Chapter 6: Big Night

Once a week, usually on a weekend day, the guys would meet on the trails outside of the city for their own definition of a weekend warrior triathlon: running, cycling, then back to the city to swim at the local community indoor pool. Sometimes they would switch hiking out for running and basketball at the neighborhood community center’s park court for swimming. The guys, of course, were: Ricky, Alex, and Don; they had known each other since birth.

Each one had been turned over to foster care almost immediately after their birth when their individual parents could no longer care for them. They considered themselves to be “blood brothers” although they were not related by blood, but by choice through moving from one foster home to the next together until they turned 18. As they grew and matured in the system, they looked out for each other but also competed with each other in everything.

Ricky became a partner with the biggest and oldest corporate law firm in the city, Tate & Tate, after making billions from his seven figure salary as a Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing at a local Fortune 500 corporation.

Nevertheless, he went to law school at night and worked 12 hour days with the company. After passing the bar exam, he had many lucrative offers as a corporate lawyer, but his loyalty to the guys would not allow him to risk leaving the area and their created, solid brotherhood, one of the chief reasons he attributed to his great financial and professional success. He made his money from lucrative class actions and product liability law suits. But he had no personal success finding a suitable soulmate with whom to share his great fortune.

Alex, the most quiet and pensive of the three, was a writer whose award winning books were turned into screenplays that always became billion dollar grossing, Oscar winning, international film successes. Although he did not say much, he was a case in point that still waters ran deep. When he spoke, partly because of his soft voice and quiet demeanor, everybody listened.

Wealthy beyond measure, he divided his time between writing daily at the cafe and serving on both paid and volunteer boards of directors with for-profit companies and a few selected non-profit organizations, respectively.

Then there was Don. The guys jokingly called him “DJ” or “Don Juan” because of his love of and luck with seducing the ladies. Don’s pathway to success of the multi-billion dollar kind had come in an unusual way for the typical man. Don had married well; initially he married for love and without a prenuptial agreement, to the dismay of Ricky, his friend, confidant, and attorney. He always said it was more exciting that way.

Love, ultimately, was not enough to make his marriage last. He received 3 billion dollars in alimony each year from a woman they all referred to as “Madame X”, who came from very, very old money. Since Don had no plans to remarry and forfeit his comfortable lifestyle that was his hugely generous annual income, his future was secure. He was content to engage in the company of women when he so desired, but without any commitment.

Today was a gorgeous autumn day with red, gold, and brown leaves covering their pathway so they decided to hike instead of run, then cycle back to the community center and play a pickup game of basketball. The three would then grab burgers and shakes at a diner that they had frequented since they were teenagers.

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After teasing each other about their basketball skills, each man found himself wanting to share about his love life. This was rare. Ricky usually was too busy practicing law to meet anyone. Alex either had his nose in a book or was writing one and the only dialogue he was creating was from his characters. And Don, he could never limit the conversation to PG nor stick with just one “amazing” woman for the hour, day, or the week, especially since he did not rest on the seventh day.

“Lemme go first,” Don begged excitedly. “I think I am in love at first sight, brothers.”

“Right,” both Ricky and Alex said incredulously and simultaneously.

“How much is she worth this time?” Ricky countered.

“No. It’s not like that. Money does not matter. This is true love. She saw through me and I wanted to be a better man than what I am,” Don maintained seriously.

“Whaaat???” Ricky said.

“Where did you meet her?” Alex joined in.

“At a club,” Don started “But don’t judge me. This is real.”

“I’ll bet. Next,” Ricky commented.

“It’s my turn,” Alex piped up.

“Okay. Bachelor number two” Ricky encouraged. Ricky and Don were always especially protective of Alex. He was a brilliant writer but had low, real life interpersonal skills. They feared he would miss out on the love and affection he wrote about in his books. Worse yet, they did not want some opportunistic, gold digger to come along and take advantage of him and his money.

“She IS amazing. I met her at the cafe and we chatted. We talked for hours two days in a row.”

“Any woman who could get and keep you talking for hours must be delightful indeed, Alex,” Don kindly agreed.

“Just take it slow and approach with caution,” Ricky advised, ever the vigilant leader.

“Well, Mr. Mister, what’s your love story from the week?” Don asked.

“Oddly enough, she will be at the event.” Ricky smiled confidently.

“Oh wow, Ricky, that’s great. I was afraid you two would feel neglected since I would want to spend more time with my amazing woman,” Alex blushed.

“No worries, Alex. Of course we don’t have to worry about Don,” Ricky said. “And I’ll mostly be schmoozing with clients, partners, and, as often as the opportunity makes itself possible, with my amazing woman.”

After each had the opportunity to exercise their bragging rights, they rushed home to shower, shave, and dress for the evening event Ricky had put together.

The evening was to celebrate the pro bono work of Ricky’s firm in some of the most needed and distressed areas of the city and helping the most disenfranchised populations. Ricky, Alex, and even Don had strong commitments to giving back to their community. They also recognized what wealth could garner in terms of power, influence, and even love.

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Ricky had to get to the event early since he had been spearheading what was the pilot project of his firm. Alex thought he should arrive early since he had been invited to the concert by one of its musicians. Alex invited Don, so Don wanted to arrive with Alex, since he would only know his two friends. They talked and laughed on their way to their seats, lifelong friends, excited and happy as only old friends can be together.

The house lights went down, the red velvet curtain went up, and there she was, center stage with her cello.

LAURA, all three said at once after an immediate realization they each had been talking about the same woman.

She looked more beautiful than ever. She wore a cream colored off the shoulder blouse and a long black skirt that easily accommodated the great size of the cello. The guys seethed in silence, initially shocked after exchanging angry looks for the first two movements of four of the ambient chamber music. Neither of the three men’s amorous feelings for Laura subsided, however. If nothing else, their interest in Laura grew stronger in each one’s heart and mind.

As the quartet finished the last note of music, the guys sprang into action, glad for the intermission, an opportunity to find Laura and start making their own beautiful music together, one-on-one.