"Well, my dear? Admiring the view?"

My cheeks flamed. "Uh, nice. Very nice."

"Just nice? That's hardly a compliment." Her smile was slow and smug, replete with self-satisfaction. She sat down and crossed her legs with lazy abandon, one hand gliding up over her bosom in a pointedly significant caress. "Come now, pretty good for an old broad, wouldn't you say?"

"Of course. But you're not old." It seemed only prudent to bestow the flattery that was so obviously called for. "You're a beautiful woman, Mrs. Beresford."

"Julia. Let's not be formal."

"Uh-huh. Julia, then. Your drink okay?"

She took a sip and nodded; then, "You meant that, about, my being beautiful. I could tell. Much as you hated to admit it."

"Well…"

"You did hate admitting it, though. Why?"

"Oh. You know. This thing between us. I-I don't understand, frankly. Aren't you angry with me?"

"A little. My pride was hurt. But it's happened before, my husband playing around like this. Bastard! Oh no, it isn't exactly new to me. Did you think it was, Rory?"

"N-no. I did at first. I felt guilty, too, since it was my fault as much as his. But then he said you didn't care, it wasn't that kind of marriage. You both go your separate ways, he told me; you have your own life, your own friends, isn't that so?"

"Umm, well, something like that."

"It's true then? About the marriage? He's only staying married to you because of the business?"

"True enough. At this point, anyway. After all, what else can he do? I own the business. Although I'm sure he neglected to mention that fact."

"Huh? You own…"

"Consolidated was founded by my grandfather. I'm the majority stockholder. Simon has only a little piece of it, in spite of his executive position. Surprise, surprise."