Page 31 of Carnal Risk

“Dance with me.” It was a command, not a request.

Selby marched to the parquet floor, allowing him to take her in his arms. The music slowed to a ballad and she began to plead her case.

“Please don’t be mad, Lars. You’re the one who got me into this.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” He exhaled loudly. “Look, Selby, the people in this room…you’re not like them.”

“Gee, thanks. Nice.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. But come on, you know you’re not big on any kind of adventure. These folks are here because they share a passion. You wouldn’t understand us. What we do…it’s not something you are ever going to do. We’ve been friends for a long time, but Garrett shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“Everything we do has a risk. I’m afraid to fly but I still do it anyway. And do you know why? Because at the end of the day, data speaks, bullshit walks. I know full well that I have a better chance of dying in a car accident than I do getting on a 747.”

“Well, your chances are a helluva a lot greater when you base jump. Try more like one in sixty.”

“True, but you haven’t died yet, and there are things I do that are a little risky.” She guessed that singing at the club wouldn’t rank very high on Lars’ list, but as far as she was concerned, it counted when it came to bravery.

“Get real. You can’t even go down an escalator without saying five Hail Marys and holding on for dear life. This club,” he gestured to the people dancing around them, “the people here tonight…they embrace it all. Pushing the envelope of what we’re supposed to be doing.” He paused and added, “Including sex.”

“What?” Selby had fully expected the ‘we like to do dangerous things’ lecture, but hadn’t expected him to talk about sex.

“Look around.” Lars spun her in a circle to the beat. He whispered in her ear. “The couple in the corner. It’s Chase and Penny. Do you see them?”

Selby glanced to a man and woman who sat in darkness. She could barely make out their silhouette.

“They’re fucking.”

“What? No they aren’t,” she protested. As she glanced again, she observed the slightest movement.

“Yes. Yes they are.”

“But Garrett said they’re investors…”

“They’re the originals. His venture capitalists are his closest friends. We helped him build his dream, and in the process, we all prospered.”

“That’s good, right?” Selby asked, still trying to catch a better look at what exactly the couple was doing. She swore Lars was just messing with her to get her to leave.

“Some work at Emerson. Most do. Some, like me, have our own companies with close partnerships with Emerson. A few,” Lars nodded to the band. “See the twins?”

Selby caught sight of the lead singer, who wore a tight black t-shirt. He tightly gripped the microphone, his heavily tattooed arms bulging every time he flexed. A similarly handsome man played drums.

“They’re recent doctoral grads from MIT. They were interning with Evan. Now they’re helping Chase out with a few things.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this involved having interns?”

“Because you don’t have any. You’re there to help recruit Evan’s replacement and expedite the outsourcing. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“I know that,” she replied. Her lips pursed as she considered that once again Garrett hadn’t disclosed all the facts of the situation. Her whirling temper was thwarted as Lars stopped dancing and held her tight.

“What’s going on between you and Garrett?”

“Lars,” she breathed. Her head fell to his shoulder. Jesus, she wished she could lie to him, but she couldn’t.

“He wouldn’t have brought you here if you weren’t…are you sleeping with him?”

“No,” she protested. “And besides, even if I was, it’s not like it’s any of your business.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt, is all. It’s why I never introduced you to him. I knew how you admired him. Women lie down and spread their legs the minute he says hello, and you aren’t going to be one of them.”