Chapter Nine #3
“She has excellent taste.” Simon’s smile warmed even more. “And please—call me Simon.”
I hid my grin behind a sip of water, relief sliding through me. We were off to a good start.
As dinner progressed, maintaining that momentum proved more challenging.
Chuck was a natural schmoozer, and he held nothing back in his campaign to win Alexander over.
While we dined on truffle-shaved risotto and seared sea bass, he lavished praise on Neptune’s Kingdom—the atmosphere, the joy it brought to children, the magic of the experience.
Alexander clearly loved having his vision admired. His resort was his pride and joy, and Chuck knew exactly which buttons to push to gain Alexander’s approval.
Simon tried to match that energy, but his focus kept drifting to business metrics—the resort’s valuation, its market monopoly, its growth potential. Everything he said was valid, the kind of analysis any serious investor would prioritize.
But it wasn’t what made Alexander light up.
By the time dessert arrived, Simon’s frustration was radiating off him in waves, and Chuck looked more satisfied with every passing minute.
The one thing to our advantage that we had was Chuck’s wife.
Rachel was polished and beautiful, dripping with diamonds at her ears, throat, and wrists.
She was also completely disinterested in Brenda, offering only the bare minimum of polite conversation before turning her attention elsewhere.
She was here to be seen on her husband’s arm and admired, not to make genuine connections.
So I threw myself into filling that gap.
“I’ve always admired florists,” I said when I learned that Brenda owned a flower shop. “Creating art from living things seems like such a gift.”
Brenda beamed at me. “I’ve loved flowers my whole life. When I started out, I was working part-time at a tiny shop in my hometown in Georgia. We barely had any customers, but I was so happy there. Now I own one of the biggest floral businesses in the city.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said with a smile. “Do you still find time to create arrangements yourself?”
Brenda reached for her husband’s hand, and Alexander interlaced their fingers without pausing his own conversation. An automatic gesture, as natural as breathing.
“I’m always so busy with the business side of things,” Brenda said, “but Alex insists I personally create an arrangement for our home every week. He puts it right in the center of our dining room table where he can admire it whenever we eat together.”
Their relationship was beautiful. Thirty years of marriage, three grown children, five grandchildren. The kind of family people dreamed of building.
But it also made me nervous. Simon had explained that Alexander wanted to work with people who shared his values. Would Simon’s single, unattached status work against him?
Almost as if reading my thoughts, Chuck raised that exact subject as dessert plates were cleared.
“You know, Alexander, I believe it’s important for business partners to share similar values.” His voice dripped with forced sincerity. “That’s why I think we’d work so well together. We’re both family men. We understand what really matters in life—unlike some people.”
The jerk’s gaze slid pointedly to Simon, and I felt Simon draw a slow, controlled breath beside me. He was clearly holding on to his temper by a thread.
“That’s hardly a fair assessment, Chuck.” Simon’s voice was level, but his hands had curled into fists beneath the table, visible only to me. “I’m a good man, and I conduct business with integrity.”
“Oh, I know you’re successful, Simon.” Chuck’s tone was pure condescension.
“You’ve made a great deal of money over the years.
But some things matter more than profit.
Loyalty, for instance. Commitment to one woman.
” His smile sharpened into something cruel.
“Tell me, how many society women have you dated casually? How many in this very room have you discarded after a few weeks of fun?”
Simon’s expression went blank. Not angry—but frozen. Like the calm before a devastating storm. But it was Alexander’s face that made my stomach drop. His mouth turned down. His brow furrowed. He didn’t like what he’d just heard, and I could practically see Simon’s chances crumbling to dust.
This business venture mattered to Simon. He’d come here tonight despite hating events like this, spent a fortune on my outfit, forced himself to make small talk for hours. I couldn’t let him lose this opportunity because of Chuck’s poisonous implications.
I could think of only one way to salvage the situation. Before I could second-guess myself, I reached out and placed my hand on Simon’s arm, leaning into him with a bright, confident smile aimed directly at Alexander.
“That’s all in the past,” I said, my voice steady despite the nervous beating of my heart. “I can personally attest that Simon no longer has any interest in casual dating. He’s in a very serious relationship now.” I ignored the way Simon stiffened beside me. “With me.”