“He was just trying to get under your skin one last time, Mark,” she said with a light laugh.

“Are we dropping you off, miss?” Mark’s driver asked, politely interrupting them as the car rolled forward slowly.

“Yes. In Tribeca, please,” Bette answered.

She continued, turning to Mark, “While you guys were shouting at each other I figured I’d just let you guys tire yourselves out until I could make the point that, basically, it was to no one’s interest if they were allowed what was essentially a back door to nullify the sale if one of their creditors backed out.”

Mark grimaced at the memory of the back-and-forth both sides had engaged in.

Bette laughed lightly as he growled again about the behavior of the buyer and his lawyers.

As they turned into Trinity Place, heading north towards Tribeca, Mark finally breathe out.

“Well I’m not thinking about that prick one minute longer than I have to.”

He paused, and then smiled at Bette. “Our client’s not the only one who did well on that sale, you know. You did well on that sale, too, Bette. I admit I was one of those who’d doubted the value of that asset when we advised our client to get it last year, but you made the right call in joining in on the buy.”

Mmhmm, Bette murmured, giving him a small smile.

“What are you going to do to celebrate?”

Her smile widened. “I’m surprising Tina.”

“Taking her some place?” he asked with a teasing tone.

“Yup.”

“Where?”

“Jade Mountain.”

Mark whistled. “St. Lucia?”

Uh huh.

“Romantic,” he said, teasing again.

“Very,” she answered, laughing lightly.

“Can I convince you to get this boat?” Mark asked. “You could take it out to the Caribbean one day.”

Bette laughed again. Mark had been trying to get her to join him in getting a boat he’d fallen in love with during the boat show in Miami that he and Logan had gone to over the winter.

“Mark, you and Logan can get the boat. Tina and I love the water but I’m not about to spend millions on a boat … we’re not as big on boats as you guys,” she said.

“Maybe George can join you, instead” she suggested.