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“She liked you so much, she accepted a bid of several million below Mr. Cain’s?”

These were some very pointed questions. Almost less like an interview, and more like an interrogation. “It’s not always about money.”

“Did you know, Mrs. Lee has not been seen since she sold the hotel to you?”

I blinked. “Oh, no, I didn’t. Perhaps she used the money to go on vacation?”

“She’s ninety-three years old.”

“Old people vacation too, Mrs. Greene.”

“Gideon Cain has hinted he might sue.”

I blinked again. “Sue who?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“He believes the sale was illegally agreed through coercive means. You have to admit it’s strange. Why did Mrs. Lee sell to someone she’d never met before, for vastly below the highest bid? Perhaps you applied some external pressure?”

“Are you suggesting I bullied a sweet old lady into selling the hotel to me?”

“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m looking at the facts. Where did you get the money to buy this hotel, Mr. Vex? No job, no social media presence. Before six months ago, you didn’t exist. How does a man like you, with few financial means, throw down a few million for prime San Francisco land?”

“Well, there’s Zee—Zodiac. Sex sells, or so he insists on telling me every moment he can.”

“Not to the tune of five million, Mr. Vex.”

“I supplied the additional funds,” Reynard said, emerging from the shadows where he’d apparently been lurking this whole time. “Isn’t that right, Adam?”

“Uh, well, not⁠—”

Reynard’s solid hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed, his intention to silence me clear. I stared up his lean, suit-clad body at his dignified expression. And while I didn’t much like being silenced, I couldn’t argue that his intervention wasn’t welcome. Noreen’s questions had definitely wandered from their original jovial tone into something else completely.

“So you see, it really was a fair transaction. Gideon Cain was merely outbid, and appears to be sore about his loss,” Reynard explained.

“Lord Reynard, I didn’t realize you were a joint owner in this venture. Is your investment public record?

“I’m a silent partner. Isn’t that right, Adam?”

I couldn’t argue with him in front of a reporter, not without this entire meeting turning into a PR fiasco. “Uh . . . yes?”

“Well then, I have to ask myself why a man who controls a vast tech empire purchases a run-down hotel with a man who has no hospitality experience, that I can find, and an incubus porn star, when everyone knows Lost Ones of your persuasion don’t get along with demons.”

“You may ask yourself anything you like,” Reynard said, his hand still fixed on my shoulder.

“I will.” Noreen smirked back.

“Did Gideon Cain send you, Noreen?” Reynard asked.

Noreen stared back at Reynard, unblinking, and Reynard stared down at her as though she was nothing but a spec of dirt under his polished shoes.

I hadn’t considered that Noreen might have had other motives for the interview. Cain had tried to purchase the hotel several times since I’d won it at auction, each time his offers becoming more and more outrageous. Perhaps he’d decided to apply a different kind of pressure to get what he wanted?

“I have everything I need.” Noreen dropped her notepad back into her bag and gathered her things. “Thank you both for your time.”

I moved to stand when Reynard’s hand pushed me back into the seat.