Chapter 35 NANCY #2
“Oh, really? I thought it was the usual crowd this evening.”
“It’s Gene and Jean. They’re over from the States.” Catherine turned to me for a quick explanation. “They’re high-profile investors looking for opportunities in the UK tech sector.”
Alex squeezed my hand. “Do you mind? We’ve been trying to land this for some time. The personal touch could make all the difference.”
“Of course. I’m happy to chat business.” I took his arm, excited by the prospect of helping Alex close a deal. If this was what high society parties were all about, I’d be in my element.
We joined a Californian couple, both around sixty, with deep tans, dyed hair, and evident cosmetic work that made them look uncannily human.
Catherine introduced me as ‘Alex’s companion’.
The couple gave me a blank Botox expression before speaking exclusively to Alex and Catherine for the next half an hour.
I stood patiently to one side, trying to follow their conversation, but it seemed to revolve entirely around an island the couple had recently purchased rather than anything business-related. In boredom, I tapped my empty flute and looked around the ballroom.
People stood about conversing in small, glitzy groups, the men in grand black tie, the women dripping in finery, and every one of them confident they belonged.
Couples filtered in and out of the adjoining rooms, where music and laughter echoed.
I glanced at Alex, who hadn’t looked my way in some time, and decided I’d had enough of being ignored.
I went through one of the archways into a long bar that shifted the mood to the roaring twenties.
Dark woods, deep reds, and low lighting created a speakeasy vibe.
Tucked in the corner, a pianist played lounge jazz that was almost completely drowned out by shrieks and snorts of the surrounding crowd.
I decided I needed a stronger drink, so I found a free spot along the thin mahogany bar and waited to be served.
A few seconds later, I felt the stroke of fingers across my tattoo and flinched, turning to find two identical men behind me. They were roughly my age, both sporting sandy-coloured curtains and matching amused expressions.
“Oh, it is! I knew Alex would bring her,” one of the twins sniggered to the other.
“Excuse me?” I drew out, feeling suitably pissed at being addressed in the third person.
“Apologies, I’m Max, and this is my brother, Theo. We’re Alex’s cousins.” They said in unison.
“I’m Nancy, Alex’s girlfriend.” I looked over my shoulder to check where the barman was…just two people away.
“Yes, we know.” They smirked. “We didn’t think he would bring you tonight, but how fortuitous he has.”
“Right. So, are you having a good night?” I said, desperate to manoeuvre the conversation.
“It’s improving by the second.” Theo’s eyes dropped to my breasts and lingered. “What are you drinking, beautiful?”
Ugh! No thanks! There’s no way I’m sharing a drink with these two creeps. “I’m not sure, I’m still deciding.”
“No tipple of choice?” Max chuckled. “How about we pick something for you, then?”
“That’s thoughtful, but I can sort out my own drin—”
“Nonsense,” Theo cut me off. “We’ll get you a cocktail.”
“Oh yes, a cocktail’s just the ticket,” Max sniggered. “Perhaps…sex on the beach?”
Theo guffawed at his brother. “Or a slippery nipple.”
“No, wait,” Max tried to regain his composure as he assessed me from head to toe. “I think you’re more of a long, slow, comfortable screw against the wall kind of girl.”
“Do you know any cocktails not drunk by obnoxious eighties yuppies?” I snarked, trying to maintain my nerve while feeling isolated despite the room full of people.
“Ooo!” Theo sniggered. “This cat’s got claws.”
“You have no idea,” I murmured, digging my French manicure into my palms. “Well, as charming as this has been, I’d better go find Alex.”
“What’s the rush?” Theo leaned against the bar, blocking my escape. “We Tovertons are more than happy to share—for the right price, of course.”
I straightened my back. “You’ve clearly been misinformed about me.”
“Oh, come now, dahling, you don’t need to play hard to get in your line of work.
If you’ll take on two at once, what’s a couple more?
I promise we’ll show you a good time.” Max grazed his hand along the slit of my dress until he met skin.
“You need to loosen up. Let us get you a drink, and we’ll take the party up to our suite. ”
There had been many, many times I’d taken the high ground and breathed through the bullshit, remaining polite to avoid trouble.
Hiding in the loos when I was stalked on nights out; switching carriages when I was accosted on the Tube; and staying quiet when I got catcalled on the street.
I’d held back every time, because I knew as well as any woman that hurting a guy’s ego could turn nasty.
But tonight I wasn’t feeling so charitable—proximity to power could do that to a girl.
I smacked Max’s hand away and pushed Theo back, then in a tone that could have severed bone, I said low and slow, “I don’t know who the hell you two think you are, but I’d sooner neck a glass of bleach than accept a drink from you pair of creeps.
Now, if you don’t disappear this second, I’ll relay what you’ve said verbatim to your cousin.
How do you think Alex will take it? I’m guessing not well.
” I maintained eye contact, the pair looking genuinely shocked that I had a backbone.
When they said nothing more, I swooped around to give my order to the barman, who’d just reached me. “Can I have a Hennessy and—” But his eyes travelled past to the next person in the queue. “Excuse me! I was next!”
“You were not,” a portly man in a dinner jacket tutted. “Wait your turn.”
“I did!”
“No need to get aggressive,” he muttered.
On the edge of going nuclear, I turned to give him hell when my shoulder received a tap. Oh no, you did not just touch me again! I spun around with my fists clenched, ready to take a swing at Tweedledum and douche-brain, only to come face to chest with all six-foot-three of William Toverton.
“William!”
He saw my expression and held my arms. “Nancy, are you okay?”
“I’d be better with a drink.” I shot a deathly stare at the barman, who was now serving the portly man.
“What do you want?”
“A Henny and Coke.”
William leaned over the bar, stretching his long arm to nab the spirit bottle.
“Hey, you can’t do that!” The barman stormed over.
William gave him a deadpan look. “Then get me a bloody glass and a Coke, and I’ll get out of your hair.”
Hearing William was deaf, the barman simpered an apology, then scurried to the fridge. “Let me know if you need anything else, sir,” he said louder than necessary, presumably thinking this would help William understand him.
I watched in awe as William poured a generous measure of Hennessy, glugged over the Coke, handed me the glass with a killer white grin, and held out his arm. “Shall we?”
“Yes, please, thank god!”
“No, I am but a mere mortal, but you may thank me.” He looked down at me dryly.
“There’s that Toverton modesty.” I smiled and squeezed his arm in thanks.
“Where’s Alex?” William eyed the room.
“He was talking to some potential investors with Catherine Black, so I thought I’d explore solo.”
His brows knit. “He’s with Mimi’s mother?”
I almost missed a step. “Her mother? Of course, Black of Preston-Black.” Why didn’t Alex introduce her as such, only as a shareholder of Toverton PLC? How connected were their families?
William read my brooding expression. “Don’t worry. Just stick with me. This place can be a pit of vipers.”
“I noticed. I met your cousins unfortunately.”
“Oh, god, not Maximillian and Theodore?”
“Yep.”
“Whatever they said, ignore them. They’re bellends we refer to as the ‘twit twins’. That side of our family has always been bitter. Uncle George was the spare and handed his grudge down to those two pricks.”
“Ah, that makes a little more sense. Still, as propositions go, it was right up there as one of the most vomit-inducing I’ve ever received.”
William halted. “They propositioned you?”
“Technically, they solicited me, right before Max put a hand on my thigh, but I gave them a piece of my mind, for what good it will do.”
“They did what? I’ll give them a bloody hiding!” William swung around, looking ready to fulfil his promise there and then.
I smiled at his protectiveness. “Like most bullies, they scuttled off soon after. I should’ve kept to the plan and stuck by Alex.”
“I think you mean Alex should’ve stuck by you.” He put his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll give him a rap on the head too.”
I laughed. “You’re quite the knight in shining armour, aren’t you? I can see why you and Kim get on. She’s the same.”
“Has she been talking about me?”
“Sisters before misters, I’m afraid, but I think it’s safe to say she likes you.”
He grinned. “We’ve got a date tomorrow.”
“She said. I’m quite jealous.” I smiled at his confusion. “How come you can cook, but Alex can’t?”
William laughed. “I guess I’ve always been the creative one. Alex’s more logical and calculated. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to translate into kitchen skills.”
“You can’t have it all, I guess.”
“As a consolation, how about we have a double date, and I’ll cook us my famous Bolognese.” He leaned in confidingly. “The trick is I put half a bottle of plonk in the sauce. It never fails.”
“Because your guests are wasted, I imagine,” I laughed.
We entered another grand room of champagne and silver that suited a posh wedding reception, and William looked to the far corner. “Our mother is over there. Have you met her yet?”
My stomach did a flip. “No, not yet.”