Also, beyond the fact that I had no time nor willingness for distractions, it was also reminiscent of my father lusting after my nannies growing up. Except my father acted on those impulses. I blew out an annoyed breath to cover my cringe, trying to get my head away from her and back into business. It would be fine. She was just an attractive woman. I’d spent time with plenty of those. No big deal. I’d give it a couple of weeks. I focused in front of me. “The reports for the meeting look good. I’m ready.” I shuffled the pages needlessly. I knew the results were solid. I didn’t need to re-read the reports this morning to know.

“Good. I’d like my goose to keep fattening. I’m not ready for the foie gras just yet.”

“Such a strange expression.” Every year, instead of a bonus, I gifted Evan a small amount of stock in my company. It had been his idea, and he was building up a nice retirement. It was a symbiotic relationship—his skin in the game if you will. He protected me since I was, literally, his investment.

“Sometimes, I like to fantasize you protect me because I’m your friend and not because I’m making you rich,” I said.

“That’s cute,” he deadpanned. “Okay, also on your agenda. Your father sent another request to meet for this bridge project he wants you to look at.”

My stomach tightened. “Invest in, you mean. I was hoping he wasn’t pushing that.”

“Pas du tout. He’s anxious to share some numbers with you.”

“He’s convinced that now we have our hand in some boutique hotel projects I’d like to get into infrastructure too.” Newsflash, I didn’t. Save the government building contracts for the unscrupulous. There was practically no way to avoid the systemic corruption, and I wanted no part in it.

“He’s setting up a lunch,” Evan went on while I brooded at how my father couldn’t ever take no for an answer. “Next week. Marie-Louise put it on your schedule. She just put a bug in my ear to ask if you’d seen it.”

My poor long-suffering assistant who had to contact Evan because I was playing a game of avoidance with my own father.