Page 9 of Jael

The chandelier castspatters 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.”

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