Claire looks at me, she doesn’t smile, but I can see the glint of triumph in her big brown eyes. “Yes, just two.”

“That’s marvelous,” Tony says, turning to look at me. “Archer, would you mind having lunch with Ms. Solis?”

“Sir, I was hoping we could talk over lunch.”

“Are you married, Ms. Solis?”

“No,” she answers.

“Do you have a significant other?” I sneak in my own question because as much as I miss her, I can’t make a move if she’s otherwise occupied with another man.

“I’m single and happy,” she answers.

“Here’s a tip for you young people, the key to a happy marriage is spending time with your significant other as much as you can. Life moves too fast, and you don’t want to wake up one day and stare at the person next to you and say, ‘Who are you?’ Grow with them.”

She smiles and nods. “So?”

I look at Claire and shake my head. Please don’t say anything. I can hear what she’s about to propose: bring your wife along.

Here’s a gift to you, Princess. Don’t say I never think about your welfare. 

“We’ll have lunch at the bistro to plan our trip,” I finish for her. “Tony, have a nice time with Mrs. Gyles.”

“I knew you would work well together, as a team,” Tony says, shaking Claire’s hand. “I can’t wait to hear more about what you two come up with.”

“Archer,” he says with a nod. “The bill should be covered by 23 Media Inc.”

“No, sir. It’ll be covered by me,” I correct him and signal toward the door. “Ms. Solis, after you.”

“We’re not going for lunch,” she mumbles with a warning voice.

“Smile and play nice. They are watching us.”

“You knew I was coming today,” she accuses me. “That’s why you knocked on my door.”

“No, I wanted to walk with you to the office,” I clarify.

“You could’ve warned me about this meeting.”

“Princess, as much as I’d love to follow you around every single moment of my life, that’s not healthy. Also, I have a company to run. He invited me to come over at eleven thirty. I had no idea why, but now everything makes sense.”

“We’re not working together. This is my account.”

“I need the account, Claire. It’s nothing personal.”

“You need it?”

“Yes, more than any other account I’ve ever pursued before.”

“It’ll be a pleasure to take it away from you.”

“I count on it, Ms. Solis.”

“Watch me,” she says, walking away from the bistro.

I hold her elbow lightly. “They are watching us,” I repeat. “If you want to stay in the running, for at least a couple of weeks, accept my invitation.”

“Are you going to share your intel?”

“I saved you by not letting you invite his wife to lunch.”