He studied me. “You think you know me, don’t you?”
“Answer my question, please.” I smiled.
“You’re right,” he said. “I think romantic relationships are a waste of time. Surely, you think so too. Why else are you single?”
“Probably because you keep pushing all the interested men away for me,” I retorted.
He considered that for a moment.
“Go on. Try and deny it,” I challenged.
He finally grinned. “I won’t.”
“At least you’re honest about it,” I huffed.
“I don’t like seeing men around you or flirting with you. Especially since I want you all to myself.”
His admission was flattering. I wasn’t used to flattery. Certainly not in the past few years at least. Perhaps his desirefor me was because of my newfound confidence that came from landing a job I’d coveted, or maybe the clothes Jonah had gifted me helped me see myself differently. It certainly helped other people see me differently at least, going by how Jeff was interested too.
“I don’t date,” he continued. “And I can’t date you because the moment the board discovers this, I’ll lose everything I’ve worked hard to build, including my father’s trust.”
I stared at him for a moment, surprised at his admission. And I remembered that his family owned the company. Jonah hadn’t said much about his father, but he’d just given me something significant.
“I don’t date either,” I began, thinking about Evie, and wanting to tell him about her. “Because?—”
I stopped mid-sentence when Jonah’s entire body went rigid. His face had drained of color as he stared across the room. Following his gaze, I spotted an older woman seated at a distant table with a female companion. Her features were refined and aristocratic, with an air of cold authority that immediately made me uneasy.
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, his knuckles white as he gripped his wine glass.
“Who is she?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he squared his shoulders and leaned back in his chair, his whole aura transforming into something more commanding and assertive. “She’s my Dad’s wife, Cora,” he finally said, his eyes narrowing.
So… was Jonah’s Mom his Dad’s previous wife? Or did his Dad have an affair while he was married to Cora? I had so many questions, but it was clear Jonah wasn’t going to give me much more tonight.
The woman’s eyes found ours across the restaurant. She gave Jonah a slight nod of acknowledgment that was more of a challenge than a greeting. Jonah’s jaw clenched in response.
The woman was already standing, making her way directly toward our table.
“Don’t speak,” he muttered to me. “Whatever she says, just stay quiet.”
My heart raced as she approached, her heels clicking against the floor.
“Jonah, what a surprise to see you here,” she said when she reached us, her tone dripping with fake pleasantness.
Jonah didn’t smile. “Indeed it is. I thought you and Dad had plans to be in Côte d’Azur today?”
Dad. That’s right. He was supposed to be throwing a party for his father tonight.
“Oh, our plans changed. We’re still in New York. We’re leaving for the French Riviera on Sunday.” She gave Jonah an assessing glance. “You really should’ve checked with us before planning a party that was so… elaborate. Honestly, Jonah, your father didn’t think you’d go through with it. He assumed it was just one of your... ideas. We had told you we’d be out of town, remember? It’s a good thing you canceled it.”
Had his Dad… bailed on Jonah’s party? And then simply stayed in town? How hard was it to show up for a party?
The woman’s gaze flicked to me, assessing me with a disdainful eye. “And who is this, Jonah? Your latest?”
“Leave. Right now,” Jonah said, his tone leaving no room for further questions.
The woman’s lips curled into a brief smile. “I see. Well, enjoy your evening,” she said before walking back to her table just as our food arrived.
