“Do you... do you really enjoy drinking?” Nigel asked, almost tentative, humility flickering in his voice. "If you didn''t have your fill today and feel like another ss, I can have someone bring over a proper bottle. What you had earlier wasn''t exactly top shelf."


    "Really?" Calliope''s eyes sparkled with interest.


    It wasn''t that she was short on money, but some of the finest bottles were hard toe by, money or not. In that domain, Nigel''s connections were unrivaled. Anything he offered would only be the best.


    "Really. Anything you want, it''s yours. Of course, being on a cruise has its limitations -my private collection''s at home. But if you have time in the future, I''ll invite you out to my vineyard. You can pick whatever you want—anything at all.”


    "Are you serious?" Calliope looked at him skeptically, her gaze narrowing. "Your cer is legendary. You''d really let me choose?"


    "Absolutely," Nigel replied without hesitation. "If you want it, I''ll make it happen."


    "In that case, send up a decent bottle for tonight," Calliope said, giving him a sidelong nce. "And you know, you really shouldn''t have interrupted us earlier- not because I needed another drink, but because I was setting the hook. You cut in, and my catch slipped away."


    "That''s why I was a little annoyed," she added, her tone offhand. "But it''s fine. The bait''s still here sooner orter, it''lle back."


    Understanding dawned on Nigel''s face. "Oh-that''s what was going on! I''m sorry, that was my mistake." He gave her a heartfelt apology.


    “No worries. It''s water under the bridge," Calliope said with an easy smile. “If nothing else, you certainly tormented Lisette enough. I bet she seriously regrets ever crossing you."


    "Would you like me to deal with her once and for all?" Nigel asked, arching an eyebrow, his tone thoughtful as he regarded Calliope. "She''s probably just going to keeping after you, isn''t she?"


    Members of the Jewell family were like cockroaches-impossible to get rid of and endlessly troublesome. No real talent to speak of, but absolutely shameless, always up to something never knowing when to quit.


    "It makes no difference to me. What do you think someone like her could actually do


    to me?" Calliope replied, her smile taking on an edge as she met his gaze.


    Nigel fell silent. With Lisette''s limited abilities, there was really nothing she could do


    to hurt Calliope; any move she made would only backfire on herself.


    "In that case..." Nigel trailed off, lost in thought.


    "Don''t worry about me-I''m fine. By the way, that wine from earlier? Barely any alcohol. I couldn''t get drunk off it even if I tried. For me, it''s basically like water," Calliope said, almostughing The only downside is a little bloated from all that liquid."


    Nigel nodded. "Sorry about the misunderstanding earlier. I''ll make sure to set things straight-and keep everyone quiet. But honestly, have you ever considered ditching Ss for me?"


    A sly grin tugged at his lips. “I''m leagues better than he is, you know."


    Calliope gave him a look somewhere between amusement and exasperation. "You''re awfully confident, aren''t you?"


    He met her eyes with an


    unabashedly self-assured smile. "Of course. When ites to Ss, I''ve got him beat, no question. If you decide you''re done with him door''s wide open. 1''ll give you things he never could-more, and better." Cóntent


    Calliope fixed him with a level stare. “Nigel... Even if I was done with him, I wouldn''t choose you."