Jacob tensed, his body frozen to the bar chair.
“I’d rather stay here,” the redhead said.
“Let’s make this easy on both of us,” the security guard said.
The redhead set Jacob’s phone on the bar. “I think I’ll be going.” She slipped from her bar chair and took a step away from the security guard, but he stopped her cold with a large hand on her wrist. “Let go of me.”
“Please, miss. Let’s go see Mr. Jun. You’ll be well compensated.”
Her chest and face flashed scarlet. “This is not what I agreed to.” She tried to twist from his grasp, but he held firm with little effort, like he was restraining a child.
“I think you have the wrong woman,” Jacob said, his voice shaky. “She’s with me.”
The redhead glanced at Jacob, a thank-you in her eyes, then glared at the security guard. “I’m with him. Let me go.”
“Look, lady, if I have to carry you, I’ll carry you,” the security guard said.
“You can’t do this!” she said, still trying to twist from his grasp.
“She’s right. This is against the law,” Jacob said, his heart thumping in his chest.
The security guard yanked her toward him, causing her to stumble into him. He picked her up like a rag doll, threw her over his shoulder, and started for the exit.
“Help me,” she said, looking directly at Jacob as she was carried away.
Jacob stood from the bar chair, his stomach churning, his armpits sweating. He looked around the restaurant, hoping for help to arrive, but nobody seemed the least bit bothered. He jogged after them, nearly tripping, his dress shoes providing little traction. Jacob caught them in the hallway, his insides feeling like mush.
The massive man pushed Jacob aside and said, “Stay out of it.”
“Mr. Jun said I could have her,” Jacob said to the man’s back.
The security guard didn’t respond.
Jacob watched him carry the woman into the penthouse suite.
Tears streaked down her cheeks. She mouthed Help me.
But Jacob’s hands were shaky, and his feet felt like they were stuck in concrete. This was a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. Jacob thought about scenarios and probabilities. Zhang Jun surely had diplomatic immunity, and Jacob was certainly not physically able to intervene, nor would he want to be embroiled in this type of scandal. What would Rebecca think if she found out he was at a party with prostitutes and sex bots? He made the most logical decision and walked to the elevator.
Inside the shiny elevator, Jacob felt jittery. Sweat beaded along his hairline. He closed his eyes and saw the woman’s tear-streaked face. At the elevator ding, the door opened. He walked outside.
In front of the hotel, he was picked up by his driver in the autonomous Mercedes. A few minutes later, he was safely away from The Regal Hotel and on his way home. He removed his handkerchief and wiped his sweaty palms. He reached into his pocket for his phone, hopeful for a distraction, but his phone wasn’t there. His stomach tumbled, and his mind quickly retraced his steps to the bar. She’d been looking at his phone. What did she do with it? Did she have it on her? Did she leave it at the bar?
Jacob said, “I need to return to the hotel.”
The driver programmed the Mercedes for The Regal Hotel again. Once back at the hotel, Jacob thought of bringing the driver inside for protection, but he didn’t want the man to see what kind of party Jacob had attended. He wasn’t there for the girl anyway. He just needed his phone. He took the elevator to the sixth floor, the men stepping aside without checking his chip card again.
He hurried to the restaurant, finding his phone on the bar. He shoved his phone in his pocket and headed for the exit. On the way out, he couldn’t help but notice the dead eyes and the vapid smiles of the live women, clearly playing the part of the interested suitor. The robots were better at faking it.
Outside the restaurant, he gazed down the hall to the penthouse suite. He stood there for a minute, fantasizing about being a hero, breaking down the door and saving the girl. The door opened, and he saw Zhang Jun. Two security guards left the suite, carrying a rolled-up oriental rug, something or someone inside.
Mr. Jun started to shut the door but noticed Jacob. He opened the door fully, his eyes flicking to the men carrying the carpet, then to Jacob. Zhang Jun exited his suite in a silk robe and walked down the hall. Jacob was a deer in headlights as the men carrying the carpet passed by as if they were simply carrying a carpet.
Zhang Jun approached Jacob and said, “I’m so glad you’re still here, Mr. Roth.”
Jacob said, “I was just leaving.”
“Pity. I’d like to continue our meeting.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jun. I can’t do a 51 percent equity deal.”
“Come.” He motioned toward the penthouse suite. “Let’s talk.”
Jacob followed him to the suite. Inside, Zhang walked to the sitting area and sat on the couch. The suite boasted hardwood floors in a herringbone pattern, elegant off-white furniture, and fresh flowers. To the left, Jacob glanced into the open door. The king-size bed was disheveled. No sign of the women, robotic or live.
“Sit down,” Zhang said.
Jacob sat in a chair opposite the Bank of China CEO. Zhang’s hair was disheveled and damp with sweat. His bare calves were thin and mostly devoid of hair. A box with Chinese writing branded into the wood sat on the glass coffee table.
“I’ve been thinking about your offer,” Zhang said. “I would be willing to purchase a 25 percent stake, but I want a 30 percent discount to the current price.”
“A 22 percent discount,” Jacob countered.
“Twenty-eight.”
“Twenty-two is my final offer.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Roth.” Zhang nodded. “I’ve admired your family for many years.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jun.”
“I will accept your offer, but I have two conditions.” Zhang paused for effect. “This meeting never took place. I was never in this hotel, and neither were you. A family man like you would never associate with prostitutes. Do you agree?”
“Yes.” Jacob hesitated, then asked, “The other condition?”
Zhang grinned and opened the wooden box on the coffee table. Inside was a crystal tiger filled with liquid inside that looked like mostly clear urine. “You will drink with me. This is a very special Chinese wine.”
Jacob exhaled in relief.
“This is tiger bone wine, the best rice wine in all of China. It takes eight years to produce. It is made with rice wine, sage, ginger, and crushed bones. Almost all tiger bone wine is made with dog or pig or horse bones, but this is real tiger bone wine.”
19
Summer and Watched or Paranoid
Loud knocking came from their apartment door. Summer and Connor stood at the sink and near the dishwasher, cleaning up from their Saturday night dinner. They looked at each other as if to say, Who could that be?
“Are you expecting someone?” Summer asked.
“No,” Connor replied.
The knocking continued.
Connor fast-walked to the door, Summer close behind. He checked the peephole and opened the door. Mark Benson barged into the apartment, shut the door, and looked through the peephole. This wasn’t alarming to Connor or Summer, as Mark often acted paranoid.
“What are you doing?” Connor asked. “How did you get in?”
“Someone was coming out.” Mark turned from the peephole and removed his hood. He was red-faced, panting, and sweating. “I didn’t wanna buzz in. That might be tracked. I left my phone and chip card at home.”