Chapter Two

Sebastian

My morning paper was unfolded in front of me with the Daily News mocking me with every word. My robe was cinched closed with the black coffee intravenously connected to my veins metaphorically speaking.

The long table made me well aware of my lonely existence. I never could keep a relationship more than a week. My parents left me a small fortune when they died in an avalanche at Whistler.

I was one of the lucky ones to get in on the ground floor of an amazing opportunity. The dividends were still paying off annually. There was no way I was going to be able to spend what I made in my lifetime. Being a billionaire wasn’t as easy as it appeared.

I had hot and cold running servants at my beck and call. My man Friday was someone I depended on to keep my calendar straight. Business was conducted with a few taps of the keyboard. It was almost too easy to make the kind of money people only dreamed about.

“I apologize for the interruption, but you had a phone call while you were sleeping. A woman is coming over here to speak to you about something of the utmost importance. I tried to stop her, but she was quite adamant. I believe she said she had an offer you couldn’t possibly refuse.” My curiosity was piqued by Steadman’s description of her no-nonsense attitude.

“I admire the tenacity and she has my undivided attention. Make sure you bring her to the parlor when she arrives.” He lifted the cloche where my breakfast was waiting for me.

A perfectly sunny side egg was accompanied with three strips of bacon. Freshly squeezed orange juice every morning was sitting there filled to the brim. I pushed the black coffee away to exchange it for an injection of vitamin C. The aroma was intoxicating.

“I’m a little surprised by your reaction. I was expecting to duck when you began to hurl implements at me. It’s refreshing to see you without that chip on your shoulder.” Steadman had been with me for too many years to count.

No one man could ever say they were unfortunate enough to be under the gun of my emotional mood swings. He was the exception. How he didn’t walk out the first day of his employment was beyond me.

“You caught me in a rare good mood. Take the paper with you on your way out. It’s depressing to see the world burn. I don’t like schoolchildren killing each other. The human race can be its own worst enemy. Forget about life outside of this solar system. We don’t need an invasion when we are killing ourselves.” I saw what could only be considered an unidentified flying object.

Seeing it hover in the air and shoot straight up had me believing in little green men. That was 20 years ago. I was still fascinated by what I could see through my telescope at night. Nothing ever matched up to that teenage boy looking at something that couldn’t possibly be real.

“Brock is waiting for you in the exercise room downstairs. He can be rather impatient. Don’t make him wait for too long.” My body had become my temple without an ounce of fat making me a marvel of medical science.

My annual checkups consisted of one Dr., but then an audience would suddenly form around me looking at the results of my tests. I did indulge, but there was such thing as moderation. I did have an unhealthy obsession with Doritos during the big game.

“I have him to thank for turning me into the specimen I am today.” A full head of jet black hair down to the nape of my neck was nothing compared to the muscles bulging in the reflection in the mirror.

“I’ve seen some dramatic improvements over the years. Your confidence has grown by leaps and bounds. You no longer walk in the shadows of others. The steps you make are yours and yours alone.” Money could only buy certain things, but there were things considered priceless in my eyes.

I finished breakfast and made a conscious effort to take it into the kitchen. I was never born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I knew where I came from and the roots of my origins. This city could easily swallow you up and spit you out. I’d seen it happen to too many people with the gambling vice they couldn’t get off their back.

I went upstairs and found my workout clothes laid gently on the bed. I never asked him to go above and beyond the call of duty. He was elderly, but Steadman moved like a gazelle on the African plain. The man could appear out of nowhere.

I found Brock waiting for me with his finger tapping the watch on his wrist. It was a Christmas gift from me worth thousands of dollars. My main passion was antiquities. I never sold, but I did buy those unique items.

“You are telegraphing your right. When you walk through those doors, I expect you to leave everything out there until after the session.” He was a testament to determination and this strict regiment never to be repeated twice.

Some days martial arts were used to hone my senses and skills. I could probably hear a pin drop. I could dispatch a mugger, but the occasion had never presented itself. I didn’t tempt fate by walking down the street on the other side of the tracks. I was never born to lose.

“I hired you on your reputation and you haven’t disappointed.” I tried to predict what he was going to do next, but he was never going to go easy on me.

The man was a chick magnet and had regaled me with several stories of his conquests. It was always in the details. His description of those women made me feel like they were standing right in front of me. He had the gift of narration.

“I give my clients a workout that surpasses all others. I never get complacent and I always make sure every muscle group is worked into fatigue.” He was a health nut, but his words of wisdom had transformed my life.

“I always leave feeling those muscles tense up. I’ve seen the results and there’s no denying how you have molded me into something I never thought was possible. It’s money well spent. These daily sessions give me a boost of energy and adrenaline. That first cup of coffee in the morning is the only one I need.” I moved around him doing what I could to limit any kind of physical damage he could do to me.

It was always 2 hours of complete hell, but it was part of my daily routine. I had a female visitor arriving shortly. Sweating wasn’t going to make the kind of first impression I was looking for. I wore my success and wealth on my sleeve. Charities formed in my name gave back to the community. I couldn’t have this fortune and not do something meaningful with it.

I left there a little winded, but it was far better than the alternative. I fainted the very first time and bruised my ego in the process. I almost gave up, but Brock saw me as a work in progress. He was the one that finally convinced me to keep going. I cursed him every step of the way.

I showered in my private bathroom lined with black marble. The two shower heads massaged my body with the heat penetrating my exhausted muscles. I stepped from the enclosure and wrapped a towel around my waist. I was still dripping when I emerged to see my clothes laid out on the bed. They weren’t there 20-minutes ago. Steadman was a ninja of efficiency.

I draped my body in the custom-made suit. It was ironed to perfection with not one wrinkle. Steadman was from the old school of being a butler. His dedication and eye for detail were above reproach. My six-foot body with 200-pounds of sculpted muscle looked like a million bucks in my eyes.

I went down to the parlor and chose a volume of Shakespeare from the library on my way there. Intellect was not something I lorded over others. I had found comfort in the pages of some of the great literary masters. Shakespeare was the one that spoke to me in a language I could understand.

Fine China was sitting on the table with a freshly brewed cup of tea. I heard the clicking of high heels on my expensive teak floors. Steadman was quiet as a church mouse. There were many times I jumped out of my skin when I felt him breathing on the back of my neck.

The door opened and I folded one leg over the other with my hands interlocked together. There wasn’t one hair out of place. I lost my composure when this beauty stepped in to proffer her hand in greeting.

“I would like to get right down to business. This broach is a family heirloom crafted in pearl.” I was startled by her dulcet tones making it impossible to get the cotton out of my mouth.

“I will have to verify your claim. At first glance, I do believe this is of the Victorian age. Are you sure you really want to part with this? It might be better to hold onto it.” I never let my personal feelings interfere in procuring something that was one of a kind.

“I don’t want to sell it, but I have no choice. I have no right to ask, but could you hold onto it for a few days? I would like a chance to buy it back at a reasonable price.” It was old and had character.

“I don’t normally entertain the idea of giving it back for any amount of money. I could be convinced if you would agree to have dinner with me. It’s short notice. I’m not suggesting anything untoward.” I wanted to know what was underneath the pretty packaging.

“I will agree to your terms on the condition you give me one month to buy it back from you. This doesn’t mean you can put your hands on me. I don’t know what kind of woman you take me for, but sleeping with you is out of the question.” Her mouth was saying one thing but her body language was saying something else.