Noah flopped into one of the chaise lounges. “So what do you think old man Coulson has to say?” He took another pull from the bottle, then handed it to Liam.
Liam paused. “Dunno. But don’t you think Dad’s been acting a little uptight lately? More than usual, I mean.”
Noah grunted. “Maybe he’s not getting laid enough. It is the holidays, after all. People go on vacation, visit their families. I’m sure the trollops do the same.”
Liam shook his head. Even though Sidney had been involved in many extramarital affairs, Liam chose to relegate it to the back of his mind. Way back. Noah looked at him. “Oh, come on, little brother.” Noah liked to remind Liam that he was born twelve minutes earlier. “He’s been doing it for years. I doubt he stopped just because we left for college and he wants to keep Mother company.”
Liam took a swig and handed the bottle back to Noah. “Like that might happen. But Dad definitely does seem a little off.”
They both sat in silence for several minutes. Liam got up and turned on the gas fireplace. Staring at the flames, he said, “Do you have any idea what you want to be doing next year? I mean, you changed your major, what, three times?”
Noah shrugged. “I really don’t want to keep going to school, that’s for sure, but college life has been the bomb.”
“Yes, but even if you continued your education, you’d have to be gainfully employed at some point, no?” Liam was being circumspect with his brother.
“No!” Noah roared with laughter. “Not if I don’t have to be!” He finished off the champagne with a guzzle.
Looking at his watch, Liam said, “We should be getting back to Mother’s celebration before the ball drops.”
“God forbid we miss all the phony air kisses!” Noah slapped his brother on the back, making loud kissing sounds.
When they got back to the main house the music from the ten-piece band was blaring. Eleanor had gotten them to play for free with the promise they would get exposure to some of the most influential people in Chicago. A master manipulator, Eleanor knew no one would give a hoot about the band, especially after listening to the world’s greatest cellist.
Liam and Noah positioned themselves on each side of their mother and father. The mandatory stance. Liam thought to himself, Fake news? How about fake family. Fake fun.
People were shouting the countdown. “Three, two, one! Happy New Year!” Then came the fake kisses.
Sidney motioned for the boys. He wanted to introduce them to one of his colleagues. Daniel Josephson Ruffing, “DJ” to his friends and associates, Ruffing was a billionaire. He was hovering around the age of fifty but took every precaution to slow down Father Time. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly trimmed around his Botoxed forehead, and he was in good physical condition. You wouldn’t necessarily call him handsome, but his wealth made up for his lack of physical attractiveness.
He had an enormous estate on the coast of Cuba, rumored to be a “playground for the rich.” Rich men, that is.
“Daniel, you remember my sons, Liam and Noah?”
“Of course. How are you gents doing these days? Staying out of trouble?” Daniel extended his hand to Liam, then to Noah.
Liam shook the well-tanned, manicured hand of the billionaire and thought to himself, Why does everyone ask that same stupid question? No. I’m on parole. Duh. “We do our best.” He smiled.
Noah reached out next, much more amicably than his brother. He shook Ruffing’s hand vigorously.
“That’s some handshake you’ve got there, son!”
Ruffing beamed his dazzling, expensive white teeth at them. They were almost blinding. “I hear you boys will be graduating in the spring. I have a marina in Miami. Golden Shores. We sell yachts and also provide docking services. If you’re in the market for a boat, I have some very fine high-performance cigarettes. Maybe your dad will buy you one for graduation.” He elbowed Sidney, who almost went pale at the thought. Even a used one could cost upwards of three hundred thousand dollars.
“Hey, Dad. That sounds like a grand idea!” Noah eagerly jumped in.
Sidney took in a deep breath, trying not to reveal his discomfort. “We’ll see.”
Liam was getting a strange vibe from both his father and the billionaire. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he couldn’t help noticing that his father was nervously tapping his foot. Sidney interjected, “Perhaps Daniel can give you boys a job.” That’s when his leg stopped shaking.
Noah almost balked at the word job. Instead, he answered with, “I’m thinking about continuing with my studies. Maybe get my MBA.”
“That’s a good plan, too.” The billionaire’s teeth gleamed as if they were about to take a big bite out of someone’s hide.
“Yes, we’ve been discussing postgraduation plans with them,” Sidney continued. “They have a meeting scheduled with Edward Coulson, my financial advisor, in a few days.”
Liam remained silent during this exchange.
“Your financial advisor?” Ruffing asked curiously.
“Yes. It’s time they took a bit of financial responsibility. They’re going to be twenty-two by the end of the year. I was starting my own consulting firm by that age.” Sidney stiffened.
Yeah, with Mother’s money, Noah thought to himself.
And what about the trust fund?
“I suppose you’re right. No time like the present to learn how to manage your finances, hey boys?” Ruffing patted Noah on the shoulder. “But if you ever want to go for a ride, let me know. We sponsor races all the time.” He handed his business card to Noah.
“Thank you! We’ll be sure to take you up on that offer, right, Liam?” Noah’s enthusiasm was obvious. Sidney’s was not. He didn’t want his sons to get any ideas about buying a boat that cost at least three hundred thousand dollars.
Liam was about to remove himself from the cluster when his mother glided toward the four men. “Daniel, so what do you think of my boys all grown up now?” She could certainly be charming when she wanted. She threaded her arm through his.
“Yes, we were just discussing how Sidney should consider buying a boat as a graduation gift.” Daniel’s raising the subject again caused Sidney’s blood pressure to rise and perspiration to form on his forehead.
“But what will you get for Liam?” Noah joked.
“Oh, I’m sure your father will come up with something marvelous for him as well.” Eleanor squeezed Ruffing’s arm. “Perhaps we can get matching boats. They are twins, after all.” She batted her eyes at the billionaire.
Everyone but Sidney chuckled. “Will you excuse me? I have to speak to one of the staff. We’ll catch up later, DJ.” Sidney could barely catch his breath as he made his way through the thinning crowd.
Liam’s eyes followed his father. Something was definitely amiss. Sidney never addressed the staff. That was Eleanor’s territory.
As the last guests were departing, Sidney was conspicuously absent. He didn’t care about Eleanor’s wrath over his disappearance. He had retreated to his den, where he placed a phone call.
As directed, two days later, Liam and Noah went downtown to meet with Edward Coulson. They sat in the opulent waiting room and wondered why this meeting was taking place. “Something doesn’t feel right,” Liam said to Noah.