First, I have to get dressed.
I go upstairs to change into a shift dress and sandals. It’s only once I’m dressed that I do a little self-reflecting. I can’t believe I had the audacity to sit there in nothing but that towel while Magnus basically undressed what little there was to undress with his eyes.
I try to keep my mind from straying to the horrid thought of just how long he’d been sitting there. I’ve always considered it one of my personal flaws that I’m not a “quiet” lover. Perhaps that’s why I make such a point of being so dignified and poised in all other areas of my life. The idea that Magnus was a party to that part of me I’ve always been so mortified by is, frankly, appalling.
I busy my mind with the business I need to handle in the moment. I pick up my phone and dial.
“Hello?” His voice is a mixture of grogginess and irritation.
“Jamie?” I reply, pure innocence. “Oh dear, I’m sorry. I forgot about the time difference. It’s just that your message sounded so urgent I thought it best I call first thing—as you requested.”
Holy hell, does it feel good to be this passive-aggressive with the man.
“Yes, yes!” He says, seeming to perk right up. I can just imagine him sitting up in bed, no doubt wearing thousand-dollar silk pajamas or something idiotic like that as he sees the dollar signs flash before his eyes. “So…this Magnus Reinhardt business. Do you have any idea what this is about? Frankly, if you’d mentioned this was why you dropped everything to head off to Monte Carlo, you should have said something, Sloane.”
I want to laugh, especially as I recall the half-hour lecture I got before coming about how “using vacation time is a rare thing for associates trying to make partner” and “what with my failings in several other areas” (I didn’t need diversity sensitivity training to read between the lines on that one) it didn’t look good.
“Yes, well, I wasn’t sure how it would pan out here,” I say, which is mostly the truth.
“So what is it he wants? The gentleman who contacted us wasn’t quite clear on the details. Well, except for the part about working with only you.” He seems especially put out by this request.
“We’re…still hashing out the details,” I say ambiguously.
“Does he really need forty days? I mean, we’re still working on this Gaultier Financial mess and—”
“I’m afraid so,” I interrupt. It’s no wonder he’s worried about “this Gaultier Financial mess” since I’m the one who’s been busting her ass doing most of the heavy work on it. All the better to make partner!
“Yes, well,” he says with resignation. “I suppose we can’t very well look a gift horse in the mouth. Better to have a thriving business than one we’re getting paid to dismantle.”
“Indeed.”
“Just make sure you keep me updated, Sloane. I expect daily briefings, and I know I don’t need to tell you to document your hours.”
My eyes roll up to the side, wondering what one would bill mandatory attendance at a “small little gathering.”
I’m damn sure billing Magnus for our little tête-à-tête earlier. Something tells me I could pull an absurd number out of my ass, and he’d agree to it without batting an eye. In fact, something tells me I could bill for the entire forty days, and he’d pay it.
The thought has me heady with power—even if by proxy.
I must admit, I’m not thrilled about the “daily briefings” with Jamie part, but I can only push the envelope so far.
“Well, I should get going, Jamie. It is, after all, already—” I check the time. “—almost ten o’clock here. I’m sure there’s something Magnus needs me to do.” Like, take advantage of the spa.
“Right, right. Well then…don’t let us down, Sloane.”
“When have I ever, Jamie?” I reply before hanging up.
I place the phone on the credenza next to my purse.
I stare at it, thinking back to what Magnus said about my brother. It was almost as though he knew something I didn’t.
A sudden wave of panic hits me, and I pick it up and call Theo. It rings forever, and the dread in me begins to grow.
“Sloane!” He answers in a panic.
“Theo,” I almost gasp with relief.
“What is it? Are you okay?” He asks, still with anxiety in his voice. That’s when I remember what time it is.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry to wake you, I just…” I just what? “I just wanted to check in on you.”
I hear him sigh with relief on the other end. “I’m fine.”
“Have you heard anything more from anyone?”
“You mean the assholes who kidnapped us?”
I swallow, trying to ignore the memory of that night. “Yes.”
“No, not yet. I guess they really are giving you forty days. Well, thirty-nine now.”
“What about Linus? Have you heard anything from him?” I ask, trying not to spit his name.
“Are you kidding? I cut my ties with the man. This was the last straw. I should have listened to you a long time ago, Sloane. To his credit, he hasn’t tried to get in touch.”
At least one good thing has come out of this. And all it took was a little kidnapping and coercion, not to mention the unspoken but very obvious threat to our lives.
I keep that thought to myself. No need to rub salt in the wound since I’ve already jolted my brother out of sleep.
“Okay, go back to bed, Theo. I think I’ve got things handled out here. I’m pretty sure I can get them what they need in time.”
“Really?” Now, he’s very much awake.
“Don’t get too excited,” I say, thinking back to Magnus’ suggestion that he might keep me for longer than forty days. Not if I have anything to say about it. “Go back to bed. I’ll check back in a couple of days.”
He pauses before responding. “I”m sorry about all this, Sloane.”
“Forget about it, Theo. You can buy me a beer when this is all over,” I say with a smile. I could
