“God, no,” he said. “It sounds macabre.”
“Really? I think it’sfascinating.” Her eyes took on a gleam of interest he hadn’t seen before. “It is estimated that millions of people are buried there. It shows how insignificant we all are. That even our lives span but a brief moment as time inevitably marches on.”
“And that is something that youwantto see?”
She tilted her head in consideration. “I suppose I find it a kind of comfort. And it helps to put my work in perspective.”
Lucien frowned. “What do you mean?”
“That even if I did lose some stock options, it wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”
Once again, Lucien was forced to consider the tremendous pressure Alex must be under. And no doubt it was made worse because of the people expecting, nay, hoping for her to fail. She had to prove herself over and over because of her sex. She might be more familiar with this world than Lucien, but that didn’t necessarily make it easier for her to navigate.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need,” she said, back to her usual brusqueness. “I choose to work, even if Freddie thinks I do nothing more than push paper around my office all day. Meanwhile, she has never once bothered to consider how the funds she spends so freely are generated.” Then her gaze softened with regret. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be bothering you with all this nonsense.”
“It isn’t nonsense. It’s your life. And I’m the one who asked,” he added.
Alex bit her lip. “Still, I should try harder to be cordial with her. Especially in public.”
“That’s not entirely your responsibility, though,” Lucien said gently. “She could try to be more understanding of your work.”
Though he had only spent an hour at her office, it had become perfectly clear to him that Alex did far more than push paper around. He wondered if Freddie had ever bothered to visit her.
“She’s hardly the only person who believes that,” Alex saidwith a dismissiveness that set him on edge. Though hadn’t he once thought the very same thing?
“But she’s yoursister.”
Alex was quiet for a moment as she scanned the room. “I think it can be hard to see your siblings objectively. So much is based upon the foundations laid in childhood. One has to have the will to rebuild. But I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” she said thickly.
Before Lucien realized what he was doing, his palm pressed against her shoulder. As an only child, he didn’t know much about sibling dynamics. But he could certainly feel sympathy for her. “I’m sorry.”
“No need. I’m being silly.” Alex blinked rapidly and he had the alarming suspicion that she was fighting back tears. Then she gave her head a firm shake and inhaled. “Now then, I was thinking that you should have some more suits made,” she said briskly, back to the business at hand. “For your meetings. I’d pay for them, of course. Though it could be a loan,” she added as Lucien began to object. “Please.”
He sighed. She was right. If he was to move about in society, he needed more than two suits and he couldn’t keep wearing Alain’s slightly too short clothing. “Fine. But Iwillpay you back.”
She smiled a little. “I know.”
Pride unexpectedly flared in his chest. It had been a long time since anyone had believed in him. Including himself. “Thank you.”
“There is a tailor not far from my offices that Mr. Potts favors,” she continued. “I’m told he does excellent work quickly. I can have an appointment made for you the day after tomorrow. Then you should have at least one new suit ready before next week.”
“That would be perfect.”
Alex then hesitated a moment. “Why don’t you come to my office afterward? I can look over your revised proposal.”
“An excellent idea.”
“Good. I’ll have Potts send a message to you tomorrow with your appointment time. Then come by as soon as you’re done.”
“I look forward to it.”
As they stared at each other, a different kind of tension slowly kindled between them. But this was made of anticipation, rather than old anger.
Lucien realized his hand was still on her shoulder and he slowly drew it back, dragging his fingertips down the bare skin of her upper arm.
She inhaled sharply and goose bumps rose beneath his touch.
