heights. She was helping him master the Asian markets and investment opportunity with her quick skills, but he still needed land developers on his side, and still craved the idea of having them working side by side with him. The dollar signs from that summit had blinded him, made it impossible for him to remember, care or keep track of other deals and looming obligations.
Still, he’d promised and perhaps he could wait. After all, Sylvia had been charmed by him before and if she gave a million just to cancer, then he could offer her so much more when a return and profit margins were in the mix. It would pain him to miss the summit this week, but he’d milk his trip to India for all he could, for whatever he could do to get Sylvia in Rostov Investments’ corner.
“Very well, as you wish,” he said. “But I’ll be sure to go out for golf with Taperton the following week. Always have to pursue the right leads, don’t we?”
Besides, I can’t let you know truly how much I’ve actually been ducking out. I can’t bear your disappointment even if I keep earning it…
***
The next day was Saturday and he did something completely self-indulgent---he didn’t work. It felt unnatural to take a full, twelve hour stretch where he did nothing at all but, frankly, he needed to prepare and pack for the India trip. Besides, his cousin, Raymond, insisted that he go jogging with him. It was hard to say no to his overeager cousin. Raymond was the type to not just call or email incessantly.
Oh no, that would be easy to ignore, and his asshole cousin knew that well.
Nope, his plans were more ingenious than that. Raymond Kharmin was an artist of direct harassment, and it showed. Yesterday, he’d come over and sung twenty off-key rounds of “The Song that Never Ends” until Xavier gave in. He was losing more time trying to work through the racket than he was going to lose on the actual jog. So he assented. After the run, he’d be packing quickly. He and Paula were booked on the first flight out of Vegas on Monday; it would leave by six a.m.
He groaned at the thought of a morning that early and the annoying gauntlet of the TSA.
“So,” Raymond said as they fell into step together. “How’s the partnership working out? We’re way ahead of our donation goals. Thanks to you.”
“I’m glad that my presence has made your charity actually successful.” At least there was that.
If only it had worked to get Paula back.
“It was surviving before,” Raymond bit back, his tone short. “I know that Paula was finding her feet, but it’s hard to be a new non-profit.”
“Get real. You were on life support.” He blinked as sweat rolled down his forehead into his eye. “She’s good at what she does for you. She is great working in the private sector. You know it, and I know it. Working for you is a waste of her best talents.”
“Paula’s trying and has been trying to do non-profit work for over three years. It matters to her to do well in the world. Speaking of which, cousin--I think her being with you is great for you. You know, you’ve been smiling more?”
“That’s not because of Paula. That’s because I’m enjoying the success of my company.
Raymond made a derisive sound. “Success isn’t everything.”
“All right, then. Respect. Xavier huffed.
“How about love.”.”
“Oh, please. Really? Come on. That’s endorphins talking.”
“I didn’t believe in love till I met Melissa. Having one woman after another lost its thrill. Then there was only being obsessed with the luxury, and getting home too.”
“Seriously.”
“I am being serious. You were a prince, now you’re not. You used to speak to Aunt Mina and even poor, ailing Uncle Ivan.”
“Don’t talk about my father.”
“Stop it, Xavier. The point is, you lost your family. Then you lost Paula’s love, which you’re still desperate to get back. Why don’t you work on recovering treasures that are actually worth
Still, he’d promised and perhaps he could wait. After all, Sylvia had been charmed by him before and if she gave a million just to cancer, then he could offer her so much more when a return and profit margins were in the mix. It would pain him to miss the summit this week, but he’d milk his trip to India for all he could, for whatever he could do to get Sylvia in Rostov Investments’ corner.
“Very well, as you wish,” he said. “But I’ll be sure to go out for golf with Taperton the following week. Always have to pursue the right leads, don’t we?”
Besides, I can’t let you know truly how much I’ve actually been ducking out. I can’t bear your disappointment even if I keep earning it…
***
The next day was Saturday and he did something completely self-indulgent---he didn’t work. It felt unnatural to take a full, twelve hour stretch where he did nothing at all but, frankly, he needed to prepare and pack for the India trip. Besides, his cousin, Raymond, insisted that he go jogging with him. It was hard to say no to his overeager cousin. Raymond was the type to not just call or email incessantly.
Oh no, that would be easy to ignore, and his asshole cousin knew that well.
Nope, his plans were more ingenious than that. Raymond Kharmin was an artist of direct harassment, and it showed. Yesterday, he’d come over and sung twenty off-key rounds of “The Song that Never Ends” until Xavier gave in. He was losing more time trying to work through the racket than he was going to lose on the actual jog. So he assented. After the run, he’d be packing quickly. He and Paula were booked on the first flight out of Vegas on Monday; it would leave by six a.m.
He groaned at the thought of a morning that early and the annoying gauntlet of the TSA.
“So,” Raymond said as they fell into step together. “How’s the partnership working out? We’re way ahead of our donation goals. Thanks to you.”
“I’m glad that my presence has made your charity actually successful.” At least there was that.
If only it had worked to get Paula back.
“It was surviving before,” Raymond bit back, his tone short. “I know that Paula was finding her feet, but it’s hard to be a new non-profit.”
“Get real. You were on life support.” He blinked as sweat rolled down his forehead into his eye. “She’s good at what she does for you. She is great working in the private sector. You know it, and I know it. Working for you is a waste of her best talents.”
“Paula’s trying and has been trying to do non-profit work for over three years. It matters to her to do well in the world. Speaking of which, cousin--I think her being with you is great for you. You know, you’ve been smiling more?”
“That’s not because of Paula. That’s because I’m enjoying the success of my company.
Raymond made a derisive sound. “Success isn’t everything.”
“All right, then. Respect. Xavier huffed.
“How about love.”.”
“Oh, please. Really? Come on. That’s endorphins talking.”
“I didn’t believe in love till I met Melissa. Having one woman after another lost its thrill. Then there was only being obsessed with the luxury, and getting home too.”
“Seriously.”
“I am being serious. You were a prince, now you’re not. You used to speak to Aunt Mina and even poor, ailing Uncle Ivan.”
“Don’t talk about my father.”
“Stop it, Xavier. The point is, you lost your family. Then you lost Paula’s love, which you’re still desperate to get back. Why don’t you work on recovering treasures that are actually worth
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