by Cynthia Dane
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“What is there to pretend about? She’s a beautiful woman. You love beautiful women. With any luck you two can be married by the end of next year. Maybe sooner if you manage to knock her up.”
Natsuko sighed. Alice flushed with extreme embarrassment on her companion’s behalf.
“I prefer not to talk about women that way,” Monroe said. “Besides, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I consider Ms. Culver my girlfriend. I have no intention of letting her go anytime soon. In fact, I was hoping we could have dinner so you can get to know her better.”
“Don’t waste my time with that nonsense. Don’t waste that young lady’s time, either. I know she’s having fun with you, and you think you’re having fun with her, but it’s time to stop playing around and settle down, Damon. You can find a mistress once the deed is done, but you need to keep up appearances until the first child is born. That’s how it’s done.”
“Perhaps in your day, but times have changed. People actually marry for love now.”
“Don’t begin to tell me that you’re in love with that slut.”
Whatever Monroe tersely said in response… Alice couldn’t hear it. She was too gobsmacked that her ears shut down to all male voices.
Natsuko took a step toward her. “I’m sorry. This is terribly awkward, isn’t it?” Mr. Matsuda returned, hand touching his daughter’s elbow and saying something in soft Japanese. Natsuko waved him off. “Excuse us. My father wants to go sit down, and I cannot blame him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alice mouthed at her.
“It’s fine. Mr. Monroe is from another time. It’s not so different in my family. But at least my father doesn’t call me a slut.” Natsuko took her father’s arm and strolled toward the ballroom. “Good luck, Ms. Culver. No hard feelings.”
What did that mean?
“Come on.” Monroe appeared, yanking Alice’s arm toward the ballroom as well. “I hear they’re serving supper soon.”
The ballroom was filled with circular dining tables, each one draped in soft, ivory fabric and bedecked with golden candlesticks and golden dining ware. Seats were assigned. Somehow, Alice was not surprised to find them sitting next to the Matsudas. The silver lining was that Russell’s name was nowhere on their table for six. Monroe pulled out Alice’s chair for her while exchanging renewed greetings with the Matsudas. They were cordial, at best.
“Well, well,” came a voice from the other side of the table. “See you’re still within the circle Ms… Cullen, was it?”
Alice sat down. “Culver.”
“Right, right.” The woman folded her arms on the table, her red dress boosting her breasts up like two inflatable balloons. At least they looked real, unlike a lot of the other breasts in the ballroom. “Cullens are from some book. Good book, too, if I remember correctly. Loved the sex.”
The man beside her responded. “You’re thinking of Fifty Shades, dear.”
“Am I? Was that the one with the tampon?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, right. Yes, good book. Needed more kink, though.”
Monroe sat down between Alice and Natsuko. “Always a pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews.”
“Oh, we’ve met before!” Alice shouldn’t have been so excited. Not like she actually knew these people. “At the gala a few weeks ago. Right?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Andrews – was her name Lana? Alice couldn’t quite remember – held up her glass of champagne. “Cheers, Ms. Culver. You and Mr. Monroe have made it this far, so it must be forever.”
Natsuko shifted in her seat. Monroe didn’t look too impressed either. His father called me a slut. He better not be happy. “What brings you two to Chicago?” he asked the married couple.
Lana put her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Ken here fancies himself a politician. He’s been an absolute menace this election cycle. I can’t get any rest from all the pandering in our own home.” Her grin implied she was talking about the traditional type of pandering. I can’t decide if I find these people charming or frightening. “So here we are, throwing money at some senators I’ve never heard of.”
Ken Andrews shrugged as if he couldn’t expand upon what his wife said. “We all go through phases. Should be asking what you lovely people are doing here.”
“You know how it is,” Monroe replied. “We all have appearances to make.”
“And appearances to keep,” Lana said. She glanced at Alice.
The whole table glanced at Alice. It’s like they can see the balls in my pussy. She gulped down a whole glass of champagne while everyone watched. The Matsudas looked away. The Andrews were still grinning.
“Monroe!” cried a voice from another table. “There’s the fucker! How’s it going?”
While Alice’s boyfriend was pried from the table once again, she poured herself another glass of champagne and tried to block everything from her mind. Except Natsuko was covertly watching her, and Lana Andrews was blatantly staring at her.
“So, how are matters of life and love?” Lana asked. “You and Damon are splashed all over the pages these days. Everyone’s talking about you at the sports club. Or so I hear. We got kicked out of there. Apparently you’re not allowed to screw around in the locker rooms.”
Natsuko stifled a giggle. Alice, on the other hand, tried to keep her composure. These people sure were open with their sex lives. Is this normal? Am I expected to talk about my sex life at a fancy party? She wasn’t sure if she was comfortable with that. More than likely, Monroe didn’t want her talking about it either. That would be for him to confide.
“Things are going well,” Alice said. She tried to not look at Natsuko. Why do I feel bad for her? She can’t be seriously interested in Monroe. Is she even in on it? No way. They all just met. Besides, she knows what Russell is like after that display…
Lana leaned in across Monroe’s empty chair. “Nice collar. Now I know how you two met, unlike the papers.”
Alice remained frozen in her seat, throat perpetually dry.
“You used to work at The Dark Hour, right? I thought I saw you there one night.” Lana looked to her husband for answers, but none were forthcoming. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe.”
“What secret?”
Lana lowered her voice again. Alice had to lean in closer to those luscious red lips to hear a thing. “That you have two Ben Wa balls shoved up your cunt right now.”
“I… what…”
“We could tell from the way you walked. Think we’re strangers? You’re in good company, Ms. Culver. Or will we be calling you Mrs. Monroe soon? After all, Damon has no… what do they kids say… chill? Everyone knows how eager he is to marry someone.”
“They do?”
“They do?” Natsuko echoed. Fuck! What else had she heard?
“Of course.” Lana sat back up. “Him dating someone is huge news. Everyone at the sports club is crying, because they’re waiting for you two to announce your engagement. Or so we’ve heard. Like I said… ahem.”
“Well,” Ken Andrews said, standing up and kissing his wife on top of her golden head, “I’m going to mingle. Order me the steak, dear. You know how I like it.” He winked at Alice. “Pleasure, Ms. Culver. It’s the elixir of life and a happy marriage.” He wandered off.
“Oh, look.” Natsuko pointed to someone on the other side of the ballroom. “Someone I went to Brown with. Let’s go meet her, Daddy.” She nudged her father until they both left the table as well.
That left Alice and Lana, the most unlikely couple at that night’s Senator’s Ball.
“Let me guess,” Lana said. “Monroe Sr. is trying to hook your boyfriend up with Ms. Matsuda. No man is more transparent than Russell Monroe.” She snorted. “Bastard.”
“I see.”
“Everyone knows what a bastard he is, hon. I’m sure you’ve heard about his ex-wife. What?” Lana looked genuinely shocked. “Julia Monroe was about as sane as a carton of cracked eggs. Some people said she was bo
rn that way, but if you have two eyes it becomes pretty apparent that someone cracked her instead. The Monroes are… passionate people.”
“Why are you saying these things?”
“Because, dearie, you best know what you’re getting into. Russell Monroe likes you about as much as he likes a big fat mole on his face. You know what people do with moles they don’t want anymore, right?”
Alice slowly shook her head.
“They burn ‘em off.”
Did she know? About Julia? About Russell’s involvement? About the abuse and his violent tendencies? How many people knew? Was it an open secret that Russell harmed his family on a regular basis? Was everyone laughing at Alice right now… or, worse, lighting a preemptive candle for her?
“Thank you for the warning,” Alice finally said.
“Hey, I’m actually trying to be a friend. Here.” Lana slid a card across the table. “Take it. No, take it. You need a lawyer? I’ll take care of it.”
“What!”
“You scoff, but…” A waiter dressed in white tails approached the table to take their dinner orders. “Sometimes we women have to look out for one another, because most men aren’t going to look out for us.”
“Damon…”
“Apples sometimes don’t fall from the tree.” Lana smiled at the waiter. “I’ll take the poached quail, red wine, not white. Mr. Andrews will have the steak, medium-well.”
Alice swallowed as the waiter came over to her. “Guess I’ll have the steak,” she muttered. “Medium. Mr. Monroe will have the same.”
“Very well,” the waiter wandered off. Alice let out her pent up sigh.
“Already know what he wants to eat, huh?” Lana laughed. “Maybe you’re ready to be Mrs. Monroe yet. Hope you know what his father likes to eat too.”
Alice squared her shoulders. “I’m going out on a limb here and saying that he can eat some fucking crow.”
“That’s the spirit. Extra well-done.”
“So well-done it’s burnt to a crisp.”
“Keep up that mercenary attitude and you might survive yet, Ms. Culver.”
Monroe began a languid trek back to the table. “I’m definitely a survivor, Mrs. Andrews. Especially if I have something worth living for.” She accepted a kiss to the cheek when Monroe sat back down next to her.
***
The next two hours were a barrage of political speeches, fundraising tidbits, and even a minor fashion show meant to get everyone in the donating mood. Alice was too hung up on the fact that two men seemingly controlled her fate to give a damn about what they were raising money for. There was the man sitting beside her, who always had one hand somewhere on her body even when his eyes were glued to the podium at the front of the room. Then there was the other man, sitting only a few tables away and constantly stealing sour looks in Alice’s direction.
Warnings blared in both of Alice’s ears. It was clear that Russell Monroe was not impressed with her relationship with Damon. To what extent? Would he simply make her life miserable? Or would he go to the extremes that his ex-wife claimed he often would? How much do I trust her? Alice wished that Dee was there, but she had been dismissed shortly before they arrived to the party. Damon’s bodyguard was supposed to be good enough for the both of them.
“Our next benefactor of the evening,” a speaker at the front of the room began, “is none other than Mr. Damon Monroe, who has made it possible for us to continue our research.”
Applause rippled through the ballroom. Monroe stood, straightening his jacket before releasing Alice for the first time in two hours. I didn’t realize he was speaking tonight. Alice wished she had a sweater to keep her arms warm. Was it her, or did a chill take over the room the moment Monroe left her side?
The only thing she could say was that her boyfriend was the best looking man standing up at the podium that night. Politicians, charity presidents, and other businessmen had spoken throughout the evening, but none of them looked as confident, as straight-backed as Monroe did when he commandeered the podium and waited for someone to adjust the mic to his height.
“Thank you,” he began, his deep voice booming throughout the room. Alice shuddered where she sat. She caught reassuring glances from both Lana Andrews and Natsuko Matsuda. “It’s a tremendous honor and pleasure to be asked to speak tonight. As most of you know, I’ve been heavily involved in this enterprise since its founding seven years ago…” Alice spaced out after that. Something about cancer research. Something about one of the senators putting together a bill to allocate more federal funding toward a cure. If everyone would pump funding into Senator So-and-so, we would be that much closer to finding a cure. As much as Alice was falling in love with the man, it sounded like rehearsed bullshit.
What followed at the end of his speech did not, however.
“If I may, I would like to invite up someone who has done much to encourage me as of late.” Monroe gestured across the top of the podium. What? All eyes turned to Alice. What! She sat up, feeling naked in her green dress. This was like those nightmares where Alice went to her first day of school completely in the nude! “Could you please come up here, Alice?”
A bodyguard nudged her from behind. Alice slowly stood, and as if in a dream, waded through the crowded tables populated with multimillionaires, wishing she had something to occupy her hands with – but someone had left her clutch back at the table.
An usher helped her up the few steps to the stage. Alice realized that the whole room was looking at her now. How could they not, when her image was displayed on a large monitor behind her? Cameras popped off. Flashes surrounded her. Alice remembered to smile in case she ended up front page somewhere the next day.
“I’d like to introduce the world to Alice Culver, the sole reason I even came to this event tonight.” Monroe leaned in toward her, whispering, “Play along, all right?”
Alice kept smiling. What the hell else was she supposed to do?
“While it’s true that I still feel strongly about this cause, I’m also anti-social enough to not be caught dead at more than a few functions.” His deadpan humor was a hit with the crowd. Everyone but Russell, anyway. The senior Monroe kept his demeanor hard. “But I find myself obsessed with showing off my new girlfriend to the world. Look at her.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into the biggest photo-op of the night. Alice, sweating, had her mouth go dry and her eyes blind to the flashes popping in front of her. “Now, Alice, how much money do you think I should donate to the senator’s wonderful charity?”
Silence befell the cavernous ballroom. “I don’t know,” Alice said sheepishly. Where had her voice gone? Had Monroe stolen it right in front of these people? “Can’t say I’m too used to spending your money yet.”
Laughter rippled again. Alice felt so silly that she turned the brightest red her cheeks could muster.
“Now, now, don’t be shy.” Monroe’s hand tightened around her waist. “And don’t be shy about spending my money, either. Don’t know if you heard the five million times it was mentioned tonight, but this charity has done more to finance treatments and medicines for cancer warriors than any other in America.”
Alice had not heard that. “Well, in that case, considering the amount of people suffering from cancer right now, why not donate your entire net worth?”
Someone hollered in the back of the room. Then someone else. Then someone else. More than one stuffy man or woman in their designer wear laughed at the ludicrous thought. Monroe, on the other hand, said, “If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to buy you dinner tomorrow night.”
“Oh, well, since we can’t have that… ten million?” The number squeaked out of her. Was that offensively low for a billionaire to donate? Or too high? Would he otherwise only donate half that? More? What was he doing to her, making her play this game in front of everyone?”
“Ten million it is.” Monroe waved for Ms. Sarah Clayborn to come out of the shadows with a pen. “Where’s my checkbook?”
A
fter the check was made out and signed, a happy charity president took it with a huge smile and a handshake to Alice. “Thank you!” the president said into the mic. “This will help approximately two thousand people over the next few months!”
“We do what we can,” Monroe replied. “Thank Alice before you thank me. She’s the one who offered such a generous number. I’m merely too smitten with her to argue.”
Alice was glad that her makeup was smear proof, because her teeth kept chomping on her lipstick. Don’t indulge in that habit right now, idiot! Alice laughed uneasily and pretended she had nothing to do with this. In truth, she still wasn’t quite sure what was going on. Was it really necessary to have her come up here so he could show her off? What was the point of all the cameras? Was Monroe’s ego so big that he needed the validation of everyone loving her too? Because his father didn’t?
I’m overthinking this. Alice relaxed her shoulders, but her throat was still dry.
“On that note,” Monroe continued, “while I have everyone’s attention, allow me to be a bit selfish for a moment.” The chuckles in the room conveyed that he was selfish every moment of every day. “Oh, that Monroe.” “While many of you may not know Ms. Culver as well as I do, I can assure you that I’ve never met a woman more beautiful, more intelligent and more patient with my quirks.” He took her hand by the podium. Oh my God. Is he going to propose? He better not. Not here! Not like this! She wasn’t ready! It had barely been a month! “Since this is a big thing for me to say, let me already say it for the press and for everyone here this evening. I am in love with Alice Culver, and with any luck, she’ll stay in love with me too. Expect to see her become more involved with my work as the weeks and months go on.”
Well, he hadn’t proposed in front of these people. That was the good thing.
The bad thing was that Russell Monroe unceremoniously stood up from his table and left the room, bodyguard following behind.
As for the rest of the room? The gossip was already starting up. When one of the world’s staunchest bachelors who came off as someone who didn’t care about love announced to the world that his new girlfriend was the one, gossip spread like the most toxic, most powerful wildfire. It was summer, after all.
