Hooked by Michael Harris, Ruth Harris Page A

course, but useful in certain situations.
    All during dinner at the Four Seasons he delayed making his prepared pitch. At the end of the meal he fortified himself with several Courvoisier cognacs before finally coming out with it.
    “I’ve been conning you from the day I met you,” Ames said. “I’ve been giving you a lot of crap about what you owe your public, but that’s all bullshit—”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Adriana said, amused by the confession. “I enjoyed hearing it. I was flattered—”
    “As far as I’m concerned, you don’t owe anybody anything,” Ames persisted. “If the piano doesn’t have any kicks for you anymore, then screw it—”
    “If that’s how you feel, then why were you pushing me so hard?”
    “Because I need the money,” admitted Ames. “I’m in hock up to my eyeballs and your tour would get me in the clear again—”
    Adriana was pretty sure that, this time, Ames was being straight with her. She tilted her head back and roared with laughter. “If it’s only money, I can solve your problems without giving a concert. I’ll lend you what you need—”
    Ames had been drinking a great many cognacs and her generosity brought tears to his eyes. Here he was in the middle of a con job and she had to go make it hard for him by being so goddamn beautiful. Problem was, that even though she didn’t know it, there was no way she could lend him the money. Her bank was Nicky Kiskalesi.
    “That’s nice of you, but things are more complicated than that,” he said. “Money will solve my problems but not yours—”
    “Mine?”
    Ames knew he was returning her kindness with cruelty but he had to. “You need to make the tour. If you want to keep Nicky.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Adriana said. “Nicky and I have been together too long. I know he wants me to make a comeback. He wants a lot of things. He’ll get over it—”
    “Have you seen him lately?” He knew the answer. Adriana had been with Ames almost every night and she wouldn’t have been if Nicky were available.
    “He’s been busy,” Adriana said, making light of the question.
    “Do you know with what?” Ames said. “Or should I say ‘with whom?’” He knew Nicky was spending every night with Barbara Restrepo, the steel heiress.
    “Is it serious?”
    “Not if you make a comeback,” Ames said. “If you want Nicky, you don’t have any choice—”
    The rest of the evening was spent in silence but both knew that Ames had made his sale.

25
    Nicky and Adriana were sitting in her co-op apartment at the United Nations Plaza discussing her concert tour. Nicky was surprised when Adriana said she wanted a written agreement setting out the financial arrangements they had agreed on.
    “Since when have you and I had to draw up a contract about anything?” Nicky wanted to know. He sounded hurt.
    “Since I’ve put my career and my reputation at stake,” said Adriana. Nicky heard a certain hardness and determination in her tone.
    “You don’t trust me?”
    “It’s not a matter of trust,” she said diplomatically. “It’s a business deal—”
    “Haven’t I always given you everything you wanted?” Nicky asked. “Your clothes? This apartment? Your trust fund?”
    That was exactly her point. He gave her everything but there were always strings. The apartment was hers to use but legally it was in his name. The trust fund was revocable at any time. She had not considered before how vulnerable she was and how dependent on him. She was determined to be financially self-sufficient and this concert tour would give her that opportunity.
    “You have indeed,” she said. “And now I expect the three million dollar advance we agreed on—”
    “That’s a lot of money—”
    “I’m putting my reputation on the line—”
    “Nobody’s forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do,” Nicky said. “Didn’t you come to me on your own and tell me you’ve decided to make a comeback tour?”
    “‘On my