“Fuck.”
“He’s about to learn what being an adult is all about.”
“Good. It’s probably time for that, if I’m being honest.”
“I know.” I stand and pad into the bathroom to relieve myself.
“Are you pissing on the phone with me?”
“You’re the one who woke me up.” Another call beeps through, and checking the screen, I say, “I have to go. Sergei’s calling me.”
“Go piss inhisear,” Rome says before hanging up.
I flush and start to wash my hands as I answer Sergei’s call.
“Yes?”
“And good morning to you too.”
I roll my eyes and dry my hands. Looks like I’m up for the day.
“What can I do for you, Sergei?”
“Your son called me this morning.”Motherfucking shit.“He tells me that he’s now homeless, turned out by his own father.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Itismy business when he’s marrying my daughter. I won’t allow Natasha to be homeless the minute she marries your son,Julian. He also tells me,” he continues before I can reply, “that he was kicked outbecauseof Natasha.”
“That’s not true,” I interrupt. “He fucked up, and now he gets to clean up his own messes. It had nothing at all to do with your daughter.”
“The wedding needs to happen in three days,” Sergei says. “And there had better be a decent home for my daughter to live in once they say ‘I do.’”
“Or what, Sergei?”
He’s quiet for a moment, but I continue.
“You’ll pull out of the agreement? Fine. Then you owe me a hundred and fifty million dollars.”
“The debt was one hundred million.”
“And if you pull out of the deal, I add on interest and fees for wasting my fucking time.”
He’s fuming on the other end.
“You’re the one with a fortune to lose.”
“And you’re the one who will have a war at his doorstep if you don’t take care of my daughter.”
“Elliott is the one marrying her, it’s his responsibility to care for her, but I’m telling you that she will be fine. If you don’t believe me, wire me the money and the deal is off, and we can go to war. You don’t scare me, Sergei.”
“Three days.”
“Why are you moving the timeline up?”
“Because I have business in two weeks, and I’ll be out of the country.”
He hangs up and I sigh, then dress in the usual black slacks and dress shirt and suit coat, and once I’ve fastened my Patek Philippe watch, I walk to the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee before I make my way to my office.
