The Height of Rumour

[Zhenya]

He grinned wolfishly, but did not answer. Perhaps his definition of beautiful was a little ingenuous, but since there was always something of a barb to Ephraim’s manner he did not qualify the statement beyond that. The glass swung a little at the ends of his fingers, toying.

“She didn’t know you would be here either. It seemed rather more amusing to me, that way,” he said. Which was more or less the truth, and he did not think Seven naive enough not to realise it was also simply a play of power, and of advantage. Not to unhinge them, necessarily, but it did make it interesting.

Ephraim did not blink at the direct question, though he did laugh. Neither did he follow Seven’s glance to ascertain whether she cared to listen in. Zhenya was ruthless, maybe, but she was also more trusting to the better nature of people than she ought. Most likely she thought she was doing Seven a favour by giving him a fair hearing of them both.

“She’s not necessary,” he said simply. “Neither are Pervaya. There are other companies that would benefit from the tech I have in mind, security and otherwise. Probably they would be an easier bargain.” He shrugged. “What she is though, is useful. To some other investments of mine, you understand.” He grinned. “So if you don’t want to work with her, Seven, I’ll let you be the one to tell her.”