Big Ben

by Nana Malone

  He drained his glass then. “Get to your bloody point.”

  “I’d like you do it again.” I knew the plan, how to work him. “The Van Linsteds have held too much power for too long. You know that to be true.”

  There was that famous Downs smile. “And you want something for nothing?”

  “Of course not.” I pulled out the envelope from my breast pocket. “I know your daughter had a difficult time last year. I hope these files find both you and her some peace. These are the only copies in existence, and it’s been scrubbed from the interwebs. Even the news outlets that initially reported the story before you could stop them have had an unscheduled data breach. She is free to continue her life as she pleases.”

  He stared at me for a long moment then took what I offered. “You are proving yourself a formidable adversary.”

  “I’m no one’s adversary, merely an interested party.”

  “And if not Van Linsted, then who? You?”

  I shook my head. “Politics have never interested me. Neither have bullshit games. I just want Van Linsted out and someone else made Director Prime.”

  He whistled low. “You must really hate him.”

  Yes. “On the contrary. I have no feelings toward him. I just want what’s best for the Elite.”

  His gaze was assessing, his shaggy salt-and-pepper brows furrowing. “You are your father’s son. Politics might not suit, but you are certainly skilled enough to play in that sandbox if you choose.”

  “Not interested.”

  “Pity. If you wanted to, you’d do well as Director Prime.”

  “If and when the time comes and we have your support, there will be another candidate.”

  He lifted a brow. “And who would that be?”

  “We’re keeping it under wraps until it’s needed.”

  He nodded as he chuckled. “Secrets whispered.”

  “Exactly. Secrets whispered. Do I have your support?”

  He seemed to think it over. “You have done me a great service, and I am indebted to you, but not enough to vote for an unknown Director Prime.”

  Fuck. Downs was a slippery fucker, but he was also the most influential of the Five. I had nothing else to offer. “And just knowing a Van Linsted won’t hold the seat of power isn’t enough?”

  “Afraid not. Your Prime might be worse.”

  “He’s not.”

  “So say you.”

  Across the ballroom, I watched Olivia chat animatedly to Van Linsted. There was much smiling and handwaving, and it made my lips twitch. She could only keep that up for so long though. “And if new evidence came to light of Van Linsted acting in a way that was contrary to the Elite? His culpability, his crimes...”

  “Look, most everyone in the Elite has a skeleton somewhere. Something they don’t want coming out into the light of day.”

  “Except for you. You seem to be clean. So tell me, what do you want? What can I give you to have you on our side?”

  Rowan Downs met my gaze. “I want the Canary Jewel.”

  I frowned, certain that I hadn’t heard him correctly. “What?”

  “The Canary Jewel.”

  My mouth unhinged. “That massive yellow diamond that April Van Linsted trots out at all her charity functions? That thing is the size of my fist. You want the Canary Jewel?”

  He sniffed. “Yes, I do. What nobody knows is that jewel belongs to the Kimberly Downs Mining Conglomerate. It was a gift from my great grandfather to his fiancée. On the eve of the night they were supposed to wed, she vanished. She’d been having an affair with Harrison Van Linsted. She took the jewel and ran. She couldn’t very well be prosecuted because it had been a very public gift for her birthday. But she married Van Linsted, taking our prized jewel with her. I want it back in my family. If you bring me that jewel, I will sway whoever the fuck you want.”

  I stared at him. “How would you suggest I get it? That thing is priceless.”

  “Well then, it is handy that you’re a billionaire, isn’t it?”

  “You know full well April Van Linsted is not going to sell that.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve given you my price. If you can do the impossible, you’ll have my support.”

  Impossible was right. “You’ll have it. Before the vote.”

  He gave me a brusque nod. “I look forward to it. I want it home. I don’t care how you get it or what means you have to employ. But I want it back at Kimberly Downs.”

  I didn’t know how, but I was going to have to make it happen. Good thing you happen to know a jewel thief.

  Bridge and East weren’t going to be thrilled about this development. I heard the three taps in my ear, and it startled me. “Rowan, always a pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

  He nodded. “I look forward to our partnership.”

  I turned just in time to see Livy angling her head awkwardly toward the door. The three taps meant Van Linsted was on his way. I ducked out the side door and met her in the hallway.

  “Are you okay?” My gaze swept over her several times.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. He is dreadful. He talks about himself in third person. He seems to think he’s God’s gift to women. Do you know he propositioned me? Slid his hotel key into my purse and told me to come and see him later.”

  I scowled. “He what?” Arsehole. I could kill him. That would solve everyone’s problem.

  “It’s fine, I handled it.”

  The idea that Van Linsted could put his hands on her... I started for the door, and she held me back. “I thought the idea was not to be seen.”

  “Fine, let’s go.”

  Her hand slid into mine easily. We were the perfect picture of a couple slipping out into the night for some fresh air. She turned her face up to me with a sweet smile. “Did you get what you needed?”

  I swallowed because no, I did not, in fact, have anything I needed. But I gave her a tight smile and nodded. “Yeah, he’s going to help me.”

  “That’s fantastic. What did he ask for in return?”

  I shook my head. “Something I’m not sure I can give.”

  “I’m sorry. But maybe this can help.” She pulled a black phone from her purse.

  “What’s that?”

  With an impish grin that showed a hint of dimple, she said, “Bram Van Linsted’s phone. And bonus, I watched him enter the code.”

  I froze. “Y-you stole his phone?”

  “Yeah. He was touching me, so I figured I could touch him. Though we probably want to copy or clone it, or whatever it is you do, before he notices it’s gone.”

  “Woman, I think I love you.”

  “Sorry, you’ll have to join the queue. I’m pretty brilliant.”

  “Yes. Yes, you are.”

  “I didn’t really do anything special.”

  “You did more than you know. I mean that. And as a reward, tomorrow I’m going to show you Paris.”

  She treated me to another showstopper of a smile. “What?”

  “I’m serious. I know we planned two days of work, but I want to be able to show you the city.”

  She grinned and threw her arms around my shoulders. Then she stood on tiptoes and gave me a complete toe to chest to shoulder hug. I could feel all her pulsing points pressed against me, hot, warm, and soft. The scent of lime and honey wrapping around me, cutting off my oxygen supply so that I couldn’t think rationally. I don’t know where the low moan came from, but the moment it was out, I released her immediately. “Let’s go.”

  When she stepped back, I noticed the high flush on her cheekbones. Yeah, I wasn’t the only one affected. Too bad neither one of us could do a damn thing about it.

  Livy

  Golden orange rays of sunlight streamed through the blinds in my room, breaking through my sleep solitude. I started to drag the pillow over my head until I remembered that Ben had promised to show me the city that morning.

  So instead, I cracked open an eyelid and stretched. It was only when I noticed a shad
ow looming over me that I squeaked and jumped back.

  “Morning, sunshine.”

  “Oh my God, Ben, you scared the hell out of me.”

  He laughed. “Rise and shine, princess. We have the perfect Paris day ahead.”

  I turned to glare at the clock. “It’s six-thirty.”

  “I know. But we only have one day. We have to get a lot in. Wear something comfortable that you can walk in.”

  I wrinkled my nose and grumbled, “Comfortable isn’t cute.”

  “Come on. If you must see Paris, this is the way to do it.”

  “Okay, but can we get room service first?”

  He turned back to glare at me with a mock expression of horror. “What? You don’t eat a hotel breakfast when you’re in Paris.”

  “We did yesterday.”

  “That’s because we had a meeting to go to. But today we do it right.”

  “Oh God, why can’t someone just come and dress me and wash my hair and all of those things?”

  He chuckled and leaned over me. Strong hands gently gripped my shoulders and he pulled me to a sitting position. “Come on, out with you.”

  “What if I was indecent under here?”

  “Then I would have gotten the image of a lifetime.”

  The way his voice pitched low and his gaze hovered at where my breasts lay under the giant duvet made me quiver. “No peeking.”

  “I promise not to look.”

  Everything about the cheesy smirk on his face said that he would definitely look.

  “Turn around. I’m not— Oh, just get out. I’ll be out in ten minutes.”

  “Make it five, or I’m back coming in.”

  I groaned and flopped back into bed. This was what happened when you became friends with your boss.

  He knocked at the door again. “Seriously, get up or I’m coming back in there. I can dress you if you want.”

  “No, I’m fine. I can dress myself.”

  He chuckled. “Okay. If you say so. Just hurry up.”

  I was ready in five. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and then secured my hair in a bun. He had picked out my favorite sundress, but the sandals he’d laid out were not comfortable, so I switched them out for my Adidas. When I came out, his gaze slid over me, stopping at the Batman pin on the dress. “You brought that with you?”

  Heat sneaked up my skin, flaming my cheeks. “Um, sort of out of habit.”

  He frowned but nodded. “Right. Anyway, let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “First, we are going to have breakfast.”

  “Where? It better be good because I’m starving.”

  “This is Paris. It’s all good. We are headed to Ble Sucre. It is on Rue Antoine Vollon. God, the pain au chocolat will ruin you for any other croissant you’ll eat in your life. I promise.”

  He took my hand. I was tempted to pull it back, but he was so enthusiastic I didn’t want to ruin it.

  You’re sending mixed messages. And you still have a complicated situation.

  God, did I still have a boyfriend? I had a lot to sort through, and I didn’t need feelings for Ben to complicate things. Discreetly, I pulled my hand back and tucked it into the pocket of my dress. Ben didn’t say anything though. Instead, he tossed an arm around my shoulders as he directed me toward the smell of the most amazing bread in my life. “This better be worth it.”

  “I promise you it is.”

  And he was almost always right, which was annoying. It made me want to hit him in his smug face. But the croissants were well worth it. We carried several along with us as we continued to walk. We headed across the Seine and decided to see what was remained of Notre Dame. There were still parts of the structure left. My heart broke as I thought of the fire we’d all seen on television. But like most things in Europe, they would rebuild and restore. Maybe one day I’d get to see it in its former glory. Jardin des Plantes was our next stop. “Is this the botanical garden?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it’s the main one. It dates back to the 1600s or something. Come on, let’s go. We’re taking a quick walk.”

  I groaned. “Can’t I just sit down and gorge myself on this delicious bread?”

  He laughed. “We can walk and do it. I didn’t realize you were such a morning person.”

  “You know that’s funny, because on workdays I am. I’m up early in the office doing stuff. But on days that I have to myself, I would sleep till noon. It’s like I can switch off that part of me that has to follow a timetable, you know?”

  He nodded. “You are definitely a mystery.”

  I grinned at that. “I aim to please.”

  He pointed. “Now, there’s a national museum in that building, but we have a lot to cover so we’re going to skip it today.”

  “Okay. Let me buck up. Hey, stop hogging the croissants.”

  Paris had a certain charm with its old buildings and narrow winding streets. They were lined with bistros and boutiques and cozy bookshops. When we hit Rue Mouffetard, Ben stopped. “Okay, grab that lamppost. Wind yourself around it. Look happy.”

  “What, are we doing, an impromptu photo shoot?”

  “Of course. You have to prove you were in Paris, you know for the ’gram.”

  “Please don’t say ‘the ’gram’.”

  “What? I’m hip. I’m cool.”

  “I’m not sure hip and cool is what I would refer you as.”

  “Don’t you know I am a London Lord? We’re notorious for an overabundance of fun.”

  “You know, I could see that… in your heyday.”

  “My heyday? You are a dead woman.”

  I squeaked as I bolted away from him. He caught me easily, wrapping his arms around me and tickling me until I squealed.

  It was so easy to be with him in the spring sunshine. And fun. It felt light and happy. We stopped at a few spots in the market, and Ben bought me a scarf and cheap jewelry. I couldn’t help but smile. “You know, you didn’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, I did. You helped me. I owe you at least this much.”

  “No, I think you’ve already done enough for me.”

  “No, not nearly enough.”

  We passed the Pantheon, and I stared up in wonder. “Aren’t Marie Curie and Alexander Dumas entombed there?”

  He laughed. “Yes, along with many other religious, political and cultural figures, but it was originally a church before being secularized during the French Revolution.”

  “God, I know we don’t really have time to go in, but just the history, you know? My mother would have loved it.”

  “She never came to Paris?”

  I shook my head. “She did, but she was always working. She never seemed to have time to really explore. Not until she got older and quit work. And then she was always bothering me to live life and experience all the things I could experience, spread my wings, and fight for justice.”

  He laughed. “Like Batman.”

  “So to speak. But yeah, it was long after she retired that I think she really understood that she’d spent too much of her life crammed into an office and meetings, you know?”

  “How long did she have before she got sick?”

  “Oh, we had a good solid five years. Every opportunity we had, she was like, ‘Livy, let’s get on a plane.’ And we had some wild adventures, but we never did Paris together. I wish we had.”

  “Well, I think her spirit is here.” He reached for the pin. Even though it was only the back of his knuckles that touched my arm really, my skin flamed.

  Jesus. Get your shit together, Livy. No more emotionally unavailable men.

  We headed down to Luxemburg Gardens then and had fun exploring. Ben was the perfect guide. Knowledgeable and patient as I found spots to scatter Mom’s ashes. He didn’t ask any questions when I asked for a minute, just gave me space and didn’t make me feel weird when he caught me with a misty eye.

  We scarfed the last croissant that Ben had the nerve to fight me for. He learned very quickly
how far I was willing to go for pastry. The tulips were blooming, and I could see why everyone raved about springtime in Paris. We passed the Palais de Justice where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before going to the guillotine, then we just wandered through the elegant buildings, charming streets, and picturesque squares of the 5th. And the shops… the shops full of antiques, clothes and things that I couldn’t afford, called my name. But oh God, I would have loved to window-shop and touch.

  Then Ben stopped me. “Right here. Café de Flore.”

  I laughed. “Oh boy, I bet you’re feeding me again. I’m going to not fit in my clothes by the time I get back to London.”

  “Oh, I think you’re going to fit just fine.”

  He came back with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. “Here you go. This is the best hot chocolate in Paris.”

  I took a sip and moaned. Sweet chocolate and whipped cream soothed my soul. “Oh my God. You are so right. Okay, where to next?”

  “Well, we are in Paris, so obviously, the Eiffel Tower.”

  I couldn’t help but squeak. Just the idea of it made me excited. “I know it’s touristy, but I really want to see it.”

  “Are you sure? It’s a bit of a walk, but if you’re up for it, let’s go.” He pulled out two tickets to the Eiffel Tower.

  “You ordered tickets early?”

  “Of course. I don’t want to waste our day standing in a queue.”

  And he was right. The queue for the Eiffel tower was insane. But we went straight to the top.

  I didn’t care if it was cliché, the views alone were worth the disdain of the locals.

  I couldn’t believe I was in Paris, taking in the sights with him, and it was so easy talking to him. I learned a bit about his life at Downing Street, his father, boarding school, and how he’d met Bridge and East and Drew. I didn’t think I’d met Drew yet. And then he talked about his friend who’d died, Toby. Their adventures, their misadventures. Mostly surface things. Maybe it hurt too much to talk about him. But he also talked about his cousin Roone, who had inadvertently married into a royal family.

  “Your life is crazy.”

  “Believe me, I know.”

  We walked and talked and walked some more, and my feet were on fire. Luckily, we were close to L’Epoque, and we stopped to rest for a moment and have a coffee. Ben looked at me across the table and asked, “How are you liking your perfect Paris date so far?”