Chapter 3

The chandelier cast spatters of geometric light around the room. Jael paused at the arch leading into the dining room and surveyed the guests.

At the head of the table, wearing a tux, was her father. His eyes were shining from the whiskey he’d started drinking an hour before the guests had arrived. He was laughing at something Artus Sisera was saying.

Artus was positioned to her father’s left. He was a very attractive man in his late fifties with a full head of salt-and-pepper hair and a short, well-groomed beard to match. He wasn’t currently married but courted a lot of women, mostly younger, who were happy to take whatever morsels they could from a powerful man like Artus.

Christopher, who sat on the other side of the table with one seat between him and her father, was talking to the other guests. He got his looks from his dad and had an open, handsome face that gave the impression of a welcoming and generous man. But Jael thought his eyes told a different story. They were a closer match to what she’d heard—that he was cold and calculating when it mattered.

He noticed her and smiled, a charming grin that lifted higher on one side than the other. If she hadn’t had a deep aversion to the type of business he and his father ran, she may have been duped into having an interest in him. But up until now, she’d always given him a wide berth. That would soon have to change.

She smiled back, pushing aside thoughts of the text she’d received from Hannah only minutes ago. It would be impossible to concentrate when all Jael wanted to do was find out why the credit card Vita Nova used to buy groceries had been declined.

“Jael,” her dad said too loud. “There you are. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever show up.” His look held a warning.

“I wouldn’t miss tonight for the world,” she said with a close-lipped smile. If anyone looked hard enough, they’d recognize the derision in her eyes even though they wouldn’t understand her real pain. The depth of her disappointment about what she was missing out on was a struggle to ignore, and she was an expert at ignoring her own sorrow. But this dinner held purpose for her now. As soon as she had the chance, she’d find out from her father what was wrong with the credit card and get it fixed.

She made her way to the head of the table to kiss her dad hello.

“I need to talk to you,” she whispered before taking the seat beside him and smiling again at Christopher, who would have been placed beside her tonight on purpose. Everyone sat exactly where her dad had positioned them on his chessboard.

“This is hardly the time for secrets,” Gregory said, peering at her over his whiskey glass before swirling the burnished contents around the clinking ice.

“He’s right,” Artus said. “We’re here to celebrate.”

“I realize that.” Jael remained polite. “But unfortunately, an urgent matter has come up. Nothing to spoil everyone’s night, but too important to ignore.”

“Nothing is so important that it can’t wait now that we’re all here,” Gregory said. “Why don’t we begin?”

“Dad—”

“Let me pour you a drink.” Artus lifted a champagne glass to cut her off and filled it until the bubbles nearly overflowed.

“Thank you,” Jael said tightly as she took the offered drink.

“Perfect time for a toast,” Gregory said and stood, holding his glass up. “I’d like to propose a toast before we begin our meal. Christopher.” He nodded past Jael. “You are the closest I will ever have to a son, which makes this all the sweeter.”

Jael stared at the thin lines of surging bubbles as they raced to the rim of her glass, barely listening to her father gloat and fawn before finally saying “cheers.”

Glasses were lifted, and she took a sip that wasn’t really a sip before abandoning her champagne on the table. Everyone would drink too much, and she had no interest in being a part of it. She’d played the perfect hostess for too many years. Tonight, the only way to protest her forced appearance was to refrain from engaging in the revelry.

“I know my son will rise to the challenge,” Artus said, adding his own toast, “and bring Haber Industries into a new and more prosperous season. And my hope is for many more prosperous mergers to come.”

It was an odd comment, and he’d glanced down at her briefly as he said it, but the moment passed as there was more clinking of glasses and Jael was compelled to smile and clink and sip.

Christopher leaned in toward her. “I hate to say this,” he said as plates of food were brought in and set before the guests. “But you almost look disappointed.”

She thanked the waiter when he set her plate in front of her, then looked at Christopher. “My dad told me about the dinner at the last minute. I had other plans I had to cancel in order to come, that’s all. No harm done.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but I don’t mean about dinner.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” she said. Even though she did.

“Gregory told me you had no interest in the business. He said that you were happy for him to choose who he felt was the best fit. Has that changed?”

“No,” Gregory said, leaning across his plate to interrupt. “Nothings changed. Jael’s fine. It’s probably a headache. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

“My head is fine.” She hated it when he addressed her affectionately. “I’m thrilled for you, Christopher. Truly I am. I know my dad has made the best choice.” She almost added “as he sees it” but didn’t want to stir the pot. “And it will be good for Dad to retire. He’s long overdue.”

“Oh-ho,” Gregory said with a boisterous laugh. “Don’t get too ahead of yourself. I’m as entrenched in the business as ever. Until my dying breath. This company is my heart and soul.”

Jael caught a quick glance at Artus, whose face went blank for a moment before returning to its usual composed smile. “I know Christopher wouldn’t dream of casting you aside,” he said.

Gregory seemed satisfied with that answer. Ten years ago, he would have been more self-aware, but he was content now to trust in the Siseras, assuming that their friendship was stronger than the business deal.

She ignored the pang it gave her to understand in a way that her father no longer did. It wasn’t her fight. If Christopher threw her dad out, he would only get what he deserved for trusting them. The only thing that really mattered to her was keeping the doors of Vita Nova open.

She wasn’t hungry, but she ate so she wouldn’t have to talk. Instead, she listened, and watched through unnoticed glances how the others interacted. She despised the way her father looked to Artus for approval until Artus turned his attention to the woman beside him. Mrs. Tuttle was recently divorced and looking very busty tonight. She’d probably begged Gregory to seat her beside Artus. Poor Mrs. Tuttle. She was in her forties and probably too old for him.

With everyone’s attention away from the head of the table for a moment, Jael took the opportunity to speak to her dad. “I got a text from Hannah before I arrived.”

“Hannah?” Her dad’s questioning gaze was interrupted when he thrust a forkful of greens into his mouth.

“She works with me at Vita Nova. You’ve met her.”

“Have I?”

Jael took a drink to hide her contempt for the games he insisted on playing. He never tired of them.

“Yes. She said the credit card was declined. She’s trying to buy groceries for a woman and her kids who have been abused by her husband. They need food, Dad.”

“Hmm.” He slowly lifted his napkin from his lap and dabbed at the corners of his mouth while he pretended to consider what she’d said. “Is Hannah the one with the limp brown hair?”

“Dad—,” she punched out his name, then pulled in her temper. “Why was the credit card declined?”

He shrugged. “Maybe Donna forgot to put more money into the account.”

“Donna never forgets.”

“Perhaps, but I keep her very busy with actual work. And with the extra duties required of her for Christopher’s appointment, she may not have gotten to it yet.”

“You’ve cut me off, haven’t you? Is this to punish me because I didn’t want to come here tonight?”

“Will you keep your voice down?”

“Not if making a scene will get me what I need.”

“You’re a bit old for tantrums, aren’t you? And your accusation is baseless. You’re here, aren’t you? What would be the point of punishing you?”

“Then can you call Donna and tell her to put the money into the account?”

“Right now? We’re in the middle of dinner.”

“ We’re in the middle of dinner, but Becca’s not because she has no food.”

“You’ve never been one for histrionics. What’s gotten in to you?”

“Someone I care about is suffering. It will only take a minute to call Donna.”

“I could.” He nodded as he rested his napkin back in his lap and resumed eating. “However, I have all these guests to entertain. It goes against everything I stand for to leave them wanting for a thing. Should they suffer for another?”

“I can’t believe you’re stooping so low as to compare the two.”

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re no different. My guests need to understand how much I care for them. I can’t do that if I’m off making phone calls.”

Jael’s jaw tightened the way it always did when she was forced to succumb to her father’s manipulations, which was too often. He always knew exactly where to cut so that she would release to his demands.

She forced her mouth to relax so she didn’t respond to him with gritted teeth. It would give him too much pleasure. “Don’t worry about your guests,” she said evenly. “I’ll make sure they’re well looked after.”

He placed a hand on her arm. “Would you? It would mean so much.”

“Go make the phone call.”

He excused himself, and Jael did what she’d done best for so many years. It was a position she had enjoyed once because she was so good at it. Her dad had trained her to please those around her, and she did that now.

By the time he’d returned, she had half the table engaged in delightful conversation, giving compliments whenever she could.

She’d flattered Mrs. Tuttle so successfully that the woman had forgotten Artus for a moment before becoming flushed at the realization that Jael’s compliments would surely seal the deal. Unfortunately for her, Artus remained engaged with Jael like the rest of the room.

By the time they’d finished dessert, the whole room was in much happier spirits. Everyone but her. She continued the pretense until they’d finished. Then she excused herself to call Hannah and let her know the worst was over.