Page 25 of The Mastermind
“I tripped over something and hurt my hip. Getting weak these days. What brings you home?”
“Oh, just having a quick chat with Brian.”
“Ah, okay.” His hand trembled as he patted my shoulder. “It’s good to see you. Stop by more often. We need to chat.”
“Honey, what are you doing standing up like that? The doctor said you should rest.” Mallory rushed over to Dad, kissed his cheek, and looped her arm through his.
He smiled. “How was lunch with your friends, sweetheart?”
“Excellent. By the way, there’s a charity fund to help needy kids in the downtown area. They’re looking for sponsors. That would be a great opportunity for our financial firm to donate. It’ll make us look good.”
“Again?” He scratched his head. “Didn’t you just tell me about a fund a few months ago?”
She laughed. “No, honey. That was for something else. You’ve been working too much. You should take a nap. I can help yourelax.” She whispered something into his ear, and he grinned, letting her steer him down the hallway.
Brian sighed. “Nothing like knowing your parents are gonna have some sexy time.”
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, ignoring him. “We both know I’m not here to chitchat, so cut the crap.”
Brian led me to an office, which used to be the guest room. He now worked at my dad’s financial firm, Starke Investments, making a lot of money. Money had a way of making people bold. I knew its power because I wielded it like a powerful weapon, but unlike Brian, I gained mine the way a blacksmith created his own sword—with effort, determination, and sweat. Brian had attached himself to my dad’s success. Couldn’t Dad see how manipulative he and his mom were?
Probably not. He was too in love with the plastic Barbie doll to understand anything.
What would happen to Brian if Dad cut him off? Would he know how to swim, or would he drown in the privilege pond he was raised in?
I sat down on the leather chair across from Brian.
“Did you read over my email carefully?” he asked with a hint of arrogance.
Brian knew nothing about how I conducted my business. I did everything with care. I gave extra care to those who wronged me. He’d soon find out.
“Of course I did.”
“And the three million dollars will be in my account sooner rather than later?” With a smug look, he pulled out a sheet of paper with an international bank account number on it. “You can wire the money to this account.”
I didn’t touch the paper.
“Do you remember what happened to your face and body from the poison ivy?”
Brian flared his nostrils, probably remembering how his face and body had swelled with rashes, requiring him to stay overnight at the hospital.
“That was child’s play. Don’t mess with me,” I said. “You won’t get a dime from me. Not now. Not ever.”
Over the years, I kept tabs on Brian, mostly because I was curious about the kid who had bullied me. He’d gotten into Northeastern University and would have flunked if my dad and his mom hadn’t paid off someone in admissions to tweak some numbers. That was on top of his gambling, drinking, and addiction to escorts.
I was dealing with a narcissistic psychopath who believed he was too privileged to get into trouble. He was about to find out who Remington Starke was.
“Are you serious?” Brian smirked, and my hands itched to pound my fist into his face. “I can’t believe that.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“If you don’t give me the three million dollars, I’ll release the video of you and that supermodel in the hotel room. She showed off some very explicit sexual positions. Wire over the money, and I’ll make sure the video disappears.”
What would Brian think if I told him I could make him vanish with less than three million dollars?
“Which supermodel?” I offered a smirk. “I’ve slept with several over the years, Brian. You need to be more specific. You’re not getting my money. ThereasonI’m here today is to inform you in person that you can release that so-called video. Put it on the internet, social media, or whatever you want. I don’t give a damn. I’ll sue your ass off for defamation until you have nothing left but the skin on your body.”
Brian’s eyes hardened. “You’re a billionaire, and youpreferpublic humiliation over threemeaslymillion dollars?”