Roderick joins in, although his eyes are feverish with calculation. He’s dying to know the exact nature of my marriage. He can’t believe I managed to find my own mate.
“This is my husband, Sebastian Lasker.”
Sebastian nods. “How do you do.”
“Nice to meet you, son.” Roderick manages to widen his smile, while Karl purses his lips like he has a lot to say about the situation and is trying to sort his thoughts.
“I’m not your son.” Sebastian’s tone is cold enough to frost the flute he’s holding.
“Well, in a manner of speaking, of course.” Roderick lets out an affable laugh. “You became like a son to me when you married my daughter.”
If he thinks he’s going to be able to squeeze anything out of Sebastian, he has another think coming.
Roderick turns to me, probably to give himself some time to regroup. “We’ve been trying to see you—”
Karl scowls. “I don’t know why my employee badge quit working—”
Roderick elbows him. “—but you’ve been difficult to get a hold of.” His smile reminds me of a sewer rat.
“I’ve been busy,” I answer him in my best dutiful-daughter tone.
Karl’s complexion grows blotchier. Why is he so upset about the employee badge not working? Didn’t he realize that revoking headquarters access is one of the first things Peery Diamonds would do when I fired him? Or is he honestly so arrogantly stupid that he thought he’d still have unfettered access to everything?
“It’s such a bitchy thing to do to block me like that. I know you’re greedy, but this is low, even for you.” Roderick takes his arm, but it doesn’t have much effect.
I stiffen my spine. Karl has always treated me like dirt, but he tries to be subtle about it in front of other people. It’s embarrassing that he’s being obnoxious in front of Sebastian. I start to open my mouth to put Karl in his place, but stop when Sebastian wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Talk to my wife like that again, and I’ll make sure you never talk at all.”
I cock my head to look up at him. If he feels my gaze, he doesn’t show it. His cold eyes are on Karl.
My half-brother’s lips twist. “What did you say?”
“Deaf as well as stupid, I see,” Sebastian says.
“Did you just threaten me? You’re gonna what?” Karl sticks his chest out like an angry rooster and spreads his hands. “Kill me or something?”
What’s up with him? He’s acting like a kid with something to prove. He generally controls himself better, and takes pains to project the indolent playboy in public.
“Killing isn’t the only way to ensure somebody won’t talk.” Sebastian sounds almost bored.
Karl’s knuckles turn white, but he hesitates. Sebastian’s half a head taller, and broader too. And you’d have to be blind to miss the fact that underneath the fancy tuxedo is a ruthless strength. Even without the wealth and power of the Sebastian Jewelry fortune, Sebastian could easily take Karl.
Still, I wonder if Karl’s going to throw a punch, because he looks that furious. My mouth dries at the thought of violence between the two of them.
“Hey, bro,” comes a light voice.
Sebastian keeps his eyes on Karl. “Noah.”
Recalling Bianca’s cheat sheet, I shift my focus to Sebastian’s brother. Noah’s a photographer, an aspiring novelist who’s working on his first book and a social media addict. Still, he’s a billionaire from numerous wise investments, so he can’t be as vapid as his resumé makes him sound. If he were really that silly, he would’ve squandered his money by now.
Disapproval flashes in his eyes as he glances at Karl and Roderick, although it disappears fast, replaced by a mild curiosity and amusement.
“Are we having an Instagrammable family moment?” Noah says, lifting his phone like he’s about to snap a photo.
Roderick flinches, while Karl looks like a cat that just had a bucket of water dumped on him. He doesn’t like to be on social media unless he’s in charge of the content.
Sebastian just smiles, although there’s no humor in his eyes. “It’s possible.”
