The Betsy (1971) by Robbins Harold

Author:Robbins, Harold [Robbins, Harold]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
Published: 2011-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

“Only thirty days more and the divorce will be final,” Loren III said.

Bobbie put down the empty martini glass. “By that time it won’t matter. Another month here and I’ll go out of my mind. I’m not used to being a prisoner.”

“You’re not a prisoner, darling,” he said patiently. “You know the people here. Once we’re married everything will change. We’ll move out to the house and life will become normal.”

“What makes you think that?” she asked sarcastically. “The few times we have gone out, Detroit has done a pretty good job of cutting me dead.”

“Stupid women,” he replied. “It will change. Believe me, I know it will.”

“Fuck them!” she said angrily. “I don’t need them or their fucking approval.” She rose from the couch. “I just have to get away from here for a while.”

He looked up at her. “Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere. Just as long as it’s away from here.” She walked to the bar and poured herself another martini from the pitcher. She looked back at him. “I swear to God I’m becoming an alcoholic.”

“I can’t get away just now,” he said.

“I know that.” She walked over to the window and looked out. The factory lights gleamed in the dull black night, the tips of the chimneys belching rose-colored flames into the sky. “Look at that view,” she said bitterly. “You know, for almost a year I’ve been looking out this window without ever seeing a tree or a bit of green. I think I’ve almost forgotten what they look like.”

Loren got to his feet and came over to her. He put his arms around her and drew her to him. She rested her head on his shoulder. “I know it hasn’t been easy,” he said. “But we expected it.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it hasn’t been easier for you. But at least you have your work to keep you busy. I have nothing to do but go out of my mind.”

“Look,” he said. “Give me a few days to clear things up here and then maybe we’ll go out West and take a look at how they’re doing with the test cars. It’s time I went out there anyway.”

“I’d love that. I have a feeling the new car will be great.”

“I hope so,” he said without enthusiasm.

She looked at him. “You’re worried about it, aren’t you?”

He nodded.

“Why? When everybody in the business is so excited about it?”

“They can afford to be,” he said dourly. “It’s not their money. If the car misses, it can take the whole company down with it.” He walked back to the bar and picked up his drink. “If it hits, we’ll do all right, but within a couple of years, GM and Ford will step in to take over the market, so in reality all we’re doing is risking our capital for them.”

He walked back to her. “I remember the year I was made president of the company. Nineteen hundred and fifty-three. The year the Kaiser-Frazer Company finally gave up the ghost and went down the drain.

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