I hand her a drink, and she adds a few ice cubes and tilts it in my direction. “You’ll have to excuse my father. He loves talking about his… conquests.”
I make a noise in the back of my throat. “Perhaps business matters should be left to someone else.”
She laughs. “That’s what I keep saying, but some of the families we’re in business with are a bit more traditional.”
“There are ways around that.”
She takes a sip of her drink. “So I’m told, but we’re not here to discuss that, are we?”
I eye her over the rim of my glass.
“I know your father has discussed an alliance,” Elise Thayer continues. “I’d like to further discuss the particulars.”
I glance at my father, who has a pained expression on his face as he listens to Thatcher discuss another gala. “Shouldn’t your father be the one having this discussion?”
Elise doesn’t reply.
“I’m listening.”
“You need allies for the upcoming war—”
“Potentialwar,” I correct. “Nothing is set in stone.”
If all goes according to plan, we’ll avoid a war, but I know better than to leave us unprepared.
Like it or not, the Thatchers are the only viable option we have.
I know they’re already being propositioned by the enemy, who is circling and looking for ways to cut us off.
Rumors about the meeting have already spread.
We can’t stay ahead of the damage, but I am doing everything I can to minimize it.
For the first time in decades, the Paynes are on shaky footing. I want to kick myself for not having seen this coming, but I know I’ve been played. I had gotten too complacent, and our enemies saw an opening.
I’d be impressed if I weren’t livid.
“Then a potential partnership is all the more important, don’t you think?” Elise turns to face me. “You and I can be useful to one another.”
I study her intently. “Can we?”
Elise smiles. “I know you’re a man who likes to have fun, Mason Payne, and that’s what I’m looking for.”
An image of London flashes to mind, and it takes me too long to brush it off.
Elise touches my arm and laughs. “I’m not proposing marriage or even anything real. Just a mutually beneficial partnership.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
Elise moves her drink to her lips, and her eyes move over my face. “I have my reasons. I see no reason why we can’t both get what we want.”
I grunt noncommittally.
“Non-exclusive, of course,” Elise adds quickly. “I don’t care what you do in your spare time.”
I down the rest of my drink and stare at her. “You want us to put on a show for everyone?”
Elise sets down her drink and shrugs. “It’s not all that different from what we do every day, but we will have to make a few public appearances to sell it.”
