Page 21 of Brazen
“Your grandfather clearly cared about you.”
And he'd been the typical New Yorker until the day he died, dabbling in the stock market and eating out. He'd only had my mom because he wanted to pass on something. I sighed. “He did. I’ve been lost since he was gone.”
“Well, you have me if you need anything.”
Believing in him was easy. It was probably because I knew sex was great with him. I sighed. “Thanks Charlie.”
The balcony doors opened, and the party headed outside. Charlie took my hand. “Let’s sit.”
He led me to a long table outdoors. It was covered with white lace and small flowers down the middle, like the setups I'd only ever seen in wedding magazines. We found our seat near Warren and Kerry again, and I asked, “So, if you weren’t a Norouzi, what would you see yourself doing?”
He shrugged and put his napkin on his lap. “I don’t know. I loved flying, but I hated the hours and someone else controlling my life.”
Waiters were bringing in food as I said, “With your money, you could start your own airline and set your own schedule.”
He picked up his fork. “I… That’s not a bad idea.”
Maybe that was the best way to help Charlie, to offer alternative ideas. I cut my salad. “But you’re into finance.”
He blinked and stared at me like I'd butchered the spinach. “Numbers are safe.”
I lifted my chin. In the end, I didn’t need to wonder what he would think of me later, which was almost freeing. I whispered, “You’re not a guy who likes safe.”
He puffed out his chest but sealed his lips. I let it go. We ate and ate and ate. The salad was fresh, then the appetizers were delicious and just enough to stave off hunger. Finally, we had kabob. Every woman at the table ate with gusto, and I decided to not care that Charlie was next to me.
Then we watched the bride and groom cut the cake. Everyone clapped with a look of happiness. Clearly everyone cared about one another here, like in one of those movies I’d seen a million times.
Then we ate the cake, and I sighed, since it was strawberry. Today was perfect.
After we finished our slices and music started back in the house grand room, half the table headed in.
Charlie put his napkin on his empty plate. “Come, time to charm my father.”
I jumped to go with him. “Why?”
We headed in, and while the air conditioning on the balcony was nice, the blast of cold air as we walked back in made it easier to breathe.
Charlie didn’t seem to notice, though. “I want to ask him if he talked to anyone about you as promised.”
I tensed. I hadn’t expected him to care about me. My heart beat fast we joined his father, who was getting a champagne.
He smiled at us as we approached. “Hello again. Your mother is planning an engagement party for you both.”
I shook my head. Britney had already jumped at the chance to plan one for me. “That’s not necessary.”
Parvis Norouzi patted his son on the back. “Charlie should have warned you that you’re joining our family, and just getting the family together is a party these days.”
So we would be the center soon. I lifted my chin and wished I weren't shaking. “I see.”
He smiled brightly. “So what can I do for you both?”
“Pedar, I told you Hope was fired after being photographed with me.”
His lips thinned. “Yes. I’m looking for a new ad agency now.”
I wrung my hands. I wasn’t sure what to say. “Oh, you don’t have to.”
Then he said, “I don’t like to be in business with any company that hurts its own people, and besides, it seems soon you’ll be in our family, and family matters more than anything else.”
