The intercom double buzz informed Scott that his boss was ready to receive him. He gathered all his clippings, arranged them neatly in his black leather folder, straightened his dark gray tie and headed to Ethan’s office. He pushed the door open after a fortifying breath.

Ethan looked up from his computer screen and motioned for Scott to sit. “A minute, Scott.”

“Would you like water and coffee, sir?” Scott asked.

Barely suppressing an amused smile at the predicable behavior of his assistant, Ethan answered, “Yes, please.”

He finished his work and leaned on his Aeron chair to watch Scott’s profile, his watery-blue gaze, and thin pale hands caressing the red-and-gold designs on the navy background of the delicate Imari porcelain.

Ethan grinned thinking of what would happen if he shouted at Scott right now. He shook his head at the silly thought and waited patiently as his assistant served his coffee and Bling water and sat down in front of him.

Scott opened the folder and fished out his white handkerchief and Montblanc pen from his suit breast pocket. Beads of nervous sweat appeared on his forehead which he immediately mopped. He cleared his throat. “Sir, I have good and bad news. What do you want first?”

Ethan smiled. He was in an exceptional mood after signing the contract to supply steel to the Brazilian government. Sophia really was his lucky charm. He couldn’t have imagined that a personal trip would bring such immense profits. It had to be really bad news to dampen his mood. “The bad first.”

“All right,” Scott mumbled, breathed, and launched into it, “Leibowitz’s computer security system is almost unbreakable. Ghost is still working on it. He’s been exchanging ideas with other hackers, but Leibowitz’s technicians noticed the first attempts and reinforced their firewalls and cryptography. However,” he raised a finger to emphasize, “we were already inside her personal email account, iPhone, and home computer and they didn’t discover it. Her security impressed Ghost, but it was nothing one of the best hackers in the world could not surpass.” Scott boasted the hacker’s qualities as if they were his. “You can access her schedules and all her data from your computer.”

Scott rounded Ethan’s desk with a sheet of paper in his hand, squinting at the instructions on the sheet and typed in a long sequence of commands as he kept explaining, “Ms. Leibowitz backs everything up to a cloud. But I’ve secured an ally inside her house. Acting under Ghost’s directions, he bugged her phone lines and tapped her TV and internet lines.” Gabriela’s face appeared on Ethan’s screen with Sophia’s desktop icons at the bottom. Scott righted his posture and puffed out his chest, proud of his achievement. With a stylish wave of his hand, he presented the mirror of Sophia’s computer. “Here you are, sir. She is all yours.”

“Good,” Ethan drawled, approaching the screen, “very good, Scott. Don’t bother anymore with Leibowitz Oil. I’m only interested in her personal life. Is she back?”

“Not yet.” Scott clicked on an icon and Sophia’s mailbox appeared on the screen. “George V in Paris. Tomorrow.”

“That’s interesting.” Ethan rested his chin on his hand and leaned back in his chair. “What else can I do from here?”

* * *

When the door closed softly behind Scott, Ethan walked to his bookshelf and stopped in front of his grandfather’s photo. His lips curled and he raised his eyebrow.

See, Niarchos? Do you see, old man? I’ve surpassed you. I’ve learned.

No one betrays me anymore.

No one fools me anymore.

No one!

* * *

Alistair settled a sleeping Gabriela higher on his shoulder and turned to look at the grand lobby with its immaculate marble columns and floors, highlighted by pink, lilac and purple orchids that glowed with beauty.

“This is the type of place that you imagine just can’t get any better, but it continually surpasses our expectations.”

“I always stay here because of Gabriela. There are few hotels in Paris that receive children like George V.” She looked around as well and her eyes sparkled. She licked her lips as if she could taste the scented lobby.

“I don’t know if I like this expression of yours.” Alistair cocked his head. “What are you planning now?”

Sophia wasn’t listening. She was intently examining the orchids that appeared to be floating in air. That’s it. “Mmm,” she moaned and purred, “I want him. I want Jeff.”

“What?!” Alistair was aghast. He blinked at his future wife. “You want…Jeff?” Who the hell is Jeff?

She started and looked up at his face. “Yes, Jeff Leatham. He’s the artistic director of the hotel. The amazing flower designer responsible for this,” she said, raising her arms to indicate the superb floral arrangements. “For our wedding. I have to call him. Now. He’s very sought after.”

“Madame Leibowitz. Lord Ells. What a pleasure!” Christopher Norton, the general manager was waiting to accompany them to the Penthouse Suite Sophia had booked for them. “Your luggage has arrived and I’ve already sent the Rolls for your sisters. Their flight is supposed to land in half an hour.”

“Superb, Chris.” She linked her fingers with Alistair’s and smiled at the manager. “Could you get me an appointment with Jeff Leatham? We are getting married in August and I’ll have no one but Jeff for the flowers, and of course, for all his creative ideas.”

“Congratulations to you both! I’m sure Jeff will be thrilled, Madame.” He exited the lift and opened the doors for them.

Designed to resemble an elegant European residence, the Presidential Suite was two-thousand square feet, and its six terraces offered a three-hundred-and-sixty degree view of Paris. Jeff Leatham’s beautiful floral arrangements, along with French paintings, Blue de Chine pottery, and the floral damask fabrics in golden-yellows-and-dark-blues created the sense of a luxury home.

Their personal maid and butler were already unpacking their luggage in the main bedroom.

Alistair let Sophia organize things and asked for refreshments as he went directly to put Gabriela in bed in her room on the other side of the suite. She stirred and mumbled something, but didn’t wake up.

“She’ll wake up only for dinner now,” Maria said as she took off the little girl’s shoes. “I’ll take care of her, Mr. MacCraig.”

“Perfect, Maria. Thanks.” He stopped to look once more at the blonde girl sleeping like an angel before he exited the room, softly closing the door behind him. How could I have been so lucky? Two angels gift-wrapped in one cloud is better than I deserve.

He slowly made his way back to the living room where Sophia was talking excitedly with a thin, tall, dark-haired man dressed in a black T-shirt and black washed jeans.

“Alistair, come here.” She grinned happily at him. “This is Jeff Leatham. Jeff, my fiancé, Alistair Connor.”

The men shook hands and Alistair sat beside Sophia, who handed him a flute of Krug champagne. They toasted and he pulled her by the waist, snuggling her close to his body, as she talked of her ideas to the flower designer, who made a few notes. Alistair’s mind was only half-engaged in their conversation until he heard Sophia stating that she wanted no white flowers.

Fuck, Sophia. You’re a widow, but this is too much. It’s a wedding for Christ’s sake! “Why not?” he frowned down at her.

“It’s too virginal,” she wrinkled her nose. “It’s not appropriate.”

Jeff’s laughter filled the room. “My dear, if that were true no bride would wear white anymore.”

“Sophia, this time I’m getting married in a church. Can’t we have white for the wedding ceremony, at least?”

Church?! I’m Jewish. There’ll be no— She realized that they’d never talked about religion. She turned her head to face him, but he was eyeing Jeff.

“I want white roses and orange blossoms in the chapel at Airgead. It’s all in dark wood and rock. White will be perfect. And I want the air scented with vanilla.”

Damn. How am I going to solve this? She squeezed Alistair’s hand, saying, “We can decide on the flowers for the wedding ceremony later, can’t we, Jeff?”

“Yes, of course. So, I’ll block off my schedule for that week. I’ll be waiting for the photos and the floor plans.” He closed his black leather Moleskine.

They rose and walked to the suite door. Jeff grinned at her and said, “Sophia, your wedding will be fun to do. I already have a million ideas for it. Black iron and green for one day, crystal glass, purple and orange for the other—”

“And white for the ceremony,” Alistair reaffirmed.

“White for the ceremony,” Jeff concurred as he shook hands with Alistair. He kissed Sophia on the cheeks. “White roses and orange blossoms, Sophia. And vanilla scented air. A romantic groom’s wish cannot be denied.”

Sophia shook her head and sighed. “All right, then.” But there will be no chapel.