Page 32 of Don’t Look Down

He bows deeply to Lock. “Your Highness, I must say you were extremely missed this week. Although your brother did his best.”

Beau’s jaw clicks, and I take another look at the man.

Recognition dawns. He was one of the men Beau was speaking to at the end of the auction. A banker, if I’m not mistaken. But his name…

“Mr. Genrey, how kind of you.” Lock gives him the same smile he’s flashed at everyone else tonight. “I can assure you the auction would’ve been more fun than many of my meetings that day.”

The two share a laugh that sounds forced to me, but then again that might just be my hunger talking.

“I assume you enjoyed yourself?” Lock asks.

Mr. Genrey makes a dramatic show of stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Well, since you asked, it was… not what I have come to expect from your family, Sir.”

I stiffen and sense Beau do the same.

“Why is that?” Lock prods.

“Some of the crowd didn’t seem of the same… caliber as myself and my colleagues.”

My jaw almost comes unhinged at that.

“The event itself seemed to stretch on and on, for no real purpose other than to keep us in our seats longer than necessary. You, as well as anyone knows, how valuable our time is. Plus, they didn’t have much worth of anything to bid on, Your Highness. It wasn’t until your brother offered a couple of tours that people started to take action.”

“Pardon me,” I finally say, unable to stand it a moment longer, despite the fact that I know I should stay quiet. “But the charity had a fine line-up of generous donations from small businesses, large corporations, and private donors. Each one received a bid higher than their worth⁠—”

Mr. Genrey barely deigns a glance in my direction before he cuts me off. “I heard varying sentiments of disappointment afterward. I myself was hoping for something exciting to bid on, but left empty handed.”

Anger surges through me, not only at being ignored but at the attitude of this prick. He’s standing here, complaining to Lock, about there not being something exciting enough for him to bid on? For charity?

“Mr. Genrey, I must defend Juli⁠—”

Lock squeezes my hand. I look up at him, readying for him to jump in and finish my defense of Juliette and the organization. But instead, he tells the bastard, “I’m very sorry to hear that, Bruce. I know your time is valuable, and I would not wish to waste it. I will be sure to speak with the team personally to ensure that future events do not follow a similar course.”

I gape at Lock, unable to believe that he’s sitting here apologizing to this man. I look over his shoulder at Beau, who’s jaw is clenched so tight I wouldn’t be surprised if his teeth cracked and fell to the floor. His face is enraged as he listens to his brother, but he doesn’t contradict him.

Not in public.

And I’m not supposed to either.

Beau meets my gaze and his eyes soften a fraction. I know, I can practically hear him say. It’s not right.

It’s not, but I can’t do anything about it.

I inhale deeply, counting to five, and swallow all my frustration down with a pretty little smile.

For the remainder of the conversation, I stand by quietly, letting the two of them chat and doing my best to tune it out for my own sanity. Lock better not actually speak to Juliette about this. The event was a huge success, just like the rest of them.

Just because this prick didn’t get to bid on another high-speed boat or hundred-year-old wine crate doesn’t mean they did a bad job.

Beau’s voice pulls me out of my stewing as the conversation seems to come to a close. Lock and Mr. Genrey shake hands, and when he extends the same gesture to Beau, he says in a tone so deadly serious that if it wasn’t for the sly smirk on his face, I’d think he was being earnest. “Next time, I’ll talk to the team about offering up a dinner date with myself instead. You know, to give you something of true value to bid on for the children needing education.”

I stifle a wicked laugh as Mr. Genrey turns a bright shade of red. He shoots Beau a withering look before dropping his hand like it burned him.

Lock quickly offers an apology on behalf of his brother, but Beau holds his ground, refusing to offer up one as well.

Mr. Genrey storms off and Beau mutters, “Good riddance” in his wake.

Couldn’t agree more.