‘You know, Alex,’ Kennedy whispered, ‘if you could spare a little time to help Lawrence during his campaign, it might make all the difference, and I know he’d appreciate it.’
It had never crossed Alex’s mind that he could actually help Lawrence do anything. ‘I’d be only too happy to do whatever I can, senator,’ he heard himself saying.
‘That’s good of you, Alex. Let’s keep in touch.’
Kennedy’s words gave Alex a little more confidence, and made him more determined to press Todd on how much he might consider investing in Elena’s, and what he would expect in return. But when he looked around, he saw Todd standing behind him, deep in conversation with Evelyn. Alex felt he couldn’t interrupt them.
When he sat back down he was surprised to find a queue of guests had formed, all of them wanting to speak to him and shake his hand. He answered every one of their questions, not least because it ensured he wouldn’t have to venture onto the dance floor and make a complete fool of himself. When he noticed the first guests departing just before midnight, Alex decided that after he’d had a word with Todd, he’d also slip away, but first he asked a passing waiter where the restroom was.
‘Follow me,’ said Evelyn, who’d appeared from nowhere.
Alex happily obeyed. She took his hand and led him up a wide marble staircase to the first floor, and opened a set of double doors into a bedroom that was larger than Alex’s flat in Brighton Beach.
‘Use my private bathroom,’ she said, gesturing towards a door on the far side of the room.
‘Thank you,’ said Alex, as he disappeared into a room that had a bath and a shower. He smiled as he washed his hands and straightened his tie, now confident enough to ask Evelyn if she would call a taxi to take him back to his hotel. But when he returned to the bedroom, he couldn’t see her. He assumed she must have gone back downstairs to the party, until he heard a voice say, ‘I’m over here, Alex.’ He swung round to see her sitting up in bed, her magnificent ballgown lying on the floor. ‘Come and join me,’ Evelyn said, tapping the covers.
Alex couldn’t believe what was happening, but after hesitating for a moment, he nervously discarded his suit and shirt, and climbed into bed beside her. She immediately took him in her arms and began kissing him. He wondered if it was obvious that she was only the second woman he’d ever slept with. She finally leant back, let out a loud sigh and said, ‘I can see why the enemy didn’t have a chance.’
Moments later she fell asleep in his arms.
When Alex woke the following morning, and looked at Evelyn lying beside him, he still couldn’t believe this beautiful and sophisticated woman had given him a second look. He feared that the moment she woke, the bubble would burst and he would have to return to the real world.
He began to gently stroke her long red hair. She slowly woke and lazily stretched her arms, before pulling him towards her. After they’d made love a second time, Evelyn rested her head on his shoulder.
‘Can I ask you something?’ said Alex.
‘Anything, my darling,’ she replied.
‘What can you tell me about Todd Halliday, the guy who was seated on the other side of me last night?’
‘Extremely wealthy, old money, but he likes to invest in new companies.’
‘Do you think he might be interested...’
‘I suspect that’s why Lawrence put him next to you,’ said Evelyn.
‘But my company is so small—’
‘Todd likes to get in at the beginning. He says that’s how the real money is made. I only wish I’d listened to him when he told me to invest in Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Walt Disney.’
‘What sort of sum does he usually invest?’
‘Ten, fifteen million, and I’ve even known him put up as much as twenty-five if he really believes in the person, and I could see he was impressed by you.’
‘But what would he expect in return?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ said Evelyn, ‘but I’m not going to miss out this time.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I shall be among the first to back.’
‘You’d be willing to invest in my company?’
‘Not in your company,’ said Evelyn, ‘in you. Todd always says there are bullshitters and bulls, and he wasn’t in any doubt which you were, so I asked him to put me down for half a million. In fact,’ she added as she stepped out of bed and put on a silk dressing gown, ‘if Todd is willing to back you, I’m going to have to sell the Warhol my grandfather left me in his will.’ Evelyn stood in front of a portrait hanging on the wall. ‘It’s known as the Blue Jackie, and it captures that poignant moment when she realized her husband was dead.’
‘I couldn’t let you do that,’ said Alex as he followed her into the bathroom.
‘Don’t give it a second thought,’ said Evelyn as her robe fell to the floor and she stepped into the shower. ‘It’s worth over a million, and there are several New York dealers who’d be only too happy to give me half a million, possibly more. And I’ll let you into a little secret, I’ve never really liked it.’
Alex couldn’t concentrate when she turned on the shower and handed him the soap. Another first. It wasn’t until he was drying himself that he said, ‘I couldn’t let you sell the Warhol, not least because Lawrence would never forgive me.’
‘I won’t tell him if you don’t,’ said Evelyn, as she strolled back into the bedroom and opened a walk-in wardrobe to reveal row upon row of dresses, skirts, blouses and shoes. She took her time selecting an outfit. Alex didn’t enjoy putting his old clothes back on as he watched her getting dressed.
‘Why don’t we cut out the dealers?’
‘Can you zip me up, darling?’
Alex walked across the room, zipped up the dress, and bent down to kiss her on the shoulder as he did so.
‘I’m not sure I understand,’ said Evelyn, turning to face him.
‘I’ll act as the dealer, but with a difference. I’ll buy the picture for half a million, which you can then invest in my company, and I’ll return the Warhol when you repay me.’
‘But why take the risk?’ said Evelyn.
‘There’s no risk, while the picture’s worth a million,’ said Alex.
‘And you wouldn’t tell Lawrence?’
‘Not a word.’
‘Then we have a deal,’ said Evelyn as she removed the small painting from the wall.
‘No, I won’t need to take it until the deal is closed.’
‘Then it won’t be possible, because I’m off to the south of France for six weeks, and if I know Todd, he’ll have closed a deal with you long before I get back.’ Evelyn handed over the picture. ‘I trust you enough to keep your end of the bargain.’
Alex reluctantly took the painting, sat down, wrote out a cheque for five hundred thousand dollars, and handed it to Evelyn.
‘Thank you,’ she said, leaving it on the bedside table. ‘Why don’t you come back to Boston next weekend? We can go sailing, and celebrate our new partnership,’ she added before kissing him gently on the lips.
Alex couldn’t believe she wanted to see him again, and simply said, ‘I’d like that.’
‘I think it’s time for us to have some breakfast,’ said Evelyn. ‘But not a word to Lawrence about our little deal.’
‘I’d rather not, dressed like this,’ said Alex. ‘It was embarrassing enough last night, and it would be even worse at breakfast. In any case, are you sure you want your brother to know I stayed the night?’
‘I don’t think he’d give a damn.’
‘But I do.’
‘You’re so beautifully old-fashioned,’ said Evelyn. ‘But if you insist, you can slip down the back stairs and out of the tradesmen’s entrance. That way no one will see you.’