NineHector de Vile’s son Alex and Will Davenport, the pipsqueak upstart who was temporarily running Pike Consulting, were warm buddies within minutes of shaking hands. The senator sat watching through narrowed eyes as they chatted on about Will’s experiences in New York, and Alex’s involvement with the diverse de Vile business interests, as if he wasn’t present. He’d been sidelined, a rare experience for him.
He had brought his reluctant heir along with him because he hoped he’d get inspiration from meeting a young man of a similar age to himself who was already winning plaudits as an energetic and innovative operator.
Will Davenport was unobtrusive, a pale, quiet chap who could be overlooked. De Vile wasn’t fool enough, however, to miss the shrewd glint in his gray eyes, the quick resol
