The man inhaled deeply, grabbing his thick beverage directly off the server’s tray as he brought it over.
“Let’s not today,” Ron insisted, naturally.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to try to convince you to re-open.” I noticed Isabel stiffen beside me. She took a sip of the drink she’d insisted she didn’t want and muttered something quickly to the server—which apparently Ron heard since he chuckled quietly. Was I imagining it, or did Isabel shoot him a glare before turning back to me?
“I asked for an extra shot,” she told me, wearing a tight grin.
Okay, I was definitely missing something.
Hoping the confusion would sort itself out, I turned to Isabel for the quick background. “Ron closed up shop a few months ago after my countless efforts to help him.”
Her head snapped to my father. “You turned his offer down?”
“It was time to close.” He waved a dismissive hand.
“I’m sure your employees would disagree.” Isabel muttered before taking another generous sip. The comment didn’t seem to faze Ron at all.
I leaned forward in my chair, grinning. “Isabel is a big advocate for the working class, Ron. She’d give you a run for your money if you ever dare to get into your business ethics with her.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Ron agreed, stirring his drink.
“Anyway, I wanted to pick your brain about that firm I told you I was looking into. You’re the only one I know with the knowledge.”
Ron’s eyes flicked to my date before he answered, “Theonlyone? I should put you in touch with one of my best workers from Brightman Events. She practically ran the place with me. I’d even go as far as saying she was the reason I stayed open longer than I planned.”
I released a breath in frustration. “Why would I ever take advice from one of your old employees?” I needed my father to share details of what made him the number one event planning firm in the city and what was his ultimate downfall.
But as usual, he was being difficult. “I’m sure you led a good team, but I highly doubt they’d be—”
“So where’d you two meet?” Ron asked, clearly finished with the topic.
Fine, we could change the subject for now. Perhaps my father didn’t want to discuss the details in front of a woman he knew nothing about. Knowing the type of women I usually see, it could be anyone that had connections all over the city.
“At an event actually,” Isabel answered.
Ron’s head popped up with interest. “Oh?”
I smiled at my date. “At one of Donovan Hayes’ personal parties a few weeks ago.”
Ron gave Isabel what looked like a knowing grin. “And you couldn’t help but notice the beautiful mysterious young woman, if you don’t mind my saying, wandering the elaborate affair.”
Isabel blinked and smiled politely.
“Actually that was exactly it. But Isabel doesn’t like to talk about her work much. So we’ve agreed not to discuss it.”
“Well eventually everything needs to be discussed.” he eyed us both. “Surely you two know that.”
“Would you both excuse me for a moment? I need to return a call I missed.”
“Of course dear,” Ron said. “Although you should really try Scott’s radio-silent Sunday. You seem like someone way too focused on work.”
Isabel ignored the observation and walked away with her phone.
“What are you doing? I happen to really like her,” I snapped. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”
“How am I doing that?”
“I don’t know.” It was true. I had no idea what he was doing, but Isabel was particularly uneasy around him. “But she’s not usually like this,” I added as if to reassure him I didn’t date strange women all the time.
