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“I’m going to. We’re about to have pre-dinner drinks. I was waiting for you.”
I make a face, sinking into the chair across the desk from him, shaking my head.
“I tried.”
He is singularly unsuccessful in biting back his smile.
“I did. I tried to start several conversations.”
“Any luck?”
“Uh, at one stage Tiffany asked Sarah ‘why is she talking so much’, but other than that, they ignored me.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Ignored you?”
“Yeah. Like, didn’t say a word to me and pretended I was not only not speaking but also, not there.”
“Sounds like heaven for you. I bet you enjoyed it.”
“I did after I gave up talking to them. Best sauna I’ve ever had.”
Bill snorts, shaking his head. “At least you relaxed.”
“You mean tried to implement your plan?”
“Sure. That too.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I stand when he waves his hand to dismiss me. “You get dressed for afternoon tea. I’ll see you in there.”
I’m learning Luka’s style guide, and I pretty much have pre-dinner drinks down pat. I slip into my room, rifling through the clothes hanging in the closet. I showered at the spa after my sauna, so I don’t have to fight for bathroom time. Thank goodness. I pick a light green dress, sliding on some pumps and twisting my hair off my face. That will do. The beauticians did my makeup after my shower. I look fancier than I ever have, but thankfully understated.
Beaumont is striding toward the stairs as I exit my room, and pauses, gesturing for me to lead the way. They might be prickly and standoffish, but the nephews have manners, that’s for sure. We don’t speak as we walk together to the drawing room, and Beaumont again gestures for me to walk in ahead of him. We are the last to arrive.
I accept the glass of champagne Gladys hands me, sidling over to the mantelpiece to stand alone, my eyes glued to where Sarah and Tiffany are speaking with Bill, his back to me. I think maybe they experienced a totally different spa day to the one I did.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Westerhaven,” Tiffany is gushing. “It was such a relaxing day.”
“And we had so much fun bonding with Angie. You men don’t understand how much fun a girls only day can be!” Sarah chimes in. Bonding? Weird way to bond, ignoring me. I’m really failing at my plan to get rid of them. I have no idea why Bill doesn’t simply tell Maxwell and Ryan to break things off. He seems to command them on how to live every other aspect of their lives, and they jump to comply. I’m not sure why on earth this would be any different?
All I know is that my mission on this vacation, as well as finding out tidbits about their life that Bill might find interesting, is to run off the girlfriends, who Bill thinks are completely unsuitable. Personally, I think that’s harsh. They’re airheads, sure, but other than being vapid, condescending, and kind of conceited, they seem like okay women.
“What did Angie study at college?” Bill asks Sarah, who pales slightly under her brand new fake tan. Oh god. This is going to be a bloodbath. Sarah’s wide eyes turn on me, pleading. Should I take pity on her, or…?
A few feet away from me, Timothy’s mouth twitches. I think he’s enjoying this. Subtly, I catch and hold Sarah’s gaze and tilt my head in Timothy’s direction. I mean, he did an MBA, and I did a degree in business management, even so, hopefully, she can put two and two together. She doesn’t. She’s still floundering, but luckily, Tiffany isn’tquiteas slow.
“Business,” Tiffany blurts out. I beam and flash her a thumbs up. Bill turns to her in surprise and offers her a warm smile.
It’s the first smile he’s given her since I’ve been here, and Maxwell perks up, though Ryan looks sour since his girlfriend didn’t get the answer. Suddenly, there is a presence at my back, and I’m enveloped in honey and oak. Timothy has moved to stand close behind me. My breath catches as his warm breath caresses my ear.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be helping her,” he breathes. I tip my head to the side, and his lips brush my ear.
“Pretty sure I can do what I want.”
The feeling of closeness disappears as he moves beside me, smirking down.
“Uh huh,” he snickers, and I roll my eyes at him.
“And where did she go to school?” Bill is now pumping Tiffany, whose eyes dart toward me. I mouth “New York” at her.
