“None taken. We’re still ramping up our web presence.” Duncan kept the charm dialed up, making me want to dig my heels in that much harder against Ilene’s oversight.
“He’s a SEAL. This is a piece of cake assignment for a navy lieutenant who’s been under literal fire before. He doesn’t need a ton of prep or briefing.” I returned Ilene’s cool stare before playing the trump card I knew would shut her up. “Oh, and his dad is Daryl Lubov.”
I respected what Duncan had said the day before about wanting to make his own way, but there was no denying that his father’s name opened a ton of doors in the entertainment industry. Social climbers like Ilene were likely to think twice before crossing someone with Duncan’s pedigree.
“My father has no connection to A-List Security.” A muscle twitched in Duncan’s jaw, but his voice stayed level. “And, actually, I’ll take all the extra information you want to give me, Ilene. I’ve been working on a city-by-city security plan, but I welcome your insights.”
Duncan opened his briefcase to reveal a thick set of papers, complete with sticky notes and paper flags. He might be throwing me under the bus by cooperating with Ilene, but I couldn’t help my low whistle.
“This is the start of my plan for each tour stop and specifics concerns I have for each venue,” he explained to Ilene, who was all wide-eyed appreciation. “I can email you a copy if you’d like.”
“My, someone did their homework,” Ilene simpered. The change in her tone could not be more obvious. Clearly, a well-organized stack of papers did it for her. I was less impressed by busy work, but I had to acknowledge he’d done a ton of work in a short amount of hours. He must have stayed up all night annotating his papers. But I still wasn’t happy with the idea of Ilene poking around our plans.
“I’m not here to do half a job.” Duncan spoke to Ilene, but his sidelong glance my way felt a lot like a warning. “A-List Security’s rep is on the line, and I stand behind our work.”
“I better go back and bookmark that website.” Ilene removed her phone from her red leather bag. “We might need help on other jobs.”
“That’s what we’re here for.” Duncan smiled widely, apparently only too happy to let her earlier veiled insult go.
On the other hand, I was not here for their mutual admiration society. I didn’t need Duncan all chummy with the label. I gestured at the desk near the front of the gate, where people were starting to line up.
“I think we’re boarding. Duncan, let me introduce you around before we take off.” Not waiting for his agreement, I strode to the line, waving to the LA-based band and crew flying out with us. These faces were friendlier and more welcoming than Ilene's, and my smile loosened considerably, especially once Duncan followed me. I lowered my voice. “Ilene doesn’t need all the details and specifics. I keep the label on a need-to-know basis.”
“You’re the boss,” he said mildly.
“Yup.” I didn’t care if he was being sarcastic as long as he followed my request. We reached the others lining up to board, I made introductions. I’d been so busy in LA that I hadn’t had a chance to keep up with everyone, so I took the opportunity to check in with my people, asking after significant others and following up on stuff I’d learned on the previous leg of our tour.
“Wow. You keep track of all the breakup and ill relative gossip,” Duncan said quietly as we joined the end of the line.
“These are my people. They all have my back. I’m going to have theirs too.”
“I get it. I try to do the same thing with the personnel under me.” He nodded, and something approaching understanding passed between us. He might be unbearably uptight, but I had no doubt he’d been an impressive SEAL. Caring about his subordinates was part of the job description, yet the way his eyes softened made him ever so slightly more human to me.
Which I didn’t like, and I stayed quiet as we followed the others onto the plane. Ilene raved to all who would listen about the plane being the label’s latest acquisition. And it was swank, bigger than some I’d been on and more modern with multiple seating areas and a bistro vibe. Several longtime crew members took over the couch area at the rear of the plane, while some band members claimed the quartet of club-style seats facing each other in the middle.
I could have joined Ilene at another seats-plus-table area, but hell if I wanted more lectures and reminders. Instead, I snagged one of two front-facing seats near the door.
“Sit,” I ordered Duncan. I told myself I was sitting with him to go over his plans. That was reasonable and had absolutely nothing to do with not wanting him to sit with Ilene. Keeping them from socializing further might be petty, but Duncan kept saying he wasn’t here for fun. He didn’t need to be here for flirting either.