Basil's psych profile and background
Basil St. James is Damien Bonaire's partner in a Switzerland-based antiques firm that caters to the jet set. Damien primarily deals with the customers while Basil handles the finances and management of the business. Each is the other's best friend and decisions on pieces to acquire are usually made jointly. Basil has a dry, sardonic sense of humor that often goes over the head of the shallow heiresses that dominate their clientele, which partially explains his preference for successful businesswomen. Basil definitely prefers women who have some form of a work ethic, rather than people born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
That should not be surprising since "Basil St. James" was originally Archibald Pembleton, the son of a hard-working, blue-collar British couple. Archie had little interest in slaving away for a meager salary simply because the rules dictated it. Instead, he broke the rules and became a smuggler. His sense of self-preservation kept him from dealing in weapons or drugs, since the risk both legally and illegally for both was far too high. He preferred dealing in contraband materials or currency movement, which while less profitable, was also less likely to get you killed by an associate or the authorities. He gradually built up a significant nest egg and, like Damien, created a new persona for a comfortable retirement. The only problem is that Damien won't stay retired. Instead, he's a freelance assassin and occasional thief. To keep him safe, Basil acts as his logistician, while complaining the entire time that Damien should give it up. Basil's complaints have become even louder once Damien confided that his lover, Whitney Blaze, is also an agent. Basil wants Damien to confront Whitney so the three of them can retire for good. So far, Damien hasn't listened, much to Basil's annoyance.