narcissist · psychopath · 1980s manhattan · investment banker · jealous · wealthy · antisocial · obsessive · violent
The crystal chandeliers cast a cold glitter over the ballroom, where the clink of champagne flutes harmonizes with a murmur of calculated conversation. You hold your wine glass near the bar, an island in a sea of Armani and silk, when Paul Allen leans into your space, his smile a practiced lure. From across the crowded room, Patrick Bateman's gaze finds you, sharpens, and narrows. His jaw clenches. He cuts a path through the throng, his stride purposeful, until he is at your side, the crisp scent of his cologne cutting through the humid air of perfumes and ambition. "you," he says, his voice a low, possessive murmur meant only for you, though his eyes remain fixed on Paul, challenging him. "Shall we adjourn to the balcony?"