Page 63 of Love so Hot

"Exactly." She nods, animated. "And it's not just clean-up; prevention is key. We need to invest in technologies that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to begin with."

I watch, impressed. Here's Willow, holding court with Sebastian, who's notorious for grilling anyone who can't keep up with him. Her passion is palpable, her knowledge extensive. She's not just some environmental crusader; she's an expert.

"Have you considered the role of AI in optimizing these processes?" Sebastian asks, the corner of his mouth twitching towards a smile.

"AI has huge potential," Willow responds without missing a beat. "Smart systems could lead to smarter resource management. If only more companies would embrace that."

"Maybe they will, now that you're... joining forces with Lawrence here?" Sebastian says, a question in his voice, shooting me a glance that’s more curious than accusatory.

"Maybe," she says, a spark of mischief in her voice. It's all part of the act, but damn if she isn't convincing.

"Speaking of smart," Roman interjects, slinging an arm around Willow's shoulder and steering her away from us with a grin. "Anyone fancy making this afternoon a bit more interesting?"

"Roman," I warn, but he's already got Willow laughing.

"Come on, Larry. Lighten up." He winks at me and then whispers something to Willow that has her raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Alright, what's the game?" she asks, intrigued despite herself.

"Nothing too scandalous," Roman promises. "Just a little underground betting pool on the polo match. Consider it a locals' tradition."

"Underground betting pool?" she echoes, the corners of her mouth twitching. "You do realize how illegal that sounds, right?"

"Only if you get caught," Roman says with a chuckle, leading her through the crowd.

"Be careful with her," I call after them, trying to shake off the unease settling in my chest. Roman's schemes tend to escalate quickly.

"Relax, Larry!" he shouts back over the din of the party. "I'll take good care of your fiancée!"

I let out a breath and turn back to Sebastian, finding him watching the pair with a smirk. "She's quite the character," he comments.

"Yeah," I say, scratching the back of my neck, "she's one of a kind."

"It takes a special person to handle Roman," he comments, "but maybe Willow's up to the task," Sebastian notes, and I nod, silently agreeing.

She is indeed.

Roman's laughter fades into the clinking of glasses and the soft murmur of conversations as he disappears with Willow into the throng. I should be watching them, but Victor's tall frame looms into view, concern etched deep in the lines of his face.

"Lawrence, a word?" His voice is low, almost lost in the swell of party noise.

"Sure." I follow him to a quieter corner near an ornate fern. "What's up?"

He leans in, his blue eyes serious. "This engagement... you're not actually considering going through with it for real, are you?"

"Victor, it's a strategy," I say, forcing confidence into my tone. "Purely for optics. Boosts the company image, puts a friendly face on the pipeline."

"Right." He doesn't sound convinced, his gaze flicking to where Willow and Roman vanished. "Just remember what's at stake here."

"Trust me, I haven't forgotten," I assure him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Good." Victor nods stiffly, then melts back into the crowd. I can understand why he's apprehensive. Victor usually invests heavily in my deals. While all four of us have done very well for ourselves in the past decade, not one of us has forgotten where we came from. Living with nothing will make you pretty careful with money for the rest of your life.

I need to get Willow away from Roman before his "traditions" rub off on her. I sift through the crowd, shaking hands as I go along, until I finally spot them.

"I need to introduce you to someone," I say to Willow.

"Awe, but we were having so much fun," Roman whines.

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