It’s that time of day when everything looks beautiful in the light, Hollywood hour. The dying rays of the sun cast their last blast of energy dousing us all in gold. Ben looks like he belongs here, bathed in light.
“Have dinner with us tonight.”
“I’m the hired help.”
“Technically. But I can ask you as my childhood friend, just like Elise will be there.”
He isn’t saying no. And if he wanted to, he would. No one makes Ben do anything. Even me.
“What will Lennox say?”
“I don’t give a shit what Lennox says and in all honesty, he probably won’t either. He’s going to be too fixated on Michael Voigt.” This was true. And my brother didn’t interfere unless it was something to do with politics.
Ben doesn’t say anything. He looks too serious, too worried and I wonder if there’s something about our dinner guest he’s not telling me, which wouldn’t be a surprise.
“What do you know?”
“I’m interested in finding out more about Voigt. He’s got very strong connections to an individual in England that we’ve got our eye on.”
A potential threat then.
“Does Lennox know?”
“He’s been told.”
Which meant he was dismissing it as being nothing, something he did when he was fixated.
“So you’ll come to dinner?” It stung that if he said yes, it wouldn’t be because of me. It was because he was doing his job.
“I’ll be there.”
* * *
The dress I opt for is sleek and clings, and I only choose it once I know that what we’re eating is light and won’t make me look like a snake that’s just had its dinner. It’s clingy enough that I can’t wear underwear and there’s a split that results in a mental note not to wear it if I’m going to encounter William Goldsmith. I know I’ll probably sit next to Ben, and I also know that part of the reason I’ve chosen this dress is because I can’t wear underwear. The thrill of knowing it, of maybe letting him know that, makes my centre swell.
I head downstairs when I hear voices, clear because of the lack of a breeze. Michael Voigt isn’t someone I’ve met before, but I’ve seen his picture often enough to know immediately that’s him. He’s tall, elegant looking, with round spectacles – because they’re not glasses – perched on the end of his nose. His wife is blonde, her hair piled up high on her head, and she looks sunburned. Her sister is going to cause Elise problems and I can already see the painted smile on Elise’s face before she’s finished her Long Island Iced Tea.
Voigt greets me by my title and I automatically tell him to call me Blair. We’re not at the castle, there’s no ceremony. If he perceives this as being a friendly gesture, one of relations becoming closer, then that’s fine.
I’m introduced to his wife, Melissa, and the sister, Letitia, known as Letty. The usual chat begins; houses, clothes, children, schools, Scotland… I’m sure that if I sleep talk, this is what comes out.
“Can I get you another drink?”
I’m startled by Ben’s voice in my ear.
“Please. Surprise me.”
He grins, a shit-eating one, knowing that he’s already surprised me.
“Always.”
He strides over to the outside bar where the island staff are surprisingly busy, given that there are only eight people present. We’re dining outside because the weather demands it, which will make it harder for me to slip away later.
“Is that your boyfriend? Wait till the media find out.” Letty giggles, reminding me of Elise who’s talking to Lennox too much.
“He’s my security and one of my oldest friends.”
“So he’s single?”
