understood that even the smallest toehold with that firm 14
would completely transform his career in finance.”
15
Bennet refilled my glass. I didn’t even know that it was 16
empty.
17
“So this guy, Nunn, found all that out? But you said 18
that he doesn’t even work for you anymore.”
19
“Filo Nunn owes me his life.” Anniston Bennet smiled 20
again. If he had been a child, I would have said that he 21
thought he was cute.
22
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bennet, but I can’t go along with this.
23
No. I will not be a part of this.”
24
“That’s final?” Bennet asked.
25
I nodded.
26
“But what if I made you a deal? What if I gave you the S 27
twenty-five thousand dollars now and we went ahead as R 28
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1
we’d planned? Then in two weeks you tell me what you 2
think. If the answer is still no, then I’ll leave. If it’s not I 3
stay the rest of the time and double the final payment. All 4
in cash. Always in cash.”
5
I don’t think the money interested me even that far 6
back. And I was worried that once Bennet dug in, he’d be 7
hard to dislodge. I was drunk but not that drunk. I re-8
member the night and every word that was spoken. Maybe 9
the whiskey made me less fearful. The consequences that 10
bothered me earlier (and the next morning, for that mat-11
ter) seemed manageable.
12
But that’s not why I agreed to Bennet’s request.
13
I agreed because of knowledge and intimacy. Anniston 14
Bennet knew more about me than any other person —
15
and he was still willing to enter this business deal. Those 16
shocking blue eyes looked right into mine and knew what 17
they were seeing. Not like Bethany and not like Clarance.
18
