Chapter One: Nathan Ford and Jim Sterling
"You can't let the job consume you," Nate looked at the new guy. "It's not worth it."
Being the newbie was anything, but easy and already letting one person tell him not to let the job consume him hardly was the way to grab hold of the reigns.
"I don't let it consume me. I'm just very precise. These numbers aren't adding up." He glanced up at Nate.
"Jim, it's not the numbers it's who the account belongs too," Nate said. "Take a break and let's get a drink."
Nate had always been the laid back kind of guy, but there was no reason to let something be put second when someone's livelihood was at stake. He saw himself as a part of the law. And he wasn't very much going to let some numbers get the best of him.
"Jim, I mean it, take a break." Nate was persistent to get the obsessed man to take a moment away from work.
After one more look through he decided to take a moment. Sterling pushed back his chair and Nate gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"There's a great bar across the street. I always get a bottle and a glass and bring it to the roof top." Nate started walking ahead.
"I thought you were a man of rules, Nate," Sterling remarked.
"I play by the rules, I just step away once in awhile," Nate laughed.
They hadn't been acquaintances for very long. Sterling had quit a former job with another insurance company in New York. He had several references that helped him acquire an interview with the CEO of I.Y.S. and finally landed him a job as an investigator which gave him more exciting things to do at work. It was not long that the only person, that didn't whisper behind his back for how he got the interview and job, introduced himself.
Sterling smelled a challenge with the company's pet and loyal subject, but saw he wasn't much different in nabbing his mark. They clashed for awhile before the laid back man showed him how to make a niche in the company. It was hard work and dedication, but it paid off.
"Wife? Kids?" Nate asked has he handed Sterling the bottle of Scotch.
"Just the job," Sterling answered. "I don't have time to make a happy family."
"Too bad," Nate said.
"Yourself?" Sterling asked as he swirled the Scotch in the glass.
"Fiancée."
"Ah, so there is a life outside the job," Sterling poked.
Nate smirked and looked out.
"I don't deserve her, but she somehow she thinks I'm worth the time. We met on a job." Nate took a sip.
"Inner office dating, Nate? Isn't that against company policy?" Sterling turned towards him.
"Work for hire, she's verifies art. So, policy does not apply here, Jim." Nate smirked.
Sterling chuckled and stared out. It was amazing how much one person could become so prideful about a woman. But he barely understood his own home life since he uprooted his non-existing family, his personal life was off the record. Even when asked if he had a spouse and children he lied. Why should they care if he was married with children? He was going to take care of his family without putting them into danger.
"What are you plans tonight, Jim?" Nate asked.
"I have those files to look over, another late night. Cases don't get solved if they are sitting on your desk." Sterling took a swig of the Scotch.
"Ah, they get solved. But how about this, why don't you come have dinner with Maggie and me. She's making one her best dishes, Tuscan chicken with angel hair pasta." Nate raised a brow. "You'll get to meet the most important person in my life."
Sterling shook his head and laughed a little at the hopeful tone Nate used as he talked about Maggie.
"I need to get those files done. If I get them done, I'll just have a bit of left over Chinese," Sterling said.
"You're a stick in the mud, Jim." Nate laughed. "Plus, I already told Maggie you were coming, she's excited to have someone else to cook for. So, bring a bottle of wine and I'll text you the address."
Sterling sighed and rubbed his chin. Nate couldn't resist in keeping someone from actually stressing over a job. It was who he was, trying to help people who seemed boarder lined obsessive.
After a good drink or two Nate and Sterling returned to their desk and looked over case files. Sterling stared at his phone as he saw his wife's name flash. He reached over and silenced it not wanting to answer while at work. Although, he thought it could be important, but to him he needed to keep the image up as a single man.
His phone lit up once more and seeing this time it was a text message. He lifted it up and saw the address that Nate promised he'd text. He rubbed his head and sat the phone down. He'd go home and make some excuse that the office was calling. Of course he would hear it from his wife again.
As the last person left Sterling headed outside the city to the suburbs. He pulled up to the townhouse and sat in the car for a moment. He took a deep breath and got out of the sleek black car. His gaze stared at the large window where his wife was cleaning up while his daughter watched the cartoons instead of studying. He slipped on his wedding ring and ran his hands through his hair.
He walked up the walk way and unlocked the front door. "I'm home."
"Daddy!" his daughter cheered.
He sat his bag down and walked into the living area. He was greeted by her and he lifted the four year old in his arms.
"Hello, darling," Sterling said as he kissed her head.
"Did you bring me anything?" she said.
"Olivia, he just went to work," the voice of his wife came.
"But he always brings me something home."
Sterling kissed his wife on the cheek.
"I promise, darling I will bring you home something special the next time I come home." Sterling smiled andcarried Olivia into the kitchen. "So, dearest what have you been busy with while this dashing man has been working?"
His wife gave him a look and smiled.
"Your dearest has been slaving over a hot meal so her dashing husband can sit down to eat. And by the looks of your disheveled form, you could probably use something."
"Daddy, are you going to come to my piano recital tomorrow at school?" Olivia asked.
"Recital? That's tomorrow?"
"Jim, it's been on the calendar for a month?" His wife shook her head. "Not to mention I told you last night."
"I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon, I can't make it." Sterling looked at her.
"Jim, it's her first recital." His wife put her hands on her hips. "I swear, Jim Sterling you can't remember what's important anymore. Ever since we moved here and you got that job at that company. You forget who we are. I bet you think we're just roommates."
Sterling rolled his eyes and put Olivia down. "Darling, why don't you go watch TV?"
"Ok, Daddy," Olivia said and rushed off.
Sterling closed the kitchen doors and looked at his wife.
"It was a simple mistake." Sterling reached into the fridge and pulled a beer out.
"This wouldn't be the first time you've made a simple mistake, Jim. Your daughter is growing up and you are missing the best days. She's four years old playing the piano at a highly regarded school. And you have a meeting."
Sterling sat the bottle down and leaned against the counter.
"Please tell you don't have any more to say about how much my job keeps me away from you because I don't get that enough," Sterling remarked.
He watched his wife's face frowned and she grabbed the beer and threw it in the sink. Sterling jumped at the sudden reaction.
"Who are you? You aren't the man I married." She breathed deep.
"Why are you making this out to be my fault? I'm the one who works twelve hours a day even goes on assignments because it will bring in more money. For once in our lives we don't have debt swallowing us. And I don't have your father breathing down our neck and your mother telling you every day you should have married that lawyer. I got a better job so we can live comfortably and Olivia can go to that damn school! Which by the way cost me half of my salary."
He turned away from his wife and walked to the fridge. He reached for another beer and popped the top on it.
"Are we that much of a burden, Jim?" He heard her ask.
He sighed and rubbed his head. "No, you aren't. I just wish you understood that there are some sacrifices we need to make in order to keep our heads above water. I don't want to go back to that job in New York. I have opportunities I would have never had back then."
"Then find away to get out of the meeting tomorrow and see your daughter's recital. That's all I ask, Jim. I don't ask for much, but when I do it's for Olivia. She looks up to you and you need to be the father that you promised you would when she was born."
"Enough!" Sterling snapped. "I'm going out to get some air."
"Jim, please," she pleaded.
"I need some air. Just leave me alone," Sterling said and pushed opened the kitchen door.
He made strides towards the door and grabbed his keys.
"Daddy, where you going?" Olivia asked.
"I'm going to the grocery to pick up some things for Mom." Sterling looked at Olivia. "I'll be back soon."
He walked out and got into his car. He flipped his phone open and looked at the text message and headed back into the city. The fight with his wife was just what he needed to go to dinner.
