Page 47 of Titus

Natalia paused for a moment, then she smiled. She wasn’t amused or impressed; she seemed intrigued.

“Why?” she asked. “Why do you want to know anything about her?”

“Because I’m hiring her,” I said.

“That’s not what I asked.”

I leaned back slightly, matching her composure, appreciating the challenge she posed.

“I need to know what she responds to,” I said. “What she values.”

“And what makes you think I’m going to help you with that?” she asked.

“Because you’re curious about what I’ll do with the information. But more importantly,” I said, “she and I had a rough start. I intend to fix that.”

“You understand that she’s my friend, correct?” Natalia said.

“And I’m not her enemy,” I answered.

“That remains to be seen.”

“Exactly,” I said. “This is why I want to make things right with her, the right way. I need to gain the woman’s trust.”

Nat kept staring me down, as if searching for any hidden motives in my eyes. Finally, she set her glass down. “Fine,” she said. “But understand something before I say anything else.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t impress her,” she said.

“I’m not trying to.”

“That’s your first mistake.”

I held Nat’s gaze.

“Then, by all means, correct me.”

Nat leaned forward slightly. “Cat notices details,” Natalia said. “Not the obvious ones. The ones most people overlook.”

I remained silent, listening and hanging on to each word Nat chose to trust me with about her friend.

“She doesn’t like excess. She doesn’t like noise. And she definitely doesn’t like men who think they can buy her attention.”

Spencer let out a quiet laugh into his glass as I ignored him.

“These are all things she doesn’t like. May I ask, what does she like?” I asked.

Natalia watched me for a moment longer.

“Spencer mentioned you’re having her decorate your yacht in Greece—for her?”

“That is my plan to spend more time alone with her so she will learn to trust me and work for me. As I said, she and I got off on the wrong foot.”

Nat shook her head, running one finger around the rim of her glass. “You men,” she glanced at each of us at the table. “You throw money at problems as if that’s the only answer.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” I said.

“That’s exactly what you’re doing,” Nat said. “I wish you luck.” She smiled, almost as if she couldn’t wait to watch this idea of mine crash and burn. “Well, if she’s planning her own event on your yacht,” she laughed again, “ensure that only white florals are brought aboard. Orchids, but only if they’re done correctly. Nothing can be overdone.”