Stella Gray - The Deal

I m the kind of man who lives for control.

From the office to the bedroom, domination is my instinctand I show no mercy when it comes to getting what I want. Because if theres one thing I know, its that when I take charge, I always close the deal. And I never hear any complaints.

Not from my employees and sure as hell not from my women.

Tonight would be no exception. The handshakes, the easy grins, the raised glasses of high-end booze: it was all a means to an end as far as I was concerned. One more move on the chessboard, and one step closer to controlling KZ Modeling, the company my father had founded. The company he still controlled.

For now.

I leaned back in my chair, taking in the room. My fathers penthouse was luxury defined, and his private office was expansive, its richness accentuated by polished wood paneling and antiques. Never-read first editions lined the walls. Every object, down to the Waterford paperweights, was costly and rare. Just like everything my father treasured.

I checked the time on my Patek Philippe. Hes late.

Hell be here.

Behind his desk, my fatherKonstantin Zoricpoured himself a scotch. Macallan 25 Year, because in our world, image is everything. He cut an imposing figure in his signature monochrome charcoal. People said I looked like him, but most of the men in our family had the same dark hair, square jaw, full lips and olive skin.

He gestured toward me, offering me a glass. I took it but didnt drink. Normally Id go through the motions, act like I was one of the boys, but I needed a clear head going into this.

Ah, here he is, my father said as he stood to greet our guest.

An athletic, middle-aged man with ice blue eyes and gray streaks at his temples had been ushered into the office. His suit was well-made, cleanly tailored to his body. His tie was red. His lapel pin was an American flag. If I didnt already recognize him from television, I still would have assumed he belonged in politics. The self-satisfied smirk was the cherry on top.

Senator Lindsey, this is my eldest son, Stefan, my father said, making the introductions.

Welcome, I said, already standing. I shook the senators hand, matching the strength of his grip. A pleasure to finally meet you in person, Senator.

He gave me a long, assessing look.

Indeed, he said, revealing nothing. Glad you could make it.

Sit, sit! Lets raise a toast to our joint venture, my father said, passing a glass to Lindsey. And to Stefan, entering fully into the family business at last.

And what a business it is, the senator said. He eased into the plush leather. Youve got quite the little operation going. And KZMs support is gonna go a long way toward securing

The company is hardly small, my father interrupted. He affected good humor, but I caught the edge in his voice, saw the way his shoulders drew back. Tell me, Senator, can you name any other agency in the northern hemisphere that even comes close to the number of

Diplomacy has never been my fathers strong suit. iveli, I cut in, raising my glass.

They lifted theirs, echoing their cheers, and we drank, the tension dissipating.

Nice scotch, Senator Lindsey said, after downing half his drink. Macallan?

My father grinned. None other, my friend.

I usually prefer an American brand, Lindsey went on, swirling the liquor around in his glass, but what the hell. He drained the rest and flashed his teeth at us.

I smiled back, put on a good face, but I was assessing the senator on my own. Looking for any signs of hesitation, a crack in the brisk faade.

What kind of man agreed to a deal like this?

Then I remembered that I was the kind of man who agreed to a deal like this. In fact, I was at the center of this deal, even if it hadnt been my idea. But there was no other way.

I think youll be very pleased with the terms of our agreement, Stefan, the senator said smugly as my father poured him another drink.

Oh, I will, I said. Im sure well all be coming out on top.

We all shared a laugh at the innuendo. It was exactly the kind of talk that disgusted me. But I knew how to play the game.

My son is very eager for this merger to take place, my father added with a wink.

No doubt. Keeping his eyes on the prize. Lindsey turned to me. Trust me when I say, you wont regret this. And neither will I, I hope.

I took a hard swallow of my drink. We dont deal in regrets here.

Only success! my father added, gesturing around the lavish room like it was proof that hed never tasted failure. One conquest after another.

Thats what I like about you, Konstantin, the senator said. Always confident.

Always right, my father corrected.

They exchanged the grins of men who had no qualms when it came to breaking out the Machiavellian tactics. Even if that meant manipulating the people closest to them.

Was I really any better?

Suddenly the room felt hot and small. Ridiculous considering the total square footage, and the fact that the temperature was always set at a cool 65 degrees. Still, I fought the urge to loosen my tie, reminding myself that the terms Id agreed to would be worth it in the end.

I wasnt a man who could afford to have second thoughts.

After all, this deal was the only way Id convince my father to hand over the company. Even though I wouldnt have full control, not yetthis was just my opportunity to step in as his right-hand man. A job I should have had years ago, after I got my MBA.

Frustrated, I took another gulp of the scotch in my glass. One drink wouldnt hurt. It might even take the edge off.

My father could have put me in charge of KZM right out of grad school. I knew the business inside and out, and I finally had the degree from U Penn to back it up. Instead, hed shuffled me from one management role to the next, the executive positions just out of reach, making promises he never kept.

Until now. When he needed me to make a sacrifice for the greater good.

But now that a leadership role would be officially mine, I could start making moves. And once I was in charge

I drank, not wanting to get ahead of myself. First step: Finalizing this deal.

Cigar? my father asked, pulling out a box of hand rolled Cohibas.

Certainly. The senator retrieved one, taking the time to smell it. Savor it.

Cigars had never been my thing; my mother had always hated the smell. It was one of the few things I remembered about her.

My father and the senator clipped and lit their cigars, reveling in the richness of it all amid talk of local politics. I topped off my scotch and took another drink. A long drink.

dont you think so, Stefan? my father was saying.