Chapter 8
After Ralph left Angie the message, he started to figure out a way he could help her pay off Vinnie’s debt.
Thinking of the man who confronted him at Gibsons, he thought, These are not people to mess with.
It was the least he could do after all the business Vinnie had thrown his way over the years.
Ralph had gotten very rich by reinvesting his share, while Vinnie made one bad gambling decision after another.
Angie was a sweet, innocent woman; she was too trusting and a little naive from what Vinnie had told him.
She was blindly loyal. He dialed Mario, Vinnie’s second-in-command at the city.
Mario picked up on the first ring. “This is Mario Longetti.”
“Hi, Mario, this is Ralph Conti, a very old friend of Vinnie Sortino.”
“Yeah, I know who you are. What do you want? I’m pretty busy.” Ralph could hear his thick Chicago—with a splash of Italian—accent.
“I’m concerned about his wife, Angie. She may be in harm’s way. I was hoping we could meet and talk about how we could protect her,” Ralph explained.
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about, my friend.
I promised Vinnie, if anything happened to him, I would keep a close eye on her, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.
I don’t need any help from you. They don’t make that kind of woman anymore.
Innocent to a fault, doesn’t ask any questions and takes good care of her man, if you know what I mean. ” Mario chuckled.
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Mario. How about we meet at Lou Mitchell’s for breakfast tomorrow morning? I can give you the rundown.”
“I can meet with you, Ralph, but I’m certain I can take care of the little lady. I’ll be there at seven thirty sharp, but I need to get to a jobsite immediately afterward.”
“Thanks, Mario, see you then.”
The next call Ralph made was to Rebecca. Even though he enjoyed their wild sex, having an affair with a married woman, especially an alderman’s wife, was too risky—and getting riskier. He was determined to end their affair.
The call went directly to voicemail. “Hi, Rebecca, it’s Ralph. I really need to talk to you as soon as possible. Give me a quick call when you get a chance.”
Ralph owned one of the most successful development companies in the Midwest. As was usual in his workday, he spent the entire day at his office meeting with investors and tracking the various projects his firm had under construction in Chicago.
After work, he grabbed a light dinner, and it was after nine when he headed home and took a hot shower.
As he got into bed, his house phone rang.
“Mr. Conti, I have a lady down here who would like to come up to see you,” the doorman announced.
“Send her up.” I’m sure it’s Rebecca coming for a late booty call.
Maybe just one more time, he thought. Ralph got out of bed, put on his silk robe, and went to the double doors in the entryway.
The elevator bell rang as he opened his front door, and a tall blonde exited the elevator—none other than Cookie Cunningham.
“Hello there, handsome, looks like you’ve been expecting me.
” Cookie batted her long eyelashes and walked into the foyer.
“Now this is what I call class. I just came from work, and before I go meet a friend for a cocktail, I need a few minutes of your time.” She leaned into his neck. “You smell delicious.”
Ralph backed away and closed the doors behind her. “Well, hello, Cookie, I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight. I was just about to hit the hay.”
Cookie walked into the well-appointed, oval living room with a bay window overlooking Lake Michigan. “I can see the Drake Hotel from here; I love their high tea.”
“May I get you a nightcap?” Ralph asked.
“Only if you’ll join me.” She glanced at his collection and pointed at the Remy Martin Louis XIII.
“Absolutely.” This woman knows her cognac. He nodded and poured each of them a finger and handed her the Baccarat tumbler.
“Please, have a seat. What brings you here so late? I’m surprised you know where I live.”
“Oh, Ralphie boy, you must remember the forms you had to fill out when you were pitching the city on all those contracts. It’s all in HR, and I have access to so much information.”
“Ah, yes, that makes sense. So, tell me, what can I do for you?” Ralph could hear his mobile ringing repeatedly in the other room.
“Do you need to get that?” Cookie asked.
“I do. I’ll be right back, please excuse me.” Ralph went into the kitchen where he kept his cell charged and could see it was Rebecca. “Hi there, thanks for calling me back so late. Can I call you back?”
“You don’t have to. I’m having my driver drop me in front in five minutes. I need to see you.” She hung up.
How am I going to get Cookie out of here before Rebecca arrives?
Then he remembered that his building had two separate elevators.
He would deal with that shortly. In the meantime, he walked calmly back into the living room where Cookie was studying the framed photos of Ralph posing with various famous people.
“Love Bill Murray. How cool was that when he showed up at Murphy’s?” Cookie asked.
“What a great guy,” Ralph said.
“Looks like you and the Daley family were close, by the looks of you with the dad and his son.”
“I’ve always had a close relationship with all the Chicago mayors, given all the projects we’ve built over the years.” He was talking faster than he normally would.
Before Cookie could comment on another photo, Ralph jumped in, “Cookie, I must apologize but I need to end our visit. That call was from a close friend who needs me, and I must leave momentarily. I am so sorry. Maybe we can meet later this week for a coffee or a cocktail.” I can’t have her run into the alderman’s wife coming to my place for a booty call, he thought.
It would be all over City Hall in the morning.
Cookie polished off the rest of the cognac. “I must say this is the fastest I’ve ever finished a fancy brandy. I hate to waste it.”
“Cookie,” Ralph said, more loudly and firmly than he usually spoke, feeling beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead. “We will have to talk tomorrow; please don’t think me rude, but you really need to go now. I am so sorry. This isn’t my usual behavior.”
His heart was pounding faster and faster as he escorted her to the door just as his house phone rang; he knew it was the doorman announcing the arrival of Rebecca. Cookie knew who Rebecca was, so he couldn’t risk them passing in the hall or downstairs. The phone kept ringing.
“Good night, Cookie.” Ralph opened the front door; the phone continued to ring in the background.
Before he shut the door, Cookie blurted out, “We do need to talk sooner than later. There are some complications at the city regarding Vinnie that will affect Angie. They must be resolved immediately.” Cookie handed him her business card.
“Call me tomorrow—first thing. I’m concerned about Angie and, just between you and me, I don’t trust Mario. ”
“I promise, I’ll call you in the morning, Cookie. Thank you for stopping by.” Ralph closed the door and rushed over to pick up the phone. “Hello!”
“Your guest is starting to cause a scene in the lobby. She is demanding we let her up now.”
“Would you please escort her to the service elevator? Make some excuse. I’ll meet her there. It’s important that these two women do not cross paths.”
“I understand, sir.”
Ralph wiped the sweat from his brow, quickly went into his bedroom and threw on a polo shirt and pants. Then he said out loud, “It has to end. Things are getting complicated.”
He met her at the service elevator. Rebecca looked beautiful as usual, sporting a tight pair of pants and a low-cut blouse exposing her man-made breasts and cleavage, which he always had a hard time taking his eyes and hands off.
“You called, sweetheart, I am here.” Rebecca slid her hand around his neck and drew him in for a passionate kiss, which he enjoyed.
After their lips parted, he gestured for her to come in.
He spotted Cookie’s snifter, the edge smeared with her lipstick, the same time Rebecca did.
“Looks like I’m not the first female visitor tonight.
Good thing we aren’t exclusive or I’d be a little jealous.
” She threw her purse on the couch and slipped off her high heels.
Ralph took the glass to the kitchen. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I’ll have whatever you served what’s her name with the cheap pink lipstick, not even the color of the season.
” She followed him into the kitchen and put her hands around his waist from behind.
“My husband is out of town for a week on business. I think we should have a slumber party.” She pulled off her top, tossing it on the carpet, exposing a black lace bra.
Staring at her voluptuousness, Ralph caught his breath, saying, “I hate to disappoint, but I have an early morning meeting.” He handed her a glass of cognac.
Rebecca took the cognac and walked into the living room.
“That’s not what I want to hear, Ralph. Reschedule your meeting for me; I never ask you to do much.
” She placed the glass on the end table, slipped her pants off, and walked toward him.
“Come here and tell me why you look so troubled. I’m sure I can take your mind off whatever it is.
” While she kissed his neck, her hand slid to his zipper and she slowly pulled it down.
The smell of her expensive perfume always disarmed him. Ralph could feel his resolve waning; she had such an amazing body.
“You know I would love nothing better than to have you right now. I want you all the time, not just our random get-togethers. I just don’t feel right being the other man. If that’s not possible, then we need to end this.” He blurted it out, his heart racing.
Rebecca removed her hand from inside his pants and stepped back. “What the fuck are you talking about! This has been working just fine for me. I’ll be the one who decides when this is over, not you. And it’s not over.”
Ralph swallowed hard. “Rebecca, we need to discuss this civilly. It’s only a matter of time before we get caught, and I can’t risk that and neither can you. I need to keep my connection with the city clean, and if we’re discovered, everything will go south, and that just cannot happen.”
Rebecca sat down on the couch, crossed her long, curvaceous legs, and took a sip of her cognac and stared at the fire.
It took everything he had not to take her into his bedroom. “Please don’t be angry, Rebecca.”
It was a standoff. The longer Rebecca was silent, the longer he took in her sensuous body, and he knew he couldn’t resist her. This had to be the last time.
She finally leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I’ll be in the bedroom waiting for you.” She unfastened her bra, let it drop to the floor, and walked slowly toward his bedroom.