Page 72 of Watching Her

“What kind of pressure?”

I grinned, knowing my brother. “The kind that ensures they realize they are way out of their league.”

“I’ll do my best, but I agree with you. George Covington is up to something. We need to find a smoking gun so they realize what we’re made of. The folks in Paris likely know our background. Our reputation does precede us.”

He meant in how we handled discrepancies. Yes, we did put the fear of God into people for sheer enjoyment. “We won’t rule anything out at this point. Keep your ear to the ground.”

“You know I will.”

Unfortunately, the sale was contingent on our ability to market the aging property even during renovations. And why? Because the family who currently owned the sprawling facility insisted on maintaining stock within the company. I couldn’t blame them given how much money they’d earn when the sale was announced.

However, it was another reason to keep my mind on business.

“Is the new VP any relation to the owner?” I drummed my fingers on my desk.

“None. The guy has been there since graduating college. He’s a player if you know what I mean. He could rival your antics from college. That much I learned from studying his social media.” Kingston had many excellent attributes including information gathering. He had a way of schmoozing people and getting what he wanted.

If there was one thing about my brother I truly appreciated, it was that he could make me laugh. “I seem to recall you following in my footsteps at that point in your life.”

“To a point, but you and your two buddies remain legendary at Harvard.” Kingston was grinning.

“You mean because we donated two million dollars last year?”

“Didn’t you call that a bribe? Oh, wait. That was Father’s donation just before you graduated. Or you might not have graduated. Didn’t you get the Harvard president’s wife pregnant?”

While I huffed, I had no desire to answer him. “She knew what she was doing.”

“You’re lucky she decided to terminate the pregnancy. Imagine all the money you’d be forking over at this point in your life. I’m not as interested in the games any longer, Chris, and in truth, neither should you be. You’re almost forty.”

“Thank you for reminding me.”

Sadly, he was right about that. I was usually much more careful, insisting on condoms or ascertaining without question the girl had been on birth control.

I’d made a mistake with the lovely Sheila Duncan. And why? Because of her age.

“Besides, we all need learn to pay for our sins, Kingston.”

“You sound like our father.”

Markham Tempest had buried himself in work, preferring staying at the office to being with his children. He was also a brutal man, handling discrepancies and treachery in ways that should have landed him in prison. I’d learned very early how the importance of having decent, trustworthy, powerful friends.

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

To a point.

In his effort to move past working with Kingston, he’d gained more enemies than he’d lost. Now I was left to clean up the mess. Including with Covington.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“All to win a contest. It was amazing to me that the well-coiffed lady picked a college kid with a penchant for sadism to indulge in an extramarital affair. You never told me what you won with that bet.” He was thoroughly enjoying himself in trying to cause discomfort. It wasn’t working.

I toyed with my Mont Blanc pen, twisting it in my fingers. “Clout. Bragging rights.”

He shook his head. “Does that mean you’re up to the same antics as in college? A handwritten note? A flower? Special arrangements for some big night. Oh, and some fantastic pictures from what some are calling the social event of the year?”

My brother was enjoying the hell out of himself.

“None of your business.”