Page 59 of The Mastermind

“Watch this.” He gestured to the two large TV screens against the wall, showing a video of cats, dogs, birds, and other animals the non-profit center had taken in. As I watched the before and after videos, my heart grew. Remi knew exactly how to mend my broken heart.

Two men waved at him, and he turned to me. “I need to say hello to a few acquaintances. Would you like to join me or stay here to watch the video?”

“I’ll stay. I’ll be fine. Go mingle.”

As Remi strode away, my gaze was riveted on him. He walked with confidence, drawing attention from both men and women. He always looked powerful in a suit, but tonight, the Brioni black tux rendered him more magnetic, as though he was an irresistible mystery wrapped in luxurious danger. The way he stood, conversing with those men, commanded attention and power. He slid his gaze my way and made a gesture that completely surprised me.

He drew a smile line in the air for me, a secret code between us. My DLS just sent me a smile from across the room. There was nothing sexual about the gesture, but it turned me on as though he had just signed his name on my body. Rational thoughts ran away from me, and I began fantasizing about how he looked under the dark suit, how firm his abdomen would feel against my hands, how his muscles would react to my touch, and how well-endowed . . . My thighs clenched as my imagination grew wild.

“Hi, I’m Alice DuPont. You must be Remington’s friend.”

A lovely voice pulled me out of my daydream.

A beautiful lady with blonde hair worn in a French twist stood beside me. I’d seen her photographed with Remi on several online websites. Her fitted black dress screamed Versace with its super-low neckline. I’d seen it in the current fashion magazines.

“I’m Audri. Very nice to meet you. Remi mentioned you started this charity?”

“Five years ago.” She smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “We travel all over the world, trying to raise money for the non-profit, which is much-needed to help animals in crisis. Do you have pets?”

“No, not right now. My busy schedule doesn’t allow for pets yet, and I don’t want to get one just to hire someone else to take care of it, you know? How many do you have?”

“Five dogs, three cats, two birds, ten chickens—they provide the best eggs—and I’m thinking about a ferret.”

“You have a mini zoo.”

She laughed. “That’s what my mom says.”

When Remi asked me to attend this charity, he only said it was one he’d donated a lot of money to and that the owner was a friend who had used his donation wisely.

“So, are you and Remi an item?” Alice jerked a chin in his direction.

“No, we’re not.”

“He seems very attentive to you. I saw the way he fed you those hors d’oeuvres.”

She had been watching us? Why?

“I’ve never seen him that attentive to a date.” She grabbed a champagne flute from a server who came to offer. I declined the drink.

Something in her eyes urged me to ask, “Did you date Remi?”

She sipped her champagne and swallowed. “A long time ago. To me, we were dating, but he’s not that kind of guy. He’s an intense man, both outside and inside the bedroom.” She stared into her champagne flute as though the bubbles had faces. “He ended things quickly when I wanted more. He broke my heart.” She finished her champagne.

On the other side of the room, three women joined Remi’s conversation. A brunette wearing a sexy red dress skimmed her hand down his arm. She said something to him, and he offered a smile.

“He doesn’t have problems getting women’s attention,” I said, keeping my gaze on him.

“They flock to him. He has everything—wealth, looks, power, intelligence, and charisma.Everything.”

“Well, wealth can make a wrinkled, repulsive, sleazy old man—or a zombie—attractive.”

Alice laughed. “You’re absolutely right.”

I recognized the longing in her eyes. “You still love him.” It wasn’t a question.

“It’s hard not to love a man with so much intensity, so much passion for what he believes in. When he sets his eyes on a goal, he goes after it with gusto, and he accomplishes it with great efficiency.” She sighed. “If only he believed in love. I don’t know if there is a woman out there who could make him change his mind. Anyway, he seems to smile a lot more now.”

It was odd to stand in a room full of strangers, chatting with Remi’s ex-girlfriend. Ex-sex partner? I’d be lying if I didn’t feel jealousy slithering up my back. Would Remi still be with Alice if she hadn’t wanted more? From all the images I’d seen of him on the internet and in magazines, he had been photographed with her the most. How long had they been together?

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