Sunset & Vine: Loose Lips (14 page)

* * *

“My father had grown the family fortune twofold in his lifetime, and, at the very least, I intend to double it again under my watch!” he vowed to himself.

Montague never inquired about his progress except to tell his son that he was there for him should he need him. Thoroughly impressed with his son’s success, he escalated his son’s responsibilities. Clay III had learned well.

He had coffee with his two new pals and offered them a proposition too good to be true. He asked for that they get their dads on the phone as he wanted to include them.

“Listen, guys, I’d like to share something really special with you. We’ve become pretty good pals over the last three months and I think its time I shared with you a sort of a “big league party.”

“Firstly, to you, Senator, and Congressman, Dad and I would like to extend our support to both of you in your reelection campaigns!”

“Why thank you, Clay, and please extend my thanks to your father for me,” said Senator Masters.

“That goes for me as well, Clay.” echoed the congressman.

“I also wanted to extend an invitation for all of you to join me on a quick jaunt to Monte Carlo for four days as my guests. We can mix a little fun with some sightseeing, food, and a few spin at the tables. My dad will be joining us later there.” He’d timed it so neither of the sons would be available to go as a result of finals. It was only important for the fathers to join him … and, no, his father would not actually be joining them. This was a ruse.

The two sons protested in vain that they would miss the trip because of school commitments. There was no way they could get out of them.

“That’s too bad, guys. Just remember though, the three of us have a few months of summer to play before diving into big professions!” Clay tried to ease the sons’ disappointment.

“Clay, what the hell are you talking about? With your kind of money, what do you do, just pick what you want to do and take over a company?” his friend Mike Masters jokingly said.

“Hell yeah, man!” Clay returned the humor.

They all had a good laugh at the thought. How little did they know the truth that lay behind that statement?

Clay III was from a world neither of them could have ever imagined. A world where his perspective on the future was centered on how much power he could accumulate in a lifetime. Money was simply the tool to amass power.

Both fathers were eager to spend as much time with Montague R. Stanford as they could, and both excitedly agreed to make this a business trip.

Clay had used his unknowing assistant’s assistant as a pawn, with the hollow promise of rapid career advancement. His assistant’s assistant covertly dealt with Clay III in the strictest of confidence so as not to “upset” his assistant or make him feel that he was being undermined by his subordinate.

“He might feel threatened that your advancement will exceed his,” he told the “pawn,”

The pawn’s task was to provide a weekend party for several friends with complete discretion, supposedly to protect the wives of his “friends” from their indiscretions. The parties were all-expenses-paid of course, with $10,000 each in cash as spending money. Clay III had already laid the advance ground work by befriending the sons and inviting the fathers to high-profile parties of the Stanford’s. An opportunity no politician can refuse.

“This is how the Stanfords party!” he said as he lured them in.

“Nothing like helping little people feel temporarily important.” Thinking to himself.

It was an effective tool, developing the skill of manipulating a politician’s ego. It allows them to bask in the vast, temporary power they are entrusted with by the public. Their sense of importance becomes so overpowering that they will lose caution and begin to feel entitled to the special treatment. He had done his work well. Clay had selected his political targets prior to picking his financial projects from his father.

He used cutting-edge micro-digital cameras and sound detection devices to outfit the reserved suites at the Palace du Monte Carlo. Each suite reserved for one of his new political “friends.”

The political targets were whisked to Monte Carlo via one of the family’s three Gulf streams. He then used another low level assistant from one of the family’s European companies to secure high-priced college call girls. A task easily accomplished in a city like Paris. They were all irresistibly beautiful, especially to the desperate egos of overweight middle-aged politicians. It worked of course.

No one involved was aware of the other employees or intended outcome.

The trip to Monte Carlo was a success … for Clay anyway.

* * *

Young Clay III, with film in hand of the men scooping up the cash along with the on-camera raunchy “sexcapades,” informed the men that they were to ensure the advantage went to his father’s bid on the $2 billion dollar state infrastructure projects. Both California State Senators had unblemished political records, and, therefore, their positions were unquestionable.

The deals were sealed and Clay III tasted his first dose of unethical power. And he wanted more.

“The game of power and manipulation is sorta like lawyers dueling in their interpretation of the law. The best brain wins. This addiction is far worse than drugs or alcohol,” he warned himself.

This was the same young man, who thought he was the sole heir to his father’s fortune, that would later be challenged with sharing an estimated $37.6 billion dollars. That is, unless someone could ensure that the mysterious possible aunt or uncle mentioned in his grandfather’s trust stayed out of the picture.

“Power and billion-dollar bank accounts are thicker than any blood I’ve ever come across.” Reminding himself of the ruthlessness and unredeemable dark side of a power addict.

Clay was clear about one thing, he would not be sharing his inherited fortune with anyone, let alone an unknown relative.

“I will do whatever I have to do to protect my rightful position as sole heir.” This was a threat and a liability that he could not tolerate. That’s how the Stanfords had handled things for generations.

Clay had discreetly involved himself in the discovery of the mythical lost heir since learning of his grandfather’s trust provision as a teenager. He had used his own money to maintain a group of investigators outside of his father’s law firm. He felt the need to verify the rumors on his own accord. His father had confirmed to him the existence of the trust’s provision when asked about it. He also had entrusted his son to do the right thing should it ever become a reality.

Clay III followed the philosopher Seneca, whose favorite motto was, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

* * *

After returning from Monte Carlo, Clay had his assistant contact both politicians and request a meeting at his office at 7:00 p.m. He insisted they attend as it was urgent.

Upon arrival, Congressman Willis was escorted into a large room. A set of heavy red velvet curtains covered the entire wall, which appeared to be a movie screen. He was invited to take a seat in the empty room and told that Mr. Sanford would be with him momentarily. The assistant politely asked if there was “Anything I can get you? A drink perhaps?”

“How about some of the good Scotch he keeps on hand, on the rocks please.” Might as well have a taste of that Dalmore 62 while I can, he smiled to himself.

Congressman Willis assumed this was just another surprise from the generous young billionaire. It looked to him like it could be a private screening of a new movie and he half expected others to start arriving at any minute. The congressman sat back and enjoyed his cocktail when the lights started to dim and the curtains slowly began to open, indicating a film was about to be shown. He looked around the room to see if Clay had joined him, but nothing yet. The congressman leaned back in his chair took another sip of his Dalmore 62 and relaxed.

The film opened with a shot of the facade of the Hotel du Paris, the hotel where they had stayed during their trip to Monte Carlo. It then showed the congressman and Senator Masters walking into the lobby of the hotel collecting the keys to their rooms.

Suddenly, there was a loud sound of glass breaking on the tiled floor, as the congressman sat straight up in his chair.

“What the fuck is this! You goddamn dirty son of a bitch!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.

The film now showed the congressman opening and counting the $10,000 dollars that had been waiting for him in his suite provided by his host as spending money.

The scene cut to the action on the bed of the suite with the congressman lying on the bed and a beautiful young French woman demonstrating the local skill of fellatio while he moaned in exhilarating ecstasy. It continued with him turning her over so that he could mount her from behind. Clearly, the film had been made from multiple camera angles.

“Where is that dirty little motherfucker!” he demanded.

“Right here, Congressman,” answered Clay, sitting in the back corner of the dark room. He began clapping his hands slowly in applause.

The light in the room began to softly illuminate.

“What a performance, Congressman! Such a race horse for an old coot.”

“What do you want, you little prick!” Congressman Willis was so angry he could have murdered Clay right there had he gotten his hands around his throat.

That just wasn’t going to happen. Two massive security guards were stationed outside the doors, in full view of the room. More to keep people out than worried about what was going on inside. Besides, as a black belted second Dan in karate Clay Stanford III was hardly worried about a middle-aged politician doing much of anything to him.

“I don’t want much, Congressman. Just one little request. It’s really nothing compared to the intensity of your impressive screen test.”

“Just tell me what the fuck you want, and does it include me getting all the copies of that film?” Now standing while glaring at Clay like a man bent on murder.

“Always willing to please the voter. My kind of politician! Here’s the game plan. You see to it that Castle Industries wins the state contract for building all of the high-speed rail passenger stations in California. You do that and we’ve got ourselves a deal. Make no mistake though, I will destroy your entire life in the span of a few hours if you see take my request any differently than exactly what I have told you to do,” Clay stated in a calm, serene voice.

“Done. When and how do I get the film?” the shaking congressman asked in a manner so as not to antagonize Clay.

“Upon the signing of the contracts I will personally deliver the film to you. It is a digital copy and only one was made. I did the editing myself. Whatcha think? Pretty good, uh? I always thought I could have a career in directing or editing. One thing though, you sure didn’t need much directing in that performance!” Giving the congressman a nasty condescending smirk.

“You silly, little, nobody politicians get into office and actually think you are important enough to move around in circles with people like me or my family’s level of wealth and power. You are nothing but a paid slave to us. I detest the likes of you. Just remember that if you have any little peasant-brained ideas of double crossing me. Try it by all means, I will relish showing you how the world really works and why we rule the world and the likes of you are only here to serve our needs. When I finish with you will seek the fastest route you can find to suicide. Shits like you always do!

“Now leave before I make you get down on your knees and clean up my floor that you’ve made a mess of and wasted my $58,000-dollar bottle Scotch. Get out, don’t ever contact me again, and keep that vile, silly kid of yours away from me as well!” Clay couldn’t believe how powerful he felt. It was the closest thing he had felt to an orgasm outside of an orgasm.

It was now time for the senator’s visit.

Senator Master’s was seated in the same room as the congressman, who had been there an hour prior. He had become too comfortable around this young man after Monte Carlo. He felt sick in the pit of his stomach at what he had allowed to happen to him there.

“How could I have been so weak and stupid!” he thought with disgust.

“What I did went against everything I’ve believed in my whole life. What a fool I was to allow myself to get caught up in this outrageous moneyed crowd. I don’t belong around those people. Hell, I don’t even really like those people. My wife was the one who wanted and pushed for this so-called damned connection. God only knows for what. I hope this is important. I have no more time to waste on this rich kid.” Silently exploring his remorse.

“Senator, thank you for coming.” Clay snapped him out of his concentration.

“I believe my assistant told you that there was some business that I wanted to discuss with you.”

“Yes, Clay, how are you. Nice place you have here.”

“Fine, sir, thanks for asking. Let me get right down to business. I know your time is very limited because of your busy schedule. You’ve been an extraordinary United States Senator for the people of California, sir, one with an almost impeccable record.”

Rick Masters did not like how the sound and direction of this conversation made him feel. Monte Carlo was front and center in his mind. His subconscious already knew where this was leading. He prepared himself.

“Yes, I’ve tried to do what’s best for the people of California and my family.”

“It’s clear that you hold your family in very high esteem.”

At this point the heavy velvet red curtains began opening, exposing the large movie screen behind them.

Clay continued talking and showering the senator with praise as the lights dimmed and the film flickered onto the screen.

The filmed commenced right at the point where the senator was reading the note from the envelope of cash. He took the cash out and flipped his thumb over the thick wad of 100 dollar bills, hundreds of them, flipping and folding backwards and forwards. It was a lot of money.

The senator sat quietly. Responding with not even a sigh. Clay had joined the silence as the film rolled.

The senator’s naked body popped up on the screen sprawled out on the bed with a beautiful naked redhead licking his chest and him grabbing her face to kiss deeply then rolling on top of her.