myself off of the wall, buttoning my suit jacket as I stepped off the elevator.
    The roar of applause stopped me in my tracks.  I glanced back at Gavin who’d followed me onto my floor.  He was shaking his head, but grinning ear to ear. 
    “You knew this was about to happen,” I accused him.
    Gavin shrugged and pushed me forward with his fingertips.  “You know you love it.”
    I laughed as I moved through the crowd.  Associates and colleagues alike accosted me with congratulatory handshakes and back pats.  It should’ve come as no surprise to me that everyone already knew the details of my win.  Before returning to the office, I’d already spoken with over a dozen reporters, and I could only imagine the number of calls that would be received by our office requesting a statement.  By morning, my face would once again be plastered on the pages of tabloids, newspapers, and websites worldwide; beside my client who took her cheating Senator husband for everything he was worth and then some.  That’s what happens when you become the family lawyer trusted by the rich and famous.  Since my first big win several months back, I’d brought in over ten million dollars in new billables, and today’s win would only add to that grand total.
    “See you tonight,” Gavin called out.  I glanced over the crowd to see him back inside the elevator and the doors closing.  I couldn’t wait to move up to the thirtieth floor where all the senior partner offices were.  I was currently a senior partner, but if my billables kept climbing, I knew my father would have no choice but to finally grant me membership on the board.
    Wise and Associates might be a family business, but it was imperative that we Wise men proved our worth to the board.  My father wouldn’t accept anything less than our best, and above all, I wanted to prove my self-worth.  Five years ago, my father convinced the board to promote Gavin to Chief Financial Officer of the firm.  It opened so many doors for him, and I wanted my chance to advance as well.
    I continued meandering through a sea of associates, all congratulating me on my win.  I accepted the praise with a smile.  Hell, I deserved it.  Work had basically taken over my life since McKenzie left.  It was either work myself into the ground or drink myself there.  I preferred the former. 
    It felt like an eternity had passed before I reached my office.  Not that I minded the hero worship, but I had more pressing matters on my mind. 
    Outside my office, my assistant, Ethan Montgomery, sat in his cubicle, typing away.  His jet black hair was slicked back in a pretentious style.  He wore thick rimmed glasses that managed to accent his dark brown eyes. 
    Ethan replaced Holly Morrison, my former assistant, after I had my fill of her leaking my schedule to Olivia.  When I first discovered what Holly was doing, I was furious.  My kneejerk reaction was to fire her on the spot, but Gavin reminded me of an indiscretion involving me, Holly and a drunken Christmas party rendezvous.  Termination was not an option.  So, I arranged to have her transferred to Mergers and Acquisitions, also known as admin hell, but not before I had a little fun of my own.  
    I became suspicious of Holly about a month after McKenzie and I met.  I’d already started pulling away from Olivia.  It was no secret that I didn’t hold her in the regard she desired.  I was not in love with Olivia and I never would be. 
    The occurrences started out as miniscule chance meetings.  Olivia would show up at client lunches, claiming it was pure coincidence.  Then the coincidences grew on a