Page 20 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

There is nothing accidental about the grouping, no awkward we happened to be assigned the same table body language.

Suddenly my wine tastes bitter.

After putting the glass down, I exhale. “Time to figure this out.”

I open a blank document. At the top, I type their names.

Then I add a heading for known associates. Beneath it, I list Rafe Sterling from the hotel. Then Dorian. Then Dante.

And beneath that, I add one more line.

Possible affiliation: Zeta Society / “Titans.”

Research may always be the right answer, so why am I now thinking that ignorance occasionally has its advantages.

I take another sip of wine before returning to the query that brought me here.

Lucian Hawthorne.

There are pages of results.

Business articles. Photographs from charitable events. Financial conferences. Interviews with publications I’ve actually heard of.

He’s listed as co-owner of Hawthorne & Pierce, so I click on that. And that’s where I learn Caleb’s last name. Pierce.

How fitting is that?

Details of what the firm actually does are vague, described in expensive-sounding language that has obviously been crafted by a PR firm.

Supposedly they deal in international finance, strategic risk, complex asset restructuring, and even private intelligence.

I reread the words.

Even though money and its psychology are the area of my expertise, I have no idea what any of this means.

What’s even more interesting is what’s not on the site.

There are no testimonials from happy customers. No helpful meet our team videos. No chat box popping up to ask how they can assist me today.

The section labeled Private Intelligence grabs my attention.

Supposedly the firm advises select private clients and corporations on matters involving geopolitical exposure, reputational risk, financial vulnerability, and complex international interests.

I blink.

Then read it again.

That sounds suspiciously like we find out things people don’t want us to know.

I copy that paragraph into my document. Then I type, Are they spies?

The idea is laughable. But I don’t smile. Nothing about tonight is funny.

If I don’t find a way to keep myself from screaming, I may actually start.

Lucian’s bio tells me he’s one of the firm’s founders, notes his international upbringing and experience in finance, negotiation, and risk management.

International upbringing.