Right hand man, huh?
“I’ve been trying to reach you all afternoon,” Simon continued.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Of course.” He chuckled like they were old buddies. “Anyway, just a courtesy call to let you know you don’t need to worry about the company. Ethan said he’d oversee it temporarily.”
“I see.” Despite himself, Gavin was pleased with the news. Ethan was both sharp and thorough, just what the company needed. “If that’s all…”
“Ah yes. I won’t take up any more of your time. Good night.”
“Good night.” Gavin hung up. How odd that a so-called CFO thought this new development important enough to call Gavin multiple times. Did he not have better things to do?
The enormous lake of lights that was L.A. glittered on the other side of the window as the jet began a slow descent. Still thinking about TLD, Gavin tapped a finger on the armrest. There should be a contingency plan for the worst-case scenario. He wanted to believe Jacob had done his job at the company, but wouldn’t have bet even a penny on it.
But first things first. He dialed Mark Pryce.
“In case you’re wondering if your wife’s still here, the answer is a big fat no. She left a while ago.”
“I know.” Gavin stared at the seat across from him. “I need a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you get us a reservation for lunch tomorrow?”
Mark sucked his teeth. “Do you have any idea how long the wait-list is for a table?”
“It’s important.”
“Makeup lunch?”
Gavin thought about denying it, but what would be the point? Mark had seen Amandine sitting by herself. “Something like that. A first step.”
r /> “Twelve thirty, sharp. You can have a table for two for about an hour.”
“Thanks, I owe you one.”
“You owe me about ten or twelve,” Mark said with a chuckle then hung up.
Gavin’s phone buzzed again. It was another text message from Amandine.
I’m staying at Brooke’s tonight.
He sighed. This was definitely going to cost him. And he couldn’t shake the feeling that the price was going to be far more than he was comfortable paying. He felt like a schmuck who’d shorted Apple right before the iPhone launch.
I’m sorry about dinner, he typed. I booked us a lunch date at La Mer tomorrow at twelve thirty. Can you come?
A few minutes later, a reply appeared: OK.
Not “I look forward to it” or “You stood me up, asshole” or a million other responses that would’ve shown what was going through her mind. Just “OK.”
Get a grip. He was being ridiculous. Amandine wasn’t the type to get melodramatic. The shock of Jacob’s bigamy and all the attendant drama must’ve thrown him off more than he’d thought, nothing more. After a nice romantic lunch, Amandine would thaw a bit. And the yacht would delight her. He would clear his calendar for the last two weeks of December and take her someplace warm for some R&R on her new jet. She’d like that. All women did.
He could fix this situation.
Chapter Five
THE NEXT MORNING, Brooke showed Amandine a silk cocktail dress and matching sandals. The fresh yellow color was cheery in the morning light. “Here, I think this should do it.”