Read Online Arch Enemy by Leo J. Maloney - Free Book Online Page A

you’re all business.”
    The bartender set the glass of whiskey down on a napkin.
    â€œWhich, I might add, is none of yours.”
    Ice clinked in his glass as he took a sip.
    She looked out the window to the sea of darkness that was Central Park. “I’m curious about what you’re doing here at all. Tell me, did you have to borrow your daddy’s tux?”
    He smiled wide. “Why, would you like to meet him? He might be a little more of your target demographic.”
    â€œMaybe he is.” She cast her gaze around for Baxter. She found him glowering at her from the exit to the ballroom. Jealous. Good. The boy had his uses.
    She let the conversation fall into a lull, which he then tried to break. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a lovely accent?”
    â€œYou yanks love your accents,” she said. “Tell me, does it make me sound smart and sophisticated?”
    He chuckled. “No, you manage that all on your own, Miss—”
    She shot him a sidelong glance. “Lily.”
    â€œA pleasure,” he said. “I’m Scott. Scott Renard.”
    â€œOf the Poughkeepsie Renards?” she deadpanned.
    He laughed, a hearty, wholesome laugh. “I can’t figure you out. You’re not here for the politics. You’re not here with someone who’s here for the politics. But I’m not getting the gold-digger vibe, despite your little show. What is your deal?”
    â€œMaybe I’m just tired of men who tell me I have a lovely accent.”
    â€œSo instead, you want men who have a lovely net worth?”
    She watched as Baxter walked toward the elevator, shooting her one last look before he disappeared into the foyer, baring his teeth like a predator.
    â€œSo let me guess your— deal ,” she said. “You paid two hundred dollars for that haircut somewhere in Silicon Valley and got shanghaied into coming to this dinner across the country because you’re the least socially inept of the partners in your startup, which consists of an application that lets your dog connect with other pets in the area for friendship, romance, and business networking. Am I getting warm?”
    He threw up his hands. “Guilty as charged, more or less. Except for the app itself. It’s more of an integrated security suite. We’ve got a good chance of being bought out by Google or Facebook before the year is out.”
    â€œI’m sure that must be very exciting for you,” Lily said sarcastically.
    â€œIt’s been boring. I used to program all day. That used to be the job, and I was good at it.”
    â€œNow that sounds riveting.”
    â€œMore than you think,” he said. “Today, it’s all meetings with venture capital and angel investors, PR, management. Not my bag. But that’s what the job calls for, so that’s what I have to do. Never mind that I’m introverted and have all the social graces afforded by a down-home Midwestern upbringing.”
    â€œYou seem to be able to hold your own,” said Lily. “For an amateur. Little tip: skip the whiskey in social functions. It makes you sloppy, and you wince every time you take a sip. You don’t like it and it shows. Get a tonic with a slice of lime. People will assume it’s got gin in it. They’ll trust you more, and you get to remain sober.”
    He set the glass down on the bar. “I yield to the expert.”
    She pushed off, collecting her clutch. “You’ll have to excuse me now. This shindig’s played out, and I have some grown-up things to attend to.”
    â€œI was just about to take my leave anyway,” he said. “Condoleezza Rice promised me a dance. But I’ll tell you what. I’m just going to put my number in this little purse you’ve got here.” He pulled out a business card, took her clutch and, opening it a crack, slipped the card inside. “You feel like picking up this