Page 117 of Executive Decision

I reached out to Todd Thursday and wrapped up the meeting details over the Atlantic as I rose. He met us at a private club Chandler was now banned at. I forced him out while keeping my membership active. It was just one more “fuck you” I lodged at him. Todd, recently divorced, was an easy mark. Given how Lanie dressed for the meeting, it was clear where we were headed here.

“You don’t have to do this, Lanie,” I said. “Not like that.”

At the Savoy, we dipped into a room just to freshen up. Soon, we were on an elevator headed down to our meeting.

“Men are dumb. Politicians areespeciallydumb. No offense to your man, of course. Cal is smarter than the average bear. He also isn’t a bigoted nutcase.”

I snickered.

“I will be the most tempting helper in this scenario.”

“I will settle for charming. Please do not sleep with him.”

“The man voted to leave. I’dneversleep with a leaver.”

“So did Chandler,” I groaned.

While she claimed no political opinions, Lanie got into a screaming match with Chandler over his preference for leaving the EU when she was a teen.

It reminded me that foryearsI held my tongue on politics all because arguing with Chandler was exhausting and futile. Even a simple discussion spiraled into him ignoring me for days. I squeezed Lanie’s hand.

“Never again,” Lanie whispered. “We’re going to end this.”

“Beautiful Daphne,” Todd saw us approach and gave me a polite cheek peck. “It has been too long, darling.”

“It has,” I lied.

If I went another year without speaking to Todd, it would be too short.

“And who is this beautiful young thing?”

“This is my sister, Lanie. She’s in London with me.”

“I begged to come with,” Lanie said. “I wassobored.”

Lanie’s voice changed from its normal timbre to a flirtatious, higher pitch. She was acting—as any good actress would. Lanie could sell this. She might be my best move to play even if I’d doubted her.Never doubt a Delphine, Daphne.

“Well, I see you all managed to come out beautiful,” Todd said.

We took a seat while a server approached. “May I get you all something?”

Chicago time, it was only ten, but it was four London time. I had a drink to get through this.

“I will have a good aged Balvenie,” I answered. “Surprise me with whatever the bartender prefers.”

“And I will have an espresso martini and add a cherry in for fun, thanks.”

“A lady’s drink,” Todd nodded at Lanie.

“She knows what she wants,” Lanie said in third person, her eye contactsmoldering.

Bless her for trying so hard!

Lanie talked Todd’s ear off, lulling him into security until our drinks appeared. Now, it was time to strike.

“We wanted to talk to you about the unfortunate matter that hit the press,” I said. “I wanted to see if you knew anything. I heard a little birdie say that you might be my knight in shining armor who would illuminate things.”

Todd coughed.

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