Contractor (38 page)

bodyguards. Eleanor gave Rachel the eye. "A

brief shining moment, then back to his usual

self."

"He does that," Rachel said.

Eleanor smiled. "I admit it keeps me on

my toes."

****

They rode together in the limo; it was

quiet. Daniel checked his cell phone. He

twiddled his thumbs. He sighed. Rachel gave

him an encouraging smile. He smiled back,

but it was forced. The sooner this was over,

the better.

Their destination was a tall, modern-

looking hotel. The front entrance was a

crowd of evening gowns and black tuxedo

standing on red carpets. The limo pulled up

to the front of the hotel’s roundabout and

stopped to let them out.

Eleanor was mobbed by the people. She

recognized each one of the dozens of faces

despite the layers of makeup and plastic

surgery, taking time to greet them all by

name. Daniel nodded automatically

whenever she mentioned his name.

Eventually, they were shuttled into the

lobby. The décor of the hotel was as fancy as

the dresses. Haughty marble columns stood a

supporting vigil between the chandeliers.

Pretentious chamber music floated above the

heads of the guests.

Rachel waved at him, then pointed to a

stairwell. He watched her go. She’d be

watching from balconies that extended over

the first floor, but he still felt lonely without

her there. It was going to be a long night.

He felt the eyeballs of a hundred party-

goers as they passed into the ballroom.

Eleanor’s parade of happy birthday well-

wishes eventually died out long enough for

her to actually talk to him. "What do you

think?" she asked.

"I think I’m hungry," Daniel said.

"Of course you are." She smiled and

waved one of her white gloves at a passing

woman. "I appreciate your assistance."

"I’m doing it for Rachel, not for you."

"I’m trying to reach out here, Daniel.

Grant me some flexibility."

"Flexibility?" Daniel leaned close so no

one else could hear. "After you told Rachel I

wasn’t good enough? After you threatened

not just me, but my little brother and my

father because I didn’t ask how high when

you said jump? You can take your
flexibility

and shove it up your ass. You’re used to

walking around with a steel rod jammed up

there, I’m sure it won’t be too bad."

Eleanor’s smile was now through gritted

teeth. "Eyes are on us."

"What am I really here for?" Daniel

leaned back. "Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m

good at thinking on my feet."

"Eleanor!" A broad-shouldered man

with grey-speckled blonde hair strode out of

the crowd. Everyone scurried to make way

for him. He embraced her in a happy bear

hug that clashed with everything in the room.

"You’re even more beautiful than the last

time I saw you. Happy birthday."

Eleanor beamed, and this time, her smile

was very real, wiping away the cold stain

that usually sat on her face. Daniel felt his

eyebrows hit the ceiling. It was the first thing

approximating any authenticity from her. And

then it was gone, a little star that twinkled for

only a moment.

"Father, this is my good friend, Daniel

Fitzgerald." Eleanor gestured between them.

"Daniel, this is my father, Henry Astor."

Daniel had a nearly overwhelming urge

to shit all over Eleanor right there and catch

a taxi home, but he could still see a patch of

red hair at the top of the stairwell. He gave

the man a slight bow. "Mr. Astor. It’s an

honor."

"Fitzgerald, hmm? A strong name. It’s a

pleasure to meet someone my daughter

approves of!" He laughed a great booming

laugh. Half the crowd laughed with him,

even people that were clearly out of earshot.

"She always had a soft spot for musicians,

though." He kissed Eleanor’s forehead. "I’ll see you two inside." He turned to start

working his way through the crowd.

Daniel edged up to Eleanor when the

wave of sound following Henry had passed.

"Musician? What the hell did you tell him

about me?"

"Rachel told me you played the cello.

My date has to be someone impressive.

You’re a virtuoso."

He had to laugh. "Good thing you didn’t

exaggerate."

"It’s not as if -" She stopped. Her face

went about the same as when Daniel told her

he’d sent off that recording. "…ugh."

"What? I’m not that ugly."

"No." She ducked behind his shoulder.

"One of my former…suitors."

"Suitors? What is this, Pride and

Prejudice?"

"I’m surprised you even know that title."

"Shows what you know. Jane Austen is

one of my guilty pleasures."

"Eleanor!" The young man came walking

up. He couldn’t have been more than a year

or two older than them. The first thing Daniel

noticed about him was that he used way too

much gel. His hair was pruned into rows of

crusty spikes. "Happy birthday. It’s great to

see you."

Eleanor nodded to him. "Mr. Aiken."

He chuckled and smiled. "Please, Elly,

I’ve told you to call me Matthew." He

snatched her hand and kissed her fingers. "I

hope I can tempt you into a dance later?"

"You’ll have competition." Eleanor

slipped free from his grip and hung herself

on Daniel’s arm. He tried not to flinch. "This

is my date, Daniel Fitzgerald. Daniel, this is

Matthew Aiken. The son of the CEO of

Medusa Interactive."

"Medusa?" Daniel frowned. "As in, the

game company?"

"The very same," Eleanor said.

"Wow!" Daniel offered his hand. "I’m a huge fan. Wing Blade Commander, Hellfire

Online. The last expansion was amazing. It’s

great to meet you."

Matthew shook Daniel’s hand as if he

was picking up a dirty napkin. "Yes, right.

Always nice to meet a…fan."

"I’ve got a friend that’ll go nuts when I

tell him about this," Daniel said. "What’s

your favorite class in Hellfire? I play the

ranger."

"I don’t really play video games."

"You don’t?"

Matthew gave him a look he’d seen on

Eleanor’s face more than once—the

pretentious glare of someone who thought he

was better than everyone else. "I have more

productive things to do with my time than

play pretend on my computers."

"You don’t play your company’s own

games?"

"I’m afraid not."

"Are you shitting me?"

Matthew drew back. "Pardon?"

Daniel’s shock and horror broke the tiny

shell of effort holding him back.
This guy

might be fun
. "You know what? You can

have Eleanor all to yourself. I’m just here for

the food."

Matthew, Eleanor, and a small crowd

that lingered around them all did a double-

take. "How dare you!" Matthew said. "She isn’t an object for you to dole out!"

"Relax. It’s was a joke."

Matthew leaned back and looked down

his nose. "Your humor was in poor taste. I’m

sure Eleanor would like an apology."

"No she wouldn’t."

"Excuse me?"

"Are you a douchebag all the time, or

just when you get jealous?"

Matthew stuttered a bit, then cleared his

throat. He looked at Eleanor. "You brought

this pig to your birthday party?"

"Funny, isn’t it?" Daniel said. "I don’t get it either. Maybe she was tired of all the

bootlickers." Daniel grinned again. "And

hand-kissers."

"Mr. Aiken," Eleanor said, "consider

Daniel a shark. Fall to one provocation, and

the blood will only draw him onward."

Daniel put on an affected British accent.

"An apt metaphor, my darling rose. Shall I

compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art

more lovely and more…actually, you’re not

more temperate, but whatever."

Eleanor shrugged. "A fair try."

"Eleanor," Matthew started, "I can’t

imagine how you could bear the proximity of

such poor breeding for so long."

"Practice."

"Yeah, practice," Daniel said. "And at least I’m better than a guy that sounds like a

history textbook."

Eleanor didn’t hide her smirk.

"You’ve insulted me for the last time,"

Matthew said.

"I agree. You’re too easy. Where’s the

fun in that?" He patted Eleanor’s shoulder;

her arm was still firmly wrapped around his.

"If you need any future reminders of your

insignificance, just check the scoreboard."

Eleanor cupped her mouth with a hand,

but she couldn’t stop herself from snorting.

More than a few people started murmuring.

Matthew turned red. "Your…my pedigree is

-"

"Your pedigree?" Daniel hacked a laugh

right in his face. "What is this, a dog show?

I’m the one with the hottest woman in the city

on my arm. On her birthday. Anxious to

introduce me to her father, of course. Did I

mention she’s the one that asked me to

come?" Daniel yawned. "Pretty standard

stuff, but that’s the life of the rich and

famous. You probably wouldn’t know." He

looked at his date. "Let’s get to the next

room, darling. I don’t want to miss the

appetizers."

He gently tugged her forward. Eleanor

let him lead her on passed the gaping stares.

"…that was something," she said.

"The show’s only just begun."

"Aiken was one thing, but -"

"Don’t humiliate your entire family?"

"I’d appreciate a little restraint."

"Why should I care if you’re

embarrassed?"

They went through the door. The banquet

hall was filled with big round tables set for

ten people each. A central table was bent

low with a teetering pile of presents. Any

army of waiters stood ready with glasses,

drinks, and those finger treats that had some

fancy French name he couldn’t remember. It

would be a three-course meal at every seat.

A central area was cleared for dancing; the

chamber group was arranged in the back

with a piano and a few string instruments.

Daniel started to make for the food.

Eleanor grabbed his arm and dragged him

past the tables to the entrance of a small side

hall. She backed him against the wall. "I

thought about what you said. About me, and

her. Us."

Daniel heaved a long sigh. "…I’m

listening."

"Rachel…I was…"

"You’re crushing my arm. Take it easy."

She relaxed her fingers. "If it’s really that

hard to admit," he said, "you know you’ve

got a problem."

She looked at the floor. "I was afraid.

Of her."

"Huh?"

"My father…he’s all I have. But he

loves Rachel. She has her place in public,

but in our home, she really is my sister. I was

afraid, and I…I wanted his attention. I did

awful things to her. I…"

"…you were afraid Rachel would take

your place," Daniel said. "So you made sure she knew what her place was. And then…"

Eleanor managed the smallest of nods.

"I’m…" She clutched at her face, as if that, and the makeup, would hide something she’d

rather not look at. "I’m a terrible person."

Daniel tapped her arm. "Hey."

"…what?"

"I get it, alright? Buck up, buttercup."

Eleanor took a breath. Her features

settled, and the moment of vulnerability

vanished. "Thank you."

"But I’m still going to embarrass you."

"What?! Why?"

"It’ll be good for you. Don’t worry, I

won’t be mean. Just blunt. Consider it part of

your apology." Daniel felt an evil grin grow

on his face. "Are there more Matthews out

there?"

"There are as many hand-kissers as

bootlickers, as you so eloquently put it."

"I see a way to make this evening more

interesting," Daniel said. "I don’t care about any of these people. I’m now your social

attack dog. If someone’s talking and you

want me to get on their case, give me the

signal."

"…you’re allowing me to direct your

talents."

"Correct."

Eleanor’s grin grew to match his own,

only hers was twice as vicious. "What’s the

signal?"

"Do this." Daniel scratched both his

temples.

"Ok. But…please. Just not in front of my

father."

"Especially in front of your father."

"What are you two lovebirds discussing

over here?" Eleanor’s father came marching

back over. "Not an elopement, I hope?"

"We’ve rescheduled the elopement for

after dinner," Daniel said. "That food looks too good to run away from."

Henry looked between the two of them.

Daniel knew he was expecting some kind of

reaction from Eleanor. When it didn’t come,

he chuckled. "I’m already hearing rumors

about your sense of humor, Mr. Fitzgerald.

Apparently you’re rather forward with your

comments."

"I just couldn’t bear to let Mr. Aiken

caress my little muffin top while I was