“Fifty-nine.He used to have checkups often.I remind him now, but he keeps putting it off.”More lightly, she said, “It’s probably nothing more than facing sixty.”
Cutter stretched out his legs and grunted.“I can identify with that.”
Her lips twitched.“Forty?Forty’s nothing.”
“Fine for you to say.You’re not the one turning it soon.”
“But look at you.You’re doing so well.”
He gave a negligent shrug.
“Do you miss modeling?”
“No way.”He had officially retired two years before, when his last contract expired.“I got what I wanted from it.It was a vehicle, right from the start.That’s all.”
“You don’t miss the adulation?The attention?”
He gave a firm shake of his head.
“And the business is going well?”
“Uh-huh.”He was a partner in an investment banking firm that he had formed with three others shortly before he’d stopped modeling.“My partners have the degrees, the experience, the technical know-how.I have the contacts.”
“You have the charisma,” Pam corrected.“You don’t talk all the time, but when you do, you have something to say.You don’t waste people’s time.You give them a feeling of confidence.”
He shrugged.“Something works.”Then he dropped all show of nonchalance, because nonchalance was the last thing he felt when he thought about John.“We’re getting there, Pam.The St.George package is growing.”He paused.“John doesn’t see it yet, does he?”
“No.He’s too arrogant.You’d have to pound him over the head with a takeover before he knew it was happening.”
“Good.”Cutter sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.Yes, he felt satisfaction.He also—still—felt anger and resentment.“That’s exactly how I want it.We’re buying small blocks of stock here, small blocks there.Our clients use their own names or those of their businesses.When we finally group together to form a cohesive entity, John will be stunned.Totally outsmarted.Beaten at his own game.”
Pam exhaled into a grim smile.“That sounds good.”
“How are things on your end?”
She pursed her lips.“I just saw the latest figures.My designs comprise nearly forty percent ofFacets’sales.Granted, I’m not doing the actual jewelry-making anymore, but I hold copyrights on all of my designs.”She tapped her chest with a finger.“Me.Not John.Me.And I’ve checked and rechecked that with two different lawyers.If I were to suddenly pull out, John would be up shit’s creek.”
Cutter had to smile at the expression.It wasn’t often that Pam swore.She had mellowed with age, as he had, but John was the one thing that could get her riled.“Do you see him much?”
“As little as possible,” she said with feeling.
“How much is that?”
“Once a week or so.More when the board meets.”
“Is he civil?”
“Oh, yeah.But I don’t take chances.I make sure there are people around.He’d never misbehave in public.It wouldn’t be good for his image.”
“Does he see Ariana much?”
“As little as possible,” she repeated with even more feeling than before.
“By his choice or yours?”
“Both.He doesn’t like kids.Has no idea what to do with them.That suits me just fine.The less she sees of him, the better.He isn’t the kind of role model I want for her.”She stopped and considered what she’d said.When she spoke again, he heard an element of doubt.“That goes two ways, I suppose.When I’m with John, I’m not thekind of role model I want for my daughter, either.I feel ugly things.I don’t want her seeing that.”
Cutter marveled at her sensitivity.“You’re a good mother.”
