Manic Monday (The Jake Monday Chronicles #1)

  Chapter 5

  I Like the Night Life

  Jake looked at the lights of the city sparkling across the waters of Long Island Sound. Jake found that this was his favorite way to experience New York. Whether out here or looking at the city from the south up the Lower Bay, the city looked so clean, pristine, and orderly. He pulled the collar of his overcoat up to cover his neck. The winter wind was brisk out here on the deck of the yacht.

  Everyone else was inside. Drinks were being poured and Jake was uncomfortable with the level of sexual tension in the cabin. Six couples and several single people mingled in the confines of the multi-million dollar yacht. Lawyers, commercial real estate brokers, ad executives, and surgeons mingled with actresses, technology specialists, models, and professional assassins. He cringed, thinking of the prospects of the evening.

  Why are you here, then? Jake asked himself.

  He was startled to attention as a figure came slinking up to him in the semi-darkness. Jake had hoped this part of the deck would remain private. He needed some space to think. He was disappointed to see someone had found him.

  "I love the lights out here. It makes the city look like a huge Christmas ornament," Giselle said, her breath catching in the frigid wind.

  Jake smiled.

  Gary would want to take credit for this “date.” Jake knew that Gary secretly coveted Ms. Chaput’s company for himself. He never should have told Gary that he needed a break. The yacht was owned by one of Gary's friends at Galbraith, Paul Weston III, an executive in recruiting who had rich parents and even richer in-laws. Paul was asleep below deck, his wife still partying loudly with the revelers in the cabin.

  Giselle Chaput was a remarkable specimen, Jake had to admit. Her porcelain skin was delicate, her arms well-defined, and her hair like a long, flowing, golden silk scarf. Jake had guessed that she was a model.

  Man, was I ever wrong, Jake thought.

  "Are you staying in New York long?"

  At this Giselle smiled wryly and arched an eyebrow.

  "I suppose I could be persuaded to stay a little longer. Perhaps I could stay to watch the ball drop in the Big Apple this year."

  Jake had been avoiding her advances all evening. , Since she was technically his date, he should have expected some interest in further contact. Her pursuit was mostly subtle. However alluring her charms, Jake found himself increasingly uncomfortable.

  You are just crazy, he chastised himself.

  "The holidays in New York are amazing," he admitted as he turned back to the lights.

  He felt her get closer to him and take his arm in hers.

  "It is so cold out here," she said.

  "I like the cold."

  She put her head on his shoulder, facing the lights. He resisted the temptation to turn to look at her face. He knew he would not be able to resist the enchantment of her illumined by the lights reflecting off the water. He closed his eyes, concentrating. He tried to avoid the image of her blue eyes sparkling, looking up at him.

  "Gary says you are very private. Very shy."

  "Gary talks too much,” he said, allowing a smile to touch his lips.

  She chuckled at this.

  "That is what my friend Melissan says, too."

  "So you aren't a model, after all. Are you sure?"

  "Oh, I am positive."

  "So, how long have you been working for Sinegem?"

  "It might be hard to believe, but I was recruited in 2009 when Sinegem first became publicly traded."

  "Who owned it before that?"

  "China, of course."

  "I see. So were you always a corporate spy?"

  He could feel her smile against his shoulder.

  "No. I was a model."

  "Ah. So I wasn't too far off."

  "Sinegem saw that I could be quite persuasive and began training me to infiltrate other companies to obtain corporate secrets, recruit key personnel, or act as a liaison in matters regarding mergers or take-overs."

  Jake was impressed. He wanted to be ambivalent.

  "I have to admit that you seem to have quite a resume."

  She looked up at him, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. Her hand snaked its way inside his coat and caressed his chest through his shirt.

  "I didn't know this was an interview, Mr. Monday," she said, her voice sultry.

  "I usually have my dates more properly vetted, to be sure," he said.

  "Speaking of qualifications, Mr. Monday, I still do not know what you do for a living," she teased.

  Jake understood that under that teasing tone was a serious question. For a moment, he considered telling the truth. Would the truth surprise her? Would it push her away? He could only hope. Despite what his body was saying, he did not need this.

  "Once your interview is finished, I will be happy to answer your question."

  She raised her eyebrows and stepped away from him. She crossed her arms in front of her. She did not wear a coat. He almost felt sorry for her.

  "What more do you need to know about me? You already said I was impressive.” She sounded closer to serious now. He preferred that. He didn't want to cloud his impression of her with a false sense of motivation or intent. Honesty was always better.

  Gary thought that Giselle had been his idea. Jake knew the truth. This was a sanctioned Galbraith meeting. Gary was a convenient middle man. He would be shocked to know how he had been used. His ego would be bruised for days. Sinegem was a client. If the material in the folder was any indication, Giselle might just be his next assignment. She had not been named, but the synopsis had indicated a corporate spy was threatening corporate interests.

  This meeting was even more curious than it seemed.

  "I am just being cautious."

  She looked at him warily.

  "What have you been told?"

  He shrugged.

  "I don't think it matters what others say. I need to hear it from you directly."

  "What, exactly?” She had not moved her arms. She was obviously cold. Jake enjoyed making her squirm.

  "Why Sinegem wants to hire an assassin."

  He let it hang there in the moist, cold air. He watched her closely, looking for surprise. He was disappointed. She never batted an eye.

  Why do I always underestimate women? Jake asked himself.

  "I thought you came here tonight to have some fun," she replied, disappointment gracing each word like icing dripping from a cake.

  "This is fun."

  She shook her head and took his arm again, nuzzling beside him. She felt colder than before. Stiff. The magic had died. He had offended her. It was better this way. No more pretending.

  He was not sure she would answer. He tried to make himself impervious to her charms. It was difficult. Somehow, he felt that something more was at stake here than information.

  "I have a different idea of fun," she said huskily.

  He smiled. She did not give up easily.

  "I am sure you do, Giselle. For me to trust you, I will need us to put aside our attraction for each other for a moment. We need to be honest with one another.” He pulled away from her as he said this. He wanted to look her in the eye so that she could see he was serious. He knew it would be wise to leave the door open, though, just to keep her interested.

  She sighed and looked out into the night.

  "I had guessed you came out here in the cold to be alone. I thought you could use some company."

  He smiled.

  "I am enjoying your company so far.” He removed his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders. She would be more candid if she were not chattering through her teeth.

  She smiled, a hint of shyness.

  Where did Sinegem find this girl? Jake wondered.

  "Darius Electric Cooperative is resisting the take-over. They have hired some…unsavory personnel to protect their interests. We are seeking help in removing this obstacle."

  He was familiar with Darius Electric. They were the client that Lars
had contracted. Apparently, it was a side job. Again, curious. Jake did not make it a habit to second guess his assignments. He was a tool, a finely tuned machine that did its job without complaint. The question that nagged him was what Darius would want with a woman like Giselle.

  With hundreds of thousands of businesses in the world making millions and billions of dollars annually, it always shocked Jake how ruthless they could be when their livelihood was threatened. These were supposed to be law-abiding citizens. Of course, the closer he got to organizations like Sinegem, the more absurd the idea of pristine or innocent corporations seemed.

  "And Sinegem seeks to eliminate the security that is protecting the owners and board so they can influence them directly to meet their demands. I guess that is the definition of a hostile takeover."

  She did not smile at that. She bit her lip and stared off across the choppy waters. Her breath plumed into frost around her head. She held his overcoat tight across her and shivered again.

  "It isn't as simple as that," she said, her voice shaking.

  Jake swallowed. He could not tell if she was emotional or merely cold.

  "What is so complicated as a big company trying to swallow up a small company hoping to get bigger?"

  "For starters, the unsavory personnel that Darius has employed is Galbraith."

  He put his hands in his pockets and smirked. On a deep level, he loved irony. It made life exciting.

  "I see," Jake replied. Pretending was like telling a lie. Both were easy to do if you could convince yourself first. "So, how do I fit into this equation, Giselle?"

  "I need you to allow me to do my job, Mr. Monday," she looked up at him, her eyes glassy.

  It is probably just the cold wind, Jake thought.

  "No one has ordered me to do anything about you at all. I am just a puppet on a string, after all. I don't know what you have been told that I do…"

  She put one finger to his lips and the other found its way to his chest again. The overcoat slipped to the deck with a sharp thud.

  I should remember to keep my weapons under my shirt or something, Jake chided himself.

  "I know all about you, Mr. Monday. I know all I need to know. Sinegem wants you, Mr. Monday. Come to work for us. You don't need Galbraith anymore. Our contract with your organization is in jeopardy over this. There is no need for you to continue to work for an organization with such little loyalty. Besides, you are a known commodity in our business."

  As tempting as that sounded, he could not ignore the alarm in his head.

  He looked down at her. He found that looking into her eyes was harder to do than he had expected. They were so blue they seemed almost electric. He cleared his throat and stepped back.

  Jake reached down and retrieved the overcoat and put it across his arm, keeping the gun against his stomach.

  "It is getting too cold out here to stand around like this. We should join the others," he said with finality.

  To her credit, Giselle remained stoic. A playful smiled tugged at the corners of her mouth and she arched her eyebrows.

  "Of course, Mr. Monday. I will look forward to continuing our interview at a future time. Perhaps soon."

  He nodded and licked his lips.

  "Perhaps," he managed as he took her arm and began pretending again. Together, they walked into the warmth and bright lights of the teak- and chrome-lined cabin.