Sex and the City Contract

Lawrence looked at Jeff Gusman, who was wearing a breathing tube, drip, electrocardiograph, and many other instruments he couldn't name, and held a bag of blood on his abdomen.Next to it, a doctor holding a medical record board was marking several places on the small figure and head pattern on the medical certificate, and quickly wrote a series of words.

Lawrence had no more idea of ​​what the doctor was writing, any more than he had any more idea of ​​what old Jeff was talking about.

"What?" Lawrence frowned, completely unable to believe what he heard. "……why me?"

"Because you are the most suitable person." Old Jeff said weakly but firmly.

"Because I bought most of your property? Because I'm rich?" Lawrence didn't like Jeff's way of speaking, making him feel like an ignorant and reckless idiot.

"Not quite. The main reason you will understand later."

Lawrence took a step back suspiciously, he had a bad feeling. "What's the meaning?"

"Lawrence, after I go through that door—" old Jeff avoided his question, but instead pointed his eyes at the door of the operating room next to him, "it is very likely that I will never get out alive again. So... just be This is the last wish of a dying old man, can you please show mercy?"

Lawrence's rationality kept warning that there was a big trap in it, and he absolutely couldn't agree to it, but looking at the eyes of the man in front of him who was in the final tug-of-war with the god of death, as well as the eyes of the doctor and lawyer, his emotions told Lawrence that it was immoral to refuse .

"This... I will try my best, okay." Lawrence turned his head away, avoiding other people's eyes.

"Please don't give me ambiguous answers, Lawrence. Answer me clearly: yes or no." Old Jeff's electrocardiogram began to fluctuate irregularly.

Lawrence felt like a fat cow being driven to the slaughterhouse.He had never been forced into such a situation since he was an adult, and he kept licking his dry lips with his tongue, unable to give a clear answer for a long time.

"For Jesus' sake!" The doctor was paying attention to the EKG while shouting impatiently, "Broades, give me a fucking answer! Going to the operating room!"

"Okay, okay! I agree."

As soon as he opened his mouth, Lawrence regretted it.

Old Jeff gave him a weak smile of gratitude and relief, and then he was wheeled into the operating room.

Watching the red light turn on during the operation seemed to be a warning to him of danger.Lawrence knew very well in his heart that he had made the worst decision.

A few minutes after Jeff entered the operating room, Isaac broke the silence.

"Mr. Broadis, I think it's my turn to explain the situation to you in Jeff's place."

Lawrence turned his head and stared at Isaac, and said with indescribable anger, "It's not 'roughly', but the details. You'd better confess everything in detail."

"Shares in Metropolitan Bank..."

When Isaac cleared his throat and was about to start talking, Lawrence interrupted decisively: "I can handle this part myself. I just ask: Why does old Gusman want me to be his son's sponsor—— Sponsorship? Godfather? God damn it, his son is 22, not a toddler."

Isaac stroked his gray hair and replied casually, "Because Jeff trusts you."

Lawrence said nothing, crossed his hands on his chest, and stared at him coldly.Isaac knew it was useless to prevaricate, so he spread his hands, "Only he knows the detailed reason. As far as I know, because you are an outsider."

"go on."

Isaac said slowly, "Gingjie was pregnant four years ago, and Jeff was very happy."

Lawrence raised his eyebrows, which indirectly explained many things - including the reason for sending his son abroad.

Isaac took a deep breath and went on to say: "...Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage afterwards. Although Jeff was regretful, he tried his best to comfort Jin Jie. Therefore, he made a large-scale change of assets, and many of them were attributed to Jin Jie's name. Down--"

"The Metropolitan Bank's financial situation has been in trouble since then," Lawrence interjected.

"...I don't comment on this part, and it's not the focus now." Isaac raised his brows and said helplessly: "At the same time, Jeff also made a new will. The impact of these changes on Gabriel The most serious thing is that he transferred a fund set up for Gabriel in a Swiss bank to Jin Jie’s name, which Gabriel himself does not know about.”

Lawrence can already guess the approximate follow-up.Sure enough, Isaac said again: "After that, Jeff had a series of financial problems - I believe I don't need to say more - in a word, if anything happens to Jeff, Jinjie can get the remaining assets, and Gabriel He has nothing but his father's debts."

"So... finding a big benefactor for a son who is about to fall from heaven to hell is Gusman's last mercy as a father?" Lawrence said half-sarcastically.

"It's the last bit of compensation, last bit of care, and last bit of love that Jeff, as a father, felt he owed to his only son." Isaac looked into Lawrence's cold eyes and said earnestly: "People It's normal, isn't it?"

Isaac's eyes seem to say that even if he is as cold-blooded and mercenary as Lawrence, he should be able to understand such human nature.

human nature?Lawrence felt that he was a beast designed to be trapped in the shackles of humanity.His attention returned to reality, Gabriel sat directly opposite him, and Isaac sat next to him in the attitude of an elder and protector.

Lawrence spread his hands and turned to ask the lawyer and secretary to wait for him in the small reception room next to him.

"If I were you, I'd have the lawyer stay," Isaac said.

Lawrence gave him an expression of "Of course, otherwise Your Excellency would not be here", and sent the lawyer away. "I don't need a lawyer to protect my rights, I can do it myself." Lawrence looked at Gabriel and said meaningfully.

"I have explained the situation to my client: Gabriel Gusman..."

When Isaac was opening his briefcase and was about to take out a stack of documents, Lawrence interrupted impatiently: "Let's keep things simple."

He took out an envelope from the inner pocket of his suit and threw it on the table. "Inside is a check. For two years from now, or until Mr. Gussman Jr. is able to 'support himself', I will give a check for the same amount at the beginning of each month as Mr. Gussman Jr. "Life Sponsorship Fee"—"

Although Lawrence was single, at this moment he had the illusion that he was discussing with his lawyer about paying alimony to his ex-wife.The only difference is that the ex-wife is usually a woman that the husband hasn't fucked for a long time, and this kid in front of him has never been fucked by him.However, the degree of indifference and spurn should be comparable.

"If our little Mr. Gusman has any additional expenses, please fill out this funding application form—" Lawrence took out another envelope, "I will conduct an "investment evaluation" to decide whether it should be appropriation."

Gabriel stared at Lawrence with a very insulted expression, "I don't want this guy's money."

"Gabriel!" Isaac pressed Gabriel's shoulder, "Do you know your condition?"

"It doesn't matter. I will figure out my own way about the money." Gabriel said through gritted teeth, "I own 14.00% of Metropolitan Bank, don't I?"

According to Gusman's will, the remaining 30.00% of Metropolitan Bank and 14.00% of the shares were left to Jin Jie and Gabriel respectively.

Isaac shook his head and said with some difficulty: "You can't use that share yet."

"why?"

"The resolution of the executive committee. You don't have enough social experience. In order to prevent you from using it incorrectly, the executive committee decided to hand over your shares to the manager for management. You can only..."

"Jin Jie? Right!" Gabriel said through gritted teeth, "It must be her hands and feet!"

Seeing the kid's angry and embarrassed look, Lawrence couldn't help snickering.A rookie whose feathers haven't grown yet, so tender.

"What are you laughing at?" Gabriel shouted, standing up and pointing at Lawrence.

Lawrence spread his hands, smiled and sarcastically said, "Calm down. It's not my fault that your bank shares are frozen. How can you blame me? Note that not casually venting anger is the first step to show financial maturity. "

Gabriel blushed and turned pale with anger, stared at Lawrence for a while, and then sat down again. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't want this guy's money. I just want him to move out and give me the house back."

Lawrence didn't know why he started to feel uneasy.He leaned back on the back of the chair and asked with a half-smile, "What house? When will I owe you the house?"

"This house." Gabriel asked Lawrence knowingly, "I own half of the property rights of this house. And I have never sold or transferred it. Why did you move in?"

"What?" Lawrence's smile froze.

"Mr. Broadis, that's what I've been trying to explain from the beginning," Isaac said. "That's why I'm suggesting you keep the lawyer."

Lawrence felt as if he had been completely designed by a dead man.

"This house was originally jointly owned by Jeff Gusman and Camille Young." Isaac said in his usual slow tone: "After Ms. Camille Young passed away, the part owned by her Inherited by her only son Gabriel Gussman. In other words, the property rights of this house are owned by Jeff Gussman and Gabriel Gussman. If you read the contract carefully, you will It turns out that you took out Jeff Gussman's portion. And as you're about to find out, my client didn't sell his portion."

"What kind of scam is this?" Lawrence jumped up from his chair and pointed at Isaac's nose with wide eyes. "God, I paid twice the market price for only half of this house?"

"I just want to remind you that you've signed the contract, Mr. Broadis," Isaac said.

Lawrence now understood why old Guthman insisted that he agree to become Galley's sponsor: so that the kid could continue to spend other people's money as his noble son in this mansion.

Damn old fox!

"You've signed the contract, Mr. Broadis."

After hearing Isaac's words, Lawrence said with a livid face, "Excuse me." Then he opened the door and walked out of the hall.A few minutes later, a yell came from the living room next door: "You and your damn law firm are fired!"

After a while, Lawrence returned to the hall again, and his expression had regained his composure. "I'm sorry. Where were we talking?"

Isaac was about to speak, but Lawrence asked again in doubt: "Wait... why is Mr. Gusman missing?"

"Mr. Brodys, it's more appropriate to let a professional and mature person negotiate on a professional issue like house property rights." Isaac said slowly, "My client..."

"Attorney Meyer, this is a matter of basic respect." Lawrence's tone turned serious. "I hope Mr. Gussman Jr. hasn't misunderstood me as someone who can be dismissed casually. He'd better face this on his own." thing."

Isaac took a deep breath, "Mr. Brodys, please understand that he has just lost his father. Although he looks independent on the outside, he is actually very sensitive and fragile."

"First of all, I don't think he is very independent; secondly, whether he is vulnerable or not is his problem." Lawrence said bluntly: "Besides, I am the victim who spent a lot of money and was designed. Complaints are the most important thing. basic rights."

Looking at the balance display on the ATM screen, Gabriel thought about it, and decided to withdraw all the money.

Arriving on the third floor of an apartment building on the Upper East Side, Gabriel opened the door, "Michael?" He roughly looked around each room and found no one there.He rented this apartment as a residence for returning to New York from Paris during winter and summer vacations. As long as Jin Jie was around, he tried to avoid contact with her.

Michel occasionally used the place when he was not in New York.Michel is Ducati's GP reserve racer, and after two years of knowing each other, Gabriel is not sure if they count as "in a relationship."He knew that Michel had other lovers, like Gabriel's male and female friends in Paris .

Right now, for example, Gabriel desperately needs someone to accompany him.

Walking into the kitchen, Gabriel immediately saw the plates and glasses piled up in the sink. Even though the dishwasher was right next to it, Michel still couldn't get used to it.He frowned, and now he couldn't be bothered to clean up.He opened the refrigerator and found that there was nothing in it except beer. The Dom Pérignon Rose and Beluga Caviar he bought a few days ago were empty bottles and boxes.Gabriel sighed, let's go out to eat.

The few years in Paris allowed Gabriel to develop the habit of walking. Besides, given his current situation, taking a walk to relax is the best choice.

Walking through Central Park, even though it was Saturday, the streets were still crowded with people coming and going, which made Gabriel feel suffocated instantly.

"Little ghost, it's very rude to leave the meeting in the middle of the meeting. Has no one taught you?"

Gabriel suddenly heard someone talking to him, turned his head, and found that it was that annoying and domineering guy: Lawrence.What surprised Gabriel even more was that he was riding a bicycle instead of a big black-headed car.

"Why are you following me?"

Lawrence said unkindly, "I'm sorry, but I'm not finished yet."

"If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who left the table first, so why complain?"

"Absent? I just went next door to fire the lawyer." Lawrence said half-sarcastically, "And you? Fired by the lawyer?"

Gabriel gave Lawrence a blank look, turned his head and continued on his way, ignoring Lawrence's intentions at all.

Lawrence grew impatient.He went around in front of Gabriel and stopped the bicycle with a flick. "Little devil, when someone talks to you, answer politely."

Gabriel crossed his arms and stared at Lawrence and the bicycle for a while, then said in a cold tone, "Why, your Bentley consumes too much gas, so you rode a bicycle instead?"

"I'm not like some aristocrats born with a golden spoon," Lawrence sarcastically said, "I don't have any obstacles to becoming a commoner."

Gabriel was about to retort, but when he glanced to the side out of the corner of his eye, a trick flashed in his mind.He turned suddenly and walked into the next restaurant: Café des Artistes.This is one of the best French restaurants in Manhattan, he thought, and he'd like to see how a cyclist handles it.

Lawrence frowned as expected.He looked at his watch and clicked his tongue. He might have to cancel the appointment.Then he stepped off his bicycle and followed.

Lawrence led the bicycle and stood at the door awkwardly.

"Mr. Gussman, I am deeply sorry about what happened to your father..." The manager of the restaurant was politely expressing his condolences to Gabriel for what happened. It can be seen that the members of Gussman's family are regular customers of the restaurant. "Excuse me, excuse me." The manager looked up and saw a tall figure holding a bicycle blocking the door, his expression changed immediately, he apologized to Gabriel in a low voice, and then walked towards the door.

A malicious smile appeared on Gabriel's mouth.

"Mr. Brodys!" The manager had a bright smile on his face, and immediately reached out to support the bicycle, "Can I help you prepare the old seat?"

Gabriel's smile froze instantly.

"What about bicycles?" Lawrence asked intentionally.

"This is the most fashionable means of transportation. I've wanted to buy it for a long time. Just leave it to us." The manager immediately summoned the waiter at the side, ordered the bicycle to be parked, and then personally led Lawrence inside. "Dining alone today?"

Lawrence put his hand on Gabriel's shoulder, and teasingly said, "No, I'm with little Gabriel."

The restaurant manager led the two people to a table inside, took off the "Reservation" reservation sign on the table, and asked them to sit down separately.

Gabriel chuckled lightly, and said sarcastically, "It can be seen that you really have no obstacles to civilianization."

Lawrence glanced at Gabriel, but couldn't find anything to say back.Forget it, he thought to himself, having the same knowledge as a kid will only lower his level.

"What do you two want to order today?" the restaurant manager asked with a smile on his face, without even bringing over the menu.The actions show that these two customers are not only familiar but can be described.

"Dom Pérignon..." Before Gabriel could speak, Lawrence spoke first.Gabriel then leaned back in the chair and watched the other party order with cold eyes. "...and Beluga Caviar. The main meal is for PotauFeu, the young Mr. Gusman. He has lost weight due to depression, and he should eat more meat. I want Goulash, because I am very hot now, and the spicy food is just right." Lawrence said Said with a smile, so the manager took these words as his humor.

"As for dessert, two Crèmebrlée." Then he turned to Gabriel and said authoritatively, "Unfortunately, you don't have a choice whether you like it or not."

Gabriel frowned, with an offended displeasure on his face.

This was the first time he had looked directly at Lawrence Broadis, who was, in a certain sense, his "enemy".This guy has a Nordic outline, but the coldness and strength in his eyes made Gabriel think of Caesar involuntarily, the Roman emperor who spoke venivivivici (I come, I see, I conquer).What Gabriel hated the most was that this guy always raised the corners of his mouth slightly, with a contemptuous expression that was half a smile.

Just recovered, arrogant and dictatorial, a typical nouveau riche who thinks that if he has money and power, he can control the world.Gabriel, whose father is a banker, has seen too many characters of this type since he was a child, and he disdains this kind of rich and dignified personality.

However, he didn't expect this man to be able to accurately order what he wanted to eat, because nouveau riche usually have a dull mind, which surprised him a little.

"I know that many people will be tempted by the appearance of authority and strong style." Gabriel decided to let the other party know that he has seen the world, so he said coldly, "However, it is useless to me."

Lawrence spread his hands, "I didn't mean to flatter you, brat."

"You..." When Gabriel was about to reply, the waiter just brought them food, so he suppressed what he wanted to say.

"Bon appétit." Lawrence said that he enjoyed the meal and then started on his own.

During the entire meal, neither of them spoke a word.

In the dull and formal atmosphere, the more Gabriel ate, the more he felt indigestion.He anxiously swallowed the stewed tender meat; taking a peek at Lawrence, he found that the guy seemed to be enjoying his meal leisurely, which made Gabriel even more angry.

After dinner, the waiter brought dessert.Gabriel tapped the delicate surface of Crèmebrlée lightly with a small spoon, and finally couldn't help but speak first: "Mr. Brodys, what do you want from me?"

"Can't figure it out yet? It's surprising." Lawrence leaned back in his chair. "I hope you can 'give' me your part of the house. Of course, at a reasonable price. I can Don’t want to spend quadruple the price on the same house.”

"What?" Gabriel put down the small spoon and looked at the other person in disbelief, "I'm sorry, but I have no intention of selling it at all." Then he also leaned back on the back of the chair like Lawrence, "Why don't you give me back what you bought?"

"The reason is simple: because you can't afford it." Lawrence said frankly, "You'll even have problems with your living expenses in a while. I don't dare to dream that you can pay the price I offered."

This sentence deeply stabbed Gabriel's self-esteem. "I said I don't want your shit living expenses at all!"

"Because of your father's trap, I already have to 'take care' of the servants in that room." Lawrence said sarcastically, "It doesn't make any difference to me if you have one more, so don't be polite."

Gabriel's face turned green and pale, and Lawrence continued, "Thanks to the unclear ownership of the house, I can't even resell it, because no one wants to spend a lot of money and find out that I only bought half a house." Oh, I forgot to add that there are "bonus" unwanted tenants in the house.

"Of course, I can understand that the house has an irreplaceable spiritual value to you." Lawrence took a sip of Crèmebrlée, "But please be considerate of a person who not only buys a house but also pays his servants. That house It has more substantial economic value."

"You... that house... you don't understand anything at all, don't act like you understand!" Gabriel stood up from his chair with a snap, and said angrily, "Also... I don't need You treat me, and I'll pay for it myself."

Lawrence raised his eyebrows, and without even looking at Gabriel, he just pressed down the bill lightly with his fingers, which made Gabriel feel naive.

"Of course." Lawrence took it for granted, and the contemptuous smile on the corner of his mouth widened further. "I'll deduct the amount from your check."

"Fuckyou!" Gabriel turned away after leaving this sentence.

Lawrence took a deep breath and looked at his watch.Fortunately, he can catch up with the game, he thought, otherwise he would not know how to expend the anger and heat in his stomach.