“She told me you recently went for dinner,” he said.
I placed the folder on the desk.Might as well address that. “Do you mind? I wasn’t sure of your relationship at first. I’m not keen on the working and dating thing, but I’m very attracted to her,” I said, thinking that I should be honest.
He grinned. “I don’t mind at all. She’s big and bad enough to look after herself.”
I responded with a wide smile of my own. “I’m getting that impression.”
He leaned in conspiratorially. “Let me tell you one thing about Gabriella. She has the heart of an angel and the balls off the devil. And she’ll juggle those balls just to remind us men how tough she can be.”
I laughed so hard at the comment; it wasn’t one I’d ever heard but knew it to be totally appropriate.
He continued. “She’s my best friend and, obviously, I don’t want to see her hurt in any way. However, I know both you and her will keep it professional when needed.”
I nodded and smiled. It seemed I had his approval, for which I was grateful.
I pursed my lips and took in a breath. “I actually have something rather strange and maybe a little delicate to discuss with you. I can’t think of a better man to pitch this idea to, to be honest.”
“Mmm, sounds intriguing. How about we do that over a pint. I’m quite partial to your British beer.”
Mackenzie and I departed for a local pub, a fauxauthenticIrish pub but one that had a great atmosphere and an amazing garden that overlooked the Thames.
“So, she’s your cousin?” he asked after I’d explained about Veronica.
“She is. And I know this is a strange idea of hers, but I can tell you now, no matter what that woman has done, she’s profited from it. She wants a high-end gentleman’s club that caters for men and women with certain sexual tastes.”
I had already explained what had happened and what Veronica hopedcouldhappen.
“She doesn’t have the cash, I take it?” Mackenzie asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t have that cash without liquidating some assets, either. Otherwise, I’d have jumped straight in myself.”
“Well it certainly sounds interesting. What do you know about the clientele?” I reeled off the names that Veronica had given me and he raised his eyebrows. “Lord Stanton? This is sounding even more interesting,” he said, and then shook his head with amusement.
I couldn’t help sneering when I thought about the oaf. “I loathe the man, personally, but I do know he’s rather influential within the Home Office.”
“Trymast, military contracts, the Home Office, and an exclusive gentleman’s club. What could possibly go wrong?” Mackenzie said, smiling. “Set up a meeting, will you? I’ll be back at the end of next week. Also, Alex, unless there are more than two of you with the same name, I’m assuming it’s your uncle, but I had some dealings with Veronica’ father. I don’t know if she is aware of that.”
Although I wasLordDuchovney, the surname being the same as my uncle’s, obviously, he was generally known asViscountDuchovney. It wasn’t a common surname and I wondered if Mackenzie’s prior dealings with the family had been a factor in him headhunting me.
“She certainly didn’t mention anything. Can I ask what dealings?” I didn’t need to know, of course, but I was certainly curious.
“He needed to free up some money, so I bought some shares in a manufacturing company. I never met him, but I understand that the cash might have kept him afloat for a while. I turned them over pretty quick and made a profit, she might not like that idea.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t think she knows that.”
The more time I spent with Mackenzie, the more I liked him. I had no doubt his closet was full of skeletons, but he was honest with his answers. It seemed the feeling was mutual. I wondered what his social life was like. I knew him to be a member of a few ex-pats clubs and that he often attended some of the many events for one society, charity, or another. It felt as if I’d found a kindred spirit but was yet to discover exactly in what.
Mackenzie raised his pint glass to me. “I’m pleased that you’ve decided to come on board, Alex. You’re exactly the kind of man we need.”
Sitting with him chatting about London life, business, and our families was like catching up with an old friend. We clicked instantly and that was a first for me. I had friends, of course, acquaintances more like, but there was something easy with Mackenzie and I knew we would have a meaningful friendship.
We watched the river taxis make their way up and down the Thames. Canary Wharf was the new business hub of the city and housed a lot of the financial sector. Suited men and women bustled around, and there was a general buzz in the air. The money markets were doing well, wealth was on the up, and I picked up on Mackenzie’s enthusiasm for the progression of Trymast.
When I left the pub, I came away with the distinct impression that Mackenzie loved business. He wasn’t in it just for the profit, but his desire for the success of any company he bought was infectious. His ideas were radical and progressive, for sure. He encouraged working from home,bring kids to workdays, he had the idea that if employees had a better work/life balance their productivity increased. I was sure he’d brought those ideas over from the US and whether they would work in practice in the UK, I didn’t yet know. I also didn’t want to have a group of children running about the place.
I placed a call to Veronica that evening and told her about Mackenzie. At first, she was a little hesitant, not necessarily wanting a partner on board. I explained that Mackenzie didn't invest unless he was actively involved in some way, that ensured his investment was well looked after. I also told her that he had helped her father.
“Really? I wasn’t aware. To be honest, darling, I haven’t touched any of his paperwork. I’ve left that to mother to deal with. What did he do?”
