“So there he is,” Melanie murmured in her ear, “the holy grail of accounts. Let’s hope you can snag him without Bobbi’s help. Get going.”

Elaine turned on the charm with no more effort than flipping a switch. She made introductions and drew the somber Swiss man into the center of the action. He was stunningly handsome, his slender body impeccably clad in an Italian suit, his face as perfectly smooth and gleaming as carved and polished wood. He had a reputation as a fabulous but demanding lover, and was nearly always found draped in supermodels. That was where Bobbi came in. Without her, they’d have to improvise. Jenny came forward with the hired escorts, a pair of bony, bright-eyed actresses in borrowed designer dresses.

Axel was suave and low-key, greeting everyone with continental panache. Elaine’s parents were as taken with him now as they had been at Parents’ Day at school in Lugano. He was precisely their type. Despite the trendy moniker, he had a family tree hung with European royalty. Anyone who could call Prince Rainier “Uncle” was certainly welcome in their home.

She felt his attention on her like a beam of cold light.

“Your daughter has always charmed me until I cannot see straight,” he declared in an accent more delicious than melted chocolate.

It was all Elaine could do to keep from rolling her eyes. Although just thinking about Tony could summon up a blush, blatant flattery from a Swiss billionaire blew past her like dust bunnies.

She caught Tony’s eye and motioned him over. The moment he joined their group, she saw the contrast between them. Side-by-side, they were almost comical, with Tony the picture of the all-American male, big and brawny, exuding self-confidence and a tangible amount of testosterone. By contrast, Axel was a svelte and polished European import, his sculpted mouth taut with a condescending smile. Clearly they both sensed an undeclared rivalry afoot.

“May I have this dance?” Axel said to Elaine, offering his hand. The nails gleamed from a Japanese manicure. His laser-whitened teeth flashed as he smiled.

Winning his business was the sole purpose of the night, she reminded herself. She said, “Of course,” then turned to Tony. “Jenny and Melanie will take good care of you.”

“That’s okay. I need to get going anyway.”

She felt a stab of panic. How could he leave her when she’d only just found him again? “But—”

“I always go to midnight mass with my family. ’Night, Elaine. Thanks for having me.” He gave her a brief peck on the cheek and then turned away. “I’ll see you around, okay?”