Flash

say. Looks like Andy Andrews went straight back to his office after he left the
Private Island
and whipped it out. It was in the fax machine when I got here this morning. Every exec in the Northwest who goes into his office this weekend will see it."
    Jasper scanned the contents of the newsletter.
    "Damn," he said. "The little weasel couldn't resist. I was afraid of this. Olivia's going to explode when she sees it."
    Al cleared his throat politely. "So, uh, is it true?"
    "Is what true?" Jasper did not look up from the article.
    "The not-so-subtle reference to your
cozy relationship
with your business partner."
    Jasper finished the article and tossed the newsletter into the waste can. "Oh, sure. It's all true. That's not the point."
    Al grinned. "What is the point?"
    "Andrews called her event on board the
Private Island
'Foil Town.' He might as well have come right out and labeled it tacky. If he's smart he'll stay out of her way for a long, long time." He realized Al was chuckling. "What's so damn funny?"
    "Was it? Tacky, I mean?"
    Jasper scowled. "Olivia believes in satisfying her clients. In this case the client was Madeline Silverthorne."
    "Got it. Tacky."
    "In a very tasteful sort of way."

    "You do realize what the implications are here, don't you, Olivia?" Todd's new, Extremely Important voice sounded even more extremely important over the phone. "It could be awkward for all of us."
    "All of us?" Olivia cradled the phone between her ear and her shoulder and reached for the coffeepot. She scowled at the special weekend edition of
Hard Currency
as she poured herself a second cup of coffee. Todd had just faxed the newsletter to her on the machine she kept at home.
    She read Andy Andrews's report on Silver Galaxy Foods Night with growing irritation.

    Everything glittered on board the
Private Island
last night, including the new partnership between Jasper Sloan and Olivia Chantry. Ms. Chantry is the proprietor of Light Fantastic, the event design and production company responsible for turning the
Private Island
into Foil Town.
    Rumors have circulated to the effect that, once in control of Glow, Inc., venture capitalist Sloan would likely sell or merge the firm. Family members and longtime employees alike reportedly feared that he would take the money and run.
    But those who witnessed the cozy working relationship between the twosome on Friday report that Mr. Sloan is not running anywhere. At least, not alone…

    "
Foil Town
?" Olivia sputtered past a mouthful of coffee. "Where does Andrews get off calling my Silver Galaxy Foods Night production Foil Town?"
    "Olivia…"
    "Mrs. Silverthorne wanted a silver motif, and that's exactly what she got. I always give the client what she wants."
    "Olivia, I don't give a damn about Andrews calling your event Foil Town," Todd said sharply. "I want to know if it's true?"
    "Okay, so maybe Silver Galaxy Foods Night wasn't the most elegant, sophisticated production Light Fantastic has ever done." She pushed the newsletter aside. "It sure as heck didn't deserve to be called Foil Town."
    "For the last time, I'm not talking about your event." Exasperation simmered in Todd's voice. "Is the rest of the article true? Do you and Sloan have something personal going?"
    Something personal? She took another slug of coffee. Something personal?
    Only the best sex she'd ever had.
    Granted, she might not be a great judge, she reminded herself. Her experience had been limited to some early minor adventures and a husband who had never loved her.
    But she was very sure that the event that she and Jasper had staged in her cabin in the wee hours of Saturday morning rivaled anything Light Fantastic had ever produced.
    She was not about to discuss it with her younger brother or anyone else, however.
    "Don't worry, Todd," she said in the tone of voice she reserved for difficult suppliers. "Andrews read a bit too much into what he saw. The truth is, Jasper and I have decided that the only way to squelch the rumors of a sale or merger is for the two of us to present a united front."
    "It was all for show?"
    "Sort of." Mercifully, the call-interrupt beeped in her ear. "Hang on a second, that's my other line." She switched quickly to pick up the incoming call. "This is Olivia."
    "Ms. Chantry, this is Hamilton down in the lobby. There's a Mr. Sloan here to see you."
    A curious sense of panic swept through her. She hadn't yet made up her mind how much to confide in Jasper. "Tell him—" Her mind blanked.