Augustus looked at me for several seconds.
"I attend approximately thirty meetings a week, Juliette. Solitude is rarely a problem."
"That isn't the same as having someone to talk to."
He glanced toward the harbor.
"It's late. You have an early morning."
"Don't redirect."
"I'm being practical."
"You're avoiding."
His jaw tightened. Then he sighed.
"Most people approach me because they need something. Approvals. Decisions. Introductions. Money."
"Influence?" I suggested.
"That too."
He turned toward me. "I have friends. Family. But even personal conversations become business discussions eventually."
He hadn't admitted to loneliness. Somehow, that careful inventory told me more than a confession would have.
"You came because I hadn't eaten," he said.
"Don't sound shocked. I occasionally display basic human compassion."
"I know."
The certainty in his voice made me look away.
He'd noticed more about me than I'd realized. Worse, I was beginning to enjoy being noticed.
