Lily wanted to believe and so far Robin hadn’t given her any reason to doubt her honesty and her willingness to play by her rules. She brought Robin’s hand to her face. “All right.” She kissed Robin’s palm. “But I’m feeling a little off kilter, not quite in the mood to make love tonight. I need time to wrap my mind around this. Would it upset you if we wait a little longer?”
“I’d like to kiss you, then I’ll leave, I promise.”
“Um.”
Twenty minutes later, Robin pulled away. “Time to go, I think.”
Reluctantly, Lily stood. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Waiting isn’t easy, but I don’t want you to have any regrets. I want you to want to have sex with me as much as I want it.” Robin held Lily’s face between her hands and kissed her nose. “Katie and I are flying to London the day after tomorrow to open an office. It’ll be mostly business, but I’d love to have you along for the week.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather go when it’s just the two of us. Will I see you before you leave?”
“Now I’ve seen your apartment so it’s only fair I show you mine. And just to prove I enjoy being at home with friends, I’d like to invite you, Annie and my friend Emma, who is staying with me, to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Do you think they might hit it off?”
“They’re both passionate about their work and though Emma is a professor of Middle Eastern history, the history and the archeology complement each other. They also have a similar sense of humor. Could be a match made in heaven. Or they might hate each other. Who knows, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Will you cook?”
“No. This is where money comes in handy. I’ll hire a chef. Is that a terrible thing?”
“Just a little more terrible than bringing in takeout. Let’s do it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Robin’s Dinner Party
The car Robin sent for Lily and Annie dropped them in front of a high-end but not ostentatious building in Battery Park City. Checking their names against a list, the doorman pointed to the left. “Ms. DiLuca is expecting you. Take that elevator to Penthouse A.”
Robin greeted them at the door with a huge grin and two glasses of wine, red for Lily, white for Annie. “Welcome.” She kissed them both on the cheek and waved them in. “Enter.”
Lily’s eye was drawn to the oversized windows, the circular white sofa and the complementary club chairs focused on the view of New Jersey across the sparkling Hudson River. “Oh my God, that’s spectacular.”
Robin beamed like a mother showing her infant for the first time.
“Look at the kitchen.” Annie squealed. “It’s gorgeous. I would kill for those floor-to-ceiling cabinets and the bluish marble countertops are striking. And look at that stove and refrigerator. All that’s missing is a chef.”
“Did someone call?” A woman dressed in white entered the kitchen from a door at the rear of the room. “Sorry, I stepped out to set the table.”
“Lily, Annie, this is Tammie, our chef for this evening.” She turned back to the living room. “And over there, standing in the corner where you can’t see her, is sneaky Emma Whitfield, Middle Eastern historian extraordinaire. Emma, come meet Lily Alexander, writer, and Annie Newman, archeologist extraordinaire.”
Lily put her free hand on her hip. “So how come I don’t get extraordinaire after my name?”
“Because you, my love, are fantastique and extraordinaire and it’s too much to say in one breath.”
“Hey, wait a minute, Robin. You mean Emma and I are just—”
“Now, now, Annie, you know Lily is special because I’m trying to get her into bed.”
Emma laughed. “Some things never change.” She punched Robin’s arm.
Emma and Robin seemed so comfortable with each other, Lily wondered if they’d ever been a couple.
“Come, let me show you around the apartment. It’s not that big so it will only take a couple of minutes. Then we can enjoy the view and munch on the hors d’oeuvres Tammie whipped up for us.”
She’s right, thought Lily. It’s not that big but everything about it is just…spectacular. The master and guest bedrooms both had their own bathrooms and water views, as did the office with a built-in rosewood desk and cabinets and two walls of books. Every room was beautifully decorated. “It’s beautiful, Robin. Did you use an interior decorator?”
“No. Katie and Jan and one of our other Harvard roommates, the artist Mei Lin, all contributed ideas and helped me actualize my vision of the space I wanted to live in. Light, airy and comfortable. Like it?”
“Love it.” She was relieved it wasn’t ostentatious or vulgar, but she should have known, should have trusted. So why didn’t she trust Robin to be the person she seemed to be?
Annie ran her hand over the desk, her eyes on the windows. “Wow. Robin. It’s breathtaking. What a wonderful place to live and work.”
Lily examined the books. “Your taste in books is quite eclectic.”
Emma spoke from the doorway. “Robin has never met a book she doesn’t love. She used to steal our textbooks in college and grad school and read them. It didn’t matter to her what the subject was.” She laughed. “The first few weeks of her freshman year we’d all be running around yelling, has anybody seen my blah-blah textbook? It took the five genius Harvard students a month to figure it out, but after we got it, we’d go straight into Robin’s room to retrieve whatever was missing.”
“Emma. What will these ladies think of me, stealing textbooks?”
Emma walked in and hugged Robin. “It wasn’t just the textbooks that she inhaled. We nicknamed her Dr. Spock because it felt like she did a mind meld with each of us every night to absorb everything we’d learned that day. The funny thing was, all our grades went up because we worked harder to understand the material so we could answer her questions.”
Robin tugged on Emma’s ear lobe. “You’re not supposed to tell tales out of school, Em.”
“Ouch. Just telling the truth, genius girl.”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go back to the living room.”
Robin pulled Lily down on the sofa next to her. The other two sat near them, across from each other. Lily studied Emma. A blue-eyed blonde with a sophisticated, jaw-length haircut and perfect makeup, she was about the same size as Annie’s five-foot-five inches. But while Emma was pale-skinned and slender, Annie was tanned and muscular from working on digs. Her red hair was short and shaggy for ease of care and her makeup light—just some lipstick and mascara to highlight her lovely hazel eyes. They would look nice together, Lily decided.
The first ten minutes were focused on teasing Robin, the common denominator, then Emma gazed at Lily. “Robin says you’re a writer. What do you write?”
She hated this question, but this was how people got to know one another, so she spoke about her books. It turned out Emma was a fan of her mysteries and her standalones but had not read the romances. Before Lily could switch the focus back, Emma turned to Annie. “And you’re a professor of archeology? Robin told me about your recent dig. Where do you teach?”
“Columbia. And where do you teach Middle Eastern history?” Annie deftly turned the spotlight on Emma.
Emma smiled. “I’ve been teaching at the University of Chicago, but I’m in the process of moving to New York City. I’ll also be teaching at Columbia.”
Annie leaned forward. “If you’re going to live in faculty housing, we’ll be neighbors.”
“We will be, but the apartment won’t be ready for a few weeks so I’m staying with Robin.” She glanced at Lily. “I was one of Robin’s suitemates at Harvard, and we also lived together at Stanford.” She leaned over and patted Robin’s leg. “The baby genius helped me pass the horrible mathematic requirements and discussions, and debates with her in grad school helped me develop the brilliant ideas that became the basis for my dissertation. She insists they were my ideas, but I’m sure they were hers.”
Lily relaxed. Emm
a seemed to be signaling they were never lovers.
“And speaking of genius,” Emma looked at Annie then Lily, “did Robin happen to mention that she was invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this January?”
Lily felt Robin stiffen and when she swiveled to see her face, it was bright red. “That’s fabulous, Robin, what an honor. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because big mouth Emma told you before I could. I got the call a little while before you got here, and I was on the phone with Katie when the doorman rang up.” She stood and walked to the windows.
Lily stiffened. Her place in the pecking order was clear. Second. “Why aren’t you jumping up and down and running around screaming?”
“Because I’m fucking freaking out. What could I say that would interest all those high-powered executives?”
“You are a fucking genius, so just talk about your management philosophy and building a multibillion dollar business from nothing.” Emma raised her glass. “To Robin, the only one amongst us who could possibly change the world with her ideas.” Lily and Annie joined in the toast.
Robin turned to Lily. “Will this make a difference? Is it like having a billion dollars? Or is it okay because Professor Cordelia Alexander is also on the agenda?”
Lily joined her at the window and pulled her into a deep kiss.
Emma and Annie hooted. Emma turned to Annie with a frown on her face. “What do a billion dollars and Professor Alexander have to do with it?”
Lily leaned back to look in Robin’s eyes. “No, sweet Robin, it’s not the same. This is recognition of who you are. And no doubt the world would be a better place if your ideas were adopted by others.” She kissed her again. “How nice you’ll be on the same agenda as mama Cordy.”
“You know, as best as I could tell over the phone, she might have recommended me. Have you told—”
“Not a word. But clearly she thinks you have something to say to those high-powered executives, of which, I believe you would be considered one.”
Emma waved her arms trying to get their attention. “Hello. Am I the only one in the dark here? Billion dollars? Lily’s mother? What the fuck?”
The other three women laughed. Robin was about to explain when Tammie appeared. “Dinner is ready, so please move out to the terrace and I’ll begin to serve.”
Emma whispered to Tammie as they filed out into the warm evening air.
Annie’s eyes widened. She rushed to the wall at the edge of the terrace. “I don’t know how you live here, Robin. I’d probably have a nervous breakdown trying to decide whether to work at the desk in the office or in the living room or on this terrace. Actually, even soaking in a tub with a water view in one of those bathrooms would be an option.”
Robin grinned. “I spend most of my days in the office on Wall Street, so feel free to come soak anytime.”
“And most of her nights wining and dining stick-thin models and actresses of the see and be seen persuasion.” Damn, did she really say that out loud?
Emma looked puzzled. “Do I detect some resentment, Lily?”
Lily blushed. “Uh, no, I, um. Maybe a little jealousy if truth be told.”
Robin grinned. “Oh, jealousy. I like that. Please sit here, Lily.” She patted a chair to her left. “Emma sit across from Lily, and, Annie, sit there.” She indicated the chair facing her.
Tammie walked onto the terrace with a bottle of champagne and popped the cork. “Compliments of Emma.” She poured for them. “First course in a few minutes.” She started back to the kitchen.
“Tammie, wait. Would you take some pictures of us?” Robin extracted a small camera from her pocket. They stood and posed.
Annie lifted her glass. “To Robin. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor. You have nothing to be nervous about. Just be your wonderful self.”
The others raised their glasses and Tammie snapped a picture. She took a couple more while they drank, then a couple of them sitting at the beautifully set table.
“Thanks. It’s nice to be appreciated.” Robin’s thumb drew circles on Lily’s wrist. “How did you get the champagne, Emma?”
“I asked Tammie where I could order it and she had it delivered.” Emma stuck her tongue out. “Don’t worry, I paid. Which reminds me. Billionaire? Is somebody going to answer my questions?”
Robin and Annie turned to Lily. “I’m afraid that Robin being a billionaire will cause problems for us—”
“Really? Why?”
Robin tossed her napkin at Emma. “You wanted to know, so let her talk.”
She tossed the napkin back. “Sorry.”
Lily cringed at Emma’s dismissive tone. “I’ve been trying to figure that out since Robin told me last night, and I’m still not sure I understand why it freaks me out. I believe money and power attract people who want some of either or both. I’ve been hurt by women who thought I had money or influence then dumped me when they realized I didn’t. That includes Micki, the woman I almost married.”
Lily glanced at Robin. As usual, she was attentive. Lily’s eyes shifted to Emma who looked skeptical and then to Annie, who nodded and smiled, encouraging her.
“Anyway, this morning I suddenly remembered something from my childhood that I must have repressed. I was ten, I think, when I met Belinda in ballet class. We took a lot of classes together and became best friends though she went to private school and I to public. We hung out after class sometimes with my mama or the woman I thought was her mama, taking us for ice cream or to the park to run and play. Usually she came to my house for play dates but one Saturday Del and Cordy were busy so we went to Belinda’s house. It turned out her family was seriously wealthy and she lived in a huge mansion with servants.
“We had had a great time playing with all her dolls and were eating lunch in the kitchen, when this strange woman dressed in fancy clothes and smelling like a perfume store arrived. She glared at me. ‘Who is this?’ The anger in her voice frightened me. It also seemed to frighten Belinda’s mother. ‘Lily is Belinda’s friend from dance class, they like to play together.’ The fancy woman stared down at me. ‘Who are your parents, Lily?’ Belinda tried to intervene. ‘Mother, she’s my friend.’ Her mother smiled at her. ‘Yes, darling, but I need to know who her people are if you’re going to socialize with her.’ She turned to me. I was shaking, but I’d been taught to respect adults so I answered. ‘My mamas are Delphine Boudreaux Alexander and Cordelia Carlyle Alexander.’
“She shook her head, then turned on the woman I’d thought was Belinda’s mama with a vehemence. ‘Cajuns and lesbians.’ She spat the words out. ‘You know Belinda is not allowed to socialize with low-class people like this. And what the hell was she doing in ballet class? Only a Cajun would be stupid enough to think a fat girl like her could ever be a ballerina.’
“The woman tried to explain. ‘But Belinda—’
“‘Belinda is too young to understand that spending time with those beneath us can ruin our social standing.’ She walked up to the terrorized woman and raised a fist as if she was going to hit her. ‘I trusted you with my daughter, now get out and take that, that girl with you.’ By this time Belinda was sobbing, but I was frozen. Belinda’s mother’s face was so ugly she looked like some evil monster. I’d never heard anyone use that vile tone of voice, and I didn’t understand what Cajun and lesbian had to do with her anger, but I knew she hated me.’ I was crying and cowering when the nanny took me home and explained what happened.”
Lily took a deep breath. “I’d never seen my mamas so angry. It frightened me because at first I thought they were angry at me. Del was ranting and raving and talking about killing the bitch, her face looked ugly to me, and I was afraid she wouldn’t love me anymore. Mama Del went to see the bitch and, I gathered from overhearing her describing it to Cordy, gave her a piece of her mind.”
Lily smiled. “I guess I was traumatized because I’d forgotten this whole thing. The next morning my mamas sat with me and explained tha
t what Belinda’s mother said, was about her, not about us. That having too much money can change people. Not all, but some think wealth makes them socially superior, and they look down on anyone who has less money or who, for some reason, they decide is socially inferior. Sometimes the very wealthy are so self-involved they become cruel and careless of others feelings and it’s best to avoid having anything to do with people like that. When the incident floated into my consciousness this morning, I was surprised to feel the hurt and the terror again after all these years.”
They were silent for a second, then Emma jumped in. “So you think that encounter with a wealthy witch triggered your response to Robin’s being a billionaire?”
Lily sipped her champagne, then looked Emma in the eye. “I think that’s a good part but not all of it. It’s hard to unravel. But wherever the feelings come from I know that life in a bubble like that, focused on things and appearances, is not the life I want for myself or for my children.”
“You have children?”
“Geez, Emma, let her talk.”
“No children yet. But I want them, and if Robin and I ever get serious, I would want to have at least two.” She squeezed Robin’s hand. “To answer your other question, Mama Cordy is Professor Cordelia Alexander of Stanford University.”
“Oh my God, Robin, you had such a crush on her. You idolized her. Did you know when you met Lily that—”
“Of course not. Actually, I saw Lily across the room at the Shazarak and was attracted immediately.”
“And romantic that she is, she threw a kiss and told me she loved me before we ever said a word.” Lily kissed Robin’s cheek.
“I’m trying to convince her that a mere billion won’t change me and that I intend to be a good billionaire, using the money to improve the world. As soon as I figure out what that means.”
“Didn’t the money you gave to that soup kitchen she took you to convince her of your good intentions?”
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