they served as clear pathways to answers she needed to find. Somehow, she reckoned, Mat Anderson and his big project had to figure, on the way to that truth. Big Oil, ocean ecology, and whale protection—what an unlikely trinity. How possibly could either oneof them make that improbable combination work to fit the interests of the whole? She was intrigued at the thought there might be a way, but deep down inside, at the gut level, she knew that there was something truly “bad news” about this Mat character: something deep and dark and ugly, hidden behind the facade.
5
Oil and Water
The presidential suite at the hotel was luxury in overdrive—pure, understated elegance. Mat Anderson clearly knew how to make a statement, about this Jamie had no doubt whatsoever. He was proving himself to be the king of Southern hospitality, and he definitely lived up to his promise of pure VIP treatment, door-to-door. She was duly impressed.
A most exquisite bouquet of her favorite flowers—irises, baby pink roses, and daffodils—filled the dining room table with her colors: the colors of Spring. How he could have known these were her absolutely favorite flowers she didn’t know … but she was sure it was no accident.
The refined decor smacked of old money and had a distinctive male feel to it, with its dark leather couches and high-end rustic antique furniture. Everything was exquisite—and expensive. A subtle scent of sweet tobacco permeated the lounge—no doubt emanating from the suite’s own cigar room, off the living room. All things considered, the men of the world were still, primarily, the ones holding the big money strings. Surely a few sheiks and their entourages had been hosted there before her. She knew that opulence was all part of the OPEC theater, and laying it on was part of the deal-making game, in which all the key players were constantly trying to outdo each other. The stakes were too high not to. She was not theleast bit interested in getting caught up in it, but it was undeniably pleasant enjoying a taste of it—Texas style.
Within minutes of being escorted to the suite, the phone rang. It was Louise, calling to formalize Jamie’s arrival at the hotel and officially welcoming her, on the part of her boss.
Jamie thanked her, as she fumbled with her purse, trying to tip the bellman. He refused, politely, and closed the door behind him. Tips, extras, flowers: USOIL saw to all the details.
“You’ve got the whole day to enjoy the spa if you like … everything is already signed to the room, so you just enjoy yourself. It’s all been arranged for you.” It was clear that Louise managed all the VIP hospitality details for Mat. “I took the liberty of scheduling you in for a hot stone massage at noon. The spa is always booked up in advance.”
Jamie was a bit overwhelmed, having not even had a chance to set her bag down. “Oh, okay, thanks,” she replied. “I think I can make that!”
“It’s just a miracle to get someone in at the last minute, but you just let them know if y’all are not up for it.”
Jamie thanked Louise for the gesture and assured her she would definitely not cancel.
“Mr. Anderson will be there for you at seven this evening to escort you to dinner. Enjoy your day!” Louise said, attempting to sound cheery and efficient, but the sharpness of her resentment and a touch of pure female jealousy clipped her words just enough for Jamie to know she was not that welcome at all.
At 7:00 p.m. sharp, Jamie stepped out of the elevator, looking poised and relaxed, after a day of self-indulgent spa treatments at Houston’s finest. She cut such a striking figure, her unpretentious beauty radiating light around her—a rare and indefinable essence thatsimply commanded attention whenever she entered a room. More than her physical beauty was this mystical quality about her, as if she were aglow from the inside out. Her eyes, warm and embracing, were like lighthouses, in a sea of
5
Oil and Water
The presidential suite at the hotel was luxury in overdrive—pure, understated elegance. Mat Anderson clearly knew how to make a statement, about this Jamie had no doubt whatsoever. He was proving himself to be the king of Southern hospitality, and he definitely lived up to his promise of pure VIP treatment, door-to-door. She was duly impressed.
A most exquisite bouquet of her favorite flowers—irises, baby pink roses, and daffodils—filled the dining room table with her colors: the colors of Spring. How he could have known these were her absolutely favorite flowers she didn’t know … but she was sure it was no accident.
The refined decor smacked of old money and had a distinctive male feel to it, with its dark leather couches and high-end rustic antique furniture. Everything was exquisite—and expensive. A subtle scent of sweet tobacco permeated the lounge—no doubt emanating from the suite’s own cigar room, off the living room. All things considered, the men of the world were still, primarily, the ones holding the big money strings. Surely a few sheiks and their entourages had been hosted there before her. She knew that opulence was all part of the OPEC theater, and laying it on was part of the deal-making game, in which all the key players were constantly trying to outdo each other. The stakes were too high not to. She was not theleast bit interested in getting caught up in it, but it was undeniably pleasant enjoying a taste of it—Texas style.
Within minutes of being escorted to the suite, the phone rang. It was Louise, calling to formalize Jamie’s arrival at the hotel and officially welcoming her, on the part of her boss.
Jamie thanked her, as she fumbled with her purse, trying to tip the bellman. He refused, politely, and closed the door behind him. Tips, extras, flowers: USOIL saw to all the details.
“You’ve got the whole day to enjoy the spa if you like … everything is already signed to the room, so you just enjoy yourself. It’s all been arranged for you.” It was clear that Louise managed all the VIP hospitality details for Mat. “I took the liberty of scheduling you in for a hot stone massage at noon. The spa is always booked up in advance.”
Jamie was a bit overwhelmed, having not even had a chance to set her bag down. “Oh, okay, thanks,” she replied. “I think I can make that!”
“It’s just a miracle to get someone in at the last minute, but you just let them know if y’all are not up for it.”
Jamie thanked Louise for the gesture and assured her she would definitely not cancel.
“Mr. Anderson will be there for you at seven this evening to escort you to dinner. Enjoy your day!” Louise said, attempting to sound cheery and efficient, but the sharpness of her resentment and a touch of pure female jealousy clipped her words just enough for Jamie to know she was not that welcome at all.
At 7:00 p.m. sharp, Jamie stepped out of the elevator, looking poised and relaxed, after a day of self-indulgent spa treatments at Houston’s finest. She cut such a striking figure, her unpretentious beauty radiating light around her—a rare and indefinable essence thatsimply commanded attention whenever she entered a room. More than her physical beauty was this mystical quality about her, as if she were aglow from the inside out. Her eyes, warm and embracing, were like lighthouses, in a sea of
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