Sex and the Billionaire Crime Boss - Season 4

Ch. 2: Turning the Tables

My grandfather catches my eye and gives a little wave. He's sitting at the head table, looking slightly embarrassed to be in the spotlight, but pleased. Dylan is sitting next to him in the seat that would have been reserved for Hank, his usual smarmy expression on his face.

I haven't even unpacked yet the fact that Jenny has been sleeping with him. Sure, he's good looking and puts on this suave manner that I guess someone younger and more than a little naive would find attractive, but from what I've seen the sleazy manipulative side of him is barely beneath the surface. Then I remind myself that for awhile he even had CJ fooled, and he managed to turn half the lawyers in the firm against me.

Spreading rumors is one thing. The fact that he seduced and actually had sex with the young receptionist is a new low, especially considering what I've now learned about the issues he had with women at his previous law firm. I'm as angry at the way he used Jenny as I am at the plot he contrived to embarrass and discredit my grandfather.

By the time the lunch plates are discretely removed by the hotel staff and dessert plates slid onto the tables, the president of the local Bar Association has gone to the podium and started the business meeting. It's short, mostly announcements of upcoming events, and a brief report on the Bar's involvement with a program that allows local law students to appear in court under the supervision of a nonprofit legal clinic. Then he turns the microphone over to Joanne, who gives a little background on the Lifetime Achievement Award, and notes that no one should be surprised to learn that this year's recipient is Andrew Reese.

There's a lot of enthusiastic applause, and my grandfather looks both gratified and humbled by it. My blood is boiling at the fact that Dylan planned to use this forum as a vehicle to spread lies about my grandfather's career and humiliate him in front of a roomful of colleagues who obviously respect and admire him. I'm so grateful that Jenny became suspicious and checked the deck, and that she came to me about it.

"Hank Finegan was planning to share with us a brief review of Andrew Reese's illustrious career and his dedicated service not just to the legal community but to all of Miami," Joanne continues. "Unfortunately, Mr. Finegan had a medical emergency this morning." At the looks of concern in the room she hastily adds, "I'm told it was just a case of food poisoning and that he'll be fine."

She turns to Dylan. "Fortunately, another attorney in the firm stepped forward to make the presentation. Dylan Barclay, the floor is yours."

He stands up with barely contained glee.

"Thank you, Joanne." He uses the remote to start the slide presentation, and steps behind the podium to address the group.

"As some of you know, I just recently joined Andrew Reese and Associates and don't yet know Andrew very well, but his reputation in the community goes back decades."

He advances the first slides and starts with some comments from Jenny's script about my grandfather's humble beginnings, how he attended Harvard on scholarship, and his early years as a young lawyer at a firm that is still one of the most respected and established business law offices in Miami, before starting his own firm. There's a recap of the growth of the law firm from the original storefront to its luxurious space in a downtown office tower today.

He moves to a photo of our conference room, with the wide windows and panoramic view of the skyline.

"Recently," Dylan says, "Andrew Reese decided to expand the firm into a new area of practice - criminal law. Of course," he says, leaning into the microphone, "associating with known criminals isn't anything new for Andrew Reese. He's been doing it for decades."

He clicks to the next slide, but his eyes are on the audience, anticipating their reaction. But instead of the shocked disapproval he's expecting, the room bursts into laughter. Dylan stares out at the room then turns to see the slide on the large screen.