Fifth Ave 01 - Fifth Avenue (39 page)

Jack grinned.
 
“Did you just say, Countess Castellani?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Is she a real person or a reality star?”

“I don’t know how to answer that--parts of her are real.
 
And she’s very nice in a complicated way.”

He groaned.

“It’s for a good cause.”

“Agreed.”

“And you’ll like Anastassios.”

“What is it with these names?”

“They’re the international set.”

“Oh,” he said.
 
“Well, I’m the American set.”

“They’re good people.
 
They just have titles.”

“How much did they pay for those titles.”

“Depends on the method of payment.
 
Are we talking cash or something else?”

“Let’s not go there.”
 

She cracked a smile.
 
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but it is what it is.
 
I don’t want to go either, but I have no choice.”

He was seated at the desk that used to belong to Eric Parker, feet up and crossed on the shiny wood surface.
 
Empty coffee cups and paperwork concerning the takeover of WestTex surrounded him.
 
“If I go, can I borrow your father’s dinner jacket again?”

“Only if your car breaks down and it rains.”

“Then I’d better start praying for both,” he said.
 
“Everything I own is at the cleaner’s.”
 
He lifted his feet from the desk and stood.
 
“Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot.”

“If you hate these events so much, why do you go to them?”

“Because it makes my father happy,” she said, stepping into the room.
 
“And it's smart business.
 
He always said you never know when or where you’ll strike a deal.
 
And these are the sorts of events where deals are made.”

“All right,” Jack said.
 
“I can see that.
 
But something tells me you want more out of life than just striking a deal.”
 
There was a silence while he glanced out the windows before him.
 
Even at this height, the buzz and activity of midtown was noticeable.

“Have you ever been bungee jumping?” he asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Bungee jumping.
 
Don't tell me you haven't heard of it.
 
You strap a heavy elastic cord around your ankles, dive off a cliff or a bridge, and plummet to a body of water, usually a river or stream.
 
It’s fun.
 
Just when you think you’re about to hit the water, the bungee slows your fall and you snap away from it, bouncing back into mid-air, where you start to fall again.”

Celina looked at him.
 
“You do this?”

“I sky dive too.”

“What are you, Indiana Jones?”

“I was thinking more of a Jason Bourne.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”

“I just like to live.”

“Sounds to me like a good way to die.”

“Oh, come on,” he said.
 
“It’s completely safe.
 
Where’s your sense of adventure? Look--I’ll tell you what.
 
I’ll go to this party with you tonight if you go bungee jumping with me tomorrow morning.
 
There’s this place in Upstate New York that I go to with friends.
 
Very peaceful.
 
Just trees and birds and mosquitoes--not a building or a takeover in sight.
 
And I can guarantee you that after the jump, you’ll never look at life the same way again.
 
You game?”

Celina saw the challenge in his eyes and nodded.
 
“I’m game,” she said.
 
“But we do it blindfolded.”

Jack laughed. “Lady, you got yourself a deal.”

*
 
*
 
*

When Celina returned to her office, she found her father there, near her desk, arms folded.
  
“I just got off the phone with Ted Frostman,” he said.

Celina remained in the doorway.
 
They had waited days to hear back from him. “And?”

“We’ve got them,” he said.
 
“Ted called a few minutes ago to say that Chase has run its due diligence, and that the right people are impressed.
 
They want to back us.”

Celina felt as though a weight had been lifted from her.
 
They were coming down to the wire.
 
Within a week, the exact date of the Navy’s move into the Gulf would become public.
 
If WestTex wasn’t theirs by then, the deal with Iran would collapse and they would have to call off everything.
 
And lose billions in the process.

She went to her desk and sat.
 
“Tell me what you know.
 
Do we have a commitment from Chase?”

George started to pace, energy coming off him in waves.
 
“Not yet.
 
First, they want to discuss fees, our deal with management, the possibility of outside investors, etcetera.”

“How comfortable are they with Iran?”

“That’s the sticking point,” George said.
 
“Big surprise there.
 
Some feel the deal is too shaky.
 
A few nearly backed out because of it.”

Celina understood that.
 
Even she was concerned with the verbal agreement her father had secured with Iran.
 
On more than one occasion, she wondered what would happen if, on the day WestTex became theirs, Iran decided to back out.
 
We would lose everything
, she thought.

“The good news is that they know I’d never risk Redman International if I didn’t feel this deal was going to fly.
 
I’m meeting with Ted and a few select members of Chase today.”

“Want me to come along?”

“I don’t think so,” he said.
 
“You’ve got enough work to keep you busy here.”

Celina looked at the files stacked on her desk, at the reports she had yet to read.
 
That
, she thought,
is an understatement.

“I’ll tell you what happened later,” he said.
 
“You’re going to the Fondaras party?”

“Jack’s coming with me.”

George lifted an eyebrow.
 
“Really...?” he said.

“It’s not what you think. We’re just friends.”

“Of course.”

“I didn’t want to go alone.”

“Who would?”

A beat of silence passed.
 
The moment stretched.

“But he is kind of cute, isn’t he?” Celina said.

There was a mischievous look in George’s eyes when he started toward the door. “Wait until I tell your mother,” he said.

*
 
*
 
*

Clouds were moving in from the west when Celina and Jack left the limousine and started up the ramp to the Crystal Princess.
 
Jack was in black dinner jacket, Celina was in a simple white evening dress.
 
A river-cooled breeze that smelled faintly of salt was in the air, as were the light sounds of an orchestra.

A group of reporters were gathered along each side of the red-carpeted ramp. Cameras flashing, microphones raised, the paparazzi called out to them as they passed.

“You’re looking great, Celina.
 
Would you turn this way, please?”

“Word’s out you’re leaving for Iran soon.
 
Where does the takeover of WestTex stand now?”

“Can you at least give us your reaction on what happened to Eric Parker.”

That got her.
 
Celina squeezed Jack’s hand and put a smile on her face as he handed an elegantly uniformed butler the invitation for Celina Redman and Guest.

As they stood there, she became aware of people looking at her.
 
She heard Eric Parker’s name mentioned more than once and though she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t. She was beginning to wonder if coming to this party was a good idea when the butler led them to the reception line and called out their names.

Anastassios Fondaras, the Greek shipping tycoon and their billionaire host, held out his arms to Celina as she and Jack approached.

“Celina,” he said, enveloping her in a hug.
 
“It’s been what? A year? Two?”

A camera flashed as Fondaras kissed Celina’s cheek.

“Two, I think,” Celina said.
 
She pulled back so they stood at arm's length.
 
“And look at you,” she said.
 
“I’ve never seen you so tan.
 
Retirement is suiting you, Anastassios.”

“Retirement?” Anastassios Fondaras said with a shrug.
 
“Retirement is a term I use so I can sleep an extra hour each morning without feeling guilty.
 
You don’t think I’d give up control of my ships just because I’ve passed the golden age of sixty-five, do you?”

“I hope not.”

“Your parents are here somewhere,” Fondaras said with a glance around the deck.
 
“Haven’t seen either of them in years.
 
They looked wonderful.
 
Your mother looks better each time I see her.”
 
When his gaze settled back on Celina, something in his eyes darkened.
 
“Rumor has it that your father’s planning a move into the shipping business.”

It’s more than just a rumor
, Celina thought.
 
And you know it
.
 
She nodded, and hated that she was made to feel somewhat guarded.
 
Although Fondaras was a friend, he was cunning when it came to discussing business and she never trusted him because of it.

“Tough business,” Anastassios said.
 
“Lots of competition out there--including me.”

“I think there’s enough trade to go around, don’t you?”

“I’ve never thought there was enough trade to go around.”

“It’s a big world, Anastassios.”

“Not with me on it, it isn’t.”

“I can promise WestTex won’t infringe on your business.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.
 
How could you possibly promise me that?”

“You’ll see soon.”

“I’d rather see now.”

“That’s impossible.”