One woman in particular caught Jacob’s eye. A redhead with a nice smile and a nicer body stood near the bar, chatting with an older man. She dressed a bit classier than the others, her dress tailored to fit perfectly, her makeup understated.
Zhang Jun sat at a table with three young ladies, all blondes, two robotic. Everyone was all smiles as he smoked his e-cigar.
They approached the table, and the security guard said, “Jacob Roth.”
Zhang nodded, and the security guard left. Zhang smirked at Jacob. “Mr. Roth.”
Even in a seated position, Jacob could tell Zhang Jun was a small man. His dark hair grayed at the temples, but, despite being middle-aged, his face was quite fresh, free of stubble, and youthful.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Jacob replied, offering his hand across the table.
Zhang ignored the offer, obviously not wanting to stand or to shake hands. “Please sit down.”
Jacob sat next to a robotic blonde, the other two girls and Zhang on the opposite side of the table. Both girls sat tight to Zhang, their hands under the table, caressing his thighs.
“You need money,” Zhang said matter-of-factly, then puffed his e-cigar.
“No,” Jacob replied. “I’m here to offer you an opportunity.”
Zhang cackled, vapor spilling from his mouth. “Yes, an opportunity to invest in an overpriced, poorly run, unprofitable American company, only kept alive by subsidies and bailouts.”
Jacob looked away for a moment, glancing at the beautiful redhead at the bar, then back to Zhang. Jacob stood from the table. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”
Zhang smiled and said, “Sit down, Mr. Roth. You are here, so why not make your offer?”
Jacob hesitated for an instant, then settled back into his seat. “I’d like to offer you a 25 percent stake in Housing Trust, the shares at a 10 percent discount to the current market price.”
“Twenty percent discount to the market.”
“That won’t be possible.”
“If Housing Trust survives the next year without a bailout, I would expect at least a 20 percent decline in the share price. I’ll simply wait until then.”
Jacob clenched his fists under the table. “If the board of directors can authorize such a discount, when would you be able to make the purchase?”
“In a hurry, Mr. Roth?”
“No, but timing is important.”
“The Bank of China will make the purchases in small blocks over the next month.”
“A 25 percent total stake?”
Zhang shook his head and took another puff from his e-cigar. He blew the vapor in Jacob’s face. “A 51 percent stake.”
Jacob’s eyes were like saucers. “The US government would never approve the trades. They’d never let a Chinese company have a majority stake in a GSE.”
“Then we have no deal.”
“How about a 35 percent stake at a 22 percent discount?”
“No. It must be 51 percent.” Zhang turned and kissed the blonde robot on the mouth. The machine moaned in response.
“Why do you want control of the company?”
Zhang turned from the bot and said, “To build nice homes on cheap land for wealthy Chinese.”
“We specialize in building, loans, and management of apartments and low-income housing.”
“Which has not been profitable.”
Jacob went silent. It’s over.
“Fifty-one percent or nothing.”
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Jun.” Jacob stood.
“You should stay and enjoy yourself. You look like a man who could use some entertainment.”
Jacob glanced once more at the redhead by the bar, then back to Zhang. “That’s very kind of you, but—”
“I insist.”
Jacob thought about Eric’s advice. Maybe this is a test. Jacob nodded to Zhang. “Thank you, Mr. Jun.”
“If you could have any woman in this bar, which would you choose?” Zhang leaned forward, appearing interested for the first time.
“I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. It’s not up to me to choose. Typically, the woman does the choosing.” Jacob smiled, hoping his attempt at humor would stop this nonsense.
“You are wrong again, Mr. Roth. I can have any woman in this room. For this night, they are mine. Therefore, I will give one to you, any one you want.”
“Thank you, but I’m a married man.”
“If you’re worried about discretion, there is no need. After all, I’m also a married man.”
Jacob hesitated, thinking about the woman at the bar. “I couldn’t.”
“I understand. You must at least have a drink. On me.” Zhang gestured to the bar. “Maybe your wife will allow a harmless flirtation with the redheaded woman.”
Jacob’s face felt flushed. “Thank you, Mr. Jun.” He turned and walked to the bar.
The redhead continued to chat with the older man. Jacob sat at the bar, waved his chip card at the machine, but apparently it was an open bar courtesy of Mr. Jun. He tapped on the screen in front of him and ordered a scotch on the rocks. The robotic arm moved overhead, accessing scotch and ice and placing the drink on the bar in front of Jacob.
He sipped his drink, feeling lonely and self-conscious. As soon as I’m finished with this drink, I’m done. Jacob had never felt comfortable at bars or parties. Women flocked to the alpha males in these situations, and, despite Jacob’s wealth, he’d never been an alpha male. He was five eight, with skinny arms and a paunch.
He couldn’t even pass for cute. His forehead was too large, his face too long, and his eyes too beady. At his private high school, his classmates had called him Jewfro. He’d cut his hair short in response, but the nickname had stuck. Thirty-two years later, he still had the same short haircut.
The older man kissed the redhead on the cheek and walked toward the exit. She turned toward Jacob and smiled. He wasn’t sure if it was the scotch or her, but he felt woozy. Jacob smiled back, and she slipped off her bar chair and glided closer.
She put her hand on the back of the chair next to his. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Of course.”
“Of course you mind, or of course I can sit?”
“Please sit.”
She slid into the bar chair next to him, Jacob watching her every move. Up close, she was even more stunning than he’d thought from afar. She had a heart-shaped face with bright blue eyes and pale skin, tinted with red tones.
“You look like you’re having a rough night,” she said.
Jacob nodded. “I’ve seen better days.”
She nodded.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No, thank you. I’ve already had too many. A girl has to keep her wits about her.”
“Some water?”
“Sure.”
Jacob tapped on the tablet, ordering for the redhead. The robot arm set a glass of water in front of the lady.
“I’m Jacob, by the way.” He held out his hand.
She shook it with a confident grip. “I’m … Is it okay if I don’t give you a name? I’d like to be honest for once tonight.”
“Honesty’s overrated.”
“You think so?”
“If I told my shareholders the truth, … let’s just say, it’d be like yelling fire in a crowded theater. Then my company’s demise would trigger a meltdown for other companies telling similar lies about the health of their businesses. Before you know it, the whole thing would crash.” Jacob took a swig of his scotch. “Everything’s built on lies.”
“I guess we’re both beholden to lies.”
Jacob nodded and held up his glass. “I’ll drink to that.” They touched glasses and took gulps of their beverage of choice. Jacob set his empty glass on the bar. The arm cleared it immediately, the screen asking if he wanted another. He ignored the screen. “So, why are you here?”
She pursed her full lips. “I’m working.”
“Really?” Jacob glanced a
round the room at the other women. He noticed Zhang Jun and his fair-haired entourage leaving the restaurant. Jacob fixed his gaze back on the redhead. “For the others, it makes sense. I would think this is beneath you.”
“Why are you here?”
“I’m working.” He grinned.
“I guess we’re not so different, you and me. We’re both doing a job we’d rather not be doing.”
Jacob laughed; then she laughed.
She stared at him for a long beat, then said, “You’re one of the good ones.”
Jacob blushed, her flattery warming him from the inside out. “What makes you say that?”
“You’re the only man in here with a wedding band.” She tapped his ring finger that rested on the bar. “And you don’t fit in. I bet you love your wife and kids.”
“Guilty.” Jacob removed his phone and showed the redhead pictures of Rebecca and his children. He let her take his phone and scroll through the images.
“She’s beautiful. You’re a lucky man.”
A security guard approached the bar, making a beeline for the redhead. The massive man didn’t acknowledge Jacob. “Mr. Jun requests your presence in his suite.”
Jacob tensed, his body frozen to the bar chair.
“I’d rather stay here,” the redhead said.
“Let’s make this easy on both of us,” the security guard said.
The redhead set Jacob’s phone on the bar. “I think I’ll be going.” She slipped from her bar chair and took a step away from the security guard, but he stopped her cold with a large hand on her wrist. “Let go of me.”
“Please, miss. Let’s go see Mr. Jun. You’ll be well compensated.”
Her chest and face flashed scarlet. “This is not what I agreed to.” She tried to twist from his grasp, but he held firm with little effort, like he was restraining a child.
“I think you have the wrong woman,” Jacob said, his voice shaky. “She’s with me.”
The redhead glanced at Jacob, a thank-you in her eyes, then glared at the security guard. “I’m with him. Let me go.”
“Look, lady, if I have to carry you, I’ll carry you,” the security guard said.
“You can’t do this!” she said, still trying to twist from his grasp.
“She’s right. This is against the law,” Jacob said, his heart thumping in his chest.
The security guard yanked her toward him, causing her to stumble into him. He picked her up like a rag doll, threw her over his shoulder, and started for the exit.
“Help me,” she said, looking directly at Jacob as she was carried away.
Jacob stood from the bar chair, his stomach churning, his armpits sweating. He looked around the restaurant, hoping for help to arrive, but nobody seemed the least bit bothered. He jogged after them, nearly tripping, his dress shoes providing little traction. Jacob caught them in the hallway, his insides feeling like mush.
The massive man pushed Jacob aside and said, “Stay out of it.”
“Mr. Jun said I could have her,” Jacob said to the man’s back.
The security guard didn’t respond.
Jacob watched him carry the woman into the penthouse suite.
Tears streaked down her cheeks. She mouthed Help me.
But Jacob’s hands were shaky, and his feet felt like they were stuck in concrete. This was a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. Jacob thought about scenarios and probabilities. Zhang Jun surely had diplomatic immunity, and Jacob was certainly not physically able to intervene, nor would he want to be embroiled in this type of scandal. What would Rebecca think if she found out he was at a party with prostitutes and sex bots? He made the most logical decision and walked to the elevator.
Inside the shiny elevator, Jacob felt jittery. Sweat beaded along his hairline. He closed his eyes and saw the woman’s tear-streaked face. At the elevator ding, the door opened. He walked outside.
In front of the hotel, he was picked up by his driver in the autonomous Mercedes. A few minutes later, he was safely away from The Regal Hotel and on his way home. He removed his handkerchief and wiped his sweaty palms. He reached into his pocket for his phone, hopeful for a distraction, but his phone wasn’t there. His stomach tumbled, and his mind quickly retraced his steps to the bar. She’d been looking at his phone. What did she do with it? Did she have it on her? Did she leave it at the bar?
Jacob said, “I need to return to the hotel.”
The driver programmed the Mercedes for The Regal Hotel again. Once back at the hotel, Jacob thought of bringing the driver inside for protection, but he didn’t want the man to see what kind of party Jacob had attended. He wasn’t there for the girl anyway. He just needed his phone. He took the elevator to the sixth floor, the men stepping aside without checking his chip card again.
He hurried to the restaurant, finding his phone on the bar. He shoved his phone in his pocket and headed for the exit. On the way out, he couldn’t help but notice the dead eyes and the vapid smiles of the live women, clearly playing the part of the interested suitor. The robots were better at faking it.
Outside the restaurant, he gazed down the hall to the penthouse suite. He stood there for a minute, fantasizing about being a hero, breaking down the door and saving the girl. The door opened, and he saw Zhang Jun. Two security guards left the suite, carrying a rolled-up oriental rug, something or someone inside.
Mr. Jun started to shut the door but noticed Jacob. He opened the door fully, his eyes flicking to the men carrying the carpet, then to Jacob. Zhang Jun exited his suite in a silk robe and walked down the hall. Jacob was a deer in headlights as the men carrying the carpet passed by as if they were simply carrying a carpet.
Zhang Jun approached Jacob and said, “I’m so glad you’re still here, Mr. Roth.”
Jacob said, “I was just leaving.”
“Pity. I’d like to continue our meeting.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jun. I can’t do a 51 percent equity deal.”
“Come.” He motioned toward the penthouse suite. “Let’s talk.”
Jacob followed him to the suite. Inside, Zhang walked to the sitting area and sat on the couch. The suite boasted hardwood floors in a herringbone pattern, elegant off-white furniture, and fresh flowers. To the left, Jacob glanced into the open door. The king-size bed was disheveled. No sign of the women, robotic or live.
“Sit down,” Zhang said.
Jacob sat in a chair opposite the Bank of China CEO. Zhang’s hair was disheveled and damp with sweat. His bare calves were thin and mostly devoid of hair. A box with Chinese writing branded into the wood sat on the glass coffee table.
“I’ve been thinking about your offer,” Zhang said. “I would be willing to purchase a 25 percent stake, but I want a 30 percent discount to the current price.”
“A 22 percent discount,” Jacob countered.
“Twenty-eight.”
“Twenty-two is my final offer.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Roth.” Zhang nodded. “I’ve admired your family for many years.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jun.”
“I will accept your offer, but I have two conditions.” Zhang paused for effect. “This meeting never took place. I was never in this hotel, and neither were you. A family man like you would never associate with prostitutes. Do you agree?”
“Yes.” Jacob hesitated, then asked, “The other condition?”
Zhang grinned and opened the wooden box on the coffee table. Inside was a crystal tiger filled with liquid inside that looked like mostly clear urine. “You will drink with me. This is a very special Chinese wine.”
Jacob exhaled in relief.
“This is tiger bone wine, the best rice wine in all of China. It takes eight years to produce. It is made with rice wine, sage, ginger, and crushed bones. Almost all tiger bone wine is made with dog or pig or horse bones, but this is real tiger bone wine.”
19
Summer and Watched or Paranoid
Loud knocking came from their a
partment door. Summer and Connor stood at the sink and near the dishwasher, cleaning up from their Saturday night dinner. They looked at each other as if to say, Who could that be?
“Are you expecting someone?” Summer asked.
“No,” Connor replied.
The knocking continued.
Connor fast-walked to the door, Summer close behind. He checked the peephole and opened the door. Mark Benson barged into the apartment, shut the door, and looked through the peephole. This wasn’t alarming to Connor or Summer, as Mark often acted paranoid.
“What are you doing?” Connor asked. “How did you get in?”
“Someone was coming out.” Mark turned from the peephole and removed his hood. He was red-faced, panting, and sweating. “I didn’t wanna buzz in. That might be tracked. I left my phone and chip card at home.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nobody can know I came here. Put your phones and tablets in the fridge.”
“My phone’s on the kitchen table,” Summer said.
Connor went to the kitchen and the bedroom, collecting their tablets and phones.
Mark settled onto a chair, his heavy breathing returning to normal. Summer sat across from him on the couch. Connor returned from the kitchen and sat next to Summer.
“We’re good,” Connor said.
Mark nodded. “I’m worried that I’m being watched.”
“This isn’t new for you.”
“But I didn’t have video of Jacob Roth trying to bribe a congresswoman.”
“Nobody knows that you have the video.”
Mark deadpanned, “What if they do?”
“You mean, the government?” Summer asked.
Mark nodded.
“Don’t you think, if the government knew, they would’ve already arrested you and Zoe?” Connor asked.
Summer frowned at Connor. “Don’t say that.”
“I’m not being mean. I’m trying to reassure him.” Connor turned from Summer back to Mark. “Think about it. If they knew, wouldn’t they have already arrested you?”
“I guess so, but I still have a bad feeling about all this. What if they find out?” Mark asked.
2050: Psycho Island Page 9