King of New York (40 page)

“But we are not
finished yet, Mr Perry.”

“Yes we are, Doc,”
he says happily, as he hands the doctor several thousand-dollar-bills.

The old man
laughs. “Always overpaying me so that you can leave early.”

“You know me far
too well, Doc,” Chad says, smiling sheepishly.

“Well, lucky for
you I am hungry and quite happy to finish early today.”

“Goodbye, Doc,”
Chad says, before exiting the building and getting into his waiting Rolls
Royce.

CHAPTER 31

The following day Chad decides to meet up
with James. They engage in conversations about all sorts before finally
speaking about love. Chad’s friend is a player extraordinaire of women so the
conversation is quite awkward for Chad.

“Is it wrong for a man
like me to want to be willing give up his heart and soul for a woman? Am I
wrong for being a man in love? So crazy in love that I’ll sacrifice a thousand
souls for her? Yes I’m wrong, but I can’t help my heart. But for her I would
have done anything, knowing that I’d fought for something special. My heart
aches without her. Tell me, is there is a difference between making love to a
woman’s body and just having sex?

“When I touch her I feel
a spark in my heart. She took my pain and turned it into passion – raw,
unselfish passion. She thinks only about pleasing me, even if it hurts her.
Others seek heroin or cocaine, but I crave her.

“I feed off her love like
a parasite. Is this love or am I stuck in a nightmare? Has her love driven me
crazy? Sometimes I feel she might cry with profound hurt from all the pain I
inflict on her, but she doesn’t, she only cries with pleasure.”

“Whoa, dude, snap out of
it. What the fuck has she done to you for you to speak like this? This shit’s
fucking crazy. Dude, you have to forget her. Are you sure you’re well, Chad?
Have you been taking anything? This is really unlike you.”

Chad laughs at his
friend’s concern.

“I’m fine, James. I think
I may be a man in love. You should try it sometime.”

“Never!” says James, and
they both laugh loudly at his indignation.

They say cheers to not
falling in love and hit the clubs to find the beautiful women of James’s city.
Suddenly, Chad feels immense happiness at having spoken with his friend. He
makes him realise that it is a man’s world and that he should not allow a woman
to change that. In that moment he decides to go back to his old ways and be
with whoever he so desires. However he cannot bring himself to sleep with
anyone else other than Sierra.

CHAPTER 32

Sierra is profoundly broken. She
has not been to work for almost a week, nor has she spoken to anyone since Chad
broke her heart inside the forbidden room.

But today boredom
consumes her, and she decides to invite Alison for dinner, who had decided to
stay in New York for the time being as her father’s money keeps her.

The air is humid
and the skies above grey and dark. The music blasts in her expensive motor as
she makes her way to the restaurant. The roof is on while the air conditioning
cools her body. The music is potent and she sings out loud to the lyrics of the
song. She has dark shades that cover the anger in her eyes. Like a racing
driver, she masters the twists and turns of the road beautifully till she gets
to her destination.

Alison is sitting
at the bar waiting for her.

“Hello, Al, you
look stunning.”

“Oh, hello, Si,
you look lovely too. Love the shoes, darling, very chic.”

Sierra looks at
her intently.

“Thank you, Alison.
Should we go to our table now that I’m here?”

“Oh, most
certainly, darling. I was just waiting for you while I had a glass of
champagne. I must admit you chose a very fine restaurant, Si. The bar in this
place is exquisite, and so is the bartender.”

Alison winks at
the bartender before following Sierra’s lead to their table. Slow mellow music
plays and a couple dance sensuously in the middle of the floor.

“So, what have
you been up to, Al? How’s New York treating you? Seems so long since we spoke.”

Sierra bombards Alison with questions.

“Erm, okay. I
see you have plenty of questions for me tonight. Well, I’ve just been having
fun and shopping. I must admit I love New York, and it has been treating me
mighty fine indeed. I was surprised that you called me though.”

Sierra calls the
waiter and makes an order for more drinks before replying to Alison.

“We’re best of
friends, are we not, Alison?”

Alison nods in
reply.

“So why would
you be shocked that I suddenly call you out of the blue? Or is there something
you wish to tell me, my dear friend?”

“Why would you
think I have anything to hide, Sierra. Come on babe, stop being silly.”

“Well, I like to
believe that you never keep a secret from me. But the fact that I don’t even
know where you live or what you’re doing in my city is quite secretive, don’t you
think, Alison?”

“I haven’t shown
you where I live because you have been so busy with work and Sebastian.”

“How do you know
about Sebastian? How do you know, Al? I never told you he was in New York.”

“I live in –”

“Don’t fucking
change the question, Alison! I asked you a question, now please answer me, my
dear friend. How do you know about Sebastian?”

Sierra’s anger
is calm and restrained as she patiently waits for her friend to answer. The
music suddenly changes from mellow to fast and pounding as the voices within
the restaurant become raised.

“I … I … I just
assumed you were with him because I heard he had travelled to New York. What’s
with all the questions, Si? One would have thought I was at a police station.
Can we please enjoy the evening?”

Sierra doesn’t
say a word. Anger ravages her body but she retains her composure, looking away
from Alison and reading the menu.

The waiter
arrives and takes their order as they sit and stare at the other diners in
silence.

“Is there
something on your mind, Si? You seem very uneasy and I’ve never seen you like
this before. Have I done something wrong? If it’s because I didn’t show you my
place, I apologise profusely. Please forgive me.”

Sierra plays
with her fork before looking into Alison’s eyes. “The correct question is, do
you think you have done me any wrong, Alison? Forget what I think or have to
say. Consider what you believe to be right and wrong. Then ask yourself if you
have done me any wrong.”

“I don’t
understand what you’re trying to say.”

“You’ll soon
understand what I’m trying to say. You’ll soon understand, my dear friend,” Sierra
says with controlled anger in her voice.

Before Alison can
speak, the waiter returns to their table with their food.

“Remember, it’s
rude to speak while eating, Al. So let’s eat. In silence please!”

“What the fuck’s
your problem? How fucking dare you invite me to dinner just to interrogate me
with your stupid bullshit. Have you forgotten that I’m older than you? If
you’re having relationship issues, don’t fucking take it out on me.”

Sierra looks at
Alison with an arrogant smile on her face.

“Firstly, I
don’t give a fuck if you’re older, but go on. Please elaborate some more on the
woes in my personal life.”

Alison then says something that upsets the whole conversation.

“It’s not my
fault Chad Perry no longer loves you.”

“What the fuck
did you just say?”

Before Alison can
speak, Sierra dashes the glass of red wine in her face, staining her top. Alison
maintains her calm demeanour with anger in her eyes.

“Truth hurts,
doesn’t it, Sierra? You walk around acting like your shit don’t stink, showing
off to me about what he does to you but never wanting to introduce me to him.
Well I know who he is and he kissed me.”

Sierra now knows
that it was Alison who had walked past her in the red jacket and heels that
night in the car park at Chad Perry’s home. She looks into her eyes and gets
flashbacks of the way her eyes looked at the car park; they were filled with
tears and rejection.

Sierra laughs
with contempt at Alison.

“Oh he kissed
you, well that’s fine. But I’m sure he never made love to you. That’s the
reason why you were crying like a little bitch when I saw you in that car park.
Did he kick you out? Yes, yes, I’m sure he did, and you know why? Because you
can never be me, you jealous whore.”

Alison looks at
her with hurt in her eyes.

“And the right
question is, does it hurt to know that the man you’re married to is back in
London fucking the secretary? Stupid bitch!”

Alison dashes
her own glass of red wine in Sierra’s face.

Sierra laughs
wickedly. “The fact remains that you’ll never be me, no matter how hard you
try. I’ll always rain on your parade. You will always be the less attractive
friend of Sierra Malcolm.” Sierra takes her glass and toasts it in the air.

“This is to the
bitch trying to be me. But to no avail. Cheers, Alison!”

She gets up,
laughs at Alison and walks out the restaurant without a word.

While in her
car, thoughts of Chad torment her and she starts to cry all over again as she
remembers the way he had made the sweetest love to her body, then broke her
heart afterwards. She is hurt, but somehow her love for him does not allow her
to hate him. She longs for him and wonders where he is.

CHAPTER 33

While walking on the shiny
streets of Fifth Avenue, a woman follows Chad. He notices her but only assumes
that she, just like the others staring at him, is infatuated by his dashing
good looks.

Arrogance is a
part of his persona when addressing the ladies. He knows he is everything a
woman craves in a man: tall, dark and handsome as well as filthy rich.

He enters an
exclusive diamond jewellers and she follows him. He pays no attention to her;
instead, he takes a seat with a glass of champagne readily waiting on the table
beside him.

The store
assistant waits on Chad while the owner brings out a handsomely made watch
encrusted with stunning yellow diamonds. The expensive stones sparkle like the
stars themselves.

“As you
requested, sir.”

The store owner
gives Chad the exquisite tailor-made jewellery. Chad takes a small sip of the champagne
as he assesses the watch. The diamonds are the finest, shipped specifically
from Sierra Leone.

The watch is
perfect but also a beast just like Chad. He removes his old timepiece and puts
on the new one. It suits him to a tee.

“I love it,
Lukas.”

The Belgian
jeweller beams with pride.

“I’m glad you do,
sir. We did exactly as you asked and even added an extra carat for our store’s
favourite client.”

Chad is in a
hurry and in no mood to be sweet-talked.

“Yes, yes,
enough of the bullshit, Luke. Here, take my card and add a tip for yourself,
you’ve done a fine job, let’s leave it at that.” Chad gives him his card and
downs the glass of champagne before the assistant carefully takes the glass
away with the almost full bottle of vintage Cristal that he’d brought out
especially for Mr Perry.

The woman that
is pursuing him is in the corner in the ladies’ section, admiring Chad as he
calls the shots in the most sought-after jewellers in the city. He catches her
eye and winks before getting up to leave. Chad takes his old watch, worth sixty
thousand dollars, and gives it to the security guard at the door.

“You’re always
here making sure I’m well protected, Malik. This is for your trouble. But spend
the money wisely as I know you’ll not be wearing it.”

Malik is clearly
in awe as his mouth opens in shock.

“I … I … I can’t
take it, sir. It is against the rules for me to take gifts from clients.”

Chad is a little
annoyed at Malik’s good behaviour and calls Lukas over.

“Luke! Come here.
Could you please tell Malik that I’ve given him a gift and he is obliged to
take it or I will be very upset.”

Chad winks at
Malik and they both smile as the short, oversized Belgian straightens out his roughed-up
suit from the short sprint he made towards Chad and Malik.

“Malik, you have
to take the gift. Please take the gift. Take, take, take.”

Chad and Malik
both laugh at Lukas and Chad exits the store.

Chad’s in a very
good mood and he continues his kindness by helping an old lady cross the road
and rescuing a balloon from flying away for a young boy.

He notices that
the woman at the jewellers continues to watch him. He goes to the hotdog stand
and buys himself a hotdog, something he rarely ever does because he’s
chauffeured around the city all the time. But today he wants to walk in his
city.