Throughout the rest of Friday, I was home. Not horny or being perverted—my sight was locked on my laptop screen, with charts and headlines occasionally flashing by.
Amber had been a good girl and dropped me off, returning me right where she took me.
Though she had said nothing after I made a guess about her relationship with Jennifer Clove, for the meantime, I decided to stick with that belief.
Making no comment about my insinuation of their relationship, Amber had smoothly taken the conversation to a more pleasing topic for her.
"You realize you have to be careful how you handle Dina, or she will become an enemy, right?"
Though subtle, it wasn't hard for me to pick up on Amber's manipulations when she said things like that.
Offering her no promises, but throwing her a bone in the form of a possible invite, I temporarily got her off my back. It was Dina who refused.
"Sir, you have a call."
These words came from Catherine, who knocked and stepped into the study I was inhabiting, her head bowed.
"Who is it?"
"The Mayor."
"Is she the one?"
"I didn't ask. Passing it on."
The next second, the telephone beside me beeped, and I picked it up.
"Hello Mr. Lawson, how are you?"
"I'm good, Mayor Grelsh. How about you?"
"I'm fine. I heard you were in the city and wanted to say hi. Hope you're enjoying your stay."
"Oh, thank you. I am finding the city rather surprising—lots of scenes and scenarios."
"Well, that's good news to me. If the development happening here has even the likes of you impressed, then I can at least say I'm doing my job. Ha ha ha!"
"That you can, Mayor Grelsh. That you can. I'll openly back you too."
We were both laughing over the call, but as I said those words, the Mayor went silent—as did I. Seriousness suddenly suffused the air.
"Do you mean what you just said?"
"Sure I did. I like your standards. I see partnership and possibility.
Think about it— all I ask for is zeal."
"Hmm, Mr. Lawson, you've given me food to simmer. But in the meantime, while I light my fire, there is someone who would like to speak with you.
She's a budding entrepreneur, a board member of Angel Crate, an elite, and a rare gem of my city…"
"It's okay. I'm sure I know who you're talking about."
"All right then, Mr. Lawson. I'll leave you both to talk..."
"Marcus."
"Dina."
"I was turned away at your gate. I was literally right in front of your gate, and not only did you leave me there for hours, you refused to meet me."
"I remember specifically telling you not to come."
"And why should I listen to you? After everything, you betrayed me and left with Amber!"
"What do you mean I betrayed you? You should be thanking me at the moment.
You had no idea you were being recorded."
There was silence for a while on the other end of the phone, and I thought Dina was finally beginning to understand—but then she made me facepalm.
"How much?"
"How much for what?" I asked, refusing to believe it at first.
"For the recording. How much do you want?"
"How much can you give me?"
"$700,000."
"You do remember I'm a billionaire, right?
Your offer disgusts me."
"...Well, what do you want?"
"Stop trying to reach me. You'll be contacted at a convenient time.
If you continue like this, Frego won't even need to see the video to know something is wrong."
Those last few lines had Dina shut up, and the phone went silent several seconds later.
Relaxing back into my seat, I looked at the screen before me and then returned to writing in my notes.
"We'll start small for now. Two experienced pro traders will do for when I'm not around."
And that's how I spent the rest of my Friday, waking up Saturday to the information of a healthy buffet for breakfast.