[Ben & Rita] The stars align for you and I tonight

[intotherough]

He wasn't, strictly speaking, an industry party type, but he did okay. Marginally better than Victor, who'd done marginally better himself, since Georgios Kattalakis' princess had stepped into their little place. Zoë could gather a crowd around her like bees to honey - particularly dangerous bees with particularly deep pockets.

Business was good, he had to say that much for it all. And that wasn't all that was good lately, Ben thought as his eyes lit on a slim figure in scarlet across the room. That was another woman who could play a room like a violin. He'd thought that the first time he'd laid eyes on Ms. Rita James, lately of upstate New York. At least that's what she said, and the only reason Ben had to disbelieve was that everyone was telling some sort of lie. It put them all on even footing.

"We should get you a cocktail," he said as he came up behind her and eyed her glass of wine. It had bubbles. Fine for champagne, not so much for pinot noir, but their hosts weren't known for being wine connoisseurs, to say the least. "I'm fair certain they'd have a hard time ruining a daiquiri."

Comments

[butneverbreak]

To be fair, most people in their line of business connections had had a predilection for half-truths and misdirections since long before entering the actual work. It just attracted a certain personality type.

And skill set.

There's a bright flash of white teeth for Victor, of course, because that's the polite thing to do when glancing off-hand at someone across the room. "You've certainly done better in the past. Perhaps you've just set the bar too high for yourself, doll."

HA A TAG. I only fail a little bit.

[intotherough]

"It's a problem," Ben admits. He doesn't smile at Victor, in part because Victor seems to think that's the first sign that Ben has a Plan, and Ben with a Plan is sometimes but not always an incredible thing. It's the not always part that tends to worry people.

"I suppose I'll just have to put my mind to achieving my previous heighs," he says. "Or beyond. Do you think that's too much to hope for?"

/flies into arms again

[butneverbreak]

"Beyond? Really?"

She has to lean away slightly to give him an appraising look, but it means leaning back all the closer, cheek briefly comfortable against his shoulder.

"It's dangerous, but that's always attractive in a man."