“Who are you talking to, exactly?”
Like a rainbow after a storm, a rare smirk moved on to his lips. He adjusted his cuff links as he headed for the door. “I’m going to tit-fuck you when we get home.”
“Well, there’s my answer.”
We got into the back seat of the car and were driven through Paris. We left the city and entered the countryside, past the open landscapes and the aristocratic mansions that sat on top of them.
Knees apart, elbow propped on the armrest, he looked out the window.
“You never answered me. Where are we going?”
His fingers rubbed over his stubble. “A party.”
“What kind of party?”
“Does it matter?” he asked. “They’re all the same anyway.”
My heart gave a lurch at his answer. Grave had parties all the time. I’d thought those fancy events were for diplomats and rich people, but they were for criminals too. “You think that’s a good idea—”
“What are you afraid of?” He turned to look at me.
“Uh, that the man I despise will be there?”
“So what if he is? I told you you’re untouchable now.”
“That might actually make me feel better if you told me why.”
He looked out the window.
“Why is Grave afraid of you?”
No answer.
“Why won’t you tell me?”
“Because my business is my own.”
I’d been with Cauldron for a couple of weeks, and I’d made no progress toward my goal. It was just existing, not living. I had no chance to convince Cauldron to do my dirty work if he wouldn’t even tell me why they were enemies in the first place. If nothing changed, I’d have to leave and make my own plan. He’d probably give me a gun if I asked, so I could just take one and wait for the perfect moment.
Minutes later, we pulled up to the estate, a three-story mansion like the one Cauldron had in Cap-Ferrat. A line of cars was ahead of us, fancy sports cars and blacked-out SUVs. A pond was in the center, and the expansive grounds were all bright with uplighting. We inched closer until we reached the front, where the driver opened my door and helped me out first before Cauldron emerged.
Every woman had her arm circled through her date’s, but Cauldron never offered his. He walked beside me up the steps and through the double doors from where the sound of violins originated. All these fancy parties were the same, crystal chandeliers, grand pianos, Cristal in glass flutes, appetizers being presented by waiters in tuxedos. Each rich person took a turn showing off their wealth, and in the end, it was just a pissing contest no one ever won. What was the difference between twenty billion and ten? Not much, if you asked me.
A couple men struck up a conversation with Cauldron, discussing his diamonds. “How are the mines, Mr. Beaufort?”
“Bottomless,” he answered, wearing a handsome smile. “I just sold my largest diamond to Prince Kline.”
“Yes, I heard his wife wore it at their annual lunar celebration in Dubai.”
The men talked shop while I was ignored. I stood there with my arms by my sides, seeing people glance my way as they passed.
Cauldron had one hand in his pocket while the other held his drink. He remained close to my side but gave no indication that I was his date, that we were romantically involved whatsoever. It made me wonder why he’d brought me there in the first place. He couldn’t show me off as his trophy if he was indifferent to me the entire time.
Cauldron eventually gestured to the necklace around my neck. “These diamonds were found together. I think they were once part of the same stone, but a mudslide in the mine broke it apart.” His fingers lifted the heaviest diamond in the center, eyeing it with greater affection than he ever showed me. “But I think they look beautiful as a set.”
The men admired it, still ignoring me. “Quite beautiful.”
“Yes, very,” the other man said.
“How much?” one of the men asked. “I have a special someone I’d like to gift this to.”
I saw his wedding ring, but I assumed that special someone wasn’t his wife.
In the middle of the dinner party, Cauldron took offers, hosting a business meeting right in plain sight. He sold the necklace for five million dollars, and the money was to be deposited in Cauldron’s account first thing in the morning.
Cauldron stepped away and grabbed another drink.
“I was just about to say this doesn’t seem like your scene, but now it all makes sense.”
He drank from his flute as he watched me.
“Always working, huh?”
He set the empty glass on a passing tray. “Now you know why I put up with your mouth.”
My eyebrows furrowed because I didn’t follow the statement.
“Because you’re the one selling these diamonds.”
I assumed he was the one who owned the house.
It was something about his mannerisms, the way everyone gravitated toward him for conversation. He was young like Cauldron, with dark hair and brown eyes, a muscular man stretching the stitching of his suit with his heavyset size. His arm was around a beautiful woman, holding her close like no proximity would ever be close enough. They both wore wedding bands, and it was the first time I’d ever seen a husband and wife who actually loved each other.