Chapter Three: American Hustle
Wednesday
Kendall Knight let out a long, drawn out sigh as he leaned back, folding his hands behind his head. His white, designer leather desk chair creaked, and he turned his green eyes to the window beside him, where the bright morning light filtered into his home. He was perched at his desk in his study, surrounded by stark white walls with gold trim. As he gazed out the window, he made a mental note to tell the groundskeeper that the rose bushes need trimming.
He turned his gaze back to his desk, to his desktop computer that sat before him. On the screen was a long, lengthy article about the life of Omar Garcia. Kendall had spent the morning reading all about Carlos's late father, and the gears in his mind were spinning with ideas for the perfect con.
Omar Garcia, surprisingly, had served in the military long before he started up his own production company. Kendall learned that he had built his own empire, which was something that he didn't often see in his own… clients, per se. It wasn't often that he, or any other con artists, found a rich man with a background of doing more than tying his own shoes.
Nevertheless, the article had detailed all about Omar Garcia's - Commander Garcia's - tour in some country that Kendall had never even heard of. Apparently, when Carlos's father was in his early twenties, he enlisted. His career in the military was cut short a few years later when he suffered a spinal injury from an explosive. It turns out - the injury never healed. Not entirely, anyway. That's what had killed him.
Over years and years of strain on his spine, Omar Garcia had slowly made the damage worse and worse. It was about a year ago that he was paralyzed almost completely. He'd died not long after. A part of Kendall sympathized with Carlos, having lost both of his own parents. But he never really had a close relationship with either of them, so he could only imagine Carlos's pain at losing his father.
Kendall wondered if his plan was a bit… tasteless. Perhaps he was overstepping with what he had decided to do, but he had to admit, it was genius. He might even rival Logan with the pure level of brilliance.
Pushing back his chair, Kendall stepped away from his computer. With a chuckle, he realized he probably wouldn't be walking much for the next few days. Reaching for his coat, he headed for the door.
It was almost lunchtime.
James really was too pompous for his own good.
Kendall rolled his eyes as he looked up at the restaurant before him. It was several stories high, with a marble exterior and fancy greek engravings etched into the stone. Tendrils of carefully tended ivy hung from the balcony above the front door, and subtle classical music drifted from inside.
It seemed a bit over-the-top for a lunch date. Not that Kendall was intimidated or anything.
"Will you be needing anything else, sir?"
Kendall's attention snapped to the chauffeur standing at his side. He had to tilt his head back to look at him - a clean shaven middle aged man with bright eyes and a kind smile. When Kendall shook his head, the man gestured to the doors and stepped around the blonde before padding back to the drivers side of the car.
With a sigh to calm his nerves, Kendall reached his arms to his sides, where the handles of his wheelchair were stationed. He glanced down at his outfit - a dark green navy suit with twelve badges on the front and a tag with the name KNIGHT etched across it in large, white letters. He was surprised that the outfit still fit - it hadn't been used in years. He knew James would probably scoff at him for reusing an old costume, but he didn't care. His plan was perfect.
He rolled his chair towards the doors, blinking in surprise when they opened up for him. A footman looked down at him, a kind smile across his lips. "Come on in, sir." He said politely, and Kendall nodded with satisfaction.
As he entered the restaurant, Kendall couldn't help but admire the interior. The walls looked similar to the marble on the outside, and the glass windows rose from floor to ceiling on either side. A small fountain was set in the center of the restaurant, providing a calming sound of trickling water beneath the classical musical that played softly from the speakers overhead.
"Do you have a reservation?" The footman asked, stepping around Kendall to stand at the hosting station.
Kendall shook his head. "Not formally, no. But I expect to see a few friends here."
The footman nodded and reached for a menu bound in a glass frame before stepping away from the hosting station and gesturing for Kendall to follow him. He paused for a moment, looking awkward. "Er, do you need help reaching your table?"
Kendall smirked. "No, thanks. I can get around just fine on my own."
The footman nodded, laughing awkwardly, and lead Kendall down an aisle of tables adorned in white table cloths and bouquets of flowers perched in the center of each one. As elegant as the restaurant was, Kendall gagged inwardly. Even though he relished in the fact that only the richest of the rich could attend this type of restaurant, he still thought it was far too pretentious.
They rounded the corner and approached a setup of tables that circled the central fountain. Kendall immediately lit up when he recognized a certain duo already sitting at one of the tables. He halted, clearing his throat so the footman would hear him.
"Do you see your friends?" The footman asked as he set the menu down at a table near the fountain. Kendall nodded to him and wheeled his chair at the empty spot next to a table that was just barely in earshot of Carlos and James, but perfectly in sight. The footman nodded to him and padded away, leaving Kendall alone. With a sigh, he removed his navy-issued uniform hat from his head, and placed it down on the table cloth. Now, all he had to do, was wait.
He could see the two men just out of the corner of his eye, but he dared not to look at them. He always found this part to be the hardest - the patience. He never wanted to be the first one to make the move. He didn't want a single air of doubt in the minds of the people he planned to con. If he made the first move, they might suspect his intentions. If they made the first move… then it was their own fault anyway.
As Kendall arranged the silverware on his table, he began to eavesdrop on Carlos and James's conversation.
"Wait, wait, wait," James was saying. Kendall could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "You're saying that you've never been to Hawaii? Not even as a kid?"
Carlos laughed, awkward but bashful. "No, never. I always planned to go with my Dad, but when he got sick… well, we had to make other plans. I do want to visit one day, though."
"You have to. It's totally worth a trip. In fact, I own a beach house in Maui, so I can hook you right up."
"Of course you own a beach house, James."
James gasped in mock offense, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Carlos propped an elbow on the table and leaned forward. "You just seem like one of those rich boys who vacations in tropical getaways for nine months out of the year," he teased.
Even though Kendall couldn't see James's face, he knew that he was rolling his eyes.
"Ten months out of the year, actually."
That comment made Carlos snort, and Kendall rolled his eyes again. James really did know how to flirt his way to a boy's heart. Anyone's heart, Kendall thought bitterly. But he still didn't think that James would be able to pull off swindling Carlos into marriage within a matter of days. Carlos wasn't bright, but he certainly wasn't insane.
While Kendall was lost in his own thoughts, he didn't hear the rest of their conversation. He stole a look in their direction when he read the sound of a chair scooting across the tile. James had stood from his chair and was winking in Carlos's direction. "I'll be back." He assured him before turning away and heading in the direction of the kitchens.
Probably going to pay off the chef. Kendall realized. He was too busy glaring in James's direction that he didn't notice Carlos looking at him with interest in his eyes. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Carlos walked in front of him and sat down on the other side of the table.
"Navy?" Carlos asked, a genuine curiosity in his eyes.
Kendall was a bit taken aback, but managed to stammer out, "Y-yes."
"My dad was in the Navy. Back in the 90's." Carlos explained, a smile playing on his lips. "How long have you been in the military?"
Kendall sighed dramatically, breaking eye contact and looking down at the table cloth. "Two years. Well, I was in the Navy. I was rotated back last month."
"You look like you have a story to tell."
"Don't ask."
"I've got time."
Kendall tilted his head, surprised at Carlos's genuinity. Before he could speak, Carlos stood up from his end of the table and gestured for Kendall to follow him. "Come sit with us, I'm sure my friend would like to hear it too."
The blonde didn't need to be asked twice. He backed away from his spot at the table, not missing the way Carlos's eyes widened at the sight of his wheelchair. He pretended not to notice and followed Carlos over to his table beside the fountain. James's seat was still empty, and Kendall took the empty space between them.
Carlos noticed Kendall eyeing James's seat and explained, "He said he'd be right back. I suspect he'd paying off the chef for some romantic dessert."
Well damn. Maybe Carlos wasn't that dumb. He seemed to be reading James pretty well already. Well, except for the fact that he had no idea James was purely using him for his money. It was almost sad. Carlos seemed so happy to be spending time with James, Kendall could only imagine the heartbreak that would ensure when James finally ditched him.
"So, where were you stationed?" Carlos inquired, returning to his seat and folding his hands on the table.
"South Germany. Near Munich." Kendall replied.
"What happened?" Carlos asked, looking wary about asking the question. His eyes didn't stray from Kendall's face, and the blonde found that he had a new respect for Carlos. The man really did know how to humor people, and how to make sure they didn't feel uncomfortable around him.
Kendall shifted his body slightly, allowing the chair to audibly creak and adopting a sad expression, "I was injured in a training exercise. Shattered my hip and fractured my lower spine. The kind of injury that gets you shipped back immediately. Kind of a lame way to go out, if you ask me. I'd much rather of gone out in combat, rather than falling on my own ass."
Carlos gave him a sympathetic look, but before he could respond they both jumped at a loud gasp from a few feet away. Kendall turned his head and saw James glaring at him with undisguised fury. The blonde gave him a smug look, feeling a twinge of satisfaction as James quickly regained his composure and plastered a smile across his face.
James was holding a white plate in his hand, and when he approached the table Kendall realized it was a plate of tiramisu. Looking at it with amazement, Kendall noticed that the chef had sprinkled the cocoa on top in the perfect shape of a heart. Just the kind of cheesy romantic dessert that Carlos had predicted.
"That looks delicious." Carlos beamed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at James.
"Who is this?" James asked through gritted teeth as he returned to his seat, placing the plate on the table between him and Carlos. He flashed a look at Kendall that the blonde had grown familiar to over the years - a look of rage disguised as infinite politeness.
Carlos tilted his head to the side, pursing his lips for a moment. "You know what, I never asked his name."
"Kendall." The blonde stated. "Kendall Knight."
He stifled a yelp as James dug the heel of his shoe into Kendall's foot. He had to pretend he was paralyzed, after all.
"Nice to meet you, Kendall." Carlos smiled at him kindly, "This is James Diamond. I met him last night."
James looked like he was going to give Kendall a stinging retort, but before he could speak, Carlos and James's waitress returned with a bottle of wine. She filled their glasses, and nodded to Kendall, who smiled at her as she tipped the bottle, pouring the red liquid into the glass on his table. When the liquid almost lapped at the corners, she stopped and placed the bottle on the table top. "What can I get you to eat?" She asked nicely.
"Nothing, just the wine." Kendall replied. The waitress furrowed her brow but didn't protest before turning away, smiling at James and Carlos as she went.
"Don't you want anything to eat?" Carlos asked. He flashed a look at James, who shrugged, avoiding looking at Kendall for fear of betraying his emotions.
"I couldn't even if I wanted to," Kendall explained, "The wine is about all I can afford."
"What do you mean?"
"Vet benefits don't really cover much, especially with the medical bills I've had to fork over." Kendall scoffed.
"Don't they pay for your medical expenses if you've been injured?" Carlos asked with a confused look.
"Not if you aren't injured on the field. Getting hurt during a training exercise is laughable let alone something they'd actually want to pay for."
Carlos exchanged a look with James, who was staring furiously at Kendall. The blonde knew that James was catching on to his plan, and he knew by the angry look in the brunette's eye that Kendall would be the challenge he hadn't expected.
"Well, we'll have to do something about that, then." Carlos declared, exchanging a sympathetic look with James.
James narrowed his eyes, scooting backwards in his chair and standing up. "Actually," his voice cracked, and he cleared his throat before trying again. "Actually, I've got to get going. There's an event happening at the Casino that I need to attend to."
Carlos looked disappointed, and James placed his hand over his. "I'll call you later. Okay?"
"Aren't you going to pay?" Kendall asked with an edge to his voice.
"Oh, yes." James smirked at him, "Those of us who can actually afford to eat here have our own tabs. See you later, babe."
As James walked away, Carlos gave Kendall an apologetic look. But the blonde was staring at Carlos with wide eyes, disbelief on his face. "Babe? Didn't you just meet him last night?"
"I know." Carlos looked away, a blush playing on his cheeks. "But I feel like we have a really strong connection, you know? He just gets me. It's like we've known each other for years. I think…. I think I really like him."
Kendall gave him a look of such raw disbelief that Carlos immediately followed up, "I still have to get to know him, you know? I can't rush into things. Oh, but he's so great."
"I'm sure he is." Kendall replied through tight lips. However, Carlos's words eased his mind. Carlos obviously wasn't looking to jump into a serious relationship right away. Especially not get married. Kendall found himself smiling with satisfaction when he realized that, even though James thought he had Carlos wrapped around his finger, Carlos was actually much smarter than he let on.
Carlos took a sip of his wine and rolled his eyes. "Enough about me. I want to hear about you. But first, order something to eat."
"Really, I can't-"
"Please. It's my treat." Carlos assured him, "It's the least I can do."
Kendall smiled at him and reached for the menu. He was careful not to order something too expensive - he didn't want to come across as greedy. He wanted to get Carlos comfortable. He wanted to play the role of the pitiful wounded warrior for as long as he could. At least until Saturday.
Once the food had been brought, Carlos leaned across the table, propping his chin up with his hand. "So, tell me about Germany."
Two hours later, the two men found themselves standing outside of the restaurant, sheltered below a canopy that hid them from the harsh sun. Kendall was amazed at Carlos's kindness. The man had bought his dinner and listened to his tragic backstory that Kendall had spent all night coming up with. Carlos was sympathetic at all the right times, laughed at all the right moments, and was sincere with his interest in Kendall's life.
Even when they left the table, Carlos had offered to wheel Kendall out of the restaurant, but the blonde refused. He'd told Carlos that he was capable of getting around on his own, even if he couldn't walk. The other man had respected him, even told him that he admired Kendall's determination.
"Thanks again," Kendall said, looking up at Carlos with a pitiful smile on his face, "for lunch."
"Like I said, it's the least I can do. Dad always taught me to treat people with kindness - especially those who have given so much."
Kendall looked away, his voice thick with bitterness. "I haven't given much. I'd barely joined the Navy before I was stupidly injured."
"But you enlisted, and gave two years of your life in service." Carlos argued, his eyes serious. "I'm glad you're okay, though," he trailed off, looking away, "I'd give anything to have my father back."
Kendall opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off when Carlos's eyes lit up suddenly.
"My father had a similar injury to yours." He explained, "It was untreated for years, but we spent a lot of time seeing specialists in spinal injuries. They said if he'd been treated earlier, they might have been able to save him. They even said they would probably be able to help him walk again. Maybe… they could do the same for you."
That was it. The moment Kendall had been waiting for. He already knew this story, after his hours and hours of research on Carlos Garcia and his father. He knew every specialist that the family had seen, and all the dead ends they'd met. Everything Kendall had done leading up to this moment had fallen perfectly into place. Now, the next few steps could seal the deal.
"I…" Kendall hesitated, allowing his voice to crack with emotion. "I can't."
Carlos looked confused, "Why not?"
Kendall looked away, refusing to meet Carlos's eyes. He had to execute this perfectly.
"I'm broke, Carlos." He muttered. "Every penny I owned I spent on doctors visits. I know about the specialists. I know they can help me. But I don't have any money. They can't help me if I can't pay them."
Carlos stood in silence, furrowing his brow as he listened to Kendall. He blinked, and the blonde could see the ideas forming in his brain. The idea that Kendall himself had planted in Carlos's brain.
"Don't worry about it, Kendall." Carlos stated, determination hardening his gaze. "I'll take care of it. I'll pay for the specialists, the treatment, everything."
There it was. The confirmation. That was the moment Kendall knew he would win.