Heads You Win

Lawrence turned to Alex as he raised his glass, and everyone in the room stood and joined in the applause, although Alex’s immediate thought was of the Tank, and the fact that he still hadn’t visited his grave in Virginia.

There was an even louder cheer when Lawrence announced that he would be standing for Congress as a Democratic candidate at the next election. When he finally sat down, the assembled guests broke into a raucous, out-of-tune rendition of “Happy Birthday, dear Lawrence…”

Once the laughter and applause had finally died down, Todd turned to Alex and continued where he’d left off. “If you do decide to expand, keep in touch. Yours is just the sort of company I like backing.” He took a business card out of his wallet and handed it to Alex, who was about to ask what sum he had in mind, when he was distracted by a hand resting on his thigh.

“Do tell me more about your little empire, Alex,” said Evelyn, leaving her hand in place.

For a second time he found himself struggling for words as he stared into her green eyes.

“I’ve just sold it.”

“I do hope you got a good price.”

“Just over a million,” he said, enjoying the attention.

“Are you going to introduce me, Evelyn?” said a voice from behind him.

Alex leaped to his feet when he saw the senator standing by his chair. Evelyn introduced them, and Teddy Kennedy immediately put him at ease as they chatted about Vietnam.

“You know, Alex,” Kennedy whispered, “if you could spare a little time to help Lawrence during his campaign, it might make all the difference, and I know he’d appreciate it.”

It had never crossed Alex’s mind that he could actually help Lawrence do anything. “I’d be only too happy to do whatever I can, senator,” he heard himself saying.

“That’s good of you, Alex. Let’s keep in touch.”

Kennedy’s words gave Alex a little more confidence, and made him more determined to press Todd on how much he might consider investing in Elena’s, and what he would expect in return. But when he looked around, he saw Todd standing behind him, deep in conversation with Evelyn. Alex felt he couldn’t interrupt them.

When he sat back down he was surprised to find a queue of guests had formed, all of them wanting to speak to him and shake his hand. He answered every one of their questions, not least because it ensured he wouldn’t have to venture onto the dance floor and make a complete fool of himself. When he noticed the first guests departing just before midnight, Alex decided that after he’d had a word with Todd, he’d also slip away, but first he asked a passing waiter where the restroom was.

“Follow me,” said Evelyn, who’d appeared from nowhere.

Alex happily obeyed. She took his hand and led him up a wide marble staircase to the first floor, and opened a set of double doors into a bedroom that was larger than Alex’s flat in Brighton Beach.

“Use my private bathroom,” she said, gesturing toward a door on the far side of the room.

“Thank you,” said Alex, as he disappeared into a room that had a bath and a shower. He smiled as he washed his hands and straightened his tie, now confident enough to ask Evelyn if she would call a taxi to take him back to his hotel. But when he returned to the bedroom, he couldn’t see her. He assumed she must have gone back downstairs to the party, until he heard a voice say, “I’m over here, Alex.” He swung around to see her sitting up in bed, her magnificent ballgown lying on the floor. “Come and join me,” Evelyn said, tapping the covers.

Alex couldn’t believe what was happening, but after hesitating for a moment, he nervously discarded his suit and shirt, and climbed into bed beside her. She immediately took him in her arms and began kissing him. He wondered if it was obvious that she was only the second woman he’d ever slept with. She finally leaned back, let out a loud sigh, and said, “I can see why the enemy didn’t have a chance.”

Moments later she fell asleep in his arms.

*   *   *

When Alex woke the following morning, and looked at Evelyn lying beside him, he still couldn’t believe this beautiful and sophisticated woman had given him a second look. He feared that the moment she woke, the bubble would burst and he would have to return to the real world.

He began to gently stroke her long red hair. She slowly woke and lazily stretched her arms, before pulling him toward her. After they’d made love a second time, Evelyn rested her head on his shoulder.

“Can I ask you something?” said Alex.

“Anything, my darling,” she replied.

“What can you tell me about Todd Halliday, the guy who was seated on the other side of me last night?”

“Extremely wealthy, old money, but he likes to invest in new companies.”

“Do you think he might be interested…”

“I suspect that’s why Lawrence put him next to you,” said Evelyn.

“But my company is so small—”

“Todd likes to get in at the beginning. He says that’s how the real money is made. I only wish I’d listened to him when he told me to invest in Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Walt Disney.”

“What sort of sum does he usually invest?”