“Wait a second,” Clark said. “That’s your plan? Daryl tries to sell out the firm, and you throw some investments his way?”
“For now,” I said simply. “But that’s why I needed you here, Clark. You’re running Research and Development together. Keep an eye on him for me. If he fucks up again, the guys who own his debt owe me a favor. That one percent can be yours just as easily as his.”
Another silence filled the room, and I leaned forward, pouring some more water onto the rocks.
“God damn it!” Daryl shouted suddenly, throwing a spare towel across the room. Without another word, he stood up and stormed away, slamming the door behind him.
I chuckled to myself. “I guess that’s a yes. You in, Clark?”
Through the steam, I saw Clark squinting, probably running numbers and calculating risks. “I mean, I need to see the details…”
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll have the package delivered to your loft tomorrow morning. I’ve got a busy schedule, you understand, but Zachary will be available to meet with you and discuss the finer points in the afternoon.”
Clark sat there for a minute, then started laughing to himself. “Hell, man, I’ve heard stories, but I’ve never seen you work in person.”
I shrugged, happy to have the implied compliment. “Don’t think this project in Long Island City is a favor to you. I expect big things. I’ve been waiting for a chance to collaborate anyway.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I can’t handle much more of this heat.”
I held my hand in the air. “Just one more thing,” I said. “A personal favor. I wondered if you could run some opposition research for me.”
“On the takeover? I guess, but it seems like you already have this figured out.”
“Not here,” I said. “There’s a green development firm in Denver I’m starting to doubt. I thought you might have the right connections to dig up some dirt for me.”
Clark rose to his feet and tightened his towel around his waist. “I do,” he said. “I can send something over next week?”
“Next week is good.”
He took a few steps toward the door, then paused, turning my way. “Denver? Really? I’m surprised you went out there.”
“It’s good for me,” I said, offering my standard line. “And I’ll be back soon enough.”
“Whatever you say,” Clark answered. “I’m just glad the firm might survive after all.”
When he left, I sat alone in the steam for a while. I had a late cocktail I should have been rushing to, and another after that. But for just a moment, I was happy to relax and clear my head.
I always felt like I was running myself into the ground when I was in Manhattan. There were always more people to doubt and more deals to fight over. But even with the firm at risk, it had never felt as easy as it did that weekend.
I felt like I could fight all night, in fact, knowing that Xavier was waiting for me on the other end.
* * *
Through a miracle of timing and a few favors, I was able to clear my schedule for Monday afternoon. Back in Denver and relatively confident the crisis was averted, I was exhausted and very ready to pass out in bed. Rubbing my bloodshot eyes at the office in Denver, however, I knew there was something I needed even more than sleep.
My fingers curled tightly around a pen as I thought of Xavier. His smile. His bubble butt. The way he would look at me when I told him about New York, like he genuinely cared about me and not just about the flashy numbers and highrises.
After a weekend of calculating conversations and sly maneuvering, I needed someone to look at me that way.
I needed him.
I closed out a few windows on my desktop, then rose to my feet. There would be work to do that evening and busy days after that. But for the moment, I knew that Zachary was keeping the ball in motion in New York, and new developments were launching just fine. I grabbed my jacket and towered down the hall before anyone could intercept me with a question.
My driver, Bruce, nodded as I took my seat in the back, then shot down the street. I realized how many times he had driven to the candy store now. He’d only been my official work driver for a couple of months, but I imagined he had filled in the blanks about Xavier and I.
I stared down at my phone for a while, then glanced up quickly enough to notice that we were in the neighborhood already. “Do you want me to grab you some candy from inside, Bruce?” I asked as we drove up. “You always seem like you’re eating healthy snacks.”
Bruce chuckled. “I’m never going to turn a caramel down.”
