Chapter 8

Jael threw the doors open to her dad’s house and didn’t bother closing them. “Where is he?” she said to Sofia when the maid scuttled into the room.

“Jael? Is everything okay?”

“I need to speak to my dad. It’s urgent.”

“He-he’s not here. He’s gone into the office.”

“Of course he has.” She sighed out some of her anger. Sofia didn’t deserve her wrath. “Do you know how long he intends to be there?”

“He told me not to expect him home until dinner. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. I’ll find him at the office. Thank you.”

“Do you need me to do anything?”

Jael had never been one to air her dirty laundry to anyone, so she forced a smile. “Just the usual father-daughter stuff. Don’t worry.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Sorry to upset you.” Jael went to the door. “That wasn’t my intention. I shouldn’t have barged in like that. Everything will be fine.”

She pulled the doors closed and walked back to her car, contemplating what she would find at the office. If he was hovering over Christopher’s shoulder, it could mean she had an ally when she spoke to him. Whether Christopher’s interest in Vita Nova was more to do with impressing her than anything else, it didn’t matter. He’d be on her side in this.

“Miss Heber?” said the security guard to Jael when she reached the lobby. He sucked in his gut and puffed out his chest with a semi-confident smile. “It’s good to see you. What brings you into the office today?”

“I’m looking for my dad if he’s still here.”

“As far as I know. You going up? Or do you want me to call him down?”

“I’m going up. Thanks. But I didn’t bring my pass.”

“Not to worry.” He followed her to the elevator and swiped his own card. “Have a nice day.”

“Thanks, Manny,” she said, glancing at his name tag without him noticing. “You have a good one too.”

The empty elevator was a blessing, giving her the space to strengthen herself. She breathed in deeply, slowing the impatient tap of her fingernails on the gold bar that looped around the inside of the elevator.

When the doors opened, she used long strides to reach the half-circle mahogany reception desk. Both receptionists were on the phone, but the brunette looked up at her and smiled.

“My dad?” Jael mouthed, pointing the direction she expected to find him.

The brunette shook her head and covered the mic on her headset. “He’s in a meeting. Boardroom.”

“Thanks.”

Jael’s heels continued their clack on the burnished concrete floor, muffling when she entered the carpeted hall.

The conference room to the right had windows that took up most of the wall, and she could see Christopher and Artus—the latter of whom didn’t have any reason to be there—along with three other employees and her dad, whose face was crumpled in a heavy frown that set his eyes deep into his face. She knew the look. He was digging his heels in.

She continued to walk by, her eyes shifting to each in the room. Artus looked annoyed. He said something to the group and shook his head. Christopher had his back to her. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table in a relaxed posture that suggested either he was confident of winning the argument or it didn’t matter.

She continued past the room and entered her dad’s office, sitting on a forest-green leather couch while she looked at her phone to go through emails. Having to wait to speak to her dad was only increasing her agitation. She’d need to keep a cool head with him if she was going to get anywhere. Especially since he was clearly in a bad mood. If she was lucky, he’d come out of the meeting on top. But with both the Siseras in the room, she wasn’t confident that’s what would happen.

There were things her dad wanted that she could give, but whether it would be enough… She reminded herself that if he failed her, she could appeal to Christopher.

The rustle of an expensive suit brought her mind back to her task, but when she looked up, Christopher was standing in the door with a mildly shocked but very pleased look on his face.

“This is a surprise,” he said, walking to his desk to put a folder there before leaning against it to face her.

“This is your office now,” she said curtly as she stood. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think. I’m here to see my dad.”

He nodded with a frown. “I was afraid of that. I’d hoped you’d changed your mind about lunch. There’s still time if you’re free.”

“Thank you. I may have to take you up on that sooner than later.”

“Great.”

“I’ve had a problem come up.”

“So it’s all business then?”

“It has to do with Vita Nova.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Possibly, but it’s clear my dad is still using his sway here to make things difficult.”

Christopher’s eyebrows bunched together. “He has a tendency to do that.”

“I walked past the conference room. It didn’t look like things were going well. There was lots of frowning.”

Christopher laughed. “There’s always frowning in meetings like that. Don’t read too much into it.”

“I was surprised to see your dad there. I wouldn’t have thought he’d be interested.”

“My dad is always interested. We’re looking at ways that Jabin Enterprises and Heber Industries can work together.”

“I wouldn’t think their interests intersect very much.”

“You’d be surprised. Both companies have their strengths and weaknesses. But if you need to speak to your dad, we shouldn’t stand around chatting. He left in a huff.”

“I take it he wasn’t as satisfied with the meeting as you were?”

“Transitions can be tricky.”

“So I should expect to find him in a bad mood.”

“Sorry, but yes. If you don’t get anywhere with him, though, you know where to find me.”

“I do now. Thank you. And I won’t make myself at home in your office anymore.”

“I really wish you would. My door is always open to you.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you later.”

She hurried to the elevator and called her dad.

“Sweetheart, now’s not a good time,” he said.

“I’m at the office.”

“What office?”

“Yours—I’m at Hebers.”

“Oh. I must have walked right past you.”

“No. I came in while you were in your meeting and waited in your office until I realized it wasn’t yours anymore.”

“Mm,” Gregory said in a low growl. “No. It certainly isn’t. And Christopher is doing everything he can to make sure I remember that.”

“He is the boss now. You’re not regretting hiring him, are you?”

“No. Nothing like that.” He huffed. “What is it you wanted to see me about?”

“You don’t know?”

“Should I?”

She eased the scowl off her face as she looked at her reflection in the elevator doors. Maybe he was too distracted by the outcome of the meeting to remember what he’d done. Or maybe he was doing what he always did.

“Have you left yet?” she said. “I’m on my way down. I’d rather talk in person.”

“I’m at my car now.”

“Stay there. I’ll see you in a second.”

“Do we have to do this now?”

“Yes.” She hung up and knew it would irritate him, but she didn’t care anymore. She already hated herself for chasing him this far. If it wasn’t Becca’s welfare on the line, she’d bail. Whatever the outcome, she was walking into a fight that she might win for Becca, but no matter the outcome, Jael would lose.

“It’s not about you,” she reminded herself as the doors opened and she quickly found her dad. He was on the phone.

“Tell him I don’t want to hear about it,” he said. “This is his problem, not mine.” He listened, not bothering to acknowledge his daughter. “I don’t care about that. He knows where I stand.” Another pause. “I already told you my final offer. Get back to me when you have something worth my time.” He hung up. “Hi.” He kissed her cheek abruptly. “I hope this is important. I’ve had a bad day. I don’t need more bad news.”

“I wouldn’t have chased you across the city if it wasn’t important. And I’m sorry that you had a bad meeting, but I will need to add to your discomfort.”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “What is it now? Let me guess, the foundation again?”

“It wouldn’t be if you didn’t insist on sabotaging me. What do you expect me to do? Give up?”

“If you can’t run your organization, I don’t see how that’s my problem.”

“The house we’ve been renting off Heber industries was issued an eviction notice. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

“This was your project, not mine. And yet you keep coming to me every time there’s a problem. That place causes you more trouble…” He shook his head. “I don’t know why you don’t give up on it.”

“Why is my client being evicted?”

“Listen to you. Your client. Maybe if you weren’t so consumed by that place, you’d know what’s going on around you. The world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“Is there a reason you’re avoiding my question?”

“I’m not avoiding anything. You’re wasting your time with me. Christopher is the one in charge now.”

“But you’re still signing the checks. Have you chosen not to sign any more for the mortgage?”

“I told you. I’ve taken my hands off. If you want to get your way, you’d better start cozying up to the CEO. He’s ready for it, by the way. And I wouldn’t take my time if I were you. He’s not a very patient man.”

“Is this whole thing engineered to make me marry him? Because it won’t work. I’m not going to marry Christopher, even though that’s what everyone seems to think. You should be more careful about spreading rumors.”

“Trust me, Jael, if I want you to marry him, I’ll make it happen.”

“I can’t believe you said that. I’ve been old enough to make my own decisions for many years. You don’t think I should have a say in who I marry?”

“Not with the way you’ve been making decisions lately. And I won’t be around forever. I have to look after my girl. It’s for your own good.”

“Why? Because he’s the most convenient suitor?”

“Convenient? You think that’s why I chose him for you? He’s the whole package, and you could see that for yourself if you weren’t so busy rejecting him just to spite me. Get your head out of the sand and open your eyes. He’s the best you’ll ever get.”

“And if I don’t agree?”

“It’s about time you start being responsible for once. You’re so focused on yourself and what you want that you’ve put everything and everyone else behind you.”

She took a deep, tremored breath. “It has nothing to do with spite or ignoring my duties. I won’t marry someone as a business decision. Especially someone like Christopher Sisera.”

Gregory’s face reddened. “That’s no surprise. You’ve never done anything I’ve wanted.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, wondering if he really had no clue at all. “Dad?—”

“Do whatever you want, but don’t come crying to me when the funds dry up for your pet project. If you want to keep the money rolling in, you’re going to have to keep Christopher happy, and the best way to do that is to become his wife. Now, I’ve got things do to. I expect you at dinner tonight. I’ve invited Danny.”

“Of course you did.”

“He’s a good and faithful friend, and you will be courteous to him. And don’t tell me you have other plans.”

She didn’t have the energy to deny him, and he’d already made it clear that she wouldn’t get what she wanted from anyone but Christopher. But she didn’t have the patience to face him now. He’d be at dinner. She’d make sure she was ready by then. “Sure. Whatever.”

“Great. I’ll see you at seven.”

She didn’t let her face fall until she turned away from her dad, and her shoulders didn’t sag until his car had left the garage.

So far, her encounters with Christopher gave the impression he was willing to help her foundation, but if it was connected to an expectation that they would be married soon, she’d need to find a way to convince him that marriage was not in their best interest, which shouldn’t be difficult. She couldn’t possibly be his first pick for a wife. It was more likely he was going along with the plan. But once he understood he was off the hook as far as she was concerned, they could both move forward.