Nicholas tilted his head to look at Jay’s seething mother. “You said I was like my father. But we both know what kind of man he was—that what he couldn’t acquire fairly, he destroyed. If you really believe that, I’m not sure why you would invite me over here and then try to fuck me.”
Jay’s mother turned away. “He betrayed me. Why shouldn’t I get my dues?”
“Do you really think you’re the wronged party here? He proposed to your own daughter, you stupid fucking bitch. If shewere as grasping as you think she is, you would have been out on your ass the day of her graduation and she would have been his new wife. But she told him no. My father didn’t like no. He once arranged for the devaluation of a property when the owner wouldn’t sell. He tried to do the same thing to Jay’s reputation.”
“Everyone knew she was with Quentin and Michael,” Jake broke in.
“And my father did business with both of theirs.” He gave Jake a little shove, sending him stumbling back into a rack full of mismatched wineglasses that tumbled out and shattered. “How do you think he managed to control the narrative? He paid for the stories he thought were fit to circulate, until his influence dead-ended and control finally eluded him.
“I saw the way he watched her. I know you did, too. You saw him alienating her from her friends, cutting off her paths to escape one by one. But I think you convinced yourself to let the chips fall wherever they may because deep down, you wanted to teach her a lesson. If somethingdidhappen, with all your carefully laid criticism, she’d only blame herself.”
The kitchen seemed to go gray. Jay leaned back against the counter, breathing harder.
No, she thought.Oh god.
“I used to think you were just some dumb bimbo,” Nicholas was saying, “but you and my father really did deserve each other. Neither of you ever cared about anything but yourselves.”
“Jake,” Jay’s mother said, appealing to the other man, but he didn’t move. He looked at the glass, and then at Nicholas.
“You want to get involved in how I conduct my business, Van Hoff?” Nicholas gave him a chilling smile that was all teeth. “Someone in this room is getting fucked tonight but only one of you is going to like it.”
“Is that another threat?”
“No. You’re going to give me the negatives and then you’re going to pack up and leave before I call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing.”
Jay’s mother laughed angrily. “In my own apartment?”
“No, in mine. I did some digging and found out what you’ve been doing to float your rent, in addition to letting this pathetic little fuck live with you rent-free. Both of those things violate your rental agreement. Your landlord was very interested in hearing about that.”
“Well, he didn’t tellme. He’s supposed to give me thirty days.”
“I’m telling you. Get the hell out of my building.”
“I don’t believe you. You won’t fool me with your nasty tricks.”
“It’s not a trick. One of my recent business deals fell through so I had some extra money to burn. Thisismy apartment, whether you believe me or not, and if you don’t get the fuck out of it by five o’ clock this evening—that’s one hour from now—I’m forwarding everything I have on you to the police before I have them throw your ass out to the curb with the rest of the trash.”
“You can’t do that!” Jay’s mother looked at Jay. “Tell him he can’t do that.”
Jay shrugged.
“I also picked up most of your collective debts, so your car,” he added, tilting his head to look at Jake, “or, rather,mycar, also belongs to me. So you’ll be hightailing it out of here on foot. Make the appropriate arrangements. Or don’t. I don’t really give a shit.”
“I’m yourmother,” her mother said again to Jay.
“Get on your knees,” said Nicholas.
“I—excuse me?”
“Get on your knees,” he repeated, “and beg her forgiveness. You said you were her mother—a real mother would do it. If the apology’s good enough, I’ll write you a check for ten grand.”
“You’re crazy,” her mother said.
Nicholas gave her a grim look. “It’s the best offer you’ll get.”
Jay was aware of a numbness in her fingertips as she turned her head to look at him. She could sense the desire for violence radiating from him as if it were a physical thing, rubbing against her skin like a furred and vicious creature that would eat her alive from sheer hunger alone.
It left her breathless.
