Katie watched me, surprised. Just as her husband appeared through the crowd again with his security guys, and our cocktails.
“Margarita, daiquiri,” Jesse announced, setting the drinks on the table for us. Jude set down a couple of beers.
“Thank you.” I took a sip of my margarita, then smoothed my dress, determined to get a moment alone with Dane.
“Hey, where you going?” Jesse asked.
“I’m going to wage war on an adversary,” I informed them.
“She’s going to negotiate,” Katie amended.
Jesse chuckled. “Well, good luck to your victim.”
I smiled and walked away, as Jude stepped aside to let me through.
Of course, Jesse Mayes himself had once had to negotiate with me, for the right to hire my favorite client—Katie—so he knew what my “victim” was up against. If I could close that deal, among so many others over the years, I could close this one, right?
The stakes were high, and they were deeply personal, but that just meant I’d rally the will of a thousand armies for this victory.
Maybe Dane was right.
Maybe we were enemies. Maybe he really was my opponent, whether I liked it or not.
And if so, I just needed to figure out some way to best him. Everyone had their weak spots… and I had a feeling that in my rounds of Googling, I may have found another one or two of his.
Like he said: know thy enemy.
Then hit him where it hurt.
When I approached Dane’s table, I found him texting or something on his phone. His bodyguard stood against a nearby wall, sipping a water and looking conspicuous. It was the first time I’d seen him without his dark shades on. He caught my eye and nodded as I walked past.
His name was Rolf. I’d met him more personally this evening, after Claire was fired, when Suri slipped into my office to tell me that Dane had just had security walk her out the door. I’d ran straight outside, but Claire was already gone and there was Rolf. He’d introduced himself to me and told me he was Dane’s bodyguard.
And all I said was,I hope you’re prepared to protect him from me.
He’d seemed amused.
I scanned the area but saw no sign of Shane. So, I sat right down in his vacated chair.
Dane’s eyes lifted from his phone.
“Hello,” I said neutrally.
He put his phone away and glanced around, briefly, like he was looking for hidden cameras. “Hey.”
“Surprised to see me?” I sipped my margarita, letting a little liquid courage seep into my veins.
“Very.”
“Where’s Shane?”
The temperature of his gaze lowered a few degrees. “He went outside to make a call. To some woman he’s planning to hook up with tonight. So if you’re hoping for something, you’re a little late to the game.”
“Oh, I wasn’t hoping for anything. Just a moment of your time.”
His eyebrow rose slightly. “Here?”
“Yes. Right here. Right now. Why? Is there a problem? Are you afraid to speak to me outside the office, where I might say anything at all? You know, since we’re on our own time here.”