Part 2
The trio was driven to the banquet hall, via a black limousine waiting in front of Rude's building.
The dinner was big news. Together Pullman and Brauer would be the largest gun manufacturer in the world. The event would also be televised and portions would appear on all major news networks. Of course Lara hadn't told her brother this because she knew he wouldn't come, he hated being on the TV's.
But he had no chance to escape, for the second he stepped out of the limousine he was assaulted by a phalanx of cameras. As he and the two other women walked down the red carpet to the door Rude's face began to turn the same color as the tomato he'd had in his sandwich at lunch.
To his delight Rude found that there were no cameras in the building itself at the moment. Already the party was in full swing; they'd arrived just in time. The building was basically one massive banquet hall. The ceilings were at least three stories high and were topped off by a gargantuan diamond chandelier, which hung from a series of joists and girders.
The second the three stepped in they were greeted by a porter dressed in a black tuxedo, ready to cater to the every need of the new arrivals.
"Welcome sir. May I ask your name?" asked the porter respectfully.
"Rude Brauer, and this is my sister and girlfriend. I'd like to hope we're on your little list." Rude said in reference to the lengthy piece of paper the porter was nervously clutching in his hands.
"Brauer? I'm terribly sorry sir I didn't know you were…"
"Forget about it, s'okay." Rude said casually.
With Petra on his arm and Lara at his other side Rude descended the half pyramid of stairs down to the party. A shot that would be used countless times on later broadcasts and historical references.
His mother, who had dressed in a loose white dress, immediately greeted him.
"Finally you're here. I thought you'd never show." She said with arms open wide and a smile spreading across her face.
"Well we would have been here sooner if wonder boy wasn't taking so long to look good for Petra." Lara said, causing to blush slightly and squeeze Rude's arm affectionately.
"Oh shut up." Said Rude, reverting back to a childish manner he adopted when arguing with Lara.
"Now don't you two start. Come on, mingle and impress some of these Pullman people." Said Rude's mother.
Lara drifted off into a crowd of women and began to utilize her gift of talking. She could make someone think they were a god or make them feel like the lowest scum in the world. She was doing the former of the two at the moment.
Soon Rude had lost Petra too, so he looked oddly out of place in this gathering of pompous men and women who had probably never worked a day in their life, while his body ached from doing just that.
He was startled as a porter approached him with a tray full of drinks.
"Would you care for a drink sir?"
"Oh yes thank you."
As he sipped gingerly an older man approached him, about his father's age with an ornate white tuxedo and a familiar look about him. Then Rude pinned it, this guy was Orson Pullman, the president and founder of the company Brauer was merging with.
"Hello I don't believe we've met, I'm Orson Pullman." He said with an outstretched hand.
"Yes I don't think so. I'm Rude Brauer." He said, shaking the man's hand.
"Ah, Phillip's son. How nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Well you look just like your old man, even taking after him with the minimal hair approach." Joked Pullman.
"Hmm yes." Said Rude, trying to crack a smile.
Seeing that the conversation had died Pullman aborted.
"It's been good meeting you. My son Felix is over there, have you two met?"
"Um no we…" said Rude before he was cut off.
"Felix!"
A young man about Rude's age came over. He had chestnut brown hair and icy blue eyes. He also wore an outfit similar to Rude's, only a bit classier.
"Felix this is Phil's son Rude." Said Pullman before walking off.
"Pleasure to meet you." Felix beamed with an outstretched hand.
"Same here." Said Rude, ignoring the hand.
"So it looks like we both got one thing in common, horrible names." Said Felix, trying to jump-start the conversation with a joke like his father.
"Actually I like my name." Said Rude defensively.
"Oh sorry, anyhow. How do you like the party so far?"
"It sucks. So what do you do for work?"
"Work?" snorted Felix.
"Yeah, you know work. Getting up and exerting your muscles or brainpower, or a combination of the two. Apparently you've never done that before." Said Rude with a slight sneer.
Felix was caught off guard by Rude's snide remark, but he soon regained his composure.
"Ah yes I forgot, you're a furnace boy in the factory cellars. Trying to prove your masculinity no doubt." Jabbed Felix.
Rude had all he could do to not lunge at Felix and beat him senseless. But he knew that this merger meant a lot for his father so he had to be nice this snotty little prick.
"I'm not trying to prove anything. And if you'd like me to prove my masculinity we can take this outside and settle it that way." Rude said as he slowly rolled up his sleeves.
"No that's quite all right. I wouldn't want to damage you before you got to have your fun with that little prize you brought in on your arm."
"I beg your pardon." Rude said, eyebrows pointing skyward.
"I'm talking about that whore that was clinging to on the way in. I assume you've rented her for the night."
"That's my girlfriend you son of a bitch. And if you ever talk about her like that again I'll bust your face in." said Rude menacingly, but quiet.
"I also seemed to notice that you don't seem to have a woman in your life. Just daddy's little boy, sitting on your ass all day getting pampered. But looks like daddy can't provide a few things, girls, happiness and manners." Rude retorted.
Felix was utterly speechless.
Suddenly the noise of the party died as someone tapped repeatedly on their with a spoon.
"Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please!" yelled the man, who Rude identified as Orson Pullman.
Once everyone had his attention he continued.
"We would like to make a special announcement. With the times things change, which is apparent with this merger. But we have another changed today as well, Felix would you come up here?"
Felix shot a wicked glance at Rude. At the same instant a porter walked by with a bundle of coats in hand. Rude suddenly lurched forward upon his own will and splashed the contents of his barely touched drink all over Felix's stark white shirt and tan jacket. The red stain spread to encompass almost his entire chest, making it impossible to hide.
"Felix my god I'm sorry. The porter bumped into me and I lost my balance." Said Rude, masking a smirk.
All he got in return was an evil glare.
"Mark my word Brauer. You'll pay for your actions tonight. And when I strike it'll feel like a stake through your heart."
Rude paid the words no mind as Felix staggered up to his father. The big announcement was that they would be naming Felix vice-president of Pullman-Brauer. But the moment was ruined by Rude's little spill, and he was loving every minute of it. Then Felix poured wine for the three and they all drank a toast to Pullman-Brauer, as the cameras flashed like fireworks.
The banquet itself was fairly enjoyable, but Rude didn't feel hungry. Instead he just stared at his plate and nibbled the food like a reluctant kid with vegetables in front of him.
"Rude you gotta eat something. Come on." Said Petra as she nudged him with a smile.
"Not hungry."
But he couldn't eat. His mind dwelled on other things. Even as he sat in the limousine he kept on returning to Felix's threat. But he told himself that little fancy boy couldn't hurt him. Still he kept on returning to those last words.
"It'll feel like a stake through your heart."
As he looked out the windows seeing the buildings pass by he shuddered.
A stake the through your heart.