damn her, she’s right. I don’t want to hurt her. “She should divorce you.”
“Can’t. Daddy would have a fit. Speaking of my old man, how does it feel to be fellated by him publicly? ‘Ian Kerr is an example of what New York can do for people and what I want do for New York.’” Richard mocks his father’s latest sound bite. “He keeps asking me why I’m not a success like Ian Kerr who didn’t even go to business school.”
“Why aren’t you, Howe? Degrees from Yale and Columbia. Old family name. Connections. You should be rolling in it.” I dig the knife in as hard as I can.
“Fuck you,” he curses. “You’ve just been phenomenally lucky.”
“Or smart.”
“You invested in one technology early that set you up for life. Everything since your investment in SeeMe is just gravy. That’s fucking luck. And everyone knows your money was dirty. You’re no better than a fucking mobster.” He looks ready to throw the glass on the floor.
“There were plenty of people who were offered the chance to invest in that video sharing software. I believe I heard you were even approached.”
“I could have had her, you know.” He abruptly switches the subject. I glance over the dance floor at Tiny and Sarah who are busy shaking their hips and arms to the heavy bass of EDM being spun by the DJ. “If her mom hadn’t died, she would have eventually succumbed.”
Finally I turn to look at him, and he flinches from the murderous look in my eyes. “If it pleases you to delude yourself, go right ahead.” Another sip. I concentrate on the liquid, savoring the cherry notes on top of the smoke and wood, but I don’t take my eyes off of him.
“If you only knew the women I’ve had in the past.” Richard’s words are a tease and the closest he’s ever come to admitting that he slept with my mother; that he took advantage of her at her lowest moment; that he drove her to suicide. I squeeze the tumbler so that the cut crystal of the base digs into my palm. I want him to admit it. To verbalize his deed so that I can take him down without feeling an ounce of remorse.
It takes a superhuman effort, but I’m able to respond without inflection. “I don’t doubt your past is littered with stories. None of them are of any interest to me,” I lied.
“Then let me tell you—”
“Mr. Howe, there’s a phone call from your father.” Kaga appears suddenly. “He says it’s urgent that you present yourself at campaign headquarters immediately. Something about a young woman claiming to have personal information about you.”
There are two burly bouncers standing behind Kaga who are clearly ready to drag Howe out of the VIP section, willing or not. He leans forward, so close I can smell the cheap booze and desperation. “You are nothing, Kerr. And whatever you’ve built can be ripped down in a moment. Without your money, you wouldn’t be able to buy a whore in the city let alone sit here like a goddamn sultan purveying his harem.”
“Your clock is ticking, Howe. I can bring you down with one phone call. And all of this—” I sweep my arm toward the bar “—will be out of your reach.
He looks behind him and curses. “I’m not the only one with plans. Keep your loved ones close, Kerr. Not everyone has the same principles as you.”
“I’d take your threats more seriously if you weren’t such a complete and utter failure at life, Howe. Maybe I’ll give you more time. Your humiliation is entertaining.” I flick my hand in dismissal. Kaga nods his head and the two bouncers grab hold of one arm each and pull Howe toward the exit. Shock paralyzes him, and I savor the spectacle until he gathers himself and jerks his arms out of their grip and trots hurriedly down the stairs.
“Call from his father?”
Kaga shrugs and sits down. A glass appears in front of him before his ass can hit the cushion. “His father should be keeping a closer eye on him. And you need to either pull the trigger on Howe or
“Can’t. Daddy would have a fit. Speaking of my old man, how does it feel to be fellated by him publicly? ‘Ian Kerr is an example of what New York can do for people and what I want do for New York.’” Richard mocks his father’s latest sound bite. “He keeps asking me why I’m not a success like Ian Kerr who didn’t even go to business school.”
“Why aren’t you, Howe? Degrees from Yale and Columbia. Old family name. Connections. You should be rolling in it.” I dig the knife in as hard as I can.
“Fuck you,” he curses. “You’ve just been phenomenally lucky.”
“Or smart.”
“You invested in one technology early that set you up for life. Everything since your investment in SeeMe is just gravy. That’s fucking luck. And everyone knows your money was dirty. You’re no better than a fucking mobster.” He looks ready to throw the glass on the floor.
“There were plenty of people who were offered the chance to invest in that video sharing software. I believe I heard you were even approached.”
“I could have had her, you know.” He abruptly switches the subject. I glance over the dance floor at Tiny and Sarah who are busy shaking their hips and arms to the heavy bass of EDM being spun by the DJ. “If her mom hadn’t died, she would have eventually succumbed.”
Finally I turn to look at him, and he flinches from the murderous look in my eyes. “If it pleases you to delude yourself, go right ahead.” Another sip. I concentrate on the liquid, savoring the cherry notes on top of the smoke and wood, but I don’t take my eyes off of him.
“If you only knew the women I’ve had in the past.” Richard’s words are a tease and the closest he’s ever come to admitting that he slept with my mother; that he took advantage of her at her lowest moment; that he drove her to suicide. I squeeze the tumbler so that the cut crystal of the base digs into my palm. I want him to admit it. To verbalize his deed so that I can take him down without feeling an ounce of remorse.
It takes a superhuman effort, but I’m able to respond without inflection. “I don’t doubt your past is littered with stories. None of them are of any interest to me,” I lied.
“Then let me tell you—”
“Mr. Howe, there’s a phone call from your father.” Kaga appears suddenly. “He says it’s urgent that you present yourself at campaign headquarters immediately. Something about a young woman claiming to have personal information about you.”
There are two burly bouncers standing behind Kaga who are clearly ready to drag Howe out of the VIP section, willing or not. He leans forward, so close I can smell the cheap booze and desperation. “You are nothing, Kerr. And whatever you’ve built can be ripped down in a moment. Without your money, you wouldn’t be able to buy a whore in the city let alone sit here like a goddamn sultan purveying his harem.”
“Your clock is ticking, Howe. I can bring you down with one phone call. And all of this—” I sweep my arm toward the bar “—will be out of your reach.
He looks behind him and curses. “I’m not the only one with plans. Keep your loved ones close, Kerr. Not everyone has the same principles as you.”
“I’d take your threats more seriously if you weren’t such a complete and utter failure at life, Howe. Maybe I’ll give you more time. Your humiliation is entertaining.” I flick my hand in dismissal. Kaga nods his head and the two bouncers grab hold of one arm each and pull Howe toward the exit. Shock paralyzes him, and I savor the spectacle until he gathers himself and jerks his arms out of their grip and trots hurriedly down the stairs.
“Call from his father?”
Kaga shrugs and sits down. A glass appears in front of him before his ass can hit the cushion. “His father should be keeping a closer eye on him. And you need to either pull the trigger on Howe or
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