"Okay! G'bye, Mama!"
"Don't call me that. We both know better," she grumbled.
He laughed again, and she hung up, pressing the heels of her palms to her eyes. She'd fallen asleep in Kris's library after half a bottle of whiskey and awoken in her own bed with a throbbing headache and dry mouth.
She'd dared to hope again that everything was a hallucination brought on by too much alcohol, until Toby burst in chasing a cat she didn't remember owning. The boy had clambered across her bed, shrieked happily, and chased the cat under the bed.
"Katie! Visitor!"
She sighed and sat up straight a second before the door was pushed open to reveal someone she didn't know. He was well dressed, tall, and handsome with eyes too dark and still for her comfort.
"Ms. Young, I'm David Kingsly, from Kingsly Enterprises."
Surprised, she rose and shook his hand. His multimillionaire father's picture was on the wall, and he owned two dozen restaurants in the Annapolis area, including this one.
"It's a pleasure, sir. I apologize for the mess. I wasn't expecting you. Are you here for the GM?" she asked.
"No, no. I drop by on occasion to check on my father's restaurants," he said with a quick glance around. "The GM said your team came up with the latest marketing campaign. I wanted to thank you in person. It's increased profits about seven percent over last quarter."
"Thanks," she said, smiling. "We have a good group here."
"A good leader makes a good team the best, as my father says."
Despite the honor of his visit, she couldn't help but feel a trickle of familiar coldness at his still gaze. He smiled but his eyes did not. He resembled his father in height and narrow face, though there was warmth in his father's face she didn't see in his. For a moment, she thought she saw tattoos blaze across his neck and then disappear.
"We're inviting the GM to our fundraiser tomorrow night. My father feels it's important to recognize all those who support our family's success. We'd be happy if you attended our gala."
He reached into his jacket and produced an embossed invitation in peach and brown.
"I'd be honored," she said, accepting it. "Thank you, Mr. Kingsly."
"David," he said with another smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I look forward to seeing you there."
He rose and left, and she stared after him, excited. She dialed her sister immediately.