“I don’t like this, Jack. I don’t like it one damn bit.”
“Neither do I, but it’s not like we have much choice. Remember, while I’m gone your job is to keep a lid on rumors and gossip. Officially, everything is under control at Excalibur. Got that?”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Milo’s face tightened. “Cousin Angela’s going to be the tough one. I think she went to see Ms. Cabot again yesterday.”
Jack glanced at him sharply. “Any particular reason?”
“How should I know?” Milo spread his hands. “Probably just her regular bimonthly attempt to convince Ms. Cabot to stop backing your every move as CEO. Angela figures if she can get Elizabeth Cabot to turn on you, she’ll have enough votes on the board to get rid of you.”
So far Elizabeth had backed him at every turn, Jack thought. But an alliance between Angela and Elizabeth was a grim possibility.
Milo stared at him, eyes widening. “You’re in a tux.”
“Very observant.” Jack glanced out the window as he picked up his jacket and shrugged into it.
From here he had a good view of Queen Anne Hill. If he squinted, he could just barely make out the lights of Elizabeth’s castle. He had spent more than one night during the past six months sitting alone here in his living room with a glass of scotch, staring at the distant glow. He had told himself that it would be tacky to get a telescope.
And pointless.
A purely scientific experiment with a set of binoculars had confirmed that there were too many plants and bushes on the balcony outside Elizabeth’s bedroom to allow for a clear view of the interior.
He wondered if she was dressing for the reception at that very moment.
For the past few days, right up until the disappearance of Soft Focus had distracted him, the business charity function had been the high point on his calendar. Typically he avoided such events whenever possible, but he had been looking forward to this one with the same mix of perverse anticipation and foreboding that he got in the days before an Excalibur board meeting. Another chance to see Elizabeth. Another chance to torment himself with all the might-have-been possibilities. Another chance to fantasize about second chances.
And now fate had dropped a ticking bomb in his lap. The good news was that he was going to spend the next few days working very closely with Elizabeth. It was also the bad news, because they would be working together under the worst possible sort of pressure. He figured he would be lucky to survive with his sanity intact.
“Why the hell are you in a tux?” Milo demanded. “You’re not going to a party tonight, are you? You’re supposed to leave for Mirror Springs tomorrow morning.”
“I told you about the charity reception.”
Milo’s jaw dropped. “You’re still going to attend? After everything else that’s happened?”
“I don’t think it would be a good idea to skip it.” Jack glanced at his watch. “Failing to show up would add fuel to the rumors that are already circulating. We can’t afford that. In business, perception is all. Never forget that, Milo.”
“Huh.” Milo’s thin face crunched into a darker frown. “I’d sure like to know how those rumors got started.”
“So would I.” Jack picked up his keys. “But we don’t have time to investigate the leak now. We’ll deal with it after we get Soft Focus back.”
Milo trailed after him toward the door. “Tell me the truth, Jack. Do you really think you can find Page?”
Jack glanced at him as he opened the door. A wave of empathy went through him. Milo had a lot on his young, inexperienced shoulders.
“I’ll find him, Milo.”
* * *
CHAPTER SEVEN
* * *
HAYDEN SHAW LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE GLITTERING ballroom. “Fairfax just walked in. That raises two possibilities. Either the rumors about trouble at Excalibur were wrong or . . .”
Elizabeth raised one brow. “Or?”
“Or else they were true and both of you are playing it cool tonight so that people will think they’re wrong.”
Elizabeth surprised herself with a low chuckle that she thought sounded remarkably genuine. “I can tell you this much: Jack Fairfax may be cold-blooded enough to put in an appearance tonight even if there were major problems at his company. But I certainly wouldn’t be standing around drinking champagne if there were a disaster. I’d be in my office, huddled in front of my computer with a large cup of coffee, and I’d be tearing out my hair.”
She had wanted very much not to attend the charity event tonight, but she knew that it would send the wrong message to those who, like Hayden, had picked up hints of trouble at Excalibur. Obviously Jack had followed the same logic. She doubted that he was enjoying himself any more than she was.
She wondered if he had noticed her standing here with Hayden and, if he had seen her, whether or not the sight of her chatting with his archenemy annoyed him. If it did bother him, she knew that he would not reveal it. Jack could play poker with the devil.
Why did she even care if he was annoyed? she wondered. Stupid question. She was in that strange mood again, the one she always plunged into a few days before she knew that she was to see Jack. The days preceding a regularly scheduled board meeting at Excalibur were always bad. The peculiar mix of emotions was just as predictable as certain other recurring biological functions.
She wondered what Jack would say if he knew that the thought of being in his company triggered a severe form of PMS in her.
An entire week together. Good grief, how could they possibly do it? She was accustomed to estimating the odds, but she could not even begin to guess whether or not they would throttle each other before they found Tyler Page.
Hayden surveyed her neat chignon appreciatively. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you.”
Hayden lowered his voice to a husky drawl. “The dress is pretty terrific, too.”
She pretended not to notice his gaze sliding appreciatively over the long line of her spine left exposed by the backless black gown. Hayden was interesting, very successful, and, with his warm, brown eyes, dark hair, and good facial bones, about ten times better looking than Jack Fairfax. He was also a few years younger. But the last thing she wanted to do tonight was flirt with him.
Jack’s seemingly offhand question about Hayden’s marital status yesterday morning had made her uneasy. Just as he had no doubt meant it to do, she thought. Typical of Fairfax to slip home a zinger just when she was starting to convince herself that she could get interested in Hayden.
She had told herself that she would ignore Jack’s comment on the divorce, but she had known that would not be possible. Like a number of other people she knew, she had been under the distinct impression that Hayden’s divorce was, indeed, final. But once Fairfax had raised the question, she was obliged to double-check the facts.
Sure enough, a discreet inquiry through her lawyer this morning had elicited the information that Hayden’s divorce was still pending. There were no children involved, but apparently the battle over the division of the assets had turned extremely messy. Elizabeth did not want to get anywhere near the scene of the accident.
In all fairness, she could not accuse Hayden of having lied to her. She just hadn’t asked the right question. Then again, it was a little awkward to ask a person point-blank if his divorce was officially final, especially when he had yet to ask you out on a real date. Thus far all of her encounters with Shaw had been quasi–business meetings.
But lately the atmosphere between the two of them had begun to alter quite subtly. She could not pinpoint the exact moment when she had realized that Hayden was giving off the kind of signals that said he was interested in something more than a business connection. She was still not certain that she was reading him right.
The reason she could not be sure of what was going on was that she was unwilling to ponder the depressing subject of her love life. She was still licking her wounds from the skirmish with Jack.
&
nbsp; Things were not improving on that front, she thought. If anything, they were getting worse. Her awareness of him was preternaturally high. She had not needed Hayden to tell her that Jack had arrived in the ballroom a few minutes ago; the tingling on the nape of her neck had provided her with the same data. She was afraid the uncanny sensation was some sort of primitive prelude to a fight-or-fornicate response.
She could not seem to take her eyes off him, so she did her best to observe him without being obvious about it.
The tux did nothing to mute the edgy quality that was so much a part of him. If anything, it enhanced the air of fiercely controlled sexuality he exuded. The warmth that unfurled deep inside her at the sight of him was as irritating as it was disturbing. She watched him stop to speak to some men gathered near the buffet table. He appeared to be monumentally unaware of her.
“You know,” Hayden murmured, “just because this is a business affair doesn’t mean that you and I have to discuss the economy.”
She flicked a glance at him. “I hadn’t noticed that we were discussing the economy.”
“We weren’t. Just trying to get your attention.” He gave her a rueful grin. “It came to my attention that you were concentrating on Fairfax, you see.”
“Why is that surprising? I’ve got a hefty stake in Excalibur. I always keep an eye on my investments.”
He gave a short, surprisingly harsh laugh. “If a woman watched me the way you’re watching Fairfax, I’d like to think that she was contemplating something other than whether or not I could make a lot of money for her.”
She smiled politely and set down her glass. “Now you know the awful truth about me. The bottom line is everything!”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He studied her intently. “You’re not an easy woman to figure out, Elizabeth. But speaking of Excalibur, did you check out those rumors I mentioned?”
“I did, and everything is under control at Excalibur.”
“Glad to hear it. Well, then, can I talk you into a dance?”
“Some other time, perhaps. I’m here to work tonight.”
“All work and no play . . .”
“I’m afraid you’re a little late with the warning. Too much work has already made me a very dull CEO.”
His eyes gleamed suggestively. “Bet I could fix that little problem with a nice long weekend at the coast. What do you say to taking off on Friday and coming back very, very late on Monday?”
She had been right about the signals. She gave an inward sigh, wrenched her covert gaze off Jack, and turned to give Hayden a bland smile.
“Funny you should mention this weekend,” she said. “I’m going to be out of town. A little vacation time. My secretary tells me that I need it badly.”
He gave her a hopeful grin. “Any chance you might want some company for at least a couple of days of your vacation? I could do with a little time off myself.”
He was going to force her into a corner, she realized. Better to deal with it now and get past it. She met his eyes. “I understand that your divorce is not yet final, Hayden. I don’t do long weekends with married men.”
He grimaced. “Ouch. I get the point. Would it make any difference if I told you that the divorce should have been final several months ago? That the only reason it isn’t a done deal is because Gillian is the vindictive type?”
“Nope. It wouldn’t make any difference at all.” She transferred her small gold evening bag to her other hand and made to move off. “Excuse me. I see some Aurora Fund clients. I’d better go say hello.”
“Sure.” Something hard flashed in his eyes. It was gone in an instant, replaced by a wry expression. “One of these days I’ll get through this damned divorce, you know. Even Ringstead’s lawyers can’t hold it up forever. We can talk about a long weekend then.”
“We’ll see,” she said, deliberately vague. But something told her that there would never be any long weekends with Hayden.
She dutifully made her way through the crowd, greeting clients and potential investors in the Fund. Her invisible radar screen kept her clear of Jack. She caught glimpses of him now and again. Once she saw him lounging against the bar, a glass in one hand, chatting with an attorney she recognized.
He glanced toward her at that precise instant, as if he had known that she was looking at him. He raised his glass a couple of inches in a mocking salute and turned back to his conversation. For the next forty minutes, however, he managed not to cross her path. It occurred to her that he was going out of his way to avoid her, too.
Shortly after eleven she glanced at her watch and told herself that she had concluded the minimum of socializing the event demanded. She needed some sleep before the flight to Mirror Springs. She smiled at a portly, retired banker who was waxing enthusiastic about his new boat. The man was obviously in love with his most recent acquisition. She wished him happiness and slipped away to collect her coat.
When she emerged from the cloakroom, she turned and went down a quiet, carpeted hall, avoiding the more heavily traveled path to and from the ballroom. She sensed a presence behind her just before the woman spoke.
“If you’re smart, you’ll stay away from him.”
Elizabeth froze at the raw venom in the voice. Then she turned slowly around. A small, elegantly made-up woman dressed in a very chic, very expensive red silk suit and stiletto heels stood in the hall. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties. Her pale blond hair was cut in a sleek line that highlighted her heart-shaped features. There were fine, tightly drawn lines at the corners of her mouth.
“Have we met?” Elizabeth asked carefully.
“Sorry. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Gillian the Bitch.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t you recognize the name? I’m surprised. I understand Hayden always calls me that.” Gillian’s smile was so brittle, it was a wonder it did not shatter. “I’m his wife.”
“I see.” Great. A perfect way to end the evening.
“In spite of the impression Hayden may have given you, I am not his ex-wife. Not yet, at any rate. I won’t give him that satisfaction until Daddy’s lawyers have gotten back everything he took from me.”
“This really isn’t any of my business.” Elizabeth made a show of glancing at her watch. “I’m on my way home. If you’ll excuse me . . .”
Gillian’s eyes narrowed. “My daddy is Osmand Ringstead.”
Elizabeth needed no further details. Ringstead was the very powerful, very reclusive, very rich, and very politically connected head of Ring, Inc. From the Ringstead family compound he commanded a large, closely held business empire. He was rumored to be contemplating political office. No wonder Hayden was having problems getting his divorce to go through on his terms, she thought. Few people could go up against the Ringstead power and money and hope to win.
“Okay, I’m impressed,” she said. “Now can I go?”
“I saw Hayden talking to you,” Gillian said, her eyes bleak. “I know how he operates. Has he invited you to go on a long weekend to the coast?”
Elizabeth managed to conceal her start of surprise. “I don’t know what this is all about, Mrs. Shaw. But I can assure you, I have no personal interest in your husband.”
“Let’s hope for your sake that you’re telling the truth.” Gillian took a step closer. “Because I’m going to ruin him before I’m finished with him. He won’t have a dime left. I’ll get everything. Everything. Daddy promised me.”
There was more than rage in Gillian’s voice, Elizabeth realized. There was pain. She suddenly felt very sorry for the other woman.
“Believe me, the last thing I want to do is get caught up in your private affairs, Mrs. Shaw.”
“This divorce is going to be a train wreck, I promise you. Hayden won’t get away with trying to walk out on me.”
“As I said, this is none of my business. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going home.”
“He lied to me.” Hot tears appeared in Gillian’s eyes and spilled down he
r cheeks. “The bastard lied to me right from the start. I trusted him. I loved him. Daddy liked him. But all Hayden wanted was my money and Daddy’s connections. He used me.”
Elizabeth longed to turn and run, not walk, in the opposite direction. But she could not bring herself to leave the woman sobbing alone in the hall. She pulled some tissues from the pocket of her coat and went toward Gillian.
“Here, take these.” She thrust the tissues into Gillian’s hand. “There’s a women’s lounge right around the corner. I just came from there. It was empty. Would you like to go inside?”
“He made a fool out of me,” Gillian blurted into the tissues.
“I know the feeling.” Unable to think of anything else to do, Elizabeth patted her gently on the shoulder. “Maybe a glass of cold water?”
“Stay away from him. He’ll only use you.”
“I have no interest in your husband, Mrs. Shaw.”
“I saw the way he looked at you tonight.” Gillian blotted her eyes. “I know he wants you.”
“I don’t want him,” Elizabeth said gently.
“I don’t believe you.” Gillian lowered the soaked tissues. Her voice rose. “Of course you want him. Just like I did. Until I found out what he was really like, that is.”
Elizabeth was about to argue the point when she felt the familiar tingling. Simultaneously a lean, dark figure appeared in the hall behind Gillian.
“Ready to go home, honey?” Jack walked toward her with assured arrogance. His tone was unmistakably intimate, bordering on the possessive. “It’s getting late, and we’ve got a long trip ahead of us tomorrow.”
At the sound of his voice, Gillian raised her head sharply and quickly blotted away the rest of her tears. “Oh, damn. This is so embarrassing.”
Elizabeth looked past her at Jack. Unseen by Gillian, he raised his brows and smiled with cool, knowing amusement. He was coming to her rescue, and he knew she didn’t like it. He also knew full well that she was in no position to refuse his help.