“Hey, Zach, what’s up?” Xavier answered the call.

“Evening, Xavier. Do you have time for a drink? Meet you at the Fountain Bar?”

“Darn, I can’t. I’m out with the Japanese. You know how they do business: an evening at a Karaoke bar is par for the course. Do you wanna join us?”

Zach rolled his eyes. “Not in a million years! Have fun!”

“You’re missing out,” Xavier warned and laughed.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll check with Hunter instead.”

“Hunter won’t be back from the Hamptons till tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, he called this afternoon.”

“Well, thanks. See you.” Zach disconnected the call and dialed again.

It rang four times, but his friend Wade didn’t pick up.

“Come on, buddy, what’s going on tonight?” he murmured to himself. Normally he never had difficulties finding a friend who wanted to join him for a drink.

He dialed the last number and drummed his fingers on his mahogany desk.

“Zach,” Michael replied in a low voice. “Something important?”

“No, not really. But maybe you wanna help me empty a bottle at the Fountain Bar tonight.”

Michael laughed quietly. “Oh, I’ll be emptying a bottle, all right, but not with you. Unless you’ve turned into a blonde with luscious curves. I’m waiting for her right now.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have what you’re looking for,” Zach replied, slightly disappointed. “Do I know the lucky one?”

“Thank God no, otherwise you would have snatched her from under my nose. This time I got there first.”

Zach shook his head, laughing. Michael was a handsome guy, had money and charm, and was popular with the ladies. He never lacked female companionship. “Well, then I wish you a good night.”

“Hmm,” Michael said. “There she is. Oh yeah, a really good night… She looks even more delicious than in the daylight. Gotta go…”

There was a click on the line and Michael was gone.

Zach put the receiver back on the cradle. It appeared that he’d have to go out on his own tonight if he wanted to clear his head and relax before tomorrow.

He took his jacket off his chair and threw it over his shoulder. The office outside his was empty. His assistant had left an hour earlier.

In complete silence he took the elevator down to the first floor, then crossed the large foyer with the glass facade.

“Good night, Mr. Ivers,” the security guy called out to him.

“Good night,” he answered and marched out into the balmy summer night.

2

Rochelle Wright pressed the cell phone to her ear and took a deep breath to say what she should have said a long time ago. “Steve, I can’t always bail you out, otherwise you’ll never learn to stand on your own two feet.”

There! She’d finally gotten it off her chest. Silence greeted her from the other end of the line. Had he disconnected the call?

“Come on, sis.”

Obviously not. Her brother hadn’t given up yet.

“You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. I can’t give you any more money. I’ve got nothing left. Besides—”

“That’s not true,” he interrupted, outraged. “You’ve got a fabulous job. They pay you a boatload of money.”

“Which I need to live. Do you have any idea how expensive my tiny apartment is? And each year they’re raising the rent.” From the corner of her eye, Rochelle saw the bartender toss her a look.

“Then why don’t you move out of Manhattan? It’s much cheaper in Queens or the Bronx.”

His comment riled her up even more. “And spend two hours in the subway every day just to get to work?” She huffed, not only annoyed at her brother, but also at herself. How had they gotten onto that subject? This latest family quarrel wasn’t about her, but about her good-for-nothing brother.

“And don’t change the subject,” she added quickly. “I’m not a piggy bank you can tap every time you lose money on another hare-brained business venture.”

“That’s not fair, Rochelle,” he complained.

“Isn’t it? Have you counted how many times you’ve asked me for money to help you out of a predicament?” She had. “Once too often.”

“Rochelle, come on, this is the last time. I swear,” Steve tried to cajole her.

She shook her head. “You’re my brother and I love you. But it’s time you learned that your actions have consequences. And you’re the one responsible for them.”