“That had nothing to do with our financial situations. Mik knows I’ve had a lot of girlfriends, that’s all. He knows how much I want the role, and that I have a reputation for getting what I want by whatever means. It’s nothing to do with you.”
She fiddles with the lid of the cup.
“I understand what you’re saying,” I tell her carefully. “But it’s all so superficial. What really matters in life are the relationships we make, and how we treat our friends and family. You can be the richest person in the world and not have any love in your life.”
She lifts her gaze to mine. “You did not just say that.”
“What?”
“Did you get that from the back of a cereal box?”
I glare at her. “I’m trying to say that money can’t buy everything.”
“Only a person who has money would say that.”
We glower at each other across the coffee table.
“I don’t know what you want from me,” I say carefully. “It’s not my fault I have money. I was born into it. I’m sure you’re right that it’s impossible for me to understand what it’s like not to have it. But I do my best to help others less fortunate than myself.”
She blows out a long breath. “I’m sorry, you’ve been very generous, and it’s not fair of me to criticize you.”
“I don’t mean with you, Chess. You know that the Club is run by the Midnight Circle? A group of wealthy business people in the city?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not just a resort for rich people. Once all the bills are paid, the majority of the proceeds go to charity.”
She stares at me. “What?”
“That’s why we built it. Oliver Huxley runs a club in the city, and he had this idea of bringing in a group of investors to create an exclusive resort that would attract the wealthiest sort of people in the country, and we’d use the profits to help local charities.”
“I didn’t know.”
“We don’t make it public because we’d be overrun with requests. We pick the charities carefully. One of them is Kainga Kore. It attempts to help the homeless have access to laundry, showers, and find a place to stay. Another is Aotearoa Life, which aims to help people living in hardship have better opportunities and futures. I personally deal with the boards of those charities, and I visit them frequently and talk to the people who need help. It’s why we’re having the charity ball next weekend. I’m not oblivious to the problems of having no money, Chessie. And I try to help where I can.”
Her eyes brim with tears, and she presses her fingers to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” I didn’t mean to make her cry. I get up and go and sit next to her on the sofa. “I just don’t want you to think I’m some kind of playboy who only thinks about having a good time, that’s all.” Something strikes me then. “Do you think badly of me for pulling the wool over the board’s eyes just to get the role?”
“I get why you’re doing it,” she whispers. It’s not answering the question, though.
I put my arm along the back of the sofa, not around her, but trying to give her comfort. “I understand. I’ll be honest with you. I was pissed off with the board because I felt they were judging my behavior, and I didn’t feel that any of them was in a position to throw the first stone. Mikaere had an affair about ten years ago.”
“Oh shit, really?”
“Yeah, nobody’s supposed to know, but Dad told me. It was with Mik’s sister-in-law, and it caused a real rumpus in the family. He and his brother had a huge fight over it, and it was so bad that the police had to be called. His brother eventually moved to the South Island.”
“My God.”
“Koa has six kids by three different women, so yeah, it felt a bit harsh for him to be judging my way of life.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Moana, at least, practices what she preaches in terms of fidelity, but one of her sons just got done for drunk driving. She doesn’t exactly have the perfect home life either. And she spends half her time preaching about cultural integrity, but she drives a bloody Range Rover. Tell me that’s not selling out. I mean, that’s life. None of us is perfect. I understand that better than anyone. But it’s just hard to be lectured by people who are supposed to be pillars of the community, but are also flawed, you know?”
“Yeah,” she says. She lifts her gaze to mine. Her eyes are glassy, full of emotion. “I’m sorry. I’m too quick to judge, and it’s not fair.”
“It’s okay, I’m far from angelic.”