Thurston: “Hey, Ace, how much longer do we have to hang around here?”

Ace: “Now you know that pops wants us to hang around til the last guest leaves… but that could be a while. Why, you got something important to do?”

Thurston: “No…” looks to where Missy is standing “But I have someone important to do, you know what I mean…”

Ace: “You know that mom wasn’t too happy that you brought her… of course she wasn’t too happy about me bringing Sarah either. Says they’re not high enough class…”

Thurston: “I’m tired of hearing that shit from mom though… What, Sarah’s dad owning three ski lodges isn’t good enough?”

Ace: “Apparently not…”

Thurston: “Well… Don’t listen to her… She’s a bit old-fashioned.”

A man in an immaculate tuxedo wanders up to the duo and pokes his head in.

Man: “Hello there Thurston… Ace… how are you two doing? You’re looking handsome as usual.”

Ace: “I’m doing quite well…”

Thurston: “As am I… Forgive me, but I seemed to have forgotten your name…”

Man: “Oh, no worries, I’m sure your head must be spinning by now, having to deal with so many people in such a short span of time. My name is Jonathon Lewis Hubbard, you can call me Lewis. Of Pennypacker and Hubbard Associates.

Thurston: “Ah yes, now I remember… you helped handle the Luzotti takeover. That has become one of our top properties at the Marshall Group… job well done.”

Lewis: “Your praise is much to high, sir… it was just business as usual. However, I do have something else… one of the butlers was looking for you earlier, said to have you meet him in the den… he told me that he will be waiting there for you…”

Thurston: “Hmph… he has the audacity to call me away from this party, so ask to meet me alone, away from my peers? I may well have his job for this.”

Lewis: “Don’t be so short fused, Thurston, it may well be the end of you… of course, that’s what they told me about women, and I am now thrice divorced… but ah well. Have a good night, sir.”

Thurston: “And a good night to you, Lewis… thank you for the message and enjoy the party.”

The man wanders away, as Thurston turns to Ace and leans over so as not to be heard by any persons who may be eves-dropping

Thurston: “I have to take my leave for a moment… I will return though.”

Ace: “What is it now?”

Thurston: “One of the butlers seems to have outgrown his uniform and has sent for me… It should be short.”

Ace: “Need help?”

Thurston: “I doubt it… I should be fine on my own... I doubt that this will be difficult, and if a physical confrontation should come, I sincerely doubt that he would be any more of a match than Robinson was.”

Thurston stalks down the hallway and ascends the staircase, to the first floor. Walking down the hallway, he storms into the den, almost running over the butler as they come face to face.

Thurston: “What the HELL do you think you’re doing, calling me away from this event? Why, I should fire you…

The butler turns to side and motions with his right hand. Thurston follows the path of his finger to a figure standing, facing out the window into the dark. Thurston leans over to the butler.

Thurston: “Get out. I’ll deal with you later.”

The butler turns sharply and scurries off as Thurston straightens up and clears his throat, adjusting his tie in the process.

Thurston: “Thurston Edward Marshall the Third… and you might be...?”

Man: “I might be your fucking guardian angel… or not. You can call me Mr. Smith, if you would like.”

Thurston: “Excuse me sir… I do not appreciate the tone of your voice… as this is my house, I would appreciate…”

Smith: “I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what you would appreciate. I’m not here to make nice, I’m here for business.”

Thurston: “Sir, I will have you removed immediately if you persist to be so insolent.”

Smith: “You could try… I somehow doubt you would be able to do it yourself. And forget about your brother, he’s occupied at the moment.”

Thurston: “Sir, you have about two minutes to explain yourself before I toss you out on your ass...”

Mr. Smith whirls to face Thurston, his arms held in stance, a ferocious grimace on his face. Thurston is able to get a better look at Smith. He is the same height as Thurston, a bit stockier. He is also roughly twenty or twenty-five years older. His face is heavily wrinkled, showing signs of many years of hardships.

Thurston: “Now old man...”

Smith: “Shut up, you rich little bitch, and listen to someone who knows what is going on.”

Thurston: “One minute.”

Smith: “What?”

Thurston: “One minute, until I throw your ass out.”

Smith: “Don’t worry you upper class shit, it won’t take that long. I have a business offer for you.”

Thurston: “First you insult me, in my own home, and then you propose business dealings? You are either insane or desperate...”

Smith: “Possibly a mix of both. But it is simple. I need you to make sure that Chris Cane does not succeed in his match at Insurrection this coming Wednesday…”

Thurston: “Trust me, sir, I don’t want him to succeed either. I deserve that match, not him.”

Smith: “Understood.”

Thurston: “Could I inquire as to why you need Cane to lose?”

Smith: “You could. I would not give you a straight answer, though. Let me just say that, as a true American, it is in your best interest to make sure that Cane does not gain the title…”

Thurston: “And what is in it for me?”

Smith: “I will make sure that you have a title shot the next week against Daher…”

Thurston: “I can take care of that myself…”

Smith: “… And I will make sure that your little filly downstairs does not meet an unfortunate end on her trip home…”

Thurston: “You old piece of shit… I’ll kill you!”

Thurston quickly lunges for Smith… but is met with the barrel of a pistol pressed into his gut.

Smith: “Bad idea. Now, from your reaction, I assume we have a deal? Yes, I think so.”

Thurston: “You bastard… You won’t leave here alive…”

Smith: “Yes, I will. Or she dies. Quite simple. Now turn around and walk into the hallway.”

Thurston follows his directives, entering the hall and turning, facing away from the front door. He notices that none of the butlers are present and attendant.

Thurston: “Where are all the butlers at? They should be up here, watching the door!”

Smith: “Let’s just say I pay more for a deaf ear and twenty minutes than you do for three hours work. Now, I am going to walk out this door. You will stay where you are, and will not move for exactly one minute. After that minute is up, you can come to seek me out, but I will be gone. You move before a minute’s up… the girl is gone, no matter what you do. And no one hears of this, capisce?”

Thurston: “Understood…”

Smith: “Just do your duty. Goodbye, Thurston”

The door opens, then slams shut. Thurston watches his watch, waiting for the minute to turn. When it does, he rushes to the door, opens it, and peers out. Nothing is moving.

Thurston: “Oh shit…”