money, he comes to me; when the governor needs something fixed, he comes to me; when another bank needs credits; it comes to me. Even the Mafia has come to me for help. Some people would call that dirty money, but I call it business.” He gulped his second drink down in one swallow.
“I’ve made many politicians happy with my contributions; I’ve paid off lobbyists and legislators to have the laws changed to favor my shareholders and my own needs; because Miss Noel, nothing is fair when it concerns one man’s money and another man’s greed. As long as someone controls the money, there will always be greed. It’s an unholy confluence.” Diana quickly recalled the night when Carlos, her English professor, taught the class the meaning of ‘confluence.’
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, Miss Noel, I can be your game changer, too. I can give you the $200,000 you requested, waive the $6,000 fee, and bring the interest rate down to a fixed 1 percent.” Diana’s eyes blinked at these new numbers as she calculated them in her head. “You would save tens of thousands of dollars.” He reclined back in his chair and waved his hand like it was a trivial thing. Her smile emerged again like the sun out of the fog, and she straightened her posture.
“Oh, Mr. Rosenbaum! Thank you! Thank you very-”
“Take off your clothes.” His face was now flushed with the effects of the alcohol. He reached up and loosened his tie, unbuttoning his top two buttons. “You want all this, you just have to give me your guarantee.” He got up and walked around his desk like a leopard, then moved behind her chair. She froze again not knowing why he was there.
“What guarantee?” she forced herself to ask in a shaky voice. Just then his hands reached around both sides of her shoulders and cupped her breasts. She exhaled in shock, but couldn’t move nor breathe as he gently squeezed and fondled them. “Ah yes, they’re beautiful,” he breathed. “So young, so full, the way I like them.” Tears began to slide down her cheeks and splash on his hands.
“Your guarantee is that after I’ve had you today, right over there on my couch, every week you’ll come back to me.” He spun her swivel chair around towards him and she drew in a sharp breath, shaking like a frightened girl. She watched in disbelief as he slowly unzipped his pants and pulled out his penis. He held its length in his hand and jostled it proudly.
“I make all my startup girls as gorgeous as you submit to the guarantee; otherwise, I stop the deposits going into their accounts, and charge them 6 percent interest. None of them refuse; in fact, this morning I had two new entrepreneurs do me at the same time. Right over there on my couch. That’s why I had all the security cameras taken out of this office.”
He smiled lustily, waiting for her to either reach for it, or open her mouth. She stared away as she cried silently, once again seeing her dream being dismantled the longer she stayed there. She considered the offer he made and quickly remembered another word Carlos had taught them: conundrum. She was now facing a conundrum of the worst kind. As her sanity fought desperately against this reality, Rosenbaum moved forward.
“Go on, Diana,” he said breathing heavily, anticipating fucking her for hours. “Suck it. Suck me now. Let me fuck you, and be a rich, successful businesswomen for the rest of your life.” She slowly turned towards his waiting penis, now stiff and arched high. He lowered it with anticipation. She took a deep breath and began to part her lips as she quaked with shame. “That’s it, baby,” he whispered. “Take me all in.” More tears flowed as she slowly opened her mouth, unable to fight the unfair and cruel reality of her personal ambition. She closed her eyes and opened wider. “Yes, Diana. That’s it, honey!” Then just as she was about to submit to him, the office phone speaker buzzed loudly. Her eyes snapped open, and her mouth snapped shut.
“Goddamnit! What is it, Jenny!” he yelled to the phone on his desk.
“Mr. Rosenbaum, your 4 o’clock appointment has just arrived, sir.”
“Shit! Who is that?”
“Miss Romana Powers, sir. She’s here to deliver the special package sent by the governor.”
“Tell her to just leave it!”
“She can’t, sir. It’s couriered, and you have to sign some forms for it.”
“Goddamn it, Jenny! Alright! I’ll be ready in a moment.” He turned back towards Diana, but she was gone. Wiping her eyes and practically running, she reached the door, and stopped when he called her name.
“Miss Noel, I will hold on to your paperwork. The deal is still good if you come back tomorrow at 2 o’clock.” She said nothing as she walked out. Outside the door, she couldn’t hold back her grief and her fear. She cried out loud as she headed straight for the elevator room well beyond Jenny’s reception desk. Jenny was talking to the woman who had arrived with a small box and document folder. They both watched as Diana passed them with her hands over both eyes, sobbing loudly.
“Poor girl,” said Jenny. “She was probably turned down for a loan.” The guest gave a warm smile to the secretary.
“Let me check. She looks very troubled. I’ll be right back.” She left to follow the distressed young woman. At the elevator room, Diana turned around and saw a composed, but genuinely concerned woman approaching her. She was about 40, with feathery, reddish brown hair and glasses. As a designer, Diana was able to study the clothing on the woman just a few paces away. It was second nature. She instantly recognized the brand of the woman’s glasses: Kazuo Kawasaki, the famous Japanese eyewear designer. She also had enough time to quickly notice the woman’s black Chanel pantsuit, Jimmy Choo high heels, and Prada handbag. The woman was obviously a person of the elite class, and she wore all the items very tastefully. Diana was trying to wipe the last tears from her eyes when the woman stepped up to her.
“Darling, did that man do something to you?” The question was so blunt, that Diana was almost offended by her candor. “You can tell me,” the woman said softly and gave an empathic smile. Diana didn’t know what to do. This woman’s face was so sincere in concern, her eyes showed trust, and when she took Diana’s arm softly in her hand, it was comforting. “My name is Romana. Romana Powers. Let’s have a seat, and you can tell me anything you wish.”
It didn’t take long before Diana explained the entire situation to the stranger, divulging all as tears began to stream down again. The woman held her hand like a close friend and didn’t say a word. She just nodded with understanding and sympathy. Finally, when there was no more left to tell, the woman checked her watch, a diamond-studded Cartier, and stood up.
“Diana, I want you to wait here for me. It will only be a few minutes. I just need to drop off my package and we can leave together.” Diana agreed and sat back in the chair, amazed at how comfortable and at ease she was with this woman. She felt perhaps she had just met her first contact in this new, cruel country; but maybe more importantly, she felt she had just made a friend.
Approximately seven minutes passed when Romana returned and handed Diana a document folder.
“What’s this?”
“All your documents have been signed by Mr. Rosenbaum. In fact, he increased the amount to one million dollars!” Diana’s eyes bulged, making Romana smile with satisfaction.
“WHAT!? Are you joking!?” Romana pointed to the folder.
“It’s all in there. All signed and stamped with his official seal. No matter what happens, the bank must give you the money. The dates and account information are in there.
