Summary

In London, István begins a new life working for Mervyn’s private security company. At first he is assigned to standard tasks—escorting clients to and from nightclubs, monitoring entrances at corporate events, and standing guard outside lavish parties. London’s speed and brightness astonish him. He rents a small, windowless room above a dry cleaner and spends his nights wandering through the neon-lit streets after his shifts end, half exhilarated, half displaced.

Mervyn takes a liking to István’s discretion. Unlike many guards, he never gossips about the clients or drinks on duty. His calmness and heavy physical presence make wealthy people feel safe, and soon Mervyn begins assigning him to elite clientele. One night, he drives a sleek car to pick up Helen Nyman, the much younger second wife of a billionaire financier. Helen immediately treats him with a...