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“It is the best.”
“We are on same page,” Alexi said and put his arm over my shoulder. “You keep making my money make more money, and we can keep playing poker every Thursday night. Together, we can push Italians,” he says and looks like he wants to spit but doesn’t. “We push Italians out of business and back to Sicily.”
We’ve been working together for the past month.
Downstairs, Alexi and his associates play poker with a few of the Wall Street types I know who are into the game. I sit back at my desk and prepare myself for the call, checking the status of the Zoom meeting room, where I see that two people are waiting for the meeting to begin.
For the next half hour, I speak with the two businessmen from Tokyo, discussing investing their money in the fund I developed and run, which is outperforming the market by quite a percentage. When we are done and have agreed to terms of the contract, I thank them and say goodbye, promising to come to Tokyo soon so we can meet, and I can be introduced to other businessmen with money to invest.
I lean back and stretch, glad that the meeting was successful. I would like to call it a night at this point, but the party is still going on downstairs. Besides, Jake is still there, losing money. I have to go and make sure he doesn’t lose more than his wallet.
Those Russians are Mafia. And the Russian Mafia is one of the most brutal in existence. I know. My family is all tied upwith them and no matter what my father does, he can’t easily extricate himself or the family business from their influence.
I return to the dining room where the game is still going strong, cigar smoke thick in the air above the table. Alexi isn’t playing. Instead, he and Sherri are sitting on one of the sofas in the adjoining living room. She's smoking a joint with him, and he’s blowing the smoke into her mouth.
She's clearly out of it.
Alexi glances over into the dining room where I stand watching the game and leaves Sherri, coming over to me.
He puts an arm over my shoulder. “I notice you don’t play as much as your friend, Jake. He seems to like to lose money. Lots of money.”
I laugh. “He has too much money and not enough sense. I don’t tell him what to do.”
“Is good. The man is enjoying himself, even if he’s losing money. The more money he loses, the happier my associates will be. I like to keep them happy.”
I nod and we stand at the table together to watch the current players examining their cards and placing their bets. Jake is enjoying himself, and isn’t too drunk, so I don’t try to distract him and get him to stop.
From the sounds of the players, talking and laughing, it’s going to be a long night…
CHAPTER 6
Natalia
One month earlier…
I textSherri several times over the next few days but get nothing more than a curt text late one weeknight.
SHERRI: Sorry. Been busy studying. Finals will soon be over, and we can chill.
NATALIA: Sorry to pester you. I know you’re busy with finals. Text me when you’re free and clear and we can go out and celebrate — that is, if you can tear yourself away from the Prince…
SHERRI: Okay. Later.
I sigh with relief and plan on waiting for her to text me when she's done.
Several more days go by, and when Saturday rolls around and she still hasn’t texted me, I’m getting a bit impatient. More than a bit.
NATALIA: Hey, it’s Saturday. According to my knowledge of your schedule, your last exam was Thursday. Have yourecovered enough to celebrate with me and Michelle tonight or has Mr. Prince already reserved your presence?
There’s nothing in response, so I sigh and wait, spending my afternoon watching old reruns of Game of Thrones to fill in the time.
When the evening rolls around and still nothing, I’m more than impatient.
I’m pissed.
She could at least respond to my text if she doesn’t want to hang with me. I understand that Mr. O'Connor is hot stuff, but still. She could just tell me she's busy, and we could make alternate plans. Maybe brunch on Sunday at our favorite brunch spot.
That night, I text her, knowing that she's probably getting it on with Harrison somewhere in his penthouse.
