“Everything’s going downhill, Jas.”


    Daniel sat in Jasper’s car. It was late afternoon. He’d eagerly waited to finish work so he could call Jasper. He knew Jasper always had something to say. Jasper drove him to a nearby hill overlooking the city, a spot accessible by car, and parked where the entire town stretched out below them. Daniel knew this was where Jasper usually brought the women he dated—the ones he didn’t plan to see again afterward. No, he didn’t kill them. They’d look at the city, talk, Jasper would make a move, see how they reacted, and they usually knew why he’d brought them there and did their part. Daniel hadn’t been there for it, but that’s how Jasper described it.


    Now, instead of a woman, Jasper had brought him. But they weren’t here for Jasper’s usual games. They just sat with non-alcoholic beers in hand, watching the city.


    “If you’re talking about Emma, bro, that’s not downhill. That’s a straight-up launch.”


    “And still, getting dumped by your wife and demoted at work in the same week sounds like some serious bad luck.”


    “Yeah, bro, but don’t take it so hard. You’re a pro. If even Hugo Barnes singled you out as one of the most promising in the field, who am I to doubt him? I’ve got no clue what you do or who’s in your circles, but that’s an achievement.”


    Daniel couldn’t tell if Jasper was just saying this to cheer him up or if he meant it, but the words made him feel less like a failure.


    “And look, bro, with a bit of luck, you could’ve left the park with a new girlfriend.”


    “Don’t start that again.”


    “Fine. So what are you going to do now?”


    “I don’t know. I’m thinking of staying and waiting for them to put me back. I’m better than the one replacing me. They’ll probably realize their mistake.”


    “I believe you, but if you let them see you’re okay being under them once, they’ll keep stepping on you. You can’t let them do that.”


    “And what do you suggest?”


    “Isn’t it obvious? Either find a way up or leave. But don’t let yourself stay under people you were bossing around not long ago.”


    “Leave? I’ve been here over ten years. The company helped me grow.”


    “And now it’s sliding you right back down. Please, stop embarrassing yourself. I don’t want friends who just roll over for some corporate jerks. I’m telling you, bro, Hugo Barnes saw something in you. And you’re scared of some… I don’t even remember their names.”


    “I was one of those jerks… until today.”


    “Not a jerk in how you dress. I mean jerks in how they act. You know what I mean.”


    Jasper could be serious. And when he had these kinds of talks with him, Daniel felt calmer. That’s why he sought him out more. Colin was a great friend too, and Daniel could count on him just as much, but Jasper knew what to say.


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    “My head’s killing me from last night, bro,” Jasper said, leaning against his jeep. “If you get us drunk after every life change, I won’t survive.”


    “You’re the one who wanted to treat us yesterday. You were so happy about Emma…”


    “How could I not be? Anyone would celebrate getting out of a relationship like yours. I’m even surprised you didn’t treat us.” Jasper pressed the bottle to his lips and took a sip.


    “Enough, let’s get back to the point.”


    “The points are connected, bro. You’re cleansing yourself. And cleansing hurts. Don’t see it as a big loss. Remember what they told us at the park? Just enjoy and live the story. How’s the park any different from real life?” Jasper gestured wildly as he explained. “Sure, the stories there were fake, and here they come naturally. But in both places, you’ve got to keep going. Nothing good happens unless you’ve been through something bad first. So I’ll tell you what they told us there: just live it.”


    “Hell of a speech.” Daniel looked at him, surprised.


    Jasper slapped his shoulder and laughed.


    “Well, sometimes I’ve got to be serious. But if you’re planning to cry on my shoulder after every failure, it’s not happening. I’ve got a life too. Yesterday your wife left you, today work’s stressing you out. What’s tomorrow? You’ll call me to sleep with some girl because you’re too lazy? That I’d do, by the way.”


    Daniel raised his eyebrows. Jasper made a gesture showing he was ready.


    “Alright, how was your day? Did you get back into work?”


    “We’re starting to sound like an old married couple who’ve been together a hundred years, only talking about how their day went.”


    “Sorry, you’re right.”


    “I’m kidding, man. I missed these hangouts with you. The last few years were hell. That woman wouldn’t let you go—” Jasper caught his look. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop talking about her. My day was like any first day back from vacation. You’re glad to be at work, but by afternoon, you’re dying to leave.”


    “Familiar feeling.”


    “Three properties are about to get occupancy permits, and they asked us to find buyers. That’s at least forty apartments.”


    “Wow. Good money?”


    “Well, we agreed with the builder not to take a commission from them. He’ll pay me later.”


    “You trust him?”


    “Of course. I’ve worked with him for years. He’s solid. Pays well. Inspections start tomorrow. Those builders make a ton of cash, you know. Architects, contractors… it’s a mafia. In a good way, I mean.”


    “Can you imagine how much they made off Barnes to build the park?”


    “Insane amounts. But Barnes will make it back. The park’s got potential. Once visitors start paying, it’ll blow up.”


    “My boss said it didn’t impress him much,” Daniel said, bringing up Max Scott again. “Said it was missing something.”


    “Your boss is an idiot. And he only went there to screw the robot whores.”


    “That’s why you went too,” Daniel reminded him with a grin.


    “Yeah, well… I struck out. But you know what, Daniel? One friend didn’t have to strike out.” He pointed at him with his pinky.


    “Oh, not again.”


    “You don’t want to talk about Emma, don’t want to talk about Ava. Let’s just talk about shitty corporate rats then. You make me sick sometimes.”


    “I’m just in a phase where I’m not up for women.”


    “And when will you be? When you’re forty? You’re hopeless, I’m telling you.”


    Daniel took two steps forward and tossed his bottle down the hill.


    Someone below cursed at him, and Jasper shouted back.


    It wasn’t okay, but that was Jasper.