Annihilate Me 2: Vol. 1 (13 page)

He smiled at me.
 
“I seriously doubt that.”

“I could move to the side, and
you’d find a horror show.”

He laughed at that, but Tom Brown
cleared his throat.
 
He was a tall,
heavyset man in his late seventies.
 
His hair was still dark, though given his age, that likely was thanks to
seeing a good stylist.
 
He had
cheeky jowls and wore dark-rimmed glasses.
 
There was a grandfatherly vibe about him.

“Your beauty aside,” Tom said, “I
believe Alex talks more about how instrumental you’ve been since you joined
Wenn.
 
From what I understand,
you’ve personally secured many influential deals for us.
 
I’d like to personally thank you for
that.”

“There’s no need, though I
appreciate that.
 
Thank you.”

“If I remember correctly, it was
you who got us Stavros Shipping.”

“I just had the idea, that’s all.”

“Sometimes an idea is all it
takes.”

Jonathan looked at Alex.
 
“The one thing you didn’t say about your
wife is how modest she is, Alex.”

“It’s one of the reasons I fell in
love with her.
 
Her insight has been
critical to Wenn.”

“Jonathan,” I said.
 
“I hear that your granddaughter is
attending Vassar.”

“She is.”

“And she’s studying English?”

“She hopes to be a novelist
someday.”

“The world needs better writers—and
that’s one school that should assist her to that end.
 
Has she written anything yet?”

“She written two novels, and now
she’s on her third.”

“So, she’s determined, which is the
other ingredient it takes to succeed in publishing.
 
Have you read any of her work yet?”

“Just parts of it.
 
And if I do say so myself, it’s quite
good.”

“Then perhaps it’s time that we
introduce her to Iris at Wenn Publishing.
 
I’m not sure if you know Iris, but she’s magic.
 
She considered one of the best editors
in the business.
 
What is your
granddaughter’s name?”

“Clarice.”

“Do you think that Clarice would be
interested in meeting with Iris?
 
To
potentially pitch her new book to her?
 
We can certainly make that happen.”

“That would be wonderful.”

“Then let’s do it.
 
Iris is responsible for helping many
young writers galvanize their careers.
 
In fact, she personally edited my best friend Lisa Ward’s last book,
which became a number-one
New York Times
bestseller.
 
I’m sure she’d be happy to meet with
Clarice.
 
New talent is hard to
discover—and a gifted, debut author always is a find.
 
Why don’t you talk with her, send me a
note if she’s interested, and I’ll personally make the introductions.
 
Iris loves to work with young
writers.
 
I’d like to help.”

“That would be wonderful,
Jennifer.
 
Thank you.”

“Actually, it might be Wenn
Publishing who’s thanking you and Clarice.”

I turned around and faced Stephen
Rowe, who had been quiet throughout the entire exchange.
 
“I’m sorry to keep my back to you,” I
said.
 
“You must be Stephen
Rowe.”
 
I proffered my hand, which
he gingerly took.
 
“I’m Jennifer
Wenn.”

“So I hear.
 
It’s nice to meet you, Jennifer.”

I sensed a coolness about him that
was almost tangible.
 
He was a good-looking
man—dark hair, green eyes, a dimpled chin, and a body that clearly made
frequent trips to the gym.
 
I knew
from my research that he was forty-four, married to New York royalty, and the
father of two daughters.
 
And I knew
more.
 
So much more.
 
I couldn’t wait to tell him exactly how
much more.

“I understand that you’re the
father of two little girls,” I said.

“I am.”

“You must be very proud.”

“What father wouldn’t be?”

“Is your wife here tonight?
 
I’d like to meet her.”

“Why is that?”

“Just to say hello.
 
I know who Meredith is, of course.
 
Who doesn’t?
 
I have some of her handbags and
clutches.
 
I absolutely love them,
which is why I’m carrying one of them with me now.”
 
I glanced at Jonathan and Tom.
 
“If your wives are here, I’d also like
to meet them.”

“Oh, they’re long gone by now,
Jennifer,” Jonathan said.
 
“Those
two are inseparable.
 
I’m sure
they’ve gossiped their way to the other end of the room at this point.”

“Either that, or they’re at the
bar,” Tom said.

“Well, that’s another possibility.
 
But when we find them, we’ll bring them
over and introduce you to them.
 
We’ll make sure of that.”

“I’d love to meet them.
 
But before I forget, Jonathan, I wanted
to give you something else to consider.”

“What’s that?”

“I heard that your company,
Qualcomm Micro, is coming out with a revolutionary new processor.
 
It’s supposed to nullify the
competition.
 
From what I’ve read,
it’s a game changer.
 
A quarter of
the size of most chips, and six times as powerful—with more power on the
way.
 
Congratulations.”

The man lifted an eyebrow at
me.
 
“I’ve heard you were a business
junkie.
 
Where did you read about
this?”

In other words—Alex put you
up to this.
 
Sorry, but he didn’t.

“I read about it in the
Times
and in the
Journal.
 
I think
the news came out recently, perhaps just this week.”

“It did.”

“When I first read about it, I
immediately thought of Wenn’s
SlimPhone
, and whether
some version of your chip might work with it to increase speed and to lower
costs.
 
As the phone evolves in what
we can all agree is a competitive market, a powerful chip is only going to
continue to be an issue because the masses are looking for their phones not
only to do more, but also to be faster and more robust.
 
Your chip might just solve that
issue.
 
Are you thinking about
bringing it to mobile?
 
I believe
the
Times
article wondered the same thing.”

“Actually, we are.”

“Then that’s something to consider
as the
SlimPhone
grows.
 
We’ve already sold over two million
units, which is unheard of for a new phone fresh to the market.
 
With smart marketing, correct pricing,
and strategic planning, it’ll only be up from here.”

“You sound awfully optimistic about
the
SlimPhone’s
future,” Rowe said.
 
He glanced up at Jonathan and Tom.
 
“I wonder why that is.”

“Because it’s innovative,” I
said.
 
“And because it’s gotten off
to a smashing start.
 
You can’t deny
that, Stephen.
 
Wenn’s stock might
have taken a hit this week—”

“It’s been hammered.”

“You’re right—it has
been.
 
Just as Apple’s was before it
came out with the iPod.
 
There are
features on the
SlimPhone
that set it apart from the
rest—free international calling; our patented Pure Voice Recognition
transcription software, which recognizes dozens of languages; and it’s the
first phone to be outfitted with a high-
def
camera
with a micro-telescoping lens.
 
I
hope I don’t have to sell anyone here on the
SlimPhone’s
virtues, but its real value is that it’s the only truly global phone on the
market.
 
What will free
international calling mean to the world?
 
Especially, to the business world?
 
Obviously, big things.
 
As we
continue to innovate, we’ll add more features and services.
 
The R&D that went into creating the
phone may have put Wenn into the red for the short-term, but it’s just for the
short-term, as sales have proven.
 
I’m confident about that.
 
I’ve had an iPhone for years, but I haven’t missed it once since Alex
gave me my
SlimPhone
—and that has nothing to do
with the fact that he’s my husband.
 
In the year that we’ve known each other, I’ve shot down plenty of his
ideas.
 
Just ask him.
 
But this one has always had my full
support, because it has options other phones don’t offer.
 
I think that is its genius.
 
So do millions of others.
 
Now, we just need to allow that genius
to make Wenn some serious bank.”
 

Before Rowe could respond to that,
there was a sudden rush of applause as the orchestra finished playing “The
Continental” for the scores of people who’d been dancing to it.
 
And then, to my surprise and delight,
the orchestra began a waltz I recognized at once from listening to it at my
Aunt Marion and Uncle Vaughn’s house when I was a child in Maine and went to
their home to escape my abusive parents.
 
The song was “It’s Time to Say Goodnight” by Henry Hall.
 

I couldn’t think of a more perfect
song or time to dance with Stephen Rowe.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Would you like to dance, Stephen?”
I asked.

He looked surprised when I
asked.
 
“I’m afraid I’m not a very
good dancer, Jennifer.
 
To spare you
from any embarrassment, I’ll politely need to decline.”

Like hell you will.

I gave my martini and my clutch to
Alex, and took Rowe by the arm anyway.
 
“Oh, come on—half of the people here are loaded.
 
They won’t notice if you miss a few
steps.
 
And there’s no need to
worry.
 
You’re in luck—I’m a
good dancer.
 
Just follow me.
 
I promise I won’t bite too hard.”
 

I looked over my shoulder at Alex
and the other men as I hooked my arm through Rowe’s, and we moved away from
them into the swirling crowd.
 
“We’ll be back when the song ends,” I said.
 
“In the meantime, Jonathan, think about
that chip and how it might be used for the
SlimPhone
.
 
It could assist each of our businesses.”

When I turned away from them and
moved onto the dance floor with Rowe reluctantly at my side, it wasn’t without
seeing the concern stamped on Alex’s face.
 
I knew my husband—he was no fool.
 
Right now, he knew that this was the
moment I’d been planning for, but wouldn’t tell him about.

“Jennifer,” Stephen said.
 
“I’m really not that good—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, moving
us into the middle of the dance floor, so he couldn’t easily escape without
causing a stir.
 
There were too many
eyes on him now—too many people who knew who I was and who he was.
 
If only to save face, he’d never dare
leave me now, regardless of what I was prepared to say to him—which had
to be said in minutes, before the song ended.

 
“Just put your arm around my waist, hold
my left hand high, and move to the music,” I said.
 
“If you step on my shoes, don’t
worry.
 
You’re about to find out
that this girl is tough.
 
I probably
won’t even feel it.”

He raised his brow at me.
 
“You know, why don’t we just cut the
bullshit, and get to it?
 
You’ve
asked me to dance to help get me off your husband’s back.
 
Am I right?”

“In a way,” I said.
 
“But you’re right about one thing—let’s
cut the bullshit.
 
You’re
correct—I did ask you to dance for that and for other reasons.”

He spun me around, and he was so
smooth when he did so, that it was clear that he was a more accomplished dancer
than he’d let on.
 

A snake in the grass.

“What other reasons?”

“Your wife fascinates me,” I
said.
 
“She comes from one of New
York’s most prestigious families, doesn’t she?
 
In fact, like many here tonight, I
believe she’s in the book.
 
Her
family is that old.
 
That
revered.
 
Wasn’t her grandfather a
former vice president?
 
I believe
that he was.
 
You must have thought
that you had won the lottery when you married her.”

“Not unlike how you must have felt when
you married up with Alex.”

“Ah, but you see, it’s different
between Alex and me, Stephen.
 
I’m
actually in love with my husband.
 
I
didn’t marry him for the sake of marrying up.
 
I married him because I fell hard for
him.
 
What you also need to know is
that I will fight to the end of the Earth for him.”

“If you plan to start fighting for
him through me, you’re wasting your time.”

“You see—that’s the
thing.
 
I don’t think that I am.”

“Then you’re fooling yourself.
 
Your husband has damaged Wenn to such a
degree that people want him out.
 
Not just me and the other members of the board—but where it hurts
most.
 
Investors.
 
They’re tired of him losing their money,
and I can’t blame them.
 
Can
you?
 
He’s no longer suitable for
the job.”

“And you’re no longer suitable for
marriage.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know your secret, Stephen.”

“My secret?”

“You’re cheating on Meredith.
 
You’re having an affair with another
woman.”

If my accusation had thrown him, he
didn’t show it.
 
He merely smirked
at me, which suggested that I was dealing with someone far more cunning than
I’d originally thought.
 

“You think I’m cheating on
Meredith?
 
Is that what this is
about?”

“Partly.”

“Sorry, Jennifer.
 
I’ve never cheated on my wife.
 
This little dance of yours is over.”

He started to pull away from me,
but I held him close to my body, refusing to let him leave.
 
“Leave me now, and I’ll just stand here
and watch you go in bewilderment.
 
People will see my expression, and they’ll talk about it.
 
I’ll call out your name.
 
I’ll look distressed.
 
Do you really want that?
 
Or would you rather know what I plan to
do to you?
 
Your choice,
Stephen.
 
So, you know, choose.
 
Because I promise you that I will do
it.”

He gave me a hard look—and kept
dancing.

“You’ve got some nerve,” he said.

“I believe Meredith might soon be
saying the same to you.”

“You’ve got no proof.”

But I did.
 
Tank would never deceive me—I knew
that every bit of information he’d shared with me today was the truth.
 
And so I tightened my grip around Rowe’s
waist, pressed him even tighter against my body, and said in his ear, “Oh, but
I do.
 
And do you want to know why I
do?
 
It’s because you’re messy.”

“Messy?”

“That’s right—messy.”

“I don’t do messy.”

“How about if we change the
subject?
 
How about if we talk about
the convenience of cheap hotels?”

He pulled slightly away from me and
looked at me, his face only inches from mine.

“Tell me, Stephen, how are those
rooms at the Hampton Inn in Times Square that you frequent so often?
 
I believe it’s a two-star, so one can’t
expect much from it, other than a vibrating bed and maybe, if you’re lucky, a
condom and tampon dispenser.
 
I have
to say that location wasn’t a bad choice for you to carry out your torrid
little affair.
 
In that
neighborhood, you and your lover—I believe her name is Janice
Jones—would never be recognized, would you?
 
Your people don’t wander over to those
lesser parts of the city—and they certainly wouldn’t be found in some sleaze-bag
of a hotel like that particular Hampton Inn.
 
Your no-tell motel already has told this
girl plenty.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking
about, Jennifer.”

“To use your words, why don’t we
just cut the bullshit, Rowe?
 
You’ve
been having an affair for nearly two years, ever since dear Janice gave you one
hell of a memorable lap dance at an upscale strip joint in the Meatpacking
District.
 
I know all about it.
 
And if you don’t listen to me now—really
listen to me—I’m prepared to steal away everything in your life that you
value.
 
Everything you’ve worked
for.
 
Starting with your wife and
your children, who deserve to know whom they’re dealing with.
 
And then I’ll go to the press with what
you’ve done.
 
This will destroy your
own corporation, and also your stature in this community.
 
The scandal will ruin you.”

Again he turned me around, but this
time he was rougher with me, and he hurt my arm when he extended me away from
him.
 
Then, he intentionally crushed
his foot onto mine and twisted it before stepping off of it.
 
I moved through the pain and kept any
trace of it from my face.
 

“You’re such a pussy,” I said.
 
“Is that the best you’ve got?”

“You’ve got nothing on me, bitch.”

“Your face says differently.
 
Suddenly, you’re running hot.
 
Are those beads of sweat I see along
your brow?
 
I think they are.”

“Fuck you, lady.”

“Oh please.
 
Save the dirty talk for Janice—she
probably likes it.
 
Or maybe you
do.
 
Maybe that’s what Meredith
can’t give you because of her good manners and white-gloved upbringing.
 
Before this song ends, here’s a better
use of your time—be honest.
 
Is that possible for you?
 
You look so angry right now, I’m not sure that it is.
 
But there’s nothing I can do about that,
so let me just offer this—I know that you were with Janice today.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know that you paid cash for the
room, and I know that you were fucking her while your wife was getting ready
for tonight’s party.
 
I also know
that you’ve set Janice up in a lovely apartment not far from the hotel, but
that you don’t go there because slipping into a hotel is safer.
 
Shall I go on?
 
Do you want to know about the
photographs I’ve had taken of you entering the hotel alone today?
 
And then the photos I have of Janice
entering the hotel just behind you?”
 

I was bluffing about that, but what
did he know?
 

“There’s more,” I said.
 
“A lot more.
 
I can go on if you want—about the
cheap dinners you share with poor, dear Janice at Molly’s Diner in the Village
while your wife thinks you’re at work for instance—but our time here is
running out, so we better settle terms fast.
 
If we don’t, you’ll walk away knowing
that I will expose you before you even know what’s hit you.
 
Your other choice is to do what I tell
you to do.
 
Your choice—but
you better choose now.
 
The next
song is coming fast—and Meredith is right here in this room.
 
Just close enough for me to have a word
with her.”

“If what you say is
true—which it isn’t—what do you want from me?”

“Simple.
 
You lay off my husband.
 
You cease from pressuring the board
against him, and you stop jockeying for his job.
 
Wenn will never be yours, so keep away
from the board.
 
Stop trying to
persuade them to get rid of Alex.
 
If
you don’t stop, I’ll find out about it—and when I do, the shit will hit
the fan.
 
I will go there.
 
I will crush you, Stephen.
 
I will tell Meredith and the press
everything, and I’ll provide photographic proof.
 
And one other thing.
 
You’ve got three months to resign from
the board.
 
Is that understood?
 
You’ll resign for personal reasons, step
down, and get the hell out of Alex’s life for good.
 
In return, I won’t say a word about your
infidelities and you can keep your goddamned sham of a life.
 
I really don’t care what you do in your
personal life.
 
But when your life
affects my husband’s?
 
You need to
know that I will go to any length to protect that man.
 
That’s what real love is.
 
If you doubt any of it, just try me,
motherfucker.
 
Alex means everything
to me.
 
Are we clear on that?”

“I’m sick of Wenn.
 
I’d be happy to resign from the board
because your husband is ruining everything.
 
But why the three months?”

“Because I want to keep my eye on
you—and I don’t want anything to look rushed.
 
Do we have a deal, or not?”

“Fine.
 
Let Wenn run itself into the
ground.
 
Fuck it.
 
It’s Alex and you who will lose in the
end, anyway.”

“No, we won’t.
 
But now, so long as you keep in line, we
won’t have to worry about you.”
 
The
song ended, and Rowe immediately broke away from me.
 
“Get yourself together,” I said while
the guests applauded the orchestra.
 
“Put a smile on your face.
 
We’re going back to Alex, Jonathan, and Tom—and you’re going to
act as if nothing has happened.
 
When the time comes and they ask you why you’ve backed off Alex, just
tell them that you've reconsidered your position.
 
Don’t go into any details.
 
Just say you’ve thought twice about all
of it, and do your time until you resign.
 
Understand?”