“Oh, I will,” I said. “I’m sure we’ll all be coming out on top.”
We all shared a laugh at the innuendo. It was exactly the kind of talk that disgusted me. But I knew how to play the game.
“My son is very eager for thismergerto take place,” my father added with a wink.
“No doubt. Keeping his eyes on the prize.” Lindsey turned to me. “Trust me when I say, you won’t regret this. And neither will I, I hope.”
I took a hard swallow of my drink. “We don’t deal in regrets here.”
“Only success!” my father added, gesturing around the lavish room like it was proof that he’d never tasted failure. “One conquest after another.”
“That’s what I like about you, Konstantin,” the senator said. “Always confident.”
“Always right,” my father corrected.
They exchanged the grins of men who had no qualms when it came to breaking out the Machiavellian tactics. Even if that meant manipulating the people closest to them.
Was I really any better?
Suddenly the room felt hot and small. Ridiculous considering the total square footage, and the fact that the temperature was always set at a cool 65 degrees. Still, I fought the urge to loosen my tie, reminding myself that the terms I’d agreed to would be worth it in the end.
I wasn’t a man who could afford to have second thoughts.
After all, this deal was the only way I’d convince my father to hand over the company. Even though I wouldn’t have full control, not yet—this was just my opportunity to step in as his right-hand man. A job I should have had years ago, after I got my MBA.
Frustrated, I took another gulp of the scotch in my glass. One drink wouldn’t hurt. It might even take the edge off.
My father could have put me in charge of KZM right out of grad school. I knew the business inside and out, and I finally had the degree from U Penn to back it up. Instead, he’d shuffled me from one management role to the next, the executive positions just out of reach, making promises he never kept.
Until now. When he needed me to make a sacrifice for the greater good.
But now that a leadership role would be officially mine, I could start making moves. And once I was in charge…
I drank, not wanting to get ahead of myself. First step: Finalizing this deal.
“Cigar?” my father asked, pulling out a box of hand rolled Cohibas.
“Certainly.” The senator retrieved one, taking the time to smell it. Savor it.
Cigars had never been my thing; my mother had always hated the smell. It was one of the few things I remembered about her.
My father and the senator clipped and lit their cigars, reveling in the richness of it all amid talk of local politics. I topped off my scotch and took another drink. A long drink.
“…don’t you think so, Stefan?” my father was saying.
I grinned easily. “Without a doubt.” I was never this distracted. I had no idea what I’d just agreed with him on, and my collar felt too tight. Impossible, since my suits were custom made to fit me perfectly.
Morality be damned. I’d been working for this far too long to back off now. My dreams. My goals. My control. They were all within my grasp.
Even if people got hurt in the process.
“To our…mutually beneficial partnership,” my father said, getting up to refill our glasses.
“To a powerful union,” I added. I stood with my drink raised. Committing fully.
Clearly not wanting to be outdone, the senator said, “To the start of a beautiful relationship.” He winked at me as he rose from his chair.
I forced a smile. True to form, this meeting had devolved into a dick-measuring contest.
“To KZ Modeling,” I said.
“To family!” my father threw in, insistent as always on having the last word.
The senator laughed. “Indeed. To family.” We clinked our glasses and he clapped me on the back so hard I almost stumbled. “Welcome to the family.”
