Her eyes shone with anger. “Don’t act like I’m nagging you. If you think you can ignore me without consequence, then you’re an idiot.” Now she was the one to turn around and walk away, and she slammed the bedroom door just for good measure.
I headed downstairs just in time because the doorbell rang. Hugo opened the door and revealed Marie Delacroix, one of my biggest clients. Earrings she’d purchased from me dangled from her lobes, and the diamond that hung from her necklace was both subtle and flawless. Her face lit up when she saw me, and she came close to give me a kiss on each cheek. “It’s been a while, Cauldron.”
“It has.” I kissed her back. “Too long.”
Her arm hooked through mine, and we entered the back patio, where we took a seat surrounded by the trees and flowers. The sun was setting, so the temperature was cool and comfortable. She was in a short black dress with heels, one shoulder exposed, her hair thick and curled.
We stared at each other for a while.
“How’s work?” I asked, initiating the small talk I despised.
“Just had a shoot with Vogue in Istanbul. It’s beautiful this time of year.”
“It is.”
“What’s new with you, Cauldron?” She grabbed the wine that Hugo had brought her and took a drink, smearing her lipstick on the rim of the glass.
“Business, as usual.”
“You ever think of anything else?” Her leg moved underneath the table, sliding right up against my calf. At first, it seemed like an accident, but when she continued to do it, it became clear it was intentional.
“Occasionally.”
She smiled as she withdrew her leg. “So, what have you got for me?”
I gave a slight wave to my men.
The first came over and set the box in front of her. He unlocked it and revealed a beautiful diamond necklace, simple in its size but brilliant with all the little diamonds along the platinum.
“This is stunning.” She lifted the necklace from the box and examined it, resting it against the back of her wrist to see how the diamonds looked on her flawless skin. With her eyes on the jewelry, she said, “First time I’ve been here for business.”
We’d met many years ago at the Cannes Film Festival. She wasn’t my client then, just a lover who frequented my yacht a few times. She became interested in my diamonds later, and sometimes business and pleasure mixed. “I’ve been busy, so this is more convenient.” I’d meet her off property, but I feared if I left without Camille, Grave would decide to pull a stunt. And I knew taking Camille with me would be a big mistake. Marie would definitely lose interest in my diamonds if she saw the woman in my life. I gestured to my men again, and they brought more diamonds for her to peruse.
“Beautiful,” she said as she examined them all. “Just gorgeous.”
“This is the one for you.” I secured the bracelet to her slender wrist. “If you want my opinion.”
Our touch lingered, but I felt nothing. No heat. No electricity. No desire whatsoever.
But she clearly did.
She examined it with a smile before she looked at me again. “I trust your taste, Cauldron.”
I gestured to the men again, and that was when they brought the laptop. She and I did business, exchanging the funds before the other diamonds were whisked away back to the vault. The two of us continued to enjoy our wine. She probably expected more than just the transaction, so I’d have to spurn her advances without outright rejecting her. Telling her I was taken would guarantee the loss of her as a client.
Hugo presented canapés, and we talked about her life in Paris as we drank a bottle of wine together. Her foot made its way up my leg several times, despite the fact that I had no reaction to it.
When the wine was drunk and the night had deepened, I tried to get rid of her. “I’ll walk you out, Marie.” I stood and ignored the subtle confusion on her face.
It took her a moment to rise to her feet, and when she did, she slipped her arm through mine. “That jacket looks very nice on you.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. I walked her into the house and to the entryway. The valet already had her car out front.
Marie pressed her chest right into me, her hands moving to my biceps, where she squeezed them through the jacket. Her eyes settled on my lips like she wasn’t going to leave until she got what she wanted. “I’m in town for a week. Maybe we can take your yacht out for a couple days?”
“I’ll let you know.”
She moved in to kiss me on the mouth.
I made a subtle turn and kissed her cheek, acting like I’d misunderstood her intention. “I’ll call you.” I walked her through the door then waited on the doorstep, my hands sliding into my pockets.