The Emperor was fidgeting his feet under the table.
It was an awkward conversation with Johnny Badcock. Formally casual, procedural humors, and talk about something more interesting than weathers but nothing that really meant anything.
It's not that James had a bad relationship with Johnny prior to this. Far from it. He was always keen to hold on to his top talents, and Badcock, formerly known as de Voir, was certainly one of them.
There was a strange air of competitiveness though as they sat facing each other over a dinner table at Épicure.
A competition over nothing. Really.
Misha was supposed to come back to the office and drive with James together, but it took her unreasonably long time at Lane Belford, just sending a short text of apology saying that she'll come directly to the restaurant.
James checked his watch again.
She was late.
By the time the water poured the two gentlemen the second round of red wine though, the disaster girl finally arrived.
