Knight's Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

left the bedroom, walked to the bathroom, locked herself in and quietly cried.
    Ben followed her, talked to her through the door. Still polite. A real gentleman.
    ‘Maybe next time,’ he said. ‘Call me.’ And he walked away.
    What was wrong with her?
    Did only arrogant pricks turn her on?
    *
    The day of Dominic’s rescheduled meeting finally arrived. Max, along with the other attendees, met in the sumptuous conference room of the Paris office with Dominic lounging at the head of a long Empire table that had once graced Malmaison. Coffee, tea and pastries were available, the cups set before each man Sèvres porcelain contemporary with the table. Small flower arrangements offered scent and colour without blocking any sight lines. Dominic’s office staff was efficient.
    As the investors found their seats Dominic dispensed with a greeting. ‘This shouldn’t take long,’ he said curtly. ‘Everyone’s familiar with the prospectus?’ It wasn’t really a question.
    The fact that Miss Hart was not in attendance was noted by the industrialists as they settled back in their chairs, all of them mindful of the last aborted meeting. Very soon, the attendees also took note of Dominic’s poisonous mood.
Related? No, not with Dominic,
they all individually concurred.
Women are just a necessary convenience for him.
But he was conspicuously less accommodating, more prickly, quick to reject any quibbles about money. And in the end, he essentially offered them a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.
    With Dominic’s track record they all took it, but they grumbled after he got up, brusquely said, ‘You gentlemenwill be much richer after today,’ and walked out of the room without so much as a thank you. A little courtesy wouldn’t have been out of place when they were investing billions.
    Max was left to smooth outraged egos.
    Sometime later, Max walked into Dominic’s office, bit back his comment about the half-empty bottle on Dominic’s desk and forced himself to speak in a measured tone. ‘You could have been more polite, Nick. It’s going to take them a while to cool off.’
    Dominic drained his drink before looking up, his half-lidded gaze indifferent. ‘I gave them the full extent of my charm in Hong Kong. I didn’t feel like kissing ass again. If they want to make money, buy in. If they don’t’ – Dominic shrugged – ‘I don’t give a shit. I’ll cover it myself.’ Coolly, he met Max’s gaze. ‘Is there anything else?’
    ‘You’re drinking a lot and you’re drinking alone.’ Max decided someone had to say it. Dominic had never been a solitary drinker.
    ‘So?’ He refilled his glass.
    ‘So you’re becoming a real pain in the ass.’
    ‘Point noted. Is there more of this lecture? I hope not because I’m already bored. And not that it’s any of your business, but I only drink at night.’ He glanced at the clock and a muscle twitched along his jaw. 3.50 p.m. ‘Today’s an exception,’ he muttered. Seeing the same men again had brought back the horror of their last meeting when Katherine had seen the disastrous email and everything hadgone into the tank. ‘As for drinking alone,’ he said with biting sarcasm, ‘it’s never too late to learn.’
    Max sighed softly. ‘The lecture’s over. How you choose to go to hell is your own business. But try not to use that snarky tone with Lillibet. She’s new, she’s an excellent analyst and I wouldn’t want to lose her because you’re an asshole.’
    Dominic lifted his glass to Max. ‘Consider me warned. Lillibet will be treated with extreme deference. Is she some politician’s daughter? Just asking.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Thank God. Politicians can be demanding.’ He smiled tightly. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ He drained his glass, reached for the bottle and shot a look at Max who hadn’t moved. ‘Do you mind? I’m busy.’ Unscrewing the bottle, Dominic poured himself another drink, leaned back in his chair and put the glass to his mouth.