The Power Trip

* * *

After his brief and irritating few words with Lori, Jeromy turned his full attention towards Sierra Patterson. She was a beautiful and stylish woman, and rumours abounded that one day in the not-too distant future, her husband, Hammond, might make a run for President of America. And of course, if he did, the very serene and lovely Sierra would be by his side. So she was definitely someone on top of Jeromy’s ‘get to know’ list.

He turned to her with an ingratiating smile, exhibiting his not so perfect English teeth. ‘Tell me, Mrs Patterson,’ he said, all smarm and charm, ‘have you ever visited our fair city?’

Dazed and confused by her conversation with Flynn, Sierra had no desire to talk to anyone. ‘Excuse me?’ she said politely.

Jeromy repeated his question.

‘Your fair what?’ she asked, still thinking about Flynn.

‘London, England,’ Jeromy said, a tad sharply. Why wasn’t she paying him more attention? Wasn’t he good enough for her?

‘Oh, are you English?’ she enquired, attempting to rally.

Surely his clipped and very proper accent had given her a clue? The woman seemed somewhat out of it.

‘Born and bred,’ he informed her. And then in case she hadn’t realized that he and Luca were a couple, he quickly added, ‘Luca and I first met in London two years ago. We’ve been together ever since.’

‘That’s nice,’ Sierra answered vaguely. ‘Is Luca here?’

Good God! Was the woman drunk? Or simply dense?

‘Sitting right across from us,’ he said, indicating Luca, who was in the middle of an animated conversation with Taye.

‘Ah, yes,’ Sierra murmured, signalling a stewardess to refill her wine glass.

Hardly Jackie Kennedy, Jeromy thought. Why am I even bothering? And what the hell does Luca find so interesting about Taye Sherwin?

* * *

Since Jeromy Milton-Gold had an obvious stick up his ass, Lori decided to work her charms on Hammond Patterson. He seemed like a friendly enough dude with his neat haircut and honest brown eyes. She needed to get something going, because Ashley, the footballer’s wife, was busy fawning all over Cliff.

All Lori knew about Hammond Patterson was that he was a Senator, and his wife was some kind of do- gooder socialite fashion-plate. But so what? Since moving in with Cliff, Lori realized she could talk to anyone and be accepted; it was one of the main cachets of being a very famous movie star’s number one girlfriend. May as well take advantage of it while she could.

‘I don’t know much about politics,’ she said brightly, attracting Hammond’s attention. ‘Only I do know that you’ve got the look.’

‘And what look would that be?’ Hammond asked, his eyes sliding down to take in his dinner partner’s cleavage.

‘You know,’ Lori said with a flirty smile. ‘Handsome. Trustworthy. The American public totally gets off on a handsome candidate. If Cliff ran, they’d vote for him tomorrow.’

‘I’m not sure whether I should be insulted or flattered,’ Hammond said, liking what he saw. And what he saw was young and pretty with nice firm tits. He had an insatiable craving for youthful flesh; it always turned him on — it was his addiction.

‘Try flattered,’ Lori said, noting he was easy prey. ‘Because let’s call it like it is, Senator — you are a very good-looking man. But I’m sure your wife must tell you that all the time.’

‘Ah, my wife…’ Hammond said, letting the words hang in the air.

‘She’s beautiful,’ Lori remarked.

‘And so are you, my dear,’ Hammond said, suppressing an urge to reach out and touch her tender flesh, maybe even stroke her tempting red hair.

‘It’s all an illusion,’ Lori said modestly.

‘Some illusion,’ Hammond said, ogling her breasts.

‘And they’re real, too,’ she murmured, encouraging him.

‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, raising his eyes. ‘Was I staring?’

‘Only a little,’ she said with a bold smile. ‘However, I never said I minded.’

* * *

And while Lori and Hammond were embarking on a flirtatious journey, Xuan and Aleksandr were involved in a deep discussion about Russian politics and the fall of the Soviet Union in the early nineties.

‘Without that happening you would never have amassed the fortune you have today,’ Xuan pointed out.

‘Maybe. Maybe not,’ Aleksandr countered. ‘It’s all relative.’

‘Tell that to the people who lost everything.’

‘Have you ever been to Russia?’ Aleksandr asked, intrigued by this opinionated and quite smart Asian woman. His old friend, Flynn, had picked well.

‘Once,’ Xuan replied. ‘I was researching a story on a Russian pop singer, supposedly your version of Lady GaGa. We walked through Red Square in Moscow accompanied by a camera crew and her army of bodyguards.’

‘Ah, you must mean Masha,’ Aleksandr said. ‘She is quite the personality.’

‘Personality or not, her bodyguards shoved and threw people out of the way as if they were garbage. And no one objected. No one complained. It was as if they were resigned to the fact that being treated like shit was perfectly okay. I didn’t like seeing that.’

‘In Russia, people know their place.’

‘You mean people without money and status.’

Aleksandr shrugged. ‘Never judge a country until you have lived there.’

‘I prefer not to.’

‘Not to what?’

‘Live there.’

‘I’m not sure I was inviting you,’ Aleksandr said, quite amused.

‘And if you were,’ Xuan retorted. ‘I’m not sure I would accept your invitation.’

* * *

Later, when most of the guests had gotten to know each other, liqueurs, coffee and dessert were served on the upper deck.

Partners reunited under the starry sky. Bianca sat on Aleksandr’s lap rubbing the back of his neck, thinking of the love they would make later and revelling in this amazing trip that was all in her honour.

‘Cliff Baxter is such a nice guy,’ Ashley confided to Taye, still tingling with the pleasure of sitting next to the movie star.

‘Yeah, so’s that Luca bloke,’ Taye responded. ‘Knows a lot about sport, an’ y’know somethin’? He doesn’t come across as gay at all.’

‘But he’s with Jeromy,’ Ashley said, glancing across the deck to see who Cliff was speaking to.

‘So are you,’ Taye pointed out.

‘I’m in business with Jeromy,’ Ashley insisted. ‘I’m not sleeping with him.

‘That’s a relief,’ Taye joked.

‘Anyway, you know what?’

‘What?’

‘I’ve been thinking that it’s about time I branched out on my own.’

‘C’mon, toots,’ Taye groaned. ‘I’m not puttin’ up more money.’

‘Why not?’ Ashley said, bristling. ‘Don’t you think I’m worth it?’

Tread carefully, Taye warned himself. If you want some nookie tonight, be mindful of what you say.

‘’Course you are, sweetheart,’ he assured her. ‘You’re worth every penny in my pocket.’