by Marie Astor
Even in her middle age, Aileen’s mother was a graceful blonde with long, lanky legs and alabaster-smooth skin, and as a young woman she had been a knockout. One would think that Aileen would have inherited at least some of her mother’s beauty, but no such luck. From her face to her stocky body, she was the spitting image of her father. Aileen loved her father to death, but she thought that being the replica of Cornelius Finnegan’s features in a female form had to be the cruelest joke of all times. The only thing Aileen had in common with her mother was the color of her eyes, but even there she had been gypped: the deep blue color was wasted on the small, narrow shape of Aileen’s eyes. At family gatherings Aileen had always felt like an ugly duckling as she tried to fit in with her pretty cousins from her mother’s side. Often after looking at family photo albums she would be on the verge of tears. Why her? Often when applying mascara to her short lashes, Aileen felt like flinging the mascara brush at the mirror—what was the use? But not today.
Aileen applied powder to her face, eye shadow to her lids, and a coat of mascara to her eyelashes. She puckered her lips and drew pink lipstick over them. She pulled up her hair and pinned it up in loose knot, letting wisps of hair hang loosely by her temples and neck. Then, she leaned back and examined the result. Yes, the dreadful freckles were still everywhere on her skin, including her forearms and neck, her nose still resembled a small potato, and her eyes had not gotten any wider, but there was a new spark of happiness in them that lent a glow to her entire demeanor.
David Muller’s presence in Aileen’s life brought her confidence that she had never possessed before. True, she was no beauty, but the fact that she had managed to commandeer the attention of a man as handsome and charming as David Muller meant that she did have some appeal. Otherwise, why would he be interested in her? Of course the naysayers would be quick to provide a different answer, and Aileen was not naïve enough not to realize it. During those nights that she was alone in her bed without the reassurance of David’s presence to soothe her worries, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep and wondering whether David’s interest in her was driven by her father’s stature and connections.
But tonight Aileen was too happy to dwell on these dark thoughts. For the first time in a very long time she actually felt pretty. The wrap dress she had on hugged her curves attractively, and the Spanx she had donned did a good job of keeping her midriff in place. She had lost a total of fifteen pounds over the last few months, which greatly contributed to the overall improvement in her appearance. There was no need for her to drown her sorrows in food now that she had David Muller to look forward to.
Lately, Aileen had been contemplating implementing other changes as well. Perhaps it was time for her to get her own apartment. At twenty-nine she was too old to be still living in her parents’ house in Great Neck, Long Island. With ten bedrooms there was plenty of room, and the wing where her bedroom was located had complete privacy from her parents’ wing, but it was still her parents’ house. And now that she finally had someone to bring home, she wanted a place of her own.
Aileen checked her watch. It was almost eight o’clock. In a few minutes David would be here. She felt her heart flutter with anticipation as she thought of David’s arms around her. She had never imagined that being with a man could feel that good.
Aileen thought back about the first time she had met David. It was at a thousand-dollar dinner fundraiser her father had organized. As Aileen later learned, her father had needed to fill table seats, and David, along with his friend Tom Wyman, had agreed to buy tickets. Lean and muscular, with his stylishly cropped blond hair and piercing blue eyes, David had looked so incredibly sharp in his tuxedo and bowtie that Aileen had literally felt her legs grow weak. Her heart was in her mouth when she saw that they would be sitting at the same table. Her breath caught as she tried to think of a pretext to talk to him. What would she say? She was almost ready to give up. With his James Bond looks, why would a man like David Muller be interested in her anyway?
“Aileen. Aileen Finnegan?” David had said, interrupting her ruminations.
Aileen had nodded, smiling pleasantly, as she dug her nails into the palms of her hands. Calm down, she had thought. It’s now or never. You can try to get this man, or you can die a spinster who lived her entire life in her parents’ house.
Chapter 9
Mila Brabec was having lunch with her cousin Ania. As usual, Ania had insisted on dragging Mila all the way to the Upper East Side. They were seated in a pretentious but rather shabby café a few blocks away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“Don’t you just love the museum mile area?” Ania shrugged her shoulders self-indulgently.
“Yes, it is lovely,” Mila replied, trying not to sound envious. Ania had light blond hair, deep blue eyes, upturned nose, and plump, rosy cheeks. With her broad hips, strong thighs, and double-D breasts, Ania looked like she belonged on a farm milking cows and baking bread. Instead, she had received a degree in art history and had worked as a tour guide, conducting daily tours of Prague’s rarities for tourists. By an unbelievable stroke of luck she just happened to be guiding a city tour when Daniel Bauer of Upper East Side was visiting Prague in search of the next subject for his documentary.
“It’s too bad that you have to rush for your shift at the restaurant. We could have stopped by the Metropolitan Museum. They are having the most fascinating exhibition on the origins of Egyptian art,” Ania continued.
“That would be nice, but I have a date with David tonight.”
“Oh, I just assumed that you’d be working. Aren’t Friday and Saturday nights best for good tips?”
“You are certainly correct there, but I took tonight off to spend it with David.”
“How is that going? Any signs of him getting serious?”
“I am working on it,” Mila replied evasively. For now, she did not want to tell Ania about David’s promise to relocate her into a new apartment. They were supposed to meet with the real estate agent tonight. David had told her that he had found the perfect love nest for them.
“I certainly hope that it will work out,” Ania remarked judiciously. “You’ve got about six months left on your U.S. visa, correct?”
“That’s right.” Mila knew that Ania would love to see her running back to Prague in defeat. As annoyed as Mila was at her cousin, Ania did have a point: the time on Mila’s visa was ticking, and if she planned to stay in New York she’d better find the means to do so.
“How’s Daniel doing? Does he have any new friends you could introduce me to?” Mila asked without much hope for a positive response. In the beginning she had hoped that Daniel might introduce her to some of his friends: rich people always hung out together, and if Ania had managed to capture Daniel’s heart, Mila was bound to become an overnight success, too. But Mila’s hopes had failed to materialize. While Daniel had many friends, most of them were trust fund leeching types who lived under the heels of their mothers. Afraid of being disinherited, these men–boys were wary of getting seriously involved with any woman not handpicked by their mothers. Some of these boys were plenty willing to go for a fling but, as Mila subsequently learned, that was all they were willing to go for.
Ania blotted her lips with a napkin. “I thought you were serious with David. Besides, all of Daniel’s friends are married or involved in serous relationships.”
Serious relationships with their mothers who control their allowances, Mila sneered inwardly. “You’re right. Besides, most of Daniel’s friends are much older than I am anyway.” This was not entirely true and, even if it were, the statement would be nullified by David’s well over ten-year age difference with Mila. But Ania did not know how old David was, and Mila was desperate for a snappy retort. “Look at the time.” Mila consulted her Guess watch, making a mental note to extort a more prestigious watch from David. “I’ve got to run and get ready to meet David.”
“Have fun.” Ania reached for her wallet to pay the tab.
; “I sure will.” As payback for Ania’s snootiness, Mila did not even bother offering to pay her share of the bill. After all, she had only had a cup of coffee and house salad while Ania had gorged on lamb chops. And Ania had already secured her prince charming; Mila still had to marry hers.
Two hours later Mila was rushing to meet David in SoHo. They were supposed to look at an apartment in a recently erected luxury building.
Mila’s heart quickened when she spotted David waiting for her. He was always so immaculately dressed: clad in a closely tailored sports jacket, black slacks, and a dark violet collared shirt, he was the image of sharp elegance. So what if he was nearing his forties? David’s lean physique, youthful face, and, most importantly, his bank account made it very easy for Mila to fall in love with him.
“Hi, honey,” Mila greeted David and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He responded by locking his lips with hers in a long, deep kiss. “Mmm, you smell sooo good, baby. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“I don’t believe that!” Mila pouted playfully. “You must have plenty of important things to occupy your mind with during the day.”
“That being so, none of them are more important than thinking of you,” he countered, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Shall we go upstairs?”
“I thought we were supposed to meet the realtor.”
“He’s waiting for us upstairs.”
David nodded at the doorman who held the lobby door open for them. “It’s this way,” said David, steering Mila toward the elevator hall.
Mila did her best to maintain her composure. The building lobby shone with modern chic opulence. Sure, the lobby of the Upper East Side building where Ania resided with her husband was impressive, but it was also dated and was starting to show signs of wear. Here, on the other hand, everything shone with newness and lightness.
The elevator door swung open, and David ushered Mila inside. “Up we go,” he said, pressing the last floor button.
Once the elevator doors opened, David took off his tie and placed it over Mila’s eyes. “No peeking,” he said.
“But, David, I could slip!” Mila protested. She was after all wearing four-inch Louboutin heels that she had borrowed from her friend at the restaurant.
“Not with me guiding you,” David whispered, placing his hands on Mila’s hips.
After several confusing steps, she heard the sound of a key in a door lock. Then, she felt herself being lifted into the air as David swept her up into his arms.
“Now, you can look,” David announced, as he placed her back on the floor and took the blindfold off her eyes.
The first thing Mila saw was the giant floor-to-ceiling windows. The room seemed to be endless in size, and the ceilings were enormously high. The furnishings were light and elegant: an Italian designer sofa, arm chairs and coffee table. A luxurious cowhide rug covered the floor. “David! This is incredible!” Mila pressed her hands to her mouth.
“Go on, take a look around.”
She tiptoed into the bedroom and saw that it was furnished with a vanity table, an armoire, and a king-sized bed that was already lined with satin sheets.
“You haven’t seen the best part,” said David as he swung open the closet doors. The space inside was almost the same size as Mila’s current apartment. Only this was meant for dresses and shoes, with long rows of hangers and racks. “David!” Mila squealed.
“And don’t forget the bathroom.”
David walked into the hallway and swung open the door. “Voila!”
Mila nearly had a heart attack. The only time she had seen a bathroom like this was in advertisements for luxurious hotels, not that she had ever stayed in one. There was green marble everywhere, with a sunken giant bathtub taking center stage. “The bathtub is also a jacuzzi,” David observed casually. Mila was merely able to gasp by way of response.
“So, do you like it?”
“I love it!”
“Good. Because I’ve signed the lease. Now, why don’t we try out the new bed?”
About an hour later, after he had made love to Mila in every possible position imaginable, David exhaled contentedly. His eyes feasted on Mila’s lean, graceful body. Her head rested against his shoulder, and he buried his face in her hair. Everything about this woman was electrifying: her body, her face, and even her smell—especially her smell. The only problem was that he could not get enough of her.
David grabbed his watch from the nightstand. It was almost seven p.m., and he had an eight-thirty dinner with Aileen. He did not want to but he had to get moving. Tonight’s dinner was made that much more important by the fact that Cornelius Finnegan would be meeting David for drinks beforehand and joining them for dinner afterwards. Eventually, David might work up the courage to cancel a date with Aileen, but he wouldn’t dare to cancel on Cornelius Finnegan. At least not yet.
“I’ve got to get going, baby.” David carefully disengaged his shoulder from Mila’s lovely head.
“Don’t you want to stay over?”
“I wish I could, baby, but I’ve got a business dinner.”
“On a Friday night?”
“Money never sleeps,” David quoted Gordon Gekko. The words took him back to 1987, the year the movie Wall Street had been released. David had been a teenager at the time, full of hungry dreams, and when he saw Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko on the silver screen, he knew that he too would find his fortune on Wall Street. Funny how things looked different in retrospect: the kind of trading Gordon Gekko perpetrated in Wall Street seemed like mere child’s play to David now.
Mila said nothing and rose from the bed to gather her things. David could sense her annoyance. “But, baby, will you keep our nest warm for me? You can move in tomorrow.” David placed the apartment key in Mila’s hand.
Her eyes lit up. “Really, David? Tomorrow?”
He nodded. “As far I am concerned, this place is yours. And here is some cash in case you want to pick up a few things.” David placed a bulging envelope on the vanity table.
“Thank you, sweetie,” said Mila, linking her warm, full lips with his.
Reluctantly, David pulled himself away. He could not very well show up for a date with Aileen with a boner. “I really have to get going, baby.”
David stepped into the shower and turned on the coldest water possible. He would not have bothered to shower for Aileen, but he wanted to look spick and span for Cornelius Finnegan.
***
Half an hour later, David walked into Keens steakhouse. Had it been up to him, he would have opted for a more modern venue, but Keens was Finnegan’s favorite place, and David knew better than to contradict Finnegan. David took a seat by the bar and waited for Finnegan to arrive.
He did not have to wait long. Always punctual, Finnegan appeared in the doorway at exactly eight o’clock. “Hello, David.”
“Cornelius.”
“How is my daughter’s favorite fellow doing?” Cornelius slapped David on the shoulder. “You know, you’re all Aileen talks about these days.”
“Thank you, sir. But I’m sure you’re exaggerating. In fact, I think it’s the other way around,” David managed, praying to God that his compliment sounded convincing. Were it within his power, he would prefer never to hear a word about Aileen.
“Huh. You smooth talker,” Cornelius chuckled. “Let’s go get a table. There’s something important I want to talk to you about before our girlie gets here.”
David could feel his apprehension rising. He sincerely hoped that what Finnegan had to say would not have anything to do with the Emperial investigation.
“Well now, that’s much better,” remarked Finnegan once they were seated in a private dining room. The wood-paneled room only housed a few tables, all of which were empty at the moment. “I’ve asked them for some privacy,” Finnegan added, eyeing David meaningfully.
David took a small sip of his scotch. He wanted to keep his head clear when talking to Cornelius.
“Aren’t you going to drink your drink?” Finnegan asked.
“I’m just trying to cut down on liquor, but tonight certainly warrants an exception,” David agreed and took an obedient swallow.
“Good. I wouldn’t want to see you turning into one of those health-obsessed vegans or whatever they call them.” Finnegan finished the rest of his drink and signaled to the waiter who was standing by the far side of the room. “Bring us another round of Macallan, Johnny.”
Uneasy under the direct stare of Finnegan’s tiny, glinting eyes, David finished the rest of his drink.
“So, I trust that those dogs at the Treasury left you alone?” asked Finnegan.
“Yes, Cornelius. I’m most grateful for your influence on the matter.”
“I’m only glad to be of help. After all, my future son-in-law can only be a law-abiding citizen,” said Finnegan, slapping David on the shoulder.
The side door opened, and the waiter walked in with their drinks. “Set them down here, Johnny,” said Finnegan. “And then leave us alone. My daughter will be joining us later in the evening. Please let us know as soon as she arrives.” The waiter placed the drinks on the table, bowed and left the room.
Finnegan sipped at his scotch. “The old department chief at the Treasury was very much set in his ways—not the kind of man one could do business with. But the fellow I got there now used to work at the DA’s office, and he knows how things really work, so I don’t think you’ll be hearing from them anymore. And now that we have the Treasury under control, there is another matter that I’d like to discuss with you.”
David swallowed apprehensively. Would Finnegan be blunt enough to press him for a proposal date for his daughter?