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COREY: TODAY
(Present Day)
San Francisco, California
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I WAS BEGINNING TOhate everything I once loved about this city. It was still the opposite of New York’s crowded streets and over-hyped skyline, the perfect alternative to Silicon Valley’s illusion of a stress-free oasis, and the one place where anyone with a dream and the slightest bit of technology know-how could build a start-up company with ease.
But over the past few years, San Francisco had become stagnant. The new people stopped arriving, and every place I ventured was full of people I’d already met. Women I’d slept with before, parties I’d thrown before, business partners I’d dealt with before.
The fog that crept over the Golden Gate Bridge every morning was no longer something I admired for more than a few seconds at a time. It was the usual, same old shit, and it was creating a numbing effect on me.
I had a string of ex-girlfriends I’d never loved and always lost, an even longer string of women I’d left in hotel rooms after unfulfilling nights, and I was constantly fighting an unfortunate truth that I didn’t want to face. Despite all the trappings of success and the reputation I’d built for myself, my life was still empty as hell and the things I’d attempted to fill it with only deepened the void.
And now, as I stood on the roof of The Roosevelt Hotel at another art deco party, I looked around and realized that every single person here was either a gold-digging opportunist, a member of the city's elite, or someone I had no interest in talking to again. I was more than certain this night was going to end just like every other night I'd had for the past six months. With me asking myself, "Why the fuck am I still here?"
“Corey Walters!” A brunette I vaguely remembered walked up to me. “How are you doing tonight?”
“I’m fine,” I said, not remembering her name and not wanting to hold a conversation. “Hope you are, too.”
"I'm amazing! Are you still working in Statham Industries as Chief of Cyber-Security, or have you started your own company?"
“Both.”
“Well, when you branch out, will you be opening your new building for a tour? I can have my news team cover your grand opening if you like.”
“Do you honestly think it’s in a security company’s best interest to let the media have a tour of the facilities?”
“No,” she said, smiling. “But I think it’s in your best interest if we pick up where we left off last time. We never got a chance to finish our night at The Hilton last year, remember?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I remembered who this woman was now.
Her name was Raina, and if our last encounter were any indication, my night would end better if I jumped off this roof instead of continuing this conversation.
“Are you seeing anyone these days?” she asked.
Come up with an excuse and walk the hell away."Not at the moment."
“Oh, well that's so sad," she said. "You're too sexy to be alone, you know?"
I stared at her.
"This is the part where you ask me if I'm currently available." She smiled.
"No, this is the part where I can guarantee that you are."
"Funny." She laughed and leaned close. “I can go home with you tonight, and we can reconnect if you’d like.”
“I wouldn’t, so we won’t.”
“Okay, look.” She smiled. “I know I might’ve scared you off with my list of turn-ons last time, but I can do regular sex until you’re ready to try things my way.” She winked. “You’d be surprised how many men enjoy hot wax poured slowly onto their cocks before and after sex. It’s good, I promise. And between you and me, I've only burned three guys out of the five times I've done it.”
Okay, fuck this.“Excuse me for one minute, Raina. I’ll be right back.” I walked away, slipping into the crowd and looking for the host. It was long past time for me to go.
"Austin?" I tapped him on his shoulder, and he spun around. As usual, he looked me up and down, assessing to see if his suit was more expensive than mine (it wasn't), and then he extended his hand for a handshake and pretended as if his comparison stare never happened.
“Mr. Walters!” He smiled. “You told me you weren’t sure if you were coming to my party.”
