Perfect Partners

Diana smiled tauntingly. Her eyes were on Joel. “And I’ll bet Joel knows that, don’t you, Joel?”
    “It’s no secret,” Joel said. “Last quarter’s figures look slightly better than those of the previous quarter only because of the usual seasonal variation in the business. They’ll drop like a stone again next quarter.”
    “Goddamn it, what the hell do you know about my business?” Copeland hissed.
    “As Charlie’s CEO , it was part of my job to keep track of Copeland Marine. I set up the original deal, of course, and worked out the details, and I’ve kept tabs on things ever since.” Joel’s smile was carved in ice. “We have a lot of cash tied up in the Copeland Marine yard. And we own fifty-one percent of the business.”
    Letty gave Joel a repressive look followed by a meaningful smile. “I said I would prefer to discuss specifics tomorrow. Do I make myself quite clear?”
    The fury of the predator that has been temporarily deprived of its legitimate prey leaped in Joel’s eyes. In the next moment Letty saw that he had himself back under control.
    “Sure, boss. Whatever you say.”
    “Thank you.” Letty picked up her menu.
    “I love it,” Diana murmured. “‘Sure, boss. Whatever you say.’ Oh, God, that’s rich.” She swirled the wine in her glass and took a long swallow. “Tell me something, Letty. How does it feel to own your own company?”
    “I’m enjoying it,” Letty answered with a polite smile.
    “It must be fun to be able to order someone like Joel around,” Diana observed with a throaty chuckle. “I know exactly what I’d have him do if he worked for me.”
    Letty did not look at Joel to get his reaction to that barb. It was not necessary. She could feel his anger lapping at her in waves.
    “I think you’ve said enough, Diana,” Keith muttered.
    Diana smiled brilliantly at him. “Keith darling, I haven’t even begun.”
    “Shut up, Diana. You’ve already had too much to drink.” Victor threw a warning glare at his daughter and then turned his attention back to Letty. “What do you say we get you a drink, Letty?”
    “Thank you.” She looked up at the young woman who was hovering nearby. “I’ll have a glass of white wine, please.”
    “We’ve got a sauvignon blanc, a chardonnay, and a Riesling by the glass,” the waitress said.
    “She’ll have the chardonnay,” Joel said before Letty could make a choice. “And I’ll have whatever you’ve got on draft.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Letty saw Diana arching one elegant dark brow as she watched Joel place the order.
    “So you’re now the sole owner of Thornquist Gear,” Victor said to Letty in a hearty tone as the drinks were brought to the table. “Big responsibility for a little lady.”
    “So I’m told.” Letty hid her reaction to Copeland’s patronizing tone and slid Joel a laconic glance. “Some people think I’m in over my head.”
    Keith glanced at her with genuine interest. “What were you doing before you inherited Thornquist?”
    “I was a librarian at a college back in Indiana.”
    Diana sputtered on a swallow of wine. “A librarian? This get’s better and better. That’s wonderful. A
librarian
is going to tear Copeland Marine to shreds.” Her eyes narrowed and her smile became malicious. “With the help, of course, of a dirty no-good upstart bastard who can’t keep his jeans zipped.” She turned her brilliant smile on her father. “Wasn’t that how you described Joel fifteen years ago, Daddy?”
    Letty was not the only one who was momentarily stunned by Diana’s savagery. Only Joel looked amused.
    Keith was staring at his wife as if he had not seen her before. “Christ, Diana. What the hell’s the matter with you tonight?”
    Victor was turning a mottled red. “Get her out of here, Escott. Get her out of here right now.”
    Keith got to his feet and reached down to grip Diana’s arm.
    “That won’t be necessary.” Letty was already on her feet. “I think we had better postpone our get-acquainted conversation until tomorrow. I’ll call on you at your office at nine, if I may, Victor.”
    Victor struggled to regain some control of the situation. “Look, I’m sorry about this. My daughter has been going through a bad patch lately. Depression or something, the doctor says. I thought it would do her good to get out tonight, but obviously I was wrong. Let Escott take her home, and get rid of Blackstone, here. No reason you and I can’t have