Unscrupulous (3 page)

“Time out, please…stop.”

He laughed and gave her the same nod she’d given him when they’d started. “Say you’re sorry, baby.” Warner demanded respect even as a kid as they stood with their eyes gazing out at Sheep Point Cove. The violent flesh-slapping sounds between them echoed against the walls. When she’d lost count and her body couldn’t take another orgasm, she begged him to lay her down on the bed to rest.

And so he did.

“I love you,” Jacqueline whispered.

Against his family’s wishes, at eighteen, he’d married Jacqueline, and for ten years they shared a life together. With his two hands, Warner remodeled and upgraded her bed-and-breakfast into a boutique hotel. At night, he put himself through college, earning his undergraduate degree at Brown University and eventually an MBA from Harvard. They sold the property and invested in a larger resort, and their empire branched out. He worked hard for his money and harder to keep her accustomed to the lifestyle she deserved.

Together they expanded their empire with hotels from Boston to Miami, and then they ventured into the spa industry. Soon they became sought-after fixtures on the resort social circuit and traveled to Aspen, Coffs Harbour and the Canary Islands together.

Warner grew up quick from a middle-class boy in Newport, Rhode Island, into a hotel mogul. At twenty-eight, he thought the world had become what he’d once dreamed until the doctors at Miriam Hospital diagnosed Jacqueline with bone cancer. She died within the year. When he laid Jacqueline to rest at Island Cemetery, his heart was buried with hers. With his twenties behind him, he dove into his work and made Truman Enterprises the leading hotel and resort company in the world.

* * * * *

Out of the shower, he dried himself off with a soft towel and groomed in his usual quick, five-minute, no-bullshit ritual. After a citrus aftershave dab to his neck, he dressed in a dark-navy Armani suit custom-made for what his personal shopper coined “Mr. Linebacker Strong Side” due to his football-player-type body. A crimson silk tie, festive for the holiday season, was knotted around his neck. He ran a comb through his sandy hair and stepped back into the bedroom.

Kayden had gone.

He walked down the long hallway, which connected his master suite to the living room and then the kitchen.

His brother, Sheldon, drank espresso with a smug look on his face. “Mornin’, bro.” Legs spread wide—Sheldon sat on a barstool in boxers and admired his latest daredevil tattoo. The black ink decorated his forearm. It was his twenty or twenty-first piece of body art. Warner doubted it would be his last.

“Don’t bro me.” Warner shook his head and glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Tribeca downtown view. With no snow in sight, the winter’s sky rose clear and sunny. “What have I told you about having your girls roaming loose around my penthouse?”

“They’re kittens that I should cage,” Sheldon joked. “Relax. They’re asleep in my bedroom. I wore ‘em out.”

“Sheldon.”

“Sorry, dude. I thought your dick could use a little Kayden attention. You haven’t fucked since Rielle.” Sheldon pushed a coffee cup to the counter’s granite edge and stepped forward.

“My dick and I would appreciate it if you didn’t bring her name up. My New Year’s resolution is no more drama.” Rielle Bruni, his ex-fiancée. Fast tricked him to be married until about six months ago when he realized her true identity. She was a professional con artist.

Yes, Rielle courted, seduced and then faked her pregnancy, in essence forcing Warner to propose. He’d fallen for the scam until Warner found Sheldon between her legs. Rage consumed him when he learned Rielle had thrown herself at Sheldon. She’d pulled his pants to the floor and tried to ride his cock. Warner walked in and caught them. Sheldon stood limp, clearly not interested. Rielle’s baby bump hit the floor the second she chased after him.

“I assumed you were over your engagement.”

“Yes, I’m over that.” Warner had grown to realize he’d never really loved Rielle. Rather he loved the idea of her. He’d been baited and then tricked to stay in the relationship with Rielle from the start. It was never real because Rielle wasn’t who she said she was.

“Good.”

“And I’m over you too.”

“Funny.”

When the building they lived in went up, Warner had appointed Sheldon as project manager to oversee every detail. Once the project was completed, he should’ve moved out and gone on to other cities, assignments and people. On the contrary, Sheldon refused, claiming Manhattan pumped in his blood. He couldn’t leave. Sheldon lingering around became a sore spot at the Truman Enterprises office. Warner’s brother wouldn’t budge. The solution could be found in his family. His folks were scheduled to come for Sheldon at Christmas and drag him back to Newport. He didn’t have a clue, but Rhode Island redemption was the Truman strategy. Hence, Warner humored Sheldon as his espresso-sipping, silk-boxer-lounging, downtown four-way girl-screwing days were numbered.

“If I ever fall for a woman again, she’ll have her own money.” Warner swiped a mug, poured himself some java, black, no sugar or cream, and sipped. His attention returned to the outside view. The lot was a great choice for Truman Tribeca. Proud to have developed a modern-day landmark, he enjoyed living in the hotel and condo luxury facility. Built on Greenwich Street and Duane, the thirty-five stories provided exceptional views over the Hudson River.

“New Year’s…what are your party plans?”

“No celebrations. I’m working at my
Secrète de St. Barth
property.” He’d stopped taking time off years ago.

“Seriously, bro?”

“St. Barth’s busy season picks up soon. I’ll stay at my beach house alone, clear my head and manage the resort.”

“You work too much.”

“And you fuck around too much.” Warner took another swig and asked, “And what circuit party is on your calendar for the thirty-first?”

“The babes and I are jettin’ to Algarve, Portugal. Invite’s open if you change your mind.”

A reluctant male model, pre-body-ink era, Sheldon’s glamour funds hadn’t run out yet, but were getting close. Similar to Warner, Sheldon was tall, handsome and striking even at a young age. He’d caught a
Vogue Hommes International
fashion photographer’s attention in Milan and his jet-set life soared. A few years later he had returned to the United States and had mooched here and there ever since. Warner tried to get Sheldon to come work with him at Truman Enterprises, but Truman Tribeca, which wasn’t meant to be a test but was, failed him. Warner figured his brother would screw around until his ever-in-demand fuck-stick fell off. He hoped it would be in Algarve, Portugal.

“Thanks, I should get going. Don’t forget to buy Mom and Dad a Christmas gift. You forgot last year.” They spoke their goodbyes, and he went for the elevator.

In the lobby, the doorman approached. “Mr. Truman, I have a package for you.”

“Morning, Sam.” He spotted the flowers at the concierge desk. “Again?”

“The florist dropped this arrangement off about thirty minutes ago.” Sam knew Rielle wasn’t permitted anywhere near the building. Her restraining order prohibited her from all contact, which included sending flowers. This was the third arrangement this week. A silver-mirrored vase enclosed snowy-white hydrangea, blood-red roses and lilies. He reached for the card in Sam’s hand. The note read, “Warner, baby, I miss you. Let’s spend the holidays together. All my love, Rielle.” A few months ago, he might have felt nauseous reading this card. This morning, he felt nothing. “Re-gift these to your family.” He pushed the flowers back upon his doorman and tore the card up.

“Mr. Truman, rejecting gifts is bad luck on your part. You should accept—”

“Throw the flowers away then, Sam.” He didn’t regret his orders. Although Sam’s facial reaction made him question himself.

“Okay, okay, I’ll give them to the missus.” Sam backed down. “My wife sends her best, and thank you again for the generous holiday bonus. You’ve helped put my oldest through City College.”

“My pleasure, enjoy your day.” Warner stepped out in the minus-ten degrees and then into his waiting limo.

Chapter Two

Thank You, Brigham Young University, for Kiki

Times Square, New York, NY

“Sweet Jesus balls of justice. Look at those nuts. Dang!” Taddy Brill sat in her Herman Miller chair with Viveca Farnworth to her right and Blake Morgan III to her left. Careful not to smudge her eye makeup, she gripped the binoculars. Squinting out Brill, Inc.’s forty-fourth-floor windows across the street at the new high-rise, Taddy saw into someone’s hotel room window. A man in full view was shaving his balls. One leg up on the sink, spread out, and from what she could tell, the dude concentrated on his pecker. “Why isn’t he shaving his body in the shower like everyone else?”

“Ingrown hairs perhaps,” her executive vice president, Blake, replied. They’d met at the Avon Porter Academy and went on to the same college together. He’d helped her form the agency and run it.

“I love having a hotel next to our office,” Taddy confessed. Despite the high-rise’s holiday lights mounted on the windows, she could still see inside the rooms.

Truman Times Square took New York City union laborers two years to erect and stood at sixty stories. It was the tallest hotel in Manhattan. Room rates started in the thousands and had a one-year wait list. The property premiered as the world’s tenth most expensive hotel, according to Luxury TV. This year it had secured a spot on the
Condé Nast
Traveler Gold List and the AAA Five Diamond Award list. The best thing about the property proved to be the voyeuristic views, which her executives liberally took in.

Taddy continued to watch the guy in the bathroom with a razor to his scrotum. “That dude is a Big Daddy. Must be six foot three. God I love ‘em tall and beefy.” Her red acrylics used the zoom feature on the binoculars for a closer view.

“I can’t believe you two bitches do this at eight every morning,” Viveca Farnworth, aka Vive, exclaimed between Bloody Mary gulps. She rented office space from Taddy one flight up and owned
Debauchery
magazine. A few minutes ago, Vive came downstairs for her breakfast—vodka. Since the seventh grade, Vive had existed in their social circle. Known by many, Vive was a bestie to Taddy, Blake and their other friend Lex. It was the four of them forever.

“Watching others is the closest thing we have to a sex life.” Blake didn’t make any apologies for his frigid gay husband. “Taddy, at your nine o’clock on the fifty-ish floor, do you see what I see?”

She glanced over to catch a lank, hung lad jacking off, alone. “Poor business traveler, he’s by himself with no one to release ‘em. I should walk over there and bring him some freshly squeezed orange juice.” Taddy laughed. She preferred sex at sunrise where she found a man’s stamina stronger. “With extra pulp,” she added.

Vive let out a loud sigh. “Blake, can I borrow your peepers when you’re done?”

He ignored Vive’s requests. “Taddy, look at the sweet couple on the thirty-ish floor.”

She scanned down to where Blake pointed and stood in her Chanel pumps. “Ooh yeah, I’d so love to be her.” A dude gave his girl the ultimate female fantasy. “Why can’t I have a man who will wake up with me in bed and do that? I’m so jelly.”

“For fuck’s sake, let me see,” Vive griped.

Blake continued, “He’s massaging her toes while she drinks her coffee and reads the newspaper in bed.”

“Speaking of coffee, where the hell is the newbie with my espresso?” Taddy craved another caffeine shot. Her busy week was packed with wrinkle cream press launches and branding overpriced handbags. She needed to keep her energy on high octane.

Vive used to rely on diet pills to keep her going. However, with much hope and a lot of time spent in rehab, she’d quit her methamphetamine addiction. Blake preferred cock as his stimulant. Hard, hung, uncut, cut, imported or domestic—it didn’t matter. Like Vive’s speed balls, Blake wasn’t getting any dick either.

“Okay, kiddies, I best get upstairs. I have gossip to spread, editorials to write, celebs to expose.” Vive extended her goodbyes. Read by four million people weekly and covering all things salacious,
Debauchery
magazine came out in print and digital editions. A publication she’d founded and thrived on, it ruined people’s lives but made hers. “Next time I’ll bring my own binoculars. I have a gold pair the Metropolitan Opera gave me with their media kit.”

Blake nodded. “I’m off to kick some client butt.” In an attempt to not make the tented erection in his pants obvious, he placed a folder over his lap.

Taddy laughed.

He headed to the marketing division on the office’s other side. On his way out, Taddy’s new hire, Kelly, came in. She plopped some red fabric on Taddy’s desk followed by her next espresso shot.

“What’s this?” Taddy watched Kelly place a folder with the garment.

“A pashmina for your New Year’s Eve trip with Miss Easton.” Kelly beamed with brown-nosed reassurance. She’d secured her position at Brill, Inc., hence a place in New York City society.

“Cute, thank you,” Taddy complimented, accustomed to her employees’ generous gifts. Nevertheless, it in no way became old, in particular a red pashmina from Burberry.

New hires recruited from Taddy’s alma mater at Columbia gave her Hermes and found themselves promoted at once. Those from New York University favored presents from Bloomie’s—and often lost their way in middle management. Nevertheless, the NYC Fashion Technology graduates were the worst. They made the mistake of buying Taddy Pinkberry yogurt, and generally lasted less than a year.

Kelly had graduated from a university Taddy had never heard of before. She seemed different.

Taddy had caught the twinkle in Kelly’s Kewpie-doll eyes the second she walked through her 42nd Street doors. At one p.m., she noticed Kelly didn’t “lunch” status quo. Brill girls ate vegan, juiced or pharmed prescription pills like they were Good & Plenty’s. Not Kelly—she actually took her hour lunch to eat at Burger Heaven. Kelly didn’t “ritty” methylphenidate, despite Brill girls regaling Kelly with tales that it would make her work faster and be more focused.