Finally, Gabe breaks the agonizingly awkward moment. “Jonathan has recently hired our firm to design the new wing of his Scottish estate. But for some reason, he has rejected all the designs we’ve shown him. He keeps saying he wants something more, something exceptional and out of the ordinary.”

Jonathan shakes his head. “Not the time for business, Gabriel. Especially when we have a beautiful lady seated between us.” He winks at me over his wine glass, the naughty grin back on his face.

“I’m an interior designer,” I inform him, “so by all means, please carry on the conversation, My Lord.” Gabe has been subtly instructing me on the delicacies of addressing British peers and I hope I’m addressing this Earl correctly.

“Please call me Jonathan,” he says.

“OK, Jonathan. What’s missing from these designs?”

He gives a half shrug. “They’re all quite blah...the same chandeliers, the same lighting, the same flooring, the typical colors. Rather boring, the lot of it...I want Damien to personally design this new wing of my estate. Either that or I will go to someone else.”

Gabriel mumbles a swear word from my side. And once again, I’m caught in a staring contest between the two men. I sip my champagne while waiting for them to finish wordlessly communicating whatever the hell they’re trying to tell each other.

Jonathan finally turns to me and begins a conversation on a recent painting he bought of a now deceased Indian artist. The topic is engaging and we spend a long time engrossed in discussion. He asks me several questions on my work and asks about the architectural concepts that are being currently employed in Asia. He queries me on the houses I’ve designed, about Indian antiques and artifacts and in the end exchanges numbers with me with a promise to call soon and continue this discussion. Talking to him leaves me entertained and engaged.

When the person opposite us asks Jonathan a question, I subtly touch Gabriel’s arm, drawing his attention.

“What was Jonathan’s comment earlier about you and Damien ignoring him?” I ask him in a soft whisper.

Gabe puts his glass down before speaking to me in a low tone. “Damien, Jonathan and I have been friends for a long time. He was Damien’s willing partner in every ridiculously dangerous activity they undertook. I’ve watched on the side as the two of them dived in shark-infested waters, base-jumped from the Nordic Fjords and so many other unbelievable things. There has always been a rivalry between them, with Jonathan always wanting to better Damien. We ignored it always and continued together, partying and carousing because we were all close friends. But then Damien left everything and moved to India. He never told Jonathan anything. I was the only one who knew.”