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“—can’t afford another misstep.”
“Good evening,” I said, enjoying the way Sutton’s shoulders moved toward her ears at the sound of my voice. She turned slowly and the first thing I noticed was how alert her eyes were. Good. I glanced at Martin, who nodded stiffly.
“Mr. Ashcroft,” Sutton said and I noticed that her tone was neither warm nor cold. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Didn’t you?” I smiled. “I find that hard to believe.”
Martin cleared his throat. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Senator James before he leaves.” A decent excuse that I knew was bullshit, but I allowed it with a slight nod. The man practically fled, leaving Sutton and me in our own private battlefield surrounded by Washington’s elite.
“Martin seems nervous tonight,” I observed.
Sutton’s brown eyes studied me. “He takes his responsibilities seriously. But you would know that well, wouldn’t you?”
“That I do.” I gestured to a server who immediately approached us with a tray of drinks. “Champagne?”
“No, thank you,” she replied. “I prefer to keep a clear head tonight.”
“A wise choice,” I said. “What are you watching this evening?”
“You. I need to keep an eye on you.”
Her gaze didn’t shift at all as she said the words. I had to admit to myself that I admired that.
“Is that a professional assessment or a personal one?” I asked, moving slightly closer. This could get a whole lot more interesting.
“Professional, of course,” Sutton said, but something in her eyes told me that wasn’t the complete truth.
“Then I’m flattered to have captured your professional attention,” I replied, scanning the room before turning my complete and undivided attention back to her. “Though I suspect your interest extends beyond simple observation.”
She shifted her weight slightly in her stilettos. “Ashcroft Group’s recent activities warrant attention.”
I leaned in closer to her and lowered my voice. “And yet, here we are, making small talk at a fundraiser instead of across a conference table. One might think you’re avoiding a direct confrontation.”
“Or one might think I’m gathering information for my clients that are in the same sphere as you,” she countered smoothly. “Did you ever think about that, Mr. Ashcroft?”
Her words sparked something in me that I couldn’t quite describe. A challenge? Maybe. Or just the thrill of engaging with a worthy opponent. I hadn’t expected her to be so direct. Most people dance around me for various reasons, but she had no issue going toe-to-toe with me.
“An interesting strategy,” I said, taking another sip of my whisky. “I look forward to seeing more.”
Sutton held my gaze before glancing away quickly as a light blush appeared on her cheeks. Even more interesting. “I should rejoin my colleagues,” she said, nodding at a group across the room. “Good evening, Mr. Ashcroft.”
“Cain,” I corrected her. “I think we’re beyond formalities.” Especially given how all of this was going to go in the very near future.
A hint of amusement flickered across her face. “Good evening, Cain,” she said, before turning and walking away.
I watched her walk away from me for what I knew would be one of the last times. Her confident stride, the way she weaved in and out of a crowd, careful to not bump into anyone, was smooth. Then again, I expected nothing less than that from Sutton Prescott.
A server passed with another tray of drinks. I declined with a subtle shake of my head, but my attention didn’t deviate from Sutton as she rejoined her coworkers. It would have been relatively easy for Sutton to blend in with the crowd as she walked away from me. Her black pants suit and stilettos should have made it easy, but there was nothing, and I mean nothing, that could have shifted my attention away from her.
I drained the rest of my whisky and put the glass down on the nearest surface. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone attempting to make their way to me, but they weren’t worth my time.
My work here was done, but the game had just begun.
2
SUTTON
The parking garage was empty at six-fifteen in the morning, which was exactly how I preferred it. It was easy for me to park in my regular spot and not have to deal with the hassle of rushing to the office. I pulled down my visor to take one last look at myself before I was stationed at my desk for who knows how many hours. My auburn hair was pulled back into a low bun without a single strand out of place. I double-checked my foundation, noting that it was still smooth, my eyebrows were set, and the red lipstick I had on cost more than it should yet was worth every penny. I made it my mission to make sure that my face looked the same at six in the morning as it did at six in the evening because you never knew what could pop up. Today, I was wearing the black blazer and slacks with the single exception of the deep burgundy silk blouse underneath that brought out my lipstick choice for the day.
