“Did any of those projects happen to fall around the time of her divorce?”
There was a beat of silence before Wyatt exhaled a huffed laugh. “Digging for information? Since when did you start to care about your partner’s pasts?”
“Not my usual sort of questions, are they?”
“Could it be you’re turning over a new leaf?”
He snorted. “Unlikely. Avery just piques my curiosity. I’d be a poor businessman not to use every resource at my disposal, and that includes you.”
“Resource extraordinaire, at your command,” Wyatt said drily. “Though, I’d point out you could simply try asking her about her husband.”
“I like to know how a situation will play out before I enter it,” he said.
“Translation: she won’t talk to you, and your curiosity is eating you up.”
Yes, his friend knew him too well.
“That, too.”
More chuckles filled his ear.
“All right, Hayden. What do you want to know?”
“Did she speak of her ex with you?”
“Jon came up a time or two. I’m sure it will be no surprise to hear Avery is not exactly a huge talker when it comes to her personal life.”
“Do you remember anything of use?”
Wyatt sighed. “I remember that around the time of her divorce, she stopped smiling so freely. I hate to say it, but her reports might even have gotten better. It was like all her energy became focused on work. She’s always been dedicated, of course, but after she left him, the hours she put in for us got much longer. I never had doubts about booking her services.”
“Happy to take advantage of the grieving divorcée, hmm?”
“As if you would have done anything different.”
Wyatt had a point. Hayden hadn’t even noticed when Avery had gone through this rough patch in her life, but if he had, he doubted it would have made much difference to him. He didn’t pry into other’s lives and expected the same courtesy.
Except now he wanted to know everything about the woman he pursued.
“So, she left him,” he said.
“As far as I know. She never mentioned any specifics. I gathered he did something she found unforgivable.”
Avery didn’t seem like the kind of woman to throw in the towel easily, especially having made a commitment like marriage. He couldn’t imagine her giving up for anything other than an insurmountable offense.
What had the bastard done to her?
His hand tightened on the rail. The idea of her being hurt sent a sharp pain shooting through him that he didn’t want to examine too closely.
“I believe they were married three years or so,” Wyatt said. “Based on a comment she made once about her anniversary. As far as I know, they met during school. You could try asking Karen for more information. The pair are thick as thieves.”
“Which means she’s not likely to betray any confidences,” he said, pushing away from the rail and stalking back into his room.
“This might sound radical, but you could always go directly to the source.”
“Wine and dine the facts out of her?”
“You have a particular talent for getting people to talk against their own self-interests.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
He could almost see Wyatt shrugging, unconcerned. “There’s a reason you are so shrewd in the boardroom. Utilize those strengths with Ms. Clarke and see where it gets you.”
Hayden ran a hand down his face, disliking the idea of using the same tactics to extract information from Avery that he did on a business rival. It seemed…cold.
And his interactions with Avery were anything but.
“I have to say, I’ve never seen so you interested in anyone. Romantically speaking.”
That’s because you never saw me with Sophia.
Wyatt’s presence in his life had come years later. Though there was little he didn’t share with his right-hand man, Sophia was a chapter of his life he didn’t speak of. With anyone.
“I’m stuck on an island. There’s not a lot to fill my days.”
“Yes. Stuck in paradise. It must be such a chore. Do Avery a favor and learn to surf. I’m sure there are a number of activities that can be used to fill the hours so you’ll leave her alone.”
“I’ll think about it,” he lied.
“Like hell you will. But while I have you, will you be available tomorrow for a conference call with the board?”
“Isn’t that what I pay you to do?”
“Yes, but funnily enough it’s your name on the hotels. That requires the occasional meeting.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll make myself available.”