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“Wagner.” Ford nodded back at Bailey almost hesitantly.
“It will be good to see him,” Bailey stated. “I haven’t had much time to spend with old friends.”
Ford nodded. “I’m glad to see you survived the last party well,” there was a hint of concern in his gaze. “I worried your past would follow you when you left the agency.”
Ford glanced at Raymond, then back to Bailey. “Your father worried constantly that one day you wouldn’t return home,” he stated as Raymond handed them their drinks.
Bailey stared back at Ford, hiding the hatred that welled inside her, that threatened to damage the goal she had kept in the forefront of her mind for so long.
She hated the sincerity he faked so easily. The concern that darkened his gaze and gave his expression the appearance of affection. She wanted to scream at him, to rage over the elaborate game he was playing and force him to admit to being the cold-hearted son of a bitch that she knew he was.
“If my past is returning to haunt me, then I’m certain I’ll have it dealt with soon,” she assured Ford before glancing at John with the confidence of a woman who knows her lover is taking care of the matter as they settled on the love seat in front of Mary.
“I’ve hired extra security staff for the party, dear,” Mary expressed, her concern genuine. “We’ve had to do this several times when Ray’s enemies have found him as well. It’s a shame that serving your country comes with such risks right when you should be able to relax and enjoy your lives.”
“It would be far easier to tolerate if the country you risked your life for gave a damn,” Ford injected smoothly, critically. “I’ve not seen a time that Raymond’s life was in danger that the agency gave a damn.”
Unfortunately that was true. Bailey wished she could argue the fact that more was done to protect retired agents, but she knew her argument would sound hollow at best. Besides, arguing for her country would do very little to engender the trust she needed to draw Warbucks further into this little partnership.
“The agency barely gives a damn when you’re active,” she lied. She knew better. She knew the extremes that went into trying to protect agents, both active as well as retired.
“A shame,” Mary sighed, her delicate face creased in sympathy.
“Raymond, I believe Rose and I will see our way to our room now.” Surprisingly, Ford rose to his feet and extended his hand to his mistress as she joined him.
“And I believe I will as well.” Mary lifted her hand to Raymond, allowing him to help her from her seat. “I’m certain you and Bailey would like to discuss old times and those tales simply give me nightmares.” She grimaced.
Living those times still had the power to give Bailey nightmares.
Saying goodbye to Mary, Bailey restrained her own desire to escape to the privacy of her room with John. The sitting room felt stifling, the very air within it heavy with deceit.
“Bailey, would you mind if I talk to John alone for a bit now?” Raymond surprised her with the request. “I’d like to discuss a few security details with him, if you don’t mind.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “John and I are partners, Raymond,” she reminded him coolly.
“And I understand that clearly.” He nodded. “Unfortunately, your choice of broker is going to have to prove himself to me, as well as to Warbucks, to gain approval, Bailey. John won’t be accepted instantly simply because he’s the one you chose.”
Of course, it couldn’t be that simple, could it?
Staring back at Raymond, her gaze cold, she rose slowly to her feet. “Very well. I’ll leave you two to discuss whatever manly things you have to discuss without me.”
Raymond appeared a little too amused by her statement. Comedy wasn’t exactly her forte, so she wasn’t a bit pleased by it.
“We do appreciate your patience with us, my dear,” Raymond drawled. “I promise I won’t keep him long.”
John had to restrain a smile as Bailey shot him a worried look from beneath her lashes. To give her credit, she didn’t argue further. Rather she donned the polite, femininely arrogant look that made him hotter than hell before she turned and left the room.
He knew the interrogation that would come later. She didn’t like being cut from any phase of this operation. The fact th
at she hadn’t been involved during his meetings with the team pissed her off enough. Now, he was going to have to deal with her anger toward Raymond. And she did know how to get pissed at the other man.
As the door closed behind her, Raymond followed and locked it quietly before turning back to John.
“You’re taking control of things nicely,” John told the other man as he stared around the sitting room. “I hope your marriage isn’t too constraining.”
“My marriage is the one thing in this farce that gives me any pleasure.” Raymond grimaced as he moved back to his drink and tossed it back, then narrowed his eyes on John. “Does Bailey suspect my involvement with the unit?”
John shook his head. “Not at all. Does Warbucks suspect your involvement?”
