“He may or may not join us,” Sheila replies with a sad look on her face. “He wasn’t feeling too great this morning, so I asked him to rest for a little while longer.”
“Why don’t we just go upstairs and check on the old man?” Asher suggests with a raised eyebrow, not taking his eyes off Sheila.
She gives him a cold smile. “He’s sleeping. And given his poor health, it’s better not to disturb him.”
“Do you think I’m going to suggest he go sledding? I just want to say hello and Merry Christmas,” Asher says.
“Let’s just wait and see if he comes down,” she insists.
I don’t like the tone of this conversation, and the tension only serves to make things worse. For the sake of harmony, I choose to smile and play my part, shifting the focus to Terrence and Katrina, instead. They look tired and not at all the happy couple I thought they’d be, and part of me can’t help but wonder why that is. I thought they wereperfect for each other, but I suppose two miserable halves can’t make a happy whole.
“So how come you two cut your honeymoon short?” I ask the newlyweds. “Weren’t you supposed to be in Switzerland until after New Year’s Eve?”
“We were, but Terrence had to come back for work,” Katrina sighs and pours herself perhaps a little too much wine. “We’ll try Switzerland again another time, I guess.”
“I wasn’t too happy about it either, babe,” he tells her. “But duty called.”
Sheila holds back a smile.
Cole looks between them. “Why? What happened? Last I checked, everything was fine at the office. The board is off until after the holidays. Most of our staff have already gone home.”
“Well, given your father’s worsening condition, I convinced him to let Terrence take over for some of his upcoming meetings and votes,” Sheila says.
Her matter-of-fact tone sets Cole off. “That’s whatI’mhere for. Terrence doesn’t have the clearance nor the experience, and not even the appropriate job title, to vote on my father’s behalf.”
“Yet Bill agreed. It’s a great opportunity for Terrence to learn more about the business he will one day inherit.”
Preemptively, I take Cole’s hand under the table to soothe his swelling anger because I understand how infuriating this must be.
“Terrence isn’t inheriting Morgan Enterprises,” he says, his tone clipped.
“We are,” Asher adds.
Sheila gives him a wry smile. “You and Toby will serve an advisory role at best. Bill and I agreed?—”
“See, it’s this whole ‘Bill and I’ part that doesn’t make sense,” Toby cuts in. “You’re not qualified to agree with anything pertaining to the company our father built. Until we get a chance to talk to him and to the family lawyer, no business decision should be passed without our approval.”
“Your father is sick, not out of his mind,” Sheila replies. “He knows what he’s doing.”
“And so do I,” Terrence chimes in with an arrogant grin. “I’m an asset to this company, whether you guys care to admit it or not.”
Katrina clinks her glass with a fork. “Alright. How about we leave the shop talk for later? Because I am positively starving.”
“Honey, stick to your wine,” Terrence berates her. “Clearly, I’ve got some issues to address with my brothers.”
“We’re not your brothers,” Toby snaps.
Sheila stands. “No, Katrina is right. This is supposed to be Christmas lunch. We’re supposed to sit down, eat and drink, and enjoy this day like a family. With a little bit of luck, Bill will join us by dinner, and you can address your concerns with him then.”
“You dragged me back from Switzerland for this crap,” Katrina tells Terrence, her voice tight, almost a hiss.
“Not here, honey. Not now,” hereplies.
I almost feel sorry for Katrina again. She gives me a look, though—it’s heavy and poisoned with contempt, but I choose to ignore it as Toby gives my free hand a gentle squeeze.
“Fortunately, I have some good news to share,” I say, hoping to brighten the mood or at least distract everyone from this powder keg regarding the family business. “The Hamiltons have agreed to do their wedding with us.”
Sheila stares at me for what feels like forever. I can’t tell whether she’s angry or disappointed. “I’m glad to hear that,” she finally says. She’s disappointed, definitely disappointed. “So your agency is safe from bankruptcy following my son’s botched wedding?”
