“If it does,” Anthony says, “Theo will just have to battle it out the old way with a potential cousin.”
“A duel to the death?” Victor says.
“A high-stakes staring contest?” Freddie suggests.
That makes me chuckle. I can see them, Isaac and Anthony, having an argument that involves very few words but a lot of angry looks.
“I think,” Audrey says, “it would be better for the two of you to have it out with one another, rather than the kids.”
“Oh, Anthony and I never argue,” Isaac says.
His brother nods sagely. “We never have.”
“Not a single time.”
“Never.”
“I don’t believe that for a second,” I say, smiling. “But isn’t the traditional way to pitch the current head of the company? Like Isaac did?”
Anthony’s eyebrows rise. “Yes, that’s true. Our aunt started the tradition.”
“Which means you’ll have to decide one day,” I say to Isaac.
He nods, eyes warm on mine.You remembered,they say. The conversations sends a shiver down my spine. The others think we’re likely to have kids together?
Audrey sits down beside me, a friendly smile on her face. “It’s so nice to see you again,” she says, and the conversation draws me away from my thoughts, and into topics of print media and working with your partner. It’s something she’s done, too, apparently. Maybe Isaac had been right, and office romances are much more common than I think.
It doesn’t take long for the group to disperse. There are others to talk to, and homes to return to, and kids to look after.
Isaac and I walk back into the house. “He really doesn’t recognize me,” I say.
“St. Clair?”
I nod.
“No,” Isaac says softly. “Do you want him to?”
“Well, I’ll admit that it’s somewhat of a blow to my ego. You know, I thought he assigned your project to me and my team specifically.”
“Oh.”
“But it’s good that he doesn’t, in a way. Postpones the whole you’re-dating-your-client conversation…”
Isaac laughs. “Sophia, Victor married his personal assistant.”
I pause, right there in the hallway, surrounded by beautifully framed black and white portraits. “He didwhat?”
“Cecilia was his assistant at Exciteur. She was a damn good one, too, from what I heard. Now she runs her own virtual assistant firm.”
“Wow,” I say. “That’s…”
“Yes,” Isaac says, voice quiet. “I know. I think things were rocky in the beginning, but they’re a solid couple now. If two people are genuinely meant to be, those logistical problems fall to the wayside.”
Yes,I think.But there might be a lot of carnage along the way.We stop to talk to his parents, Amelia and John Winter. Isaac’s mother looks dignified, her hair swept up in a French twist and with a dark red lip.
Her eyes crease with a wide smile. “Hello, you two. I’m sorry I haven’t said hello to you yet.”
“That’s all right, Mother,” Isaac says and leans in to kiss her on the cheek. “You’ve been busy.”