A Pact For Life by Graham Elliot Page B

the word 'no'. Well, until now that is. You old money types disgust me.”
“No wonder you are single. Fucking bitch.”
Diana reached back and gave a slap that resulted in a loud thud rather than a skin-on-skin clap. She used the side of her palm like a karate chop because she wanted him to feel it. Cale taught her the move one night after she slapped him, and it created a loud sound but no damage outside of a hand print on his cheek. After teaching her the fine art of slapping, Cale offered to let her slap him again, but she refused.
Gerald was knocked back, covering his face in order to hide the tears. Standing over the cowering man, Diana said defiantly, “Screw this, I'm outta here.”

It was a bar as typical as they come - stained glass, felt, oak, alcohol, and crowds. Cale, Brian, and Nick were there drinking without regard for the next morning.
“Look at that.” Cale pointed out to a red eyed Brian. There was a brunette girl in the corner involved in a shouting match with a man who was doing the majority of the shouts. “I'm going over there and stepping in.”
Brian asked, “Don't you ever get tired of playing the hero, Cale? What if she deserves to be yelled at?”
Cale knew it was the crazy blond all over again. Almost all of the girls he tried to save didn't need a hero, but rather a therapist.
Still though, he was a man of chivalry.
“Brian, grab me another gin. I'll be back.”

It was a single office lit up on a Saturday night. Stained glass, felt, oak, books, and Diana. With the speed dating event long behind her, she was working with furious motivation to prove to Gerald and all of the other old moneyers that she was better than them.
To Ms. Diana Young, Esq.
We feel our buy out of Mrs. Bertrand's interest in the partnership accurately reflects the current fair market value of her ownership percentage. Please respond with your decision.
-Greg Levine, Esq.
“Like hell you are giving her that pathetic amount, you bastards.” Diana said to herself and went over to bookshelf to find one of her books on partnership laws. “I can save her.”

Cale was inches from the man's face. The only thing preventing him from getting any closer was the flat bill of the man's hat. “If you ever put your hands on her again, I will beat you to a bloody pulp and piss on whatever remains.”
“Dude... cool.” Flat Bill was scared. Cale's gray shirt made his well-defined arms from years of stone work stand out, but besides that, Cale reached that level of drunk that crosses into the territory of an unstoppable force. Whenever you hear reports of people still charging despite being tazed, they are in this state.
The girl Cale was there to defend had already left, so the mission was accomplished, but you can't act like a hard ass, make threats to someone's face, and then walk away like a coward. Action must be taken! And Cale knew this.
He grabbed the front and back of the man's head, pulled him in close, and planted a long kiss on his cheek.
Then he walked away.

Gregory Levine, Esq.
Mr. Levine, after reviewing your buyout offer for Mrs. Bertrand, I feel this does not accurately reflect the proper amount of her basis in the partnership. Using section 754 basis adjustment, the partnership's assets should have been adjusted to fair market value the day she inherited her interest in the partnership. We will conduct an appraisal of the assets and contact you with a proper buyout amount.
Sincerely,
Ms. Diana Young
Diana grabbed the letter from the printer, read it over twice, and knew she nailed it. The appraisal will bring in more income to her firm, and as far as Gregory Levine goes, he would regret trying to screw her.
The letter was stuffed into an envelope, but the stick of glue was lost among the papers strewn across her desk. “Screw it,” Diana said to herself and licked the envelope to seal it.
She dropped it in the outgoing mail bin and went back to her office to tackle the next project.

Cale awoke the next