Another dig. He gritted his teeth.
‘Lucy,’ he said carefully, keeping his voice even. Controlling his temper wasn’t usually an issue, but she was needling him in ways he wasn’t accustomed to. ‘I’m just wondering something.’
‘Yes?’
‘Did you agree to meet me simply to show your anger? To bait me? Or did you have something you wanted to say? Something you wanted to know from me. An exchange. A conversation.’
‘You’re right,’ she said, exhaling. ‘Sorry. My family will vouch for the fact I don’t let a grudge go easily. I don’t like being used. But I also shouldn’t have walked out like that, shouldn’t have left you the note I did.’
Her honesty was unexpectedly disarming.
He steepled his fingers, rubbing them lightly against his mouth as he recalibrated.
‘Nervous?’ she asked.
He dropped his hands. ‘Of course not. I’d just like to apologise. I’m sorry if I upset you.’
She gave a small grunt. ‘Interesting. You’re apologising for upsetting me.’
‘That’s right.’
‘So you’re not apologising for trying to use me for your own purposes.’
He ground his teeth. Normally an apology from him — any apology — was more than enough. But hell would freeze over before he continued the additional apology he’d planned.
‘Still,’ she continued, ‘I didn’t expect you to, because I doubt you often lie outright.’ She smiled a pseudo-sweet smile. ‘Just lie by omission. Anyway,’ she continued, ‘it’s clear you thought I could help you with the consultation process over the hotel project.’
He gave a slight nod, wondering where this would lead.
‘Which begs the question,’ she said, ‘how exactly do you think I can help you?’
He narrowed his eyes. Was she about to help him? This meeting was full of surprises.
‘By using your influence with your community. This community. I’d like their support.’
‘You mean you need their support.’
How much did she know? He had to tread carefully. ‘It would certainly make my job a lot easier.’
‘Is that all you’re interested in? Making your life easier?’
He deflected, glancing aside as if her goading wasn’t working. It was. He looked back at her. Damn those eyes.
‘Lucy,’ he said, voice dropping. ‘Of course I don’t go out of my way to make my life more difficult. But I would like the chance to show the community that my plans would benefit them.’
She crossed her legs and folded her arms. Not exactly an open posture.
‘Perhaps you could start with convincing me,’ she said. ‘It makes sense. Win me over and I can win over my community. I can spread the word. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’
He nodded, eyes narrowing slightly. She sounded altogether too reasonable.
‘I would,’ he said. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. ‘Look around you. The place is falling down.’
She did, taking in the cracked ceiling roses, the warped skirting boards, the mottled wallpaper and sagging curtains. Then she looked back at him.
‘It’s full of character, Oliver. You can never recreate that.’
‘I think character is in the eye of the beholder.’
