“Sounds like a lame motto,” Cooper said, sounding amused. “Everyone has weakness. It’s all about facing it or, if need be, running like hell to escape it.” She grinned. “That’s good advice for life and rhinos, by the way.”
“I’ll defer to your expertise on that one.” Felicity’s lips quirked up.
“Today was the best day.” Cooper sighed happily. “The absolute best.”
“I agree.” Warmth flooded Felicity as she recalled all the highlights.
“You’re thinking about the kitties you got to play with, aren’t you?” Cooper said with a chuckle.
“Pfft. Don’t be ridiculous. I got distracted for a few minutes. I’m talking, of course, about my grand victory.”
“I saw your face, you know. And even if I hadn’t, I know Suzanne—the woman you were helping with her paperwork. She said you were in there for fifteen minutes and totally besotted. Why do you pretend to not like animals while secretly coveting a cleavage full of cats?”
Felicity rolled her eyes. “Gah, don’t remind me. I’ll be picking cat hair out of my bra for days,” she muttered. “Annoying beasts.”
“You love those beasts. Why on earth don’t you have a cat? Or a dog? You clearly love them. I’m sorry I ever claimed otherwise.” Genuine curiosity filled Cooper’s expression.
“It’s…complicated. I like your suit, by the way. Zara?”
“Whoa. You can tell that just by looking?”
“If you hang out at enough fashion weeks with a fashion-worshipping boss, you do notice labels.”
“Makes sense. Nice distraction, by the way.” She leaned in. “So…back to you and animals? What’s the deal there?”
Felicity picked up her menu. “Shall we order?” Her eyes flicked instantly to the low-carb options. “The Caesar salad looks good.”
“Okay, I can take a hint.” Cooper lifted her hands in surrender.
Thank God.
“What would you like to talk about instead?” Cooper continued.
Dropping the menu, Felicity looked up. “What’s your take on Rosalind Stone? She cornered me today for a chat. I felt like she was trying to tell me something, but I’m not sure what exactly.”
“She does come across like that,” Cooper said with a chuckle. “I’ve had a number of formal dinners with her as part of the charity, and she is formidable. Some might dismiss her as an empty-headed socialite, but I’ve seen her behind the scenes and at fundraising galas, and she can work a room like a top political operator. And then there’s her financial side. Did you know she inherited everything from her rich parents under the proviso that she provide well for her siblings?”
“They either had a lot of faith in her or none in her siblings,” Felicity observed.
“Both. Anyway, she did so well at her various businesses and investments that she’s one of the wealthiest women in New York.”
“She is?” Felicity thought she was knowledgeable about all the major movers and shakers in the US. How had Rosalind flown under the radar?
“Rosalind told me once she prefers it when people underestimate her. She calls it a sound business strategy. She tries to keep her name out of those rich lists, for instance. Don’t feel too bad you couldn’t read her today. Rosalind is a mystery. She is several moves ahead of everyone and plays her cards close to her chest. It’s rare she’ll share anything much.”
Felicity blinked. “Today she gave me the entire story of how she met and fell in love with her husband.”
Cooper peered at her. “Are you serious? I knew her eight years before I could worm that one out of her. What brought that on?”
“I have no idea.”
“That is really unusual. What else did she talk to you about?”
“She was wondering why I was sniffing around her husband.”
“You and Harvey?” Cooper laughed. “Seriously?”
“Well, I gather she didn’t think I was interested in Harvey romantically, but maybe on the off-chance I was, I suppose I’m now fully briefed that he’s as loyal as a man can be.” Felicity turned the odd conversation over. “Actually, she mainly wanted to know what I’m doing at Living Ruff. And we talked a little about a program you’d come up with: training homeless people to be vet techs?”
“Oh that.” Cooper gave a wistful look. “I pitched it to Harvey two years ago. Every now and then we meet a resourceful, bright young client who has so much wasted potential, and you just know, if only someone gave them a break, they’d soar. I suggested to Harvey that if we found someone like that who was interested and who loved animals, we could pay for the costs of their tuition, offer them the practical support of a vet-tech apprenticeship at Living Ruff, and help get them on their way. I’m not talking a big scheme. Just one candidate every few years as we find them. We could really change lives. Harvey loved it, but we didn’t have the funds to try it.”
“So now that you do, it’s happening?” Felicity asked.
Cooper shook her head. “Why would you think that?”
“Rosalind seems to think that’s what Harvey’s doing with that big donation from last year.”
Cooper’s eyebrows shot up. “He never said.”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“I guess, knowing him, he’s probably still working out the pros and cons. Slow and steady. He can be a bit of a turtle.” She smiled. “This is great news, if it’s true.” She paused. “But he still should have told me if he was going ahead with it.”
“Maybe he’ll get around to it soon.” Felicity reached for the menu again. “I’m starving. That Caesar salad really does look good.” It didn’t, but what else was she going to eat that wouldn’t go straight to her hips?
“The salad? We’re eating in New York’s best-kept secret. You have to try the specials menu. What about the meatball parmigiana?” Cooper’s eyes took on a dreamy expression.
“Little fatty cheesy balls? Pass.” She pursed her lips.
