Kane and Abel/Sons of Fortune Read online

  When she reached the reception desk, the clerk told her that her father was in the penthouse with George Novak and called to say that Florentyna was on her way up. The elevator reached the forty-second floor far too quickly, and Florentyna hesitated before leaving its safety. She stepped out onto the green carpet and heard the elevator door slide closed behind her. She stood alone in the corridor for a moment before knocking quietly at her father’s door. Abel opened it immediately.

  “Florentyna, what a pleasant surprise. Come on in, my darling. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

  George Novak was standing by the window in the living room, looking down at Park Avenue. He turned to greet his goddaughter. Florentyna’s eyes pleaded with him to leave. If he stayed, she knew she would lose her nerve. Go, go, go, she said inside her brain. George had sensed her anxiety immediately.

  “I must get back to work, Abel. There’s a goddamn maharajah checking in tonight.”

  “Tell him to park his elephants at the Plaza,” said Abel genially. “Now that Florentyna’s here, stay and have another drink.”

  George looked at Florentyna. “No, Abel, I have to go. The man’s taken the whole of the thirty-third floor. The least he’ll expect is the vice president to greet him. Good night, Florentyna,” he said, kissing her on the cheek and briefly clasping her arm, almost as though he knew that she needed strength. He left them alone and suddenly Florentyna wished he had not gone.

  “How’s Bloomingdale’s?” said Abel, ruffling his daughter’s hair affectionately. “Have you told them yet they’re going to lose the best junior supervisor they’ve had in years? They’re sure going to be surprised when they hear that Jessie Kovats’s next job will be to open the Edinburgh Baron.” He laughed out loud.

  “I’m going to be married,” said Florentyna, shyly extending her left hand. She could think of nothing to add, so she simply waited for his reaction.

  “This is a bit sudden, isn’t it?” said Abel, more than a little shocked.

  “Not really, Daddy. I’ve known him for some time.”

  “Do I know the boy? Have I ever met him?”

  “No, Daddy, you haven’t.”

  “Where does he come from? What’s his background? Is he Polish? Why have you been so secretive about him, Florentyna?”

  “He’s not Polish, Daddy. He’s the son of a banker.”

  Abel went white and picked up his drink, swallowing the liquor in one gulp. Florentyna knew exactly what must be going through his mind as he poured himself another drink, so she got the truth out quickly.

  “His name is Richard Kane, Daddy.”

  Abel swung around to face her. “Is he William Kane’s son?” he demanded.

  “Yes, he is,” said Florentyna.

  “You could consider marrying William Kane’s son? Do you know what that man did to me?”

  “I think so,” said Florentyna.

  “You couldn’t even begin to know,” shouted Abel as he let forth a tirade that seemed to go on forever and only served to convince Florentyna that both men had gone mad. In the end she interrupted her father to tell him that she was well aware of all the facts.

  “Are you, young lady, and did you know the fact that William Kane was the man who was responsible for the death of my closest friend? Yes, he’s the man who made Davis Leroy commit suicide and, not satisfied with that, he tried to bankrupt me. If David Maxton hadn’t rescued me in time, Kane would have taken away my hotels and sold them without a second thought. And where would I be now if William Kane had had his way? You’d have been lucky to end up as a shop-girl at Bloomingdale’s. Have you thought about that, Florentyna?”

  “Yes, Daddy, I’ve thought of little else these past few weeks. Richard and I are horrified about the hatred that exists between you and his father. He’s facing him now.”

  “Well, I can tell you how he’ll react,” said Abel. “He’ll go berserk. That man would never allow his precious WASP son to marry you, so you might as well forget the whole crazy idea, young lady.”

  His voice had risen again to a shout.

  “I can’t forget it, Father,” she said evenly. “We love each other and we both need your blessing, not your anger.”

  “Now you listen to me, Florentyna,” said Abel, his face now red with fury. “I forbid you to see the Kane boy ever again. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, I hear you. But I will see him. I’ll not be parted from Richard because you hate his father.”

  She found herself clutching her ring finger and trembling slightly.

  “It will not happen,” said Abel, the color in his face deepening. “I will never allow the marriage. My own daughter deserting me for the son of that bastard Kane. I say you will not marry him.”

  “I am not deserting you. I would have run away with him if that were true, but I couldn’t marry anyone behind your back.” She was aware of the tremble in her voice. “But I’m over twenty-one and I will marry Richard. I intend to spend the rest of my life with him. Please help us, Daddy. Won’t you meet him, and then you’ll begin to understand why I feel the way I do about him?”

  “He will never be allowed to enter my home. I do not want to meet any child of William Kane. Never, do you hear me?”

  “Then I must leave you.”

  “Florentyna, if you leave me to marry the Kane boy, I’ll cut you off without a penny. Without a penny, do you hear me?” Abel’s voice softened. “Now, use your common sense, girl—you’ll get over him. You’re still young and there are lots of other men who’d give their right arm to marry you.”

  “I don’t want lots of other men,” said Florentyna. “I’ve met the man I’m going to marry and it’s not his fault that he’s his father’s son. Neither of us chose our fathers.”

  “If my family isn’t good enough for you, then go,” roared Abel. “And I swear I won’t have your name mentioned in my presence again.” He turned away and stared out of the window. “For the last time, I warn you, Florentyna—do not marry that boy.”

  “Daddy, we are going to be married. Although we’re both past the stage of needing your consent, we do ask for your approval.”

  Abel looked away from the window and walked toward her. “Are you pregnant? Is that the reason? Do you have to get married?”

  “No, Father.”

  “Have you ever slept with him?” Abel demanded.

  The question shook Florentyna, but she didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she replied. “Many times.”

  Abel raised his arm and hit her full across the face. Blood started to trickle down her chin and she nearly fell. She turned, ran out of the room crying and leaned on the elevator button, holding a hand over her bleeding lip. The door slid open and George stepped out. She had a fleeting glimpse of his shocked expression as she stepped quickly into the car and jabbed repeatedly at the Close Door button. As George stood and watched her crying, the elevator doors closed slowly.

  Once Florentyna had reached the street, she took a cab straight to her own apartment. On the way, she dabbed at her cut lip with a Kleenex. Richard was already there, standing under the marquee, head bowed and looking miserable.

  She jumped out of the cab and ran to him. Once they were upstairs, she opened the door and quickly closed it behind them, feeling blessedly safe.

  “I love you, Richard.”

  “I love you, too,” said Richard, as he threw his arms around her.

  “I don’t have to ask how your father reacted,” said Florentyna, clinging to him desperately.

  “I’ve never seen him so angry,” said Richard. “Called your father a liar and a crook, nothing more than a jumpedup Polish immigrant. He asked me why I didn’t marry somebody from my own background.”

  “What did you say to that?”

  “I told him someone as wonderful as you couldn’t be replaced by a suitably Brahmin family friend, and he completely lost his temper.”

  Florentyna didn’t let go of Richard as he spoke.

  “Then he threatened to cut