The estate workers nodded with relief, immediately accepting his authority.
Indra, though, crossed her arms. “I’ve already said that.”
He forced himself to give her the kind of smile he gave women he wished to seduce. He didn’t show it often, but when he did, it usually had the desired effect. But, when he saw her face, he realized that he’d probably found the only woman in the world who refused to succumb to his charms, such as they were.
He allowed his smile to dissolve. If she wanted to play it the hard way, he would.
“How about I step back,” he said, “and allow you to continue. Allow you to tell us all how you propose we do that.”
She shot him a darkly glowering look. “I know what we need to do. What isn’t so obvious is how we do it.”
“I think it is. I think we need to make people aware of everything we offer at the training center. Raise its profile. Sounds to me as if no marketing has been done for years. In my grandfather’s day, he held regular events to garner local interest, which led to word of mouth, which led to international business. But that was decades ago. We can’t live offhisreputation forever. We have to create a new one. If they don’t know what we offer,” he said, meeting her surprised glance, “then we have to show them.” He dragged his gaze away and looked at Bill. “By a public display.” He knew how much she’d hate that from his research. He thrust his hands in his pocket. “Like a race, apublicmeeting, something like that. Somethingbig.” He rolled onto the back of his heels and stared at her. He’d laid down the challenge.
Indra returned his stare with an icy look. “We don’tdopublic displays.”
“Why not? You need to raise the profile of the training center and what better way than by putting on a public display?”
Was it his imagination or did her steady gaze falter?
“Atargetedapproach is better,” she insisted. “We select people and invite them here to show them around. The personal approach is far more effective.”
“And you’d know because?” He stood at the foot of the table and leaned over, gripping its edge. She stood at its other end, arms folded. He was hardly aware of the estate workers around them. This was between her and him.
“Because I’ve been running this estate for years and I learned everything I know from Charles Richmond.”
“Well, it’s obviously not enough.”
Her cheeks were flushed and her dark eyes looked like black coals. He’d found a weak point in her armor—her pride in running the estate—and, when combined with her other one—her need for privacy—he realized he’d just hit upon the most effective way to shift her out of her comfort zone. And, maybe, get closer to figuring out what she was hiding from the world.
“It was before you came. No doubt Lord Bridges’ decision was influenced byyourpresence.You’rethe only thing that’s changed around here.”
“Maybe,” he conceded, “and maybe not. Unless he takes your calls, which, by the sound of things he doesn’t want to do, you’ll never know. The only way forward is to secure your existing business and drum up new business.”
“We can do that without going big and public.”
Bill coughed and Sebastian glanced around to find everyone watching them as if they were an audience to some kind of variety show. He stepped away from the table and Indra sat down and shuffled some papers.
Bill looked from one to the other. “If I could add, sir, that we find the low key approach works well.” Indra was obviously held in high regard for Bill to defend her when it was clear his own suggestion held more merit. And he knew Bill would know that.
“Well, it’s not working well now, is it? I suggest a full-on offensive. It’s the only thing to do if we’re on the back foot. Come out fighting with a big event.”
“You’re a stranger to this, Sebastian,” said Indra in a calmer voice. “I suggest you leave it to us until you’re familiar with estate business.”
She’d gone too far. He stepped back to the table, challenging her to modify her suggestion in some way. She didn’t.
“But, what you’re forgetting,Indra”—he placed a heavy emphasis on her name—“is that we hold the trump card. Ourengagement.” He said the last word slowly and with deliberation, allowing the enormity of its meaning to sink in to everyone there.
Shocked murmurs flowed around the room. The blush on her cheeks brightened and her eyes suddenly lost their confidence.
“Everyone out!” he said in a raised voice, not loud enough to signify anger but enough to convey intent and authority. No one demurred. Within seconds they’d left the room, and he closed the door firmly behind them.
“Do not,” Indra said, in a voice which trembled with indignation, “humiliate me like that ever again!”
“If you’re humiliated by the truth, I suggest you change that truth. Leave. Right now. You don’t have to marry me. You can walk straight out of here.”
“And you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Yep.”