Infamous.
The word settled in Alex's mind with weight that demanded attention.
Not famous. Not interesting. Not the kind of neutral descriptor people used for strangers they'd heard about through mutual friends.
Infamous.
Which meant Catherine Blackwood knew things about him. Had heard stories. Had formed opinions before this meeting ever happened.
The question was: what had she heard? And from whom?
His mind processed the possibilities with mechanical speed, tactical assessment reasserting itself now that the initial shock of her emergence had passed fractionally.
Victoria must have said something about him… but surely not in the manner she was currently suggesting.
Catherine's smile widened just slightly, as if she could track every thought crossing his mind through the micro-expressions on his face.
