Page 24 of Player

He frowns.

I laugh. “No. Not exactly.”

That catches his attention.

“Salt.”

“Salt?” he repeats.

“Yes. It sounds dull, really. But did you know that pink salt extractions are a very lucrative field? Pink salt actually increases hydration and combats acid reflux, which seems to be a huge problem nowadays—”

“Enough,” he barks out. My lips part at his rudeness. I sit silently while he gestures to our server to wheel the main course over.

The cart promptly arrives before us and just as promptly, the crewmember disappears.

Without a word, he serves himself and begins to eat.

I nibble on my salad. Eating a meal with this man is giving me a stomachache, especially when all I want is to gather whatever information I can and quickly be done with him.

He chews with his mouth open and ignores me for the better part of the meal.

I wait for him to finish his steak before adding in my sweetest voice, “It’s funny, though. My interest is in salt, but the chemistry department insists we learn everything from environmental engineering to thermodynamics.”

The last word is gold, and I thank Google and my own research for it. “Thermodynamics is the exchange of energy—”

“I know what thermodynamics is.”

I laugh. It sounds hallow even to my ears. “Not everyone does.”

He tosses his cloth napkin on the table. “That’s a lucrative field of study. You’d be surprised at the money to be had.”

“Really?” I exclaim, bright-eyed.

“Forget fucking salt. There’s more money in mining—”

“Silver? Gold?”

“Something even better.”

“Better?” I exclaim. “But the price of gold has skyrocketed.”

He offers me a smug smile, pleased as punch at the game he’s playing. The power he has in taunting me with the inside-information he has.

I can’t wait to go public with his name. “Thank you,” I exclaim, changing tactics.

His eyes widen. “For what?”

“For being such a smart man. Not to sound shallow, but I’d like a career where I make money ... like a lot of money. But I have connections in the salt business, an uncle who will put in a good word for me.”

His chest is still puffing up from my compliment, which loosens his lips. “Ever hear the name Ogdenhayer?”

I shake my head.

“South Africans. They run a mining business dealing in a substance far more profitable than salt. When you’re ready, you should look them up online. I’m sure a smart woman like you would be an asset to them.”

I carefully sip my wine. Trying not to show my excitement. Trying not to jump to my feet and waltz across the deck.Ogdenhayer. I store the name away.

“Goddamn it,” he growls, jumping to his feet. “What the hell is that pigeonshit up to now?”

I turn to see who he’s angry with. But the only person on deck with us is our server.

“Finish your meal.” He pushes his chair in. “I hate to see good food go to waste.”

“I enjoyed your company,” I hastily say. Terrific. He just started opening up.

“I hope one day you remember the kindness I showed you,” he says before hurrying off.

Oh, I’ll remember. Just not in the way you suspect.

* * *