When Empires Fall Read Online Free PDF Page B

bouncing the ball against the wooden floor of the court absently. “Please, when you’re as good at stock broking as I am, you don’t need threats to get people to buy and sell. Hell, if you’d ever get over your aversion to investing, I could make you a lot of money.”
    “I just think real estate’s a better buy, my oh so humble friend. Ain’t gonna change.” Linc got to his feet, reaching out his hand to help Greg up.
    “Thanks,” Greg said, brushing at the basketball shorts he wore as he followed Linc out of the glass door of the court and into the hotel’s gym. “I suppose your obsession with buying property makes sense, being the prince of a hotel empire and all.”
    “Hey, it’s pretty much a guaranteed good investment, if you’re smart,” Linc declared, replacing his racket on the stand just outside the court. “Besides, I know you’re just jealous that I bought that incredible plantation house in New Orleans last year.”
    Greg paused as he put his racket away, eyebrows raised incredulously. “Jealous of a falling apart old beat up house with holes in the roof and graffiti on the walls?”
    Linc frowned. “It has history. Besides, I have old family ties to New Orleans, so it means something to me.”
    “Yeah, yeah.” Greg grinned, thumping Linc on the back with his hand as they began to walk towards the showers, weaving their way through the weight machines and the dozens of people working on them. “I get it, you’re sentimental about that stuff. How long have I known you again?”
    Linc perked up with a laugh. “Going on nine years now, since college.”
    “Right. Ah, the good old days…”
    “That they were, my friend.” Linc lead the way towards the locker room, opening up the locker he’d stowed his gym bag in earlier with a nostalgic sigh. “Back when we lived the high life. What the hell happened to us?”
    “We grew up.” Greg chuckled, stepping out of his shorts and stripping his sweat soaked t-shirt off before grabbing a fluffy white towel from a nearby rack. He draped it around his waist as Linc did the same. “But hey, at least we stayed friends.”
    Linc snorted out a laugh as he slammed his locker shut and started towards the sauna, making sure he had his cell phone just in case duty called. “Please, you just stick around for the free gym membership.”
    “True enough,” Greg mused, opening the door to the sauna and settling his tall, lanky body onto one of the bamboo benches, leaning against the cool tiled wall with a groan. “Ah, heaven.”
    Linc let out a contented sigh as well as he took a seat, running his hands through his waves of chestnut hair and shutting his eyes blissfully. He folded his athletic legs in front of him, relaxing as he leaned his head back against the wall. Around him, the steam of the sauna swirled thick and humid, soothing his aching muscles until he felt lax and incredibly calm.
    But when his cell phone began to ring to the tune of “Uptown Girl,” Linc groaned and scrubbed his face in annoyance.
    He shot Greg a disparaging glance as he answered the phone, his mouth automatically curving into a strained smile. “Hi, mom.”
    “ Lincoln .” His mother’s voice came through the speaker in its usual sophisticated and pompous pitch. Despite not being born into high society, Charlene Vasser had mastered the art of sounding pretentious with every breath. “ Where are you? ”
    “At work,” he lied, though technically it was true. He did work at the hotel, just not in the sauna. “What’s up?”
    “ I asked you a week ago to contact our best clients to invite them to the charity fundraiser, and you have yet to get back to me. I need a list of those who will be attending. ”
    He mouthed a silent curse, rubbing his eyes irritably with his free hand. He had completely forgotten. “Mom, I haven’t had much time for that yet. But I promise I’ll get to it today, okay?”
    He heard his mother sigh audibly in annoyance on the other line