various hats that she had dropped off earlier. There were also brochures set out. “Did you want me to model any of these?” She picked up a gray silk hat with netting and placed it on her head.
“I might enjoy it more if it were lingerie.”
She placed the hat back among the displayed items. He was playful and friendly at times and then would shift so it was impossible to read him. He couldn’t possibly intend to encourage her attraction to him. It would make their business relationship awkward and tension-filled. It was a mistake she had never made, getting involved with someone at the office.
“What can I do to help?”
“Can you check the table settings?” Bridget walked into the expansive dining area with a view of Hyde Park and beyond. It was set formally with white and gold china and a floral centerpiece.
William intrigued her. Not many single men would host an elaborate formal dinner. Most would book a private dining room in an exclusive restaurant. She continued on to the kitchen and said hello to the chef and his assistant. They were polite but busy so she wandered back to the living room.
“The table is perfect. Can I change my mind and have a glass of wine?”
He handed her a glass that he had already poured.
William took a sip of wine. “The couples coming tonight have invested with me in the past. For a time, I was interested in mining and two of them invested in an Argentine mine, the other was an investor in a sports apparel company. They were all paid back with interest.”
“Do you usually have a formal dinner when you are looking for investors?”
“This is the first time. Typically I would create a short list and schedule private meetings. But Breen is an easy investment and will have wide appeal. They will probably bid against each other to get involved.”
“You almost turned down Breen. I had the impression that you were doing a favor for Olivia but weren’t keen on getting involved.”
“My energy and resources are tapped out at the moment.”
“Why is that?”
He watched her quietly for a moment before taking a sip of his wine. “I won’t worry you with the issues before this dinner. Better that you are fresh and positive.”
“I’m not sure how I’ll be able to help with Breen if I don’t understand the problems facing your company.”
“It’s basically strategy and planning. After you are settled in Dublin, I’ll pull together the management team and you can meet everyone. You will be the youngest and the only woman. The four others are all men I met while cycling. I formed a management company seven years ago, Maglia Rosa Investments, creating a way to work with a team to revamp companies.”
She took a sip of wine. “So not being a rider, I’m probably at a disadvantage?”
“You could always take up the sport.”
“What does it mean… the pink shirt?”
“It’s a cycling term. It is used to refer to the race leader. The concept was that we would invest in projects that we could get to market before anyone else. It’s worked well, but the team needs to expand.”
The doorbell rang and he rose to greet his guests. Within a short time, everyone arrived and there was excitement and good-natured joking.
***
Bridget relaxed and enjoyed the evening. The women were interested in the hats and it took only a small amount of effort for them to try on the samples. One of the younger couples, Francesca and Alberto, started the bidding over dinner.
At one point William said, “It’s not my intention to start a bidding war. I wanted you all to have the opportunity to get involved. We have worked well in the past.”
Alberto said, “Create a funding agreement and we all can contribute a million pounds.” It was an arrangement agreed to among everyone at the table and the conversation shifted to politics and then the economy.
After the last couple left, Bridget said, “You made that look rather easy.”
“If you bring together the right
“I might enjoy it more if it were lingerie.”
She placed the hat back among the displayed items. He was playful and friendly at times and then would shift so it was impossible to read him. He couldn’t possibly intend to encourage her attraction to him. It would make their business relationship awkward and tension-filled. It was a mistake she had never made, getting involved with someone at the office.
“What can I do to help?”
“Can you check the table settings?” Bridget walked into the expansive dining area with a view of Hyde Park and beyond. It was set formally with white and gold china and a floral centerpiece.
William intrigued her. Not many single men would host an elaborate formal dinner. Most would book a private dining room in an exclusive restaurant. She continued on to the kitchen and said hello to the chef and his assistant. They were polite but busy so she wandered back to the living room.
“The table is perfect. Can I change my mind and have a glass of wine?”
He handed her a glass that he had already poured.
William took a sip of wine. “The couples coming tonight have invested with me in the past. For a time, I was interested in mining and two of them invested in an Argentine mine, the other was an investor in a sports apparel company. They were all paid back with interest.”
“Do you usually have a formal dinner when you are looking for investors?”
“This is the first time. Typically I would create a short list and schedule private meetings. But Breen is an easy investment and will have wide appeal. They will probably bid against each other to get involved.”
“You almost turned down Breen. I had the impression that you were doing a favor for Olivia but weren’t keen on getting involved.”
“My energy and resources are tapped out at the moment.”
“Why is that?”
He watched her quietly for a moment before taking a sip of his wine. “I won’t worry you with the issues before this dinner. Better that you are fresh and positive.”
“I’m not sure how I’ll be able to help with Breen if I don’t understand the problems facing your company.”
“It’s basically strategy and planning. After you are settled in Dublin, I’ll pull together the management team and you can meet everyone. You will be the youngest and the only woman. The four others are all men I met while cycling. I formed a management company seven years ago, Maglia Rosa Investments, creating a way to work with a team to revamp companies.”
She took a sip of wine. “So not being a rider, I’m probably at a disadvantage?”
“You could always take up the sport.”
“What does it mean… the pink shirt?”
“It’s a cycling term. It is used to refer to the race leader. The concept was that we would invest in projects that we could get to market before anyone else. It’s worked well, but the team needs to expand.”
The doorbell rang and he rose to greet his guests. Within a short time, everyone arrived and there was excitement and good-natured joking.
***
Bridget relaxed and enjoyed the evening. The women were interested in the hats and it took only a small amount of effort for them to try on the samples. One of the younger couples, Francesca and Alberto, started the bidding over dinner.
At one point William said, “It’s not my intention to start a bidding war. I wanted you all to have the opportunity to get involved. We have worked well in the past.”
Alberto said, “Create a funding agreement and we all can contribute a million pounds.” It was an arrangement agreed to among everyone at the table and the conversation shifted to politics and then the economy.
After the last couple left, Bridget said, “You made that look rather easy.”
“If you bring together the right
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