THREE
I’d seen this side of him when he’d worked a case for me earlier in the year.
That the serious version of Zane was back was intriguing. That he wanted my help, even more so.
“You need my help?” I frowned. “On what?”
I mean I could help him with business advice if he needed it, although his father could do that also.
Then again, those two got along like oil and water. Or more accurately like gasoline and fire.
My attention was redirected when Zane used a remote control to turn on a flat screen television I hadn’t noticed hanging on the side wall.
A few taps of Zane’s fingers on his computer keyboard and the screensaver showing his corporate logo switched to what looked like a website. Specifically the home page of a charity event.
“You have any connections with anyone at this thing?” Zane asked.
I read the name of the event and the not-for-profit it benefited and neither rang a bell.
“Can I see who’s running it?” I asked.
Zane clicked some more and the page showing the names of the event committee and donors appeared. He scrolled down and finally I saw a list of some of the more high profile guests.
It was like a who’s who of the rich and famous of the Hamptons. Actors. Designers. Celebrity chefs. Corporate moguls.
“Yeah. I know quite a few.”
“Think you could wrangle a ticket?”
“A ticket to this event?” I asked, surprised at the question.
He nodded.
“Probably. And why would I want to do that?” I asked.
It was a ten thousand dollar a head fundraiser. One of those things you attended because you had to, kissed a bunch of cheeks, ate tiny food from silver platters, drank strong drinks if you were lucky, and then left the moment the speeches by the organizers were done.
“Because I asked you to,” Zane began. I raised a brow as he continued, “and because you owe me one.”
It seemed Zane was going to keep me waiting yet again for information. I had more questions than ever but he was correct, I did owe him.
Apparently it was time to pay up.
“I can make a call and see. But why do you need me to get you a ticket? You’ve got plenty of connections.” I would think Zane having a senator for a father-in-law would open all sorts of closed doors.
“I already called and inquired about tickets. Apparently it’s very exclusive and sold out—or so they claim. You think you can make the cut and get in?”
It sounded like a challenge. The bastard knew I couldn’t resist a challenge.
“Sure. No problem. But why do you want to attend this thing anyway?”
I stood and pulled my cell out of my pocket, before sitting again. I scrolled to my contact list while Zane watched me.
“The ticket is for you to attend, not me,” Zane informed me.
I stopped my scrolling and glanced up, frowning. “Me? Why me?”
“Very good question. Given how exclusive this event is, my muscling my way in would look odd. Your attendance, however, wouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
Zane was right. The Hearsts had a strong social footprint and plenty of real estate in the Hamptons. And the family, myself included, had a history of philanthropy. My wanting to attend wouldn’t raise any questions.
In fact, the only oddity in this whole situation was that someone from my family wasn’t already on the guest list or the planning committee.
I nodded my agreement. “Makes sense. That still doesn’t tell me why you want me at this event in the first place.”
“I’ll explain that when you get off the call and have the ticket secured.”
“Full of intrigue, I see.” How SEAL-like of him. I drew in a breath. “All right. I’ll give it a try. And I suppose I’ll be footing the bill for this ticket?”
I raised my gaze to his before going back to scrolling through my contact list.
“Relax. GAPS will be covering all your expenses.”
More and more interesting, but I could see I wasn’t getting any answers from him until I had proven I was worthy. And to do that, I needed an official invite to this purportedly exclusive event.
My path to getting a ticket was clear. I had a standing invitation to stay at my Uncle Bunky’s place in Bridgehampton anytime I wanted, but I figured at his advanced age he didn’t have any current connections to get me a ticket. My aunt, however, did.
I stopped at the number I’d sought and hit the screen to make the call.
“Hello?”
“Aunt Anne. It’s Brent.”
“Brent. Good to hear from you. It’s been too long since we’ve seen you.”
“It has. I was hoping to correct that and spend some time at Uncle Bunky’s soon.”
“That’s wonderful. You’ll have to visit us in Water Mill. We’re here at the farm.”
Exactly what I wanted to hear. “I’d love that. Um, while I have you on the phone, do you know anything about the charity event in Southampton next weekend?”
“The one being held at the Prentice place?” she asked.
“That’s the one. I believe it’s to benefit a literacy not-for-profit. I’d love to attend. I need a focus for next year’s corporate donations and this charity is a perfect fit. But I heard the event’s sold out. They’re not letting anyone else in.”
“Pfft. We’ll see about that. How many tickets did you need?”
She’d reacted exactly as I’d hoped. It seemed no Hearst could resist the lure of a challenge.
“How many tickets do I need? Hmm, let me see.” I eyed Zane, looking for an answer. He held up one finger. “Just one should do it. It’s work so I won’t be bringing a date.”
“Smart boy. That way you can network . . . and flirt with all the pretty girls.”
“Exactly. You know me so well, Aunt Anne.”
“I should. I’ve known you your whole life. All right. I know the event chair. Let me make a phone call. Is this number the best one to call you back?” she asked.
“It is. I look forward to hearing from you. And thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
I disconnected the call and raised my gaze to Zane. “Now would you like to explain?”
“Do you have the ticket?” he asked.
“I will in a few minutes.”
“Then I’ll explain in a few minutes.” He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, settling in for the wait, I guessed.
Bastard.
I leaned back and folded my arms. I could wait with the best of them.
“So, where you staying in Virginia nowadays?” Zane asked. “Middleburg or someplace equally snooty. Rubbing elbows with the horse set. Playing polo on weekends.”
I guess we were going to make small talk until I either got a ticket or not. And, apparently, he was going to take a few jabs at me and my lifestyle while we did it.
“Nope.” I shook my head, not at all sorry to disappoint him by blowing his guess regarding my living arrangements completely out of the water. “I’ve got an apartment in one of the buildings a couple of blocks from the King Street Metro.”
“Really?” His eyes widened. “I’m surprised.”
I laughed. “You shouldn’t be. At this point in my life, with the amount of hours I work and all the traveling I do, the things I look for in a home have become a bit more practical. Such as being able to drop off my dry cleaning with the concierge on my way out. Besides, what the fuck would I do with a horse?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Beats me. I never understood the appeal myself.”
I snorted. “You wouldn’t. If I remember correctly you never even had a dog growing up. Do you now?”
“No. I’ll get around to it—one day.”
I had a feeling that one day would be when Zane’s new bride Missy popped out the first Alexander baby. Then he’d be trading in his second-floor walk-up for a house with a yard and a picket fence.
My cell rang and interrupted my thoughts about Zane’s future progeny. I glanced at the display and smiled.
“That’s her. Get ready to explain yourself.” I shot him a warning glare and answered the call. “Hello.”
“You’ll have one ticket waiting for you at the door under your name at the event. She said you can bring a check that night.”
I knew Aunt Anne could do it. Grateful as well as victorious, I said, “I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was nothing. Seriously. At least one Hearst should be on that guest list, if not more than one. It was their oversight.”
“My thoughts exactly, but I do appreciate you making the call. I’ll be in touch when I get to Long Island and we’ll make plans.”
“Perfect. Give our love to your parents and sisters.”
“Will do. And please tell my ever elusive cousin Amanda I’ll expect to see her there when I visit.”
“I certainly will. See you soon.”
“Sure thing. Bye.” I hit the button and tossed the cell onto the desk between us. “The ticket is secured. Now talk.”
Even now he paused, like he was reluctant to bring me into the loop.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair and drew in a breath. “Everything I’m about to tell you can’t leave this room. You can’t tell your family. You can’t breathe a word of it to your latest squeeze. You tell no one. Understood?”
Zane pinned me with his gaze, as if sizing up if he could trust me or not.
“Yes.” I waited but he still didn’t talk. I shook my head at the fact he didn’t trust me. “Zane, do you know how many family secrets I’m carrying around? Not to mention confidential Hearst Corp. business? I sit on the board of directors. Even our meeting minutes are top secret. I can keep your secrets. I promise.”
After another pause, more annoying and longer than the first, he nodded. “All right.”
He clicked the computer keyboard and then spun his chair to face the television on the wall.
I did the same and saw the image had changed from the event page to a picture of a dark haired, middle-aged man.
“Who’s that?” I asked, not recognizing him.
“He is Alexey Mordashov, currently the richest man in Russia.” Zane spun in his chair to face me again. “And it would look really bad if someone took a shot at him while he was attending a charity event in the Hamptons next weekend. Which is where you come in.”
My eyes widened as I shifted my attention from the screen to Zane. “Me?”