Page 76 of Nothing to Do

“You’ve got to rein Roman in,” Zairn said. “If he won’t be handled, it’s a losing battle.”

“This role is everything.”

And in that plea, she read Magnus’s desperation too. People relied on Roman. Wasn’t that Struan’s point? A whole machine moved around the central cog of Roman Lowe. If only his nephew, his client, could see more than his indulgent excessive ego would allow.

“Who is best placed to make him see that?” she asked.

“Sway,” Roxie said. “If their relationship was as real as he’s making out, if there was that much love there.”

“You want to arrange a meet between them?” Zane asked. “On purpose?”

Magnus exhaled. “Let me go talk to him, he’ll have calmed down now.”

The guy went outside and they all looked at each other for a few seconds. Zairn’s set brow fixed on his fiancée.

“What?” Roxie asked, all innocence. “I’m not helping the guy. I just… say things out loud and they happen. It’s details, babe.”

“Getting Deacon out of his eye line would be a good start. Struan and Logan will have a better shot without him around.”

“Why doesn’t he know what’s good for him?” she asked the room. “He must see that screwing this up is a death sentence for his career.”

“Either he’s an idiot,” Roxie said, stroking the back of her hand still linked in Roxie’s other. “Or he really loved her. If you love like that and lose it…” Next time her new friend’s gaze met Zairn’s, his was much softer, much deeper. “You can’t find your balance without it.”

“Okay,” Zairn said, eating another olive before he spoke again. “You compare us to them one more time, I’m looking for the emergency hatch.”

Giving that couple their moment, she searched Zane. “Why did he think the Colliers would help? That’s the CollCom Colliers, right?”

“We’re close to them.”

“Their influence must only reach so far though. What about the contest winners? The staff who work here? Anyone could talk to anyone.”

“The Colliers—”

Roxie stopped talking when Magnus came in again, this time with Roman and Struan.

“Are you considering it?” Magnus asked. “Asking for their help? Knox’s bit of fluff, you’re friends with her, right?”

Roxie’s brows about shot off her head. “His bit of fluff?”

The moment Roxie set her feet on the floor to rise, Zairn materialized to curve an arm around her shoulders, holding her back against him.

“Easy, Lola. Whoa, girl,” he murmured before switching his offense to match his fiancée’s in addressing Magnus. “Knox is serious about Jane. You’re lucky he’s not here to hear what you just said.”

“Oh, he’ll know he said it,” Roxie proclaimed. “Because I’ll tell him. We won’t tell Jane of course, she’s too kindhearted to deserve pain, but there’s a good chance after I tell Knox he’ll set out to ruin you and your stupid, little show.”

“The tension’s ratcheting up again,” Struan said. “We just got him calmed down.”

“I’ll see her,” Roman said, like it was some big concession. “Sway, in Honolulu.”

And then what? All would be well?

“The press will likely be interviewing the staff and contest winners as we speak.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Magnus’s confidence was surprising. “They all signed NDAs.”

Damn, she’d signed one too. Not that she planned to go searching for an outlet interested in the story, but it wasn’t nice to be contractually silenced, protecting someone who wasn’t gracious or appreciative of the discretion.

“What about the releases?” Struan asked, sparking dread in Magnus’ eyes.

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