Uncovered (10 page)

“Where did you get it?” said Jace.

“I had some friends in Europe ship me a bottle as a favor.”

Jace looked at the bottle’s inscription on the bottom. “Year 1891. That must have been a hell of a favor.”

“Let’s just say it’s good to know people in high places,” smiled Xavier, “but then again who am I talking to, Mr.‘Chicago Marketing God’.” He laughed.

“Midwest, Xavier.”

“Oh yes, I am forgetting myself. So, why I brought you here.” He finished his drink and focused on his guest.

“Yes?”

“You see, Kate Simms is one of my best employees and I think she has a bright future here. With due time she could one day manage the company if she continues to work hard. Unfortunately there is one thing in her way.”

“What do you mean?” said Jace.

“We, how shall I put it, have been experiencing a down market for some time in this country, and with the economy like this, the popularity of fashion shows and designer clothes has dwindled. It is still present in the larger markets, but at this point the small boutiques go out of business. The smart ones, on the other hand, have this unique opportunity to become very successful.”

“And which one are you?” nonchalantly replied Jace.

“Oh, you try to make Xavier excited! No, of course not,” he muttered to himself, “you are smart businessman.” Xavier took another puff.

“We are lucky to be in the second category. And we have something in the works. You see, the small modeling shows
will
go out of business, but not before I can buy their models from under them. Once the company is bust, the talent will be left to scramble anyway. Sure the top ones might be poached, but that is a small number of models. However what we offer is the buyout of the whole talent list, with everyone on board. This way we become the largest company with the most talent. The increase in size puts us as a dominant force in the field, gets us more clients. Not to mention the new models will be paid less than they were getting before, but because they have no other choice, they will sign on the dotted line. It’s a win/win, you see?” he winked.

“Well, this is an interesting strategy, but what do you need me for?” said Jace.

“Very good, you see you ask the right question. I love straight shooters. At this time we are illiquid, our money is tied up, you know? Fashion runway locations, models, advertisement. We need to cut a piece of the pie for these other contracts, just a little before the PR machine can work the news coming on Bevy becoming the largest.”

“Uhhmm, and this piece you estimate, is how large?”

“Oh, you are talking money, my favorite subject.” Xavier rubbed his hands. “Money itself no good unless it makes more money, yes? So here the money works really good - you put $500,000 and in a year your return doubles!” He showed off his whites, studying Jace. He, in turn, looked up at the decorated ceiling, thinking it over. After a few moments, he looked back at expectantly delighted hustler.

“Xavier, the answer is ‘no’. Let me entertain you as to why I would never do this deal. First, I already know you are going to cut every model except the top ones from under the contract, under some provision of ‘not getting enough client work’. It would not make sense to keep them on payroll if shows are not getting booked as it is. Second, if your company is already illiquid, that means you don’t know what you are doing, otherwise you’d find a way to make this deal work, as you said it would be getting talent at a great discount. You’d know this, so it tells me there is something wrong with how you structured Bevy that you can not leverage or mortgage a part of it for this deal. And finally, there is one more reason.”

“Which is?”

“I just plain don’t trust you. You told me this was about Kate, yet here you are just using her to save your own skin.”

Xavier’s lips tightened. He started at Jace, and then relaxed his face into a small smile.

“I am disappointed but I understand. Your muse is marketing, mine is fashion. Sometimes you have to know industry to play the money. I will find other investors, I know. And you will see us go to number one, may be then we do little business. In the meantime, let’s not worry. By the way, Kate
is
coming by in half an hour pick up her last paycheck. I have one more treat for my dear friends. The authentic pirate Caribbean rum. This I trust you can’t find anywhere in the world but some very private collections. Best you can try, please allow us a taste while we wait?”

“Sure, fine.” Jace figured even if Xavier is full of it, this rum might give him some ideas on what to invest in next.

Xavier walked towards the door, and stopped to look for something in his pockets. He turned to Jace, “Could I have any sort of debit card from you, I need to ask my bar manager to swipe one when opening the bar vault for security, you understand.”

“Don’t you have a card on you?” asked Jace.

“I apologize, I don’t. No one here is allowed to come to work with cards for security measures, we don’t want someone to open the vault and drink the good stuff, then bounce the card. We require everyone to leave them at home.”

“Fine. Don’t lose this one please.” Jace reached and took out a black Centurion card out of his pocket. The heavy titanium card was an impressive statement at every occasion, declaring that the owner was able to spend a small fortune using it each month.

A few minutes later a waitress came by with two glasses full of brown rum. Xavier cheered with his glass. It tasted like shit for something supposedly so exclusive, thought Jace as he downed it.

____

“Jace… Jace..” The voice was calling him from somewhere, although Jace had trouble focusing on it.

“Jace… It’s me.” The echo bounced inside his skull, from one eardrum to the other.

“Wake up baby, it’s me.” Jace slowly opened his eyes, and the blurred vision made it impossible to see anything.

“Jace, how I missed you!” Squinting hard, Jace could make out an outline of something in the front of him.”

“Hmmmrpff…” - He tried to speak but as his tongue felt glued to the inside of his mouth.

“Wake up, sleepy head.” The shadow in front of him morphed into the outline of a woman. As far as he could tell, she was sitting on top of him.

“K…Kh…Khatee?” he slurred.

“Come on Jace, there we go, good boy.” The voice replied.

“Kate?” repeated Jace, rubbing his eyes as he tried to get them focused.

“Nope, silly, who is Kate?” his eyes opened so fast he couldn’t control it. The bright light shot through him, blinding him for a second. Upon opening them again a few moments later, his double vision came into focus on the dark blond hair in front of him.

“Giselle?!” - His jaw dropped as he realized who was in front of him.

“Hola Papi! I missed you!” She leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips. “Did you have a good time?!

He stared at her unable to speak. Unsure if he was still asleep or hallucinating, he just looked at her.

“Well, don’t just look at me, kiss me!” She placed his hand on her hip.

“What…what are you doing here Giselle?” his voice still slurred.

“You call me, and here I am!” she said triumphantly.

Jace shook his head and squinted at her, “What… what are you talking about? What happened to me?”

She took up a dramatic tone, “Oh papi you were a mess. You got so drunk you bought many drinks, and kept drinking and buying another bottle of some expensive something. You must have spent a lot of money because Xavier was concerned, and then you passed out and he carried you here and then I came and found you and now you’re with me!”

Jace lifted his arms and tried to shield himself from her incoming kiss. “What, what the hell are you talking about? I don’t remember any of that.”

“Well of course, papi, anyone drinks so much he blacks out won’t remember nothing. You were calling me name that’s when Xavier called me!”

“I…I called you?!” He paused, still confused. “And Kate? What happened with Kate?!”

“I don’t know any Kate? There was mucho drama. I came later. Now kiss me, papi, I miss you!”

She leaned in and made her lips in a bow, waiting for him to return the favor. Jace looked down and saw that his shirt was unbuttoned. He sat up and lifted the seductress up, moving her to the other side of the couch. She looked at him with a slight curiosity as he struggled to get up.

“Where is Xavier?” Jace asked as he carefully stood up and buttoned up his shirt.

“No se, gone, club is closed now. He said you better rest here.” She twirled her hair and checked her reflection in the mirror. Jace walked up to the one way mirror window and looked down on the dance floor, the club was empty.

“Look, Giselle, I don’t know what the hell is going on but I have to go.” He started for the door.

She lunged after him, “Oy papi, don’t tell me you didn’t miss me!?” her brows puckered in a way Jace had seen many times before. He was waiting for something to crush his insides, to suck the air out of the hole she left in his heart. Surprisingly, the feeling never came. He stood for a moment until he realized there was just one thing on his mind, and she wasn’t here.

He looked squarely at her, “Giselle, you left me and I thought my heart was broken. It felt awful and I hid myself deep inside, afraid to open up to anyone again. There were times I would give anything to be with you again. I thought I missed you. But now, seeing you here, I just realized what missing something really is. I don’t miss you any more. I hope you have a good life. Good bye.” He kissed her cheek and turned around.

Giselle watched him leave the room as he sped down the stairs to the front doors. The club was much brighter, and he was hurrying too fast to notice it. As he pressed on the exit doors, sunlight blasted him in the face. It was early morning.

Chapter 13

Jace

My Bentley was flying down the freeway, oblivious to the speed limit. I felt like something had gone terribly wrong, and usually my gut was good at telling me these things. I pulled out the phone and connected it to the car’s speakers.

Dialing Ben, I hoped that the theme difference in Europe would work in my favor, and he’d be available.

After seven of the longest rings of my life, an excited voice came through on the other side.

“Hello, Ben here!”

“Ben, it’s Jace. Can you hear me?”

“Hey, what’s up, bud?”

“Listen brother, something bad happened and I need your help.” I rattled off.

“Slow down, slow down,” he said, “what happened?”

“Get this, last night I went to meet up with Xavier at his club and he pitched me some bogus deal asking for half a million. He then drugged me and when I woke up Giselle was sitting on top of me saying Kate is gone and I spent a large amount of money.”

“Holy shit man, what the hell were you doing?”

“I swear to you Ben, I had two drinks of something Xavier gave me and the next thing I knew I was out. I don’t remember a thing. Listen, I am heading to Kate’s apartment right now, can you check something for me?”

“Sure, anything.” Ben said.

“Please log into my Amex accounts and see what the charges are for last night. I can’t find my black card.”

“Jesus man, you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I hope not, but it’s best to be prepared. See if you can trace who the payments were made to.”

“Will do. Anything else?”

“Is Olivia around? I tried to call Kate but it goes straight to voice mail, could you ask her if she knows anything?”

“She just stepped out to get us some food, should be back anytime now. I will have her call you. I’ll run your account while I wait.”

“Great, thanks brother.” I put the phone down.

I pulled up to the brown brick building and walked up the steps to buzz Kate’s apartment. No one answered. I buzzed again and again.

“Shit.”

I looked down at my watch, it was 9am. I tried her cell again resulting in the same automated message.

I gotta try the old methods.

I counted the windows on the building until I calculated which must be hers. I shouted “Kate! Kate Simms!” The curtains didn’t move.

Nearby someone passed by walking a large black dog.

“Kate!” I shouted again. Nothing was adding up.

I looked again at the dog and did a double take. The big brown eyes were looking at me.

“Cesar!?” I cried.

The dog wagged my tail, startling the person holding the leash. It was a young guy in his 20s.

“Hey, is this dog’s name Cesar?” I approached.

The stranger looked at me, and then the wagging tail. “Uh, Yeah.”

“I thought I’d recognized him, I am Jace, a friend of Kate’s. Do you know where she is?”

The guy added up something in his brain. Finally he said, “She’s gone.”

“Gone?” I said. “Where?”

“Not sure, she left earlier today. She said she was going out of town for a little while and asked me to dog sit.”

“Strange, we had plans. Did she tell you where?”

The guy looked at my car, then back at me, wondering who I was asking so many questions. “Look man, I don’t know, she just called me to come get the dog. Then a guy pulled up and she got her luggage into his car and took off.”

“A guy? What did he look like?”

“Uh, man I don’t really remember. He was older, may be early 40’s. Red Ferrari cap. Lot of cologne.”

“Did he have a name? Xavier…?”

“Let me think,” he paused. “That does sound familiar. I think she called him that once or twice.”

I looked down at Cesar again, trying to process all the things that ended up to a big pile of confusion.

“Christ. Did she leave her number?”

“It’s the same one she always had as long as I’ve known her.”

“Yeah, I have that one.” I muttered and paused. Something clicked. “You said luggage, right? Do you know which airport they were leaving from?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know man, sorry. Just looking over Cesar here.”

The dog wagged his tail again.

“I took out a $100 bill and handed it over. “Thank you bud, if you hear anything from Kate, here is my card, please call me.”

“Sure.” the guy shrugged and pocketed the cash.