Risk Return by Aleksandr Voinov

Author:Aleksandr Voinov [Voinov, Aleksandr]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: private equity, love story, gay romance, return on investment
Publisher: 44 Raccoons
Published: 2016-04-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Once well and safely outside, Francis slowed and inclined his head towards Emanuel. “Was that an attempt to engender sympathy in me for Charles?”

Emanuel walked quite contentedly beside Francis. “You mean it worked?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Francis stopped, now halfway between the library and the door that eventually led back to the main part of the house. “And I’m not even surprised he had a lover, or that he spent the next forty-odd years buying the man’s silence.”

“That’s not how Robert sees it.”

“I know that’s how Charles saw it. He was never openly abusive because he used people’s fear and respect and need for money. It’s subtle, it’s even smart, because none of it leaves scars. He wins that battle in people’s heads before he even has to really decamp his army. And here’s a man who loved him, and all he thought was, ‘How can I control him?’ How can you risk-manage a former lover like that?”

Emanuel’s features never lost that benign, placid non-expression. “He was protecting his reputation.”

“His peers have done worse than kept a man in a nice apartment to call upon when they feel like it. His times were possibly less radical and innovative than ours, but people will always be people and do people things because they feel people feelings. He can’t have been the only one.”

Martin reached out and placed a hand on Francis’s arm. Francis shook his head and turned to him. “Sorry.”

“What are you going to do with that? What he told you?”

“Nothing. I’m not dragging him into this mess. He came here to say goodbye to a part of his life, not to see everything smashed to pieces, though it might be therapeutic to drag it all out and deal with it.” Francis narrowed his eyes in speculation. “But that next chat better see some progress. I’m not here to dance for him.”

“Then I’ll see if Charles is in a state to talk.”

“Didn’t you say—?”

“Time is short, Francis.” Emanuel inclined his head slightly and headed for the door. Martin could almost see him as a priest during the Renaissance, cutting deals between hard-nosed nobles, keeping everybody’s secrets as long as it pleased him and was useful, and too powerful because of them for anybody to turn against him. In this case, he seemed so deeply embedded here that he seemed almost as a part of the family.

Francis tugged his cufflinks out of his jacket. “Regret it yet?”

“I do.” Martin shrugged. “But this isn’t really about me.”

Francis half-turned. “I think this is a great deal more about you than you realise, but point taken.” He began walking towards the door. “Let’s see what else he has for me.”

Emanuel came back towards them. “It appears he’s ready to see you now.” He all but ushered them back to where Charles sat. This time, though, there were more people in the room—one of them a very well-preserved circa fifty-year old woman, her greying blonde hair done up perfectly, with a pearl necklace close to her throat.

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