“When did you get in town?”
“We arrived two days ago. No, three.”
“On business?”
“A charity ball I’m hosting,” the female said.
William nodded. “I see.”
The couple seemed to glance at Joy as if they were waiting for William to introduce her. But he didn’t.
The male looked back at William. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been well. And you?”
Then the woman interjected. “Does it matter?”
William said nothing.
“I thought not,” she said. “But you’re showing yourself again in public, I see.” She looked Joy up and down. “And it’s always the same. You and yourwomen.”
“Will you ever settle down?” the male asked William. Then he looked at Joy with disdain too. “I guess not.” He placed his hand on the lower back of the woman Joy presumed was his wife. “Good day, William.”
“Good day,” William said with what sounded like equal contempt and the couple, glancing at Joy one more time, walked away.
Joy could see how their presence threw William. She expected him to immediately explain himself. Especially the part where he wouldn’t introduce her to them. But he sat back down.
She sat down too. “Who were they?” she asked him.
William was still watching them as they made their way toward the exit. “My parents,” he said and crossed his legs again.
Joy was shocked. “Yourparents? But they were so formal with you.”
“Always have been and always will be.”
“But they acted like they hardly know you.”
“That’s because they don’t. My childhood was spent at expensive boarding schools. They wanted nothing to do with me.”
“Kind of like me and my mother,” Joy said.
“Or worse,” he said, to her surprise. “Ah. Here’s Max!”
Joy looked where William was looking as Maximus Bluff, the man she knew was his security chief, walked up.
“Hello, Boss. Miss Johnson.”
Joy smiled. “You can call me Joy.”
“Ah no,” William interjected. “We aren’t doing that.”
Max gave Joy a sympathetic smile. She’ll learn, he thought. “Nice to see you again, Miss Johnson.”
“You as well,” Joy responded.
“What you got for me?” William asked him.
Max pulled up a chair from one of the nearby waiting tables. “The gunman that attempted that hit on Miss Johnson has been identified as Colin Becker.”
