Preening a little, he said, “That is something.”
“Good.”
Chapter Six
Whentheystoppedfora hot dog at a cart, Luka admitted, “I’m not a fan of Greek food.”
He was so relieved. “Me either. I mean…it’s…okay…”
Luka laughed a little as they took their hot dogs and started back toward the Waldorf. After they’d both taken bites, Luka let out a moan that made Benson think of sex, but he stuffed that down into his guts and changed the subject. “Where did you grow up?”
“Small town in Connecticut.”
“Small city in Colorado here.”
“Colorado. I bet it’s pretty there.”
“It is. Maybe I’ll take you sometime.”
Luka chuckled darkly. “Oh yeah?”
“Why not?”
“It’s not that I don’t think you would, it’s just…”
No blame could be had for the guy. Benson remembered feeling the same way. Anyone that was interested in him at all was so for some untoward reasoning. “Luka, you don’t owe me a thing. I’d never leverage trips or the play or anything oncondition of your getting naked for me. I’m not that kind of guy. Maybe I haven’t been rich long enough.”
That made him laugh. Seeing a smile at all, well, Benson could tell Luka wasn’t used to smiling.
That meant something to Benson. Having had a rough childhood, he remembered all the reasons he had to be jaded. Things never went his way. It was only through the hardest of will and gripping at every rung of the ladder that always seemed to be coated with oil…
“You got into one of the best colleges in the country, and you graduated with honors. You’re now on track to becoming famous, and dare I say? Rich?”
Luka nodded, and his jaw set hard. “I will be rich.”
“I said the same. The only people more determined to make a lot of money than people who grew up in abject poverty are the ones already rich. I’ve met…I’ve met some people who were just dripping with greed, and I didn’t understand it. They already had more money than they could possibly have.”
“It’s to keep others from getting it. It’s a game. The one with the most money wins, and if everyone else loses, if they starve and lose their homes, it is their own fault for not being ruthless enough. It’s why I’ve decided to be ruthless, but…”
“It’s not so easy. My assistant, she’s ruthless for me. I hate it. But I’ll admit I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have if I didn’t surround myself with those that weren’t easily won over, like I am.”
Luka stopped and took the last bite of his hot dog, tossing the wrapper into the trash. “Yeah. Maybe I need one of those.”
“I’ll lend you mine.”
“People say I need an agent.”
Benson was surprised he didn’t have one. “I’m sure it would help you.”
“Another confession. I hate…I hate…”
“Acting. I know. I read it on you. You’re acting so you can make the money you need to do what you truly want. And that is?”
“Writing. I want to write books and scripts and hide away in some cabin, just…making up worlds.”
“More that we have in common.”
“You want to write?”
