The Meet-and-Greet was held in the City Hall ballroom, and what was supposed to be an event featuring a cross-section of the community looked more like a pay-for-play on steroids.  Kari, along with Faye and their friend Lucinda Mayes, the owner of a local diner where Kari sometimes worked to make ends meet, and also where she first met Alex, saw it as soon as they entered the room.

“Every big-dollar donor that’s ever contributed to the mayor’s campaigns are up in here,” Faye said.  “He’s trying to run the table with these contracts.”

“Sure is,” Lucinda agreed.  She fingered her long, blonde extensions on the right side, and then jerked it back on the left side.  Although she was an attractive woman in her own right, and was always on the prowl for an attractive man, it was Faye Church, she and Kari both knew, who was the real beauty in their group.  “He’s running this Meet-and-Greet like a graft operation.”

“It’s pay-for-play, baby,” said Faye, jerking her long, brown hair back too. “You grease my palms, I’ll grease yours.  I sure hope Alex understands this.”  Then Faye and Lucinda looked at Kari.

Kari smiled.  “Alex is a businessman with a worldwide company, ladies.  I think he’s seen his share of greedy politicians, and in bigger places than little Apple Valley.  He can handle it.”

Lucinda gave her a sidelong look.  When Alex first hit town, Lucinda, like almost every single woman in Apple Valley, wanted to get her claws in him.  She was disappointed that he didn’t give her, or anybody else but Kari (to everybody’s shock, including Kari’s), a second glance.  “So what are you saying?” she asked.  “You’re still down with him like that?  Even after what happened with Natalie Corman?”

“Quit Lou,” Faye said.  “Just quit.  You know I told your messy butt that it was all lies.  Natalie Corman was making it all up.  You know I told you that.”

“I know you told me what Alex Drakos told Kari,” Lucinda said.  “But I don’t know if that’s the truth.”

“It’s the truth,” Kari said.

“Yeah, but she’s got a point, Kare,” Faye said.  “How do you know it’s the truth?”

Kari knew Lucinda and Faye were both coming from a good place.  But how do you tell your best friends that you looked into a man’s eyes and decided to believe him?  As simple as that?  They would declare her naïve and foolish, and, worst of all, blinded by love.  She wouldn’t hear the last of it!  “It’s the truth,” was all she decided to say about it.   Then she added: “Let’s mingle,” and left their side.

Lucinda shook her head.  “That girl thinks he’s a saint,” she said.

“I just pray she doesn’t get her heart broken,” said Faye.

“So do I!  Because I saw Natalie Corman on one of those celebrity shows.  She looked convincing to me.  And that rock she wore on her finger was the real deal.”

Faye nodded.  “She looked convincing to me, too.  But Kari believes her boo.”

“But is that boo worthy of being believed?  Is that boo, a man known the world over as the, quote unquote, ‘billionaire playboy,’ worthy of her trust?”

Faye exhaled.  It was a question she couldn’t answer either.

Then Lucinda looked at Faye.  “I heard she’s going out of the country with him,” she said.  “To Greece no less!  He’s taking her to meet his mama, Faye.”

Faye nodded.  “Yeah, Jordan’s going to stay with us while she’s gone.  But dang, Lou.  Who told you that already?  I just found out myself last night.”

“Your husband told me, matter of fact.  He came by the diner this morning.”

Faye smiled and shook her head.  “Men love to declare that women are the big gossips, but nobody carries a bone like my hubby.”

“Like your gorgeous hubby that every lady in this town would still love to have as their own man, you mean.”

Faye nodded.  “True that.”

“At least, with Kari all into Alex right now, you don’t have to worry about her anymore.”

Faye looked at Lucinda.  “Meaning?”

“Oh, come on, Faye!  You know Benny Church always felt a little something special for Kari Grant.  You had to know that.”

Faye shook her head.  “That’s why I mind my own business and do my own thing.  A man can’t even be friends with a female without you thirsty-ass bitches going around declaring it something nasty.  Benny loves Kari like a big brother loves a little sister, okay?  They’re close, and I’m glad they’re close.  She needed a man to help look out for her and her son in this cold world, and I’m glad my husband was that man to help her and Jordan out.  Now if Alex is willing to take over the spot, then great.  I’m all for that, too.  But get your head out of the gutter, Lou.”

“My head is not in the gutter, thank you very much.”

“Yes, it is, thank you very much.”

Then Lucinda paused.  Faye loved her husband, and every girl in town knew that Benny was nuts about Faye.  Lucinda wished she had that kind of relationship herself.  “So you trust Benny like that, hun?” she asked.

“I trust Benny, yes, I do,” Faye responded.  “But I trust Kari more.  And you and I both know Kari.  If Benny come at her incorrect, she’ll let me, you, and this whole town know what happened, and that it won’t be happening again.”

Lucinda laughed.  “Now that’s true.  What was I thinking?  Kari Grant and that mouth of hers?  That is nothing but the truth!”

And it was Faye’s turn to laugh. 

 

Kari wasn’t laughing, but she had a smile plastered on her face as she glad-handed colleagues and small-talked others in an effort to just make it through that Meet-and-Greet.  Alex wasn’t even there yet.  He had separate meetings to attend all morning long, and said he would meet her there, but it had been half an hour and the guest of honor still had not shown up.  The mayor even asked if she’d heard from him.

But she hadn’t.  And she wasn’t about to try and track him down either.  Given the vultures who were in that room, and how they were all friends of the mayor’s rather than worthy potential vendors, she figured they could wait.

And when Alex finally did arrive, looking gorgeous, Kari thought, in his black Brook Brothers suit, she could only smile and shake her head when the vendor hopefuls began applauding him just for showing up.

Faye and Lucinda made their way over to Kari as the applause continued.

“It’s suck-up time,” Kari said.

“Then we’d better pucker our lips,” said Faye.

“Amen,” said Lucinda.

Kari looked at them.  She was shocked to hear them say that.  “What do you mean?”

“What do you think we mean?” Lucinda asked.  “We aren’t just here for our health, Kari.  I want my diner to be the official caterer for his hotel.”

“Yeah,” said Faye, “and I want to be the official real estate broker for the employees of his hotel, and casino too.  We know we’re friends of yours, but we want to cash in too!”

Kari laughed.  “Okay.”

“Especially since you got in by the directive of none other than Alex Drakos himself,” Lucinda added.

That was true.  Kari had taken her company out of the running to secure a housekeeping contract with the upcoming hotel and casino, mainly because she had slept with Alex and felt it would be unfair to the other applicants who did not have that so-called “advantage.”  But Alex overruled her and said she was getting the contract anyway, a contract Kari knew was going to be the toughest and biggest job she’d ever undertaken.  Lucinda wasn’t lying.  Kari was still trying to live that one down.

 

But it would be another half-hour of Alex doing a lot of glad-handing and small conversations himself, before he found his way to their group.  He kissed Faye and Lucinda on the cheeks when he arrived.  They were Kari’s friends, so he took them as his friends now, too.  Then he placed his arm around Kari’s waist, and kissed her on the lips.

Faye and Lucinda elbowed each other.  A man like Alex Drakos openly affectionate with their Kari was still surreal to them.

“Where’s Benjamin?” Alex asked Faye.

“He has a client getting ready to go on trial,” Faye responded, “and he had to attend a pre-trial hearing.  He said he’d drop by if time permitted.”

“He’s a good attorney,” said Alex.  “He has a bright future in the legal profession.  Remind me, Kari, to give him a call when I’m in town again.  I want him on my team.”

“I’ll be happy to remind you,” Kari said.  “Faye will kill me if I don’t.”

They all laughed.  But before Lucinda or Faye could make their pitch to join Alex’s hotel and casino team, a very familiar face entered the ballroom.  Faye elbowed Lucinda, and Lucinda elbowed Kari.

When Kari looked, she was as shocked as they were.  “What is he doing here?” Kari asked.

“Who?” asked Alex, and looked in that direction too.  “Who is he?”

“That’s Paul Kurtz,” Kari said.  “The owner of River City Consultants.”

Alex knew that name.  The background he had ordered on Kari when he first met her turned up that name.  “Your former boss, correct?” he asked her.

“More like her former tormentor,” said Lucinda.

Alex looked at Lou.  “What do you mean?”

“He was unfair in his promoting practices,” Kari said.  “That’s what she means.”

“Unfair is a kind way to put it,” said Faye.  “He hired hoes to sleep with, and then promoted them above Kari time and time again.  Then he forced Kari to train those airheads he hired, without giving her any recognition, nor a dime increase in pay.  Kari finally quit, but it was a long time coming.”

Alex looked at Kari.  She never seemed to catch a break.  That was why it still disturbed him about that Natalie Corman situation.  They were going along, smooth he thought, and then that shit hit the fan.  With a lesser woman, it could have derailed them.

But Kari was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.  She was willing to hear him out, before she threw him out.  And she believed him.  It could have gone the other way easily for somebody accustomed to letdowns.  She could have saw the signs of danger, and ran as far away as she could get from him.

But she didn’t.

“He’s coming over, guys,” Lucinda said.  “That fool is actually coming over here.”

And Paul Kurtz, the owner of RCC, came over with a big grin on his face, as if all was peachy-cream and he never had a moment’s ill-will toward Kari Grant.

“Mr. Drakos,” he said and extended his hand, “it’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

Alex did not shake his hand.

But Paul, being Paul, continued to smile as he withdrew the handshake.  “I just wanted to say that it’s a great thing you’re doing.  I know you didn’t have to build your casino here in Apple Valley, but you did it to help the people.”

“I did it to help myself,” replied Alex.

Kari could tell Paul didn’t expect that reply.  But Paul continued to smile anyway. “And to help yourself, of course,” he said and grinned.  Nobody returned his grin.

Then he turned his attention to the group.  “How’s everybody?” he asked, looking at the ladies.  “Hey,” they said dryly.

And when he turned toward Kari, his smiled increased.  “Hi, Kari!” he said jovially.  “Long time, no see.”

Kari didn’t crack a smile.  Was this man for real?  His actions on that job caused her all kinds of sleepless nights.  And he wanted her to just forget about it?

But it was Faye, who remembered those sleepless nights too, who got to the point.  “What do you want, Paul?” she asked.

“I know what he wants,” Kari said.  “RCC, like many of our businesses around here, are suffering in this economy.  He’s desperate.  I can see it in his eyes.  He wants his hands on one of those juicy contracts Alex has to offer.  That’s what he wants.”

“Now that you mention it,” Paul said, not too proud to beg, “I was hoping, Mr. Drakos, that you would consider my company, River City Consultants, known here in town as RCC, to become the official marketing firm of your hotel and casino.  I would be honored to sit down with you and give you a brief overview.”

“I’m with Kari,” Alex said.  “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

But Paul didn’t seem to understand.  “I will be honored to sit down with you,” he said again.

Alex decided to be blunt.  “I will not be honored to sit down with you,” he said.

Paul understood that response, but was surprised by it. “Excuse me?”

“Kiss my ass,” Alex said, to laughter from the Faye and Lucinda.  “Is that clearer?”

Paul just stood there, his fat face turning red.  “I was only making a business proposal, sir,” he said.  “I don’t understand the insults.”

“Was it business when you refused to promote Kari?” Alex asked.  “Or was it personal?  Personal between you and your whores, that is?”

Paul swallowed hard.  He glanced at Kari with hate in his eyes, but then he looked back at Alex.

“My decision is personal too,” Alex said.  “Between you and I, that is.  You will never get any contract that I am offering.   Not ever.  In fact, if you step foot into any business I own, including that hotel and casino, it will be the last business you step foot into.  Now get the fuck out of my face.”

Kari was not an eye-for-an-eye kind of person, but it felt good to see Paul chopped down to size.  His disrespect and unfairness caused her to leave the best job she ever had, and it could have turned out disastrous for her.  Leaving a job with no prospects for another one was never smart, and she had a kid to raise!  But fools like him, Kari felt, placed women like her in tough spots like that all the time.  It was his time to be in that tough spot.

Paul looked at Kari.  “I’m a big man in this town,” he said to her.  “When your boyfriend marries that actress and has left you high and dry the way we all knows he will, then we’ll see whose business is desperate.  Life can get very lonely for Maid for Mom if I put a word out to my colleagues in this town.”

“Why you nasty son-of-a-bitch,” Faye said with clenched teeth, but Paul only smiled that disgusting smile and walked away.  He was heading for the exit.

“What a piece of work,” said Lucinda.

But if the ladies were outraged, Alex was downright livid.  “I’ll be back,” he said to them, and was about to follow Paul.

But Kari was panic-stricken.  This was still Apple Valley.  She didn’t want him in jail because of some idiot like Paul Kurtz.  “Alex, wait,” she said, grabbing him by the arm. “He’s not worth it.”

But Alex looked into her eyes.  And his look made it clear to Kari that when it came to retribution, she was to never question any move he made.  “I’ll be back,” he said just as forcefully, and Kari, reading him right, released his arm.

And Alex, like Paul, left the building.

But where Kari might have been distressed, Faye and Lucinda were happy.  “Get the popcorn, Lou,” Faye said happily, “and let’s go watch the drama!”

Lucinda laughed, and she and Faye hurried behind Alex.

Kari shook her head.  It was no laughing matter to her.  But she followed them outside nonetheless.

 

But there would be no fireworks.  By the time the ladies made it outside, Paul was inside of his Dodge Ram pickup truck with the window down, Alex had his arms resting on the window frame talking to Paul, and nothing, from what they could see, was going down.  But Kari knew Alex.  Something was going down.

And she was right.  Alex was talking with Paul, alright, but only after he had grabbed Paul’s hand in an apparent handshake, taken his thumb, and bent it back so far, and with such force, that it broke.  And then he continued to bend it until it completely separated from the bone.  Paul was in so much pain that he was sweat-filled and red as fire.

“Nobody threatens Kari Grant,” were the words Alex was saying to Paul.  “You threaten her ever again; if you even think about threatening her ever again, and I will not simply break your thumb.  I will break every bone in your body.  And then I will kill you.”

Paul looked at Alex with horror in his eyes.  He’d kill him just for threatening a nobody piece of shit like Kari Grant?  Was he insane?  Nobody would kill somebody over her!

But that look in Alex’s eyes didn’t lie.  Paul knew what he was looking at.  This man would kill him over Kari Grant!  Over Kari Grant!  Who was this guy?

Terror gripped Paul Kurtz.  He heard all of those casino guys were as corrupt as they came, and many of them were Mafia.  Was this guy, who he thought was so straight laced, one of those guys too?  “I won’t tell anybody,” he said in a voice he knew was trembling.  “I’ll never, as long as I live, tell a living soul anything about our conversation.  And I’ll never threaten Kari ever again.”

Alex smiled a smile so charming it stunned Paul.  “Then off you go,” Alex said, backed up from the truck, and Paul, glad to be out of the presence of such madness, sped away.

“Ah,” Lucinda said, “Alex Drakos is apparently all talk, and no action.”

“Nothing to see here, folks,” Faye agreed, and the two ladies took their imaginary popcorn and went back into the building.

But Alex turned toward Kari, and Kari was staring at him.  And they both knew better than that.