Chapter 28 #2
“So what did you mean by that, exactly?” she asked, curious, although she already knew talk of an investment could go nowhere. Having Theo Stein foot the bill for any enterprise she undertook would fuel terrible gossip—and scandal.
“Exactly what I said,” Theo replied promptly. “I want to invest in your business. Financially.” He flung an arm out expansively, nearly knocking over his coupe of champagne. “Maggie O’Halloran, Milliner,” he stated grandly. “I can see it on the sign already.”
“The sign!” Maggie repeated disbelievingly. For a second, she could imagine it too, and it was far too tempting a fantasy.
“You must have your own shop!” Theo replied as if it were obvious. “In the best part of town, of course. State Street, or Washington Street, perhaps, but certainly near all the finest stores. Field’s especially!”
Maggie shook her head, laughing now, even though she knew she needed to end this fantastical discussion as soon as she could.
“You’re dreaming,” she told him, smiling to soften any sting in her words.
“A shop on those streets, even a small one, would far, far exceed anything I can afford.” She reached for her champagne again.
“But it is a nice dream,” she told him in the kind of firm tone that she hoped would put an end to the matter.
“It’s not a dream, Maggie.” Theo leaned forward, his voice earnest, his gaze intent. “I promise you, it’s not.”
“Theo, a splash of notoriety in the papers isn’t enough reason to invest,” Maggie told him, doing her best to sound reasonable. She already knew, deep in her bones, that this discussion could go nowhere. “And, in any case,” she stated, knowing it needed to be said, “it wouldn’t be appropriate.”
He frowned, genuinely seeming not to understand. “Why not?”
“Because…” Maggie paused, swallowing uncomfortably.
She did not want to have to be indebted to Theo Stein, and she knew she would be if he invested in her business.
Even if such an investment could be the making of her, or at least her potential business.
It was a risk she couldn’t take, especially when she considered the speculation and gossip that such an investment would undoubtedly cause, were it to be discovered.
And what might Theo want, or even expect, of her, if she took money from him, as he seemed to be suggesting?
“I can see your mind is racing,” Theo said quietly as Maggie sipped her champagne. “And coming to a million conclusions, none of which, I assure you, are true.”
Maggie had no response to that, so she simply took another sip, even though her thoughts were still swirling and she hardly needed any more champagne.
Theo leaned forward, reaching for her hand, before he seemed to think better of it and withdrew his own.
“Maggie, this would be entirely proper,” he insisted.
“A business relationship between an investor and an entrepreneur! You’ve had such great success, even when the odds seemed stacked against you.
Why shouldn’t you have more?” His lips curved in a knowing smile.
“It’s a purely commercial interest on my part, I assure you. ”
His rakish grin and dancing eyes, Maggie thought, seemed to indicate otherwise, but she could hardly say so.
And, in truth, part of her liked that he had more than a commercial interest…
even if she shouldn’t. She knew better than to trust Theo Stein wholeheartedly, and yet she still felt cautious.
The stares she’d received in the restaurant today, as well as before, suggested that people were already looking at her involvement with Theo Stein askance, no matter how innocent it truly was.
What would they assume of her if they knew he was financing her fledgling business? What rumors would start to churn?
“I don’t know,” she said at last. “I cannot have a whiff of impropriety about any of it, Theo. You must see that.”
“And I don’t see why there would be,” he replied easily. His eyes continued to dance as he kept her gaze. “Unless you wanted there to be, of course.”
“Don’t.” Maggie looked away, mortified, as well as far too tempted, while Theo laughed softly.
“Maggie, I’m only teasing. You take a single kiss—or should I say two—far too seriously.
Now, drink up—and eat up,” he added, nodding to the waiter who was bearing down upon them with their lunch, “because after we’ve dined, remember, I have something to show you.
” His eyes glinted as his mouth curved once more. “Something quite, quite promising.”
Maggie stared at him uncertainly. “Show me?” she repeated, like a question. What could he possibly have to show her?
“Yes, show you,” Theo replied as the waiter set down their plates. “And I think you will be very pleased.”
Maggie took another sip of champagne, her thoughts swirling all the more. She wanted to let go of her innate suspicion and wariness, but it was so hard, especially when so much was at stake.
And what, she wondered as she took a bite of delicious crab salad, could Theo possibly want to show her?