“I haven’t got a closed mind.”
I was slightly seething now. This building was full of people with closed minds, but I was not one of them.
“Of course you do. You don’t think I belong here. You don’t think I’m good enough to be in amongst this level of society.”
The harsh clench of his jaw gave him away. He felt that way about himself, but he was deflecting his inferiority onto me.
“Do you want to know what I really think?”
I stopped and stood opposite him, giving him my full attention.
“I think this place is full of the most pompous, arrogant and self-important people I’ve ever come across. These people around you, they think they’re something, but they’re not. They don’t bring beauty to life. They don’t make art or music. They don’t write poems or enrich people’s souls. Their definition of a rich life is light years away from mine, but you want in with these people, then be my guest. I’m pretty sure you’ll fit right in.”
He didn’t bite back, instead choosing to huff out a strained breath through flared nostrils and walk straight past me. He strolled confidently to the bar to order himself a whiskey. Judging by the sour look on his face, Jackson wasn’t too thrilled with my dose of honesty. Truth hurts, Mr Caine.
I followed him to the bar and was taken aback when he plastered on a smile and asked me what I’d like to drink. He blew hot and cold so quickly I was starting to get whiplash.
“So, what’s your plan for tonight?” I asked, taking the glass of white wine he’d ordered for me and sipping this time.
“There are a few gentlemen here that need softening up. They need a bit of a nudge to see a good opportunity when it presents itself. That’s where you come in. Something tells me you’re pretty well versed in making men warm towards you, and getting what you want.” His grey eyes twinkled as he spoke in a low voice, eyes darting around the room behind me.
“What gives you that impression?”
He looked down at me then, holding me in place with his icy stare, and making the rest of the room freeze around me.
“Women like you always do. You’re the masters of manipulation.”
“Wow!”
I took a huge gulp of my wine. It was either that, or explode in rage at his sweeping misjudgement of my whole sex.
“You certainly hold women in high esteem, don’t you?”
“I say it as I see it.”
Who the hell had crapped all over his life to make him so bitter and twisted?
“You see what you want to see. We aren’t all heartless bitches, you know.” I didn’t care what his opinion was of me, but I couldn’t let him get away with slating all women as a race.
“Whatever, love. Just do your job, okay? Starting now. Mayor Davenport is on his way over here and he’s target number one. Play nice and smile.”
Holy Crap. Mayor Davenport. Mick Davenport, or rather Uncle Mick as I usually called him. He was my little brother Nate’s godfather and one of my dad’s best friends.
“Ryley? Is that you? I had no idea you’d be here tonight.”
He kissed me on the cheek and gave me a friendly hug.
“Hi, Uncle Mick. How are you?”
He looked down at me with pure warmth in his eyes. Uncle Mick was one of the good guys.
“I’m good. I’ve missed your dad since he’s been off sailing the seven seas. My Friday golf game just isn’t the same without his sarcastic wit putting me off my swing.”
“Must run in the family,” Jackson muttered under his breath behind me.
“No Justin tonight? Have you kids broken up? I’m so behind the times. Gloria never tells me anything.”
“Or rather, he never listens when I do tell him.” My Aunty Gloria, Uncle Mick’s wife, sidled up behind him, grinning that she’d caught him out on his gossiping.