“I know—it’s just.Fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair. “She’s being all Kat like, stoic as if nothing bothers her. But she’s not invincible, and now there’s all the drama with her latest project. I don’t know how she’s still standing, a lesser person would have crumbled. She needs a break.”
“What drama?” Elijah asks, his brows furrowing.
“The architect they contracted for the new hotel project has been involved in a bribery and corruption scandal. Apparently, his company have been paying off officials. There’s a press release going out tomorrow.”
“What does that mean for the project?” Pen asks.
“It’s back to the drawing board, from what I can tell,” Caleb says, sighing.
His hand runs through his hair again, highlighting how worried he truly is about Kat. He joined the FHG board six months ago as a consultant.
“They’d only just signed a contract, from what I can gather, when Quentin gave Kat the heads up on their exposé. From what I understand, she stonewalled the project, but the board and investors are not going to be happy with the latest turn of events. There’s a board meeting scheduled for Wednesday.”
I remain silent, this is a family matter.
“Isn’t the project focusing on sustainability?” April asks, her eyes flicking towards me, eyebrows raised.
I hold up my hand. “Best to keep me out of this,” I say quietly. “Kat and I, we don’t exactly see eye to eye.”
April frowns, but her pursed lips tell me she’s not happy with my answer.
I may be the number one architect in this field, but there’s a reason Kat hasn’t approached me or my firm. As she has told me many times over the past sixteen years, she’d rather stick pins in her eyes than be forced to spend any length of time in my company.
“I don’t know what you did to piss my sister off, but she really knows how to hold a bloody grudge.”
Caleb tuts, his unasked question clear.
I ignore it.
“You used to be such good friends before Kat got together with Zach. I always assumed it would be you she shacked up with, not him,” Elijah adds.
I concentrate on the mouthful of food I’ve just eaten, but it catches in my throat, causing me to choke.
Caleb whacks me on the back.
Across the table, Pen’s gaze locks on mine, and for the first time, I wonder what she knows.
“That was a long time ago,” I say quietly.
“She could really do with your help,” Caleb says, clearly choosing to ignore my previous comment.
I turn to face him. “Cal, I’m the last person Kat would accept help from, or agree to work with, for that matter. You’re wasting your breath.”
“She wouldn’t be working with you. Her team would be,” Caleb says, his expression brightening. “This would really get her out of a hole, Jax. She needs some good fortune, and as you said yourself. This is your area of expertise.”
“Caleb’s right,” Elijah says, and I scowl at him.
“Not you as well,” I say, running a hand down my face. “Listen to yourselves. This is your sister we’re talking about.”
I look around the table and grimace inwardly.
“Caleb, have you forgotten about your housing project, the new development we’re supposed to be working on?”
“Of course I haven’t,” he says. “But I know we can shuffle a few things around. The plans for Lofton House are near enough perfect, as for the new project, you were telling me earlier how you’re all about delegation these days.”
I roll my eyes and groan. Trust Caleb to use my words against me.
“Look, April and I can go through the plans for Lofton this weekend and make notes. As for Frazer Development, this might be the perfect time to bring Simon, your protégé, up to speed. Hecan take the lead, and I can help him. I’ve worked on enough of these projects with you over the years.”
