“What’s tonight’s topic of conversation?” asks Aaron, pouring himself some whiskey.
“Money,” supplies Beck, still resting his head against my shoulder.
River swears quietly. “Who the hell started that?”
“Beck hadn’t told Alice about owning this place,” says Ethan. “Which lead to Matías here ranting about rich people and their ridiculous lifestyles. Then we just generally started trading insults around the table.”
“Of course you did.” Aaron shakes his head. “Why can’t we talk about noncombative things for a change?”
“Nice weather we’re having,” quips River.
“Did you hear about how Alice went to war against Catherine the Great yesterday?” asks Matías. “Now that’s a story.”
Aaron whistles through his teeth. “Lot of money. You’d have to be dead not to have heard about that. The bar staff at the Heritage were particularly proud of you.”
I snort/laugh. “Thank you.”
Ethan looks at me from beneath his brows.
“You have something to say?” I ask, taking another sip of my drink.
He pauses before shaking his head.
Given the man has not been my biggest supporter, this comes as somewhat of a surprise. “Nothing at all?”
“Not a word.”
“Huh,” I say. “Interesting.”
“That means he agrees with what you did,” whispers Beck nice and loud. “But he doesn’t want to risk losing his position as favorite grandson by actually saying as much.”
Ethan continues to say a whole lot of nothing on the subject, raising his glass of whiskey to his lips. But then he pauses. “Actually, I will say one thing…be careful, Alice. Our grandmother doesn’t take losing well.”
Beck looks to heaven. “Oh, c’mon. Grandma wasn’t actually spat out of the fifth circle of hell.”
“Though it wouldn’t surprise me,” says Matías.
I keep my mouth shut. It seems wisest.
“Well, I think you did the right thing, Alice,” says Penny. “I’ll say it, just not around Catherine. I like my job.”
“Thank you.” I smile. “At least it should get me out of having to do any more charity luncheons any time soon.”
Penny’s gaze skips to Beck before returning to me. What was that? I think it was something, but I’ve had two margaritas and no dinner. Also, I need to visit the bathroom.
“Excuse me,” I say, slipping out of the booth. “Back in a minute.”
Penny sets down her glass. “I’ll come with you.”
As I leave, Aaron asks Beck about the hotel in Boulder. It looks like we’re thankfully off the subject of wealth or me for a while.
The bathrooms are painted dark red with old-fashioned fixtures. We both do our business and then meet back at the sinks. Even the hand soap smells good.
“Was there a weird look between you and Beck before at the table?” I ask.
Penny scrunches up her brows. “A weird look? I don’t believe so. I especially don’t believe so because I’m not only a lesbian, but my girlfriend is also with me.”
“I don’t mean that kind of look.”
She pats her dry hands on one of the neatly folded hand towels. The woman really can pull off a pantsuit like nobody’s business. “I did want a word with you, though. Since I haven’t seen the contracts come back through, I’m guessing you’re still perusing them. While I believe them to be fair and reasonable, generous, even, it’s never a bad idea to have your own lawyer look them over. I can’t refer you to anyone directly—it would be a conflict of interest—but you might consider asking Matías who he recommends. He’s been well-represented throughout the divorce, and might have a few good names.”
“Contracts? What contracts?”
She blinks. “Beck hasn’t given you the contracts?”
“I guess not.”
“Oh, fuck me.” The woman stomps back out into the bar. Not stopping until she reaches the table. Here she points a finger at Beck’s face with one perfectly manicured nail. “You told me Smith gave her the contracts on the jet. So imagine my surprise when I suggested she source some independent legal advice and she didn’t have a fucking clue what I was talking about.”
Ethan scowls. “She hasn’t signed an NDA?”
Aaron and River get busy either inspecting either the contents of their glasses or the other people in the bar.
Matías just hangs his head.
“Both of you, stay the hell out of it,” says Beck, sitting up straight. “It’s between me and her. I’ll talk to Alice about them when the time is right.”
“You don’t stick your dick in a woman let alone bring her near the family without an NDA,” snarls Ethan. “That’s the rule. She should have signed before she stepped foot in Colorado.”