“I don’t know if I can eat, Andy. I don’t have an appetite,” I interjected.
“We don’t sell food here, sir. Just the drinks, I’m afraid,” the waiter replied in a tone that hinted that he was scared to offend.
“Yes, I forgot that,” Andy replied. “Here’s what we’ll do.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket and took out some dollar notes, handing them to the waiter. “There’s a deli just around corner; you can run down and get us some sandwiches.”
The waiter shook his head nervously taking an uneasy step back. “I am sorry, sir, but I’m on the clock. I’ll get fired if I’m not here to take orders.”
“Please. My friend has had a terrible morning and he can’t keep drinking on an empty stomach.” Andy brought out another dollar bill – a hundred this time. “Here, this is for your trouble. And you can check with your boss; he’ll tell you it is okay. You’re obviously new but we are very important regulars here.”
“Okay.” He took the money reluctantly and left.
I sat on my chair, staring morosely at my empty glass. I really didn’t want to eat anything, but I gave no outwardly reaction to the exchange.“Prince, I don’t like youin this state,” Andy began. “And to answer the question you asked earlier, no, you can’t fight this. Not because there aren’t options but because it’s only a few months, a temporary lifestyle adjustment. If I were you, I would just roll over and let him have his fun. It is all in-house right now; I am sure you don’t want things to go public.”
Resignation rushed through my body and on the heels of that was cold determination. I eased up, stretching my arm forward to take the drink that sat untouched in front of my friend. Andy made to stop my arm and then let me have it.
“I sent a check for fifty million over. You shouldn’t be the only one to bear the brunt of this. I was careless, defeating the reason why you brought me on to the deal in the first place.”
Some light seeped back into my heart; I was humbled by the gesture but at the same time, silently resented my friend. That was a quarter of what Andy had gotten as commission. I tried not to ask myself if I would have done the same if the roles were reversed. Andy had always been the generous one. His philanthropy was testament to that. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a recipient to that benevolence.
“I can see the wheels in your head turning. You can’t turn it down, it’s done,” he said, surprising me with how well he knew me.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Andy.”
The waiter came back with our food at that moment.
“You can thank me by eating.” He turned to the waiter. “Another round of drinks and two glasses of water.”
I reached for my sandwich and took a small bite; my appetite had resurfaced.
“Did you know I have no money put aside? I’ve spent it all. My last draw was on the Chinese deal. I’ve risked it all and I was stupid,” I said suddenly around a mouthful of food. “My dad knew I had nothing to fall back on. That’s why he is squeezing my throat so tightly. He must be happy to find out I’ve lost the deal.”
“I’m surprised you’ve only found that out now,” Andy deadpanned. “You have three houses in New York alone, Prince. Excluding the one you bought for Angelique. You have more cars than you can remember. You fly in chefs to prepare meals for you on a whim.” Andy snapped his fingers to demonstrate. “You used to go through women like they were linen. I was scared to leave you alone the other day because I feared you would go on a bender.”
“You are beginning to sound an awful lot like my dad, Andy. I don’t need the judgment,” I replied coolly.
“I’m not judging, that’s the whole truth. But maybe your old man’s right? Maybe it’s time to slow down, Prince. You’ve been running at full speed and ignoring your diminishing tank.”
“Right,” I responded drily. “You know, he’s forcing me to marry Angelique.”
“Sheesh,” Andy let out in a voice laden with his displeasure at the idea of marriage. “What are you going to do?”
“I have no choice in the matter. Plus, I’ve thought about it. She’s the only one I could imagine being with…for however long that lasts. I actually look forward to seeing her; she has yet to bore me. Did you know we’ve been together for practically a year?”
“So, you love her?” Andy probed.
I shrugged indifferently. “I know she’s with me because of the things I can provide for her. Sad, isn’t it? That the one woman who has managed to capture my attention is only interested in my money.” I thought of her sweet lips and lush curves and imagined touching them now. even out of sight and after a year, she still made mybody stir. The thought of seeing her later was the only light at the end of the dark tunnel of this cursed day. Maybe marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe having her at my beck and call would be a small price to pay to keep my dad off my back. Who cared if she didn’t love me for myself? Love was overrated anyhow.
“One must do what one must I guess.” Andy raised his glass as he broke into my thoughts. “Cheers, my friend.”
“Can we get out here?” I asked, rising to my feet. “The place is becoming depressing. I need to use the restroom. Get the waiter to hail a taxi.”
“You look sober enough to drive,” Andy replied.
“They took the car I drove to the office,” I explained with a grim look.
“And so, it begins. Hurry then, I’ll drop you off.”
Chapter 5
