CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
I sat on a chair in the dining room, having rejected Finn’s idea to make the call more private in his bedroom. I wanted a face-to-face with my parents so they could see I was fine. A background of a bed wasn’t ideal. I drummed my fingers on the obsidian dining table, and stated, “It’s good that it’s Friday. We can catch them together. They only work half-days then to use the afternoon for time together.”
Finn blinked. “Theirs is a love match?”
I could understand his surprise and assumption.
Both of my parents acted more like business partners in public than husband and wife.
I shook my head. “No, but they do believe in keeping their bond as partners strong—in and out of the workplace. They take the afternoon to unwind and do whatever they please that isn’t work related. They have affection for one another but not love.”
He stared over my head, lost in his thoughts. “That’s hard to imagine. Do they act differently at home?”
I choked on a laugh, and quickly covered my mouth with my right hand, training my features into politeness. “Yes, they do.”
Blue eyes ran over my features, a quirk of his mouth appearing. He murmured, “I never would have thought that about them.”
“Most don’t.” I cleared my throat and pointed at his bracelet. “My parents personal…time…is not anything I want to linger on. Shall we call them, so you can start your meeting with your friends?”
He snorted as a wry brow lifted. “Are you sure we won’t be interrupting anything?”
I answered curtly, “Let’s hope not.”
Finn snickered but tapped on his bracelet. “I’ll contact your father through hologram mode for visual. He’s more likely to answer than your mother would.”
I hardly kept from laughing in agreement.
But I did mention, “Remember, he probably sent you a proposal this morning. He may be thinking the call’s about that—a marriage deal. Don’t lead him on.”
Finn nodded, then tapped once more.
A screen appeared before us. Blank and white.
Words flashed.
Connecting… Connecting… Connecting…
Father’s face filled the screen, a mere pleasant smile on his visage, sitting peacefully on our couch at home. But his eyes appeared hopeful as he glanced back and forth between Finn and me sitting next to each other.
Father stated, “Mr. Baker, Mina. This is a surprise.”
“Mina’s on there?” Mother shrilled.
Father turned his head far to the side, patting his hand in the air. “Yes, Odette. She’s fine.”
I pinched my lips to keep from snorting.
Mother’s head popped into view, coming in at an angle that showed she had been hiding behind the couch, only her head peeking over the back of it. Her large eyes scanned my face, and a relieved sigh flew past her lips.
With cautious words, she asked, “Are you all right, Mina? Why haven’t you come home?” Her eyes flicked to Finn, held a moment, and then turned back to me. “Mr. Baker said there was an electric power surge on the train you took home from the party, and that you were stuck on the train all night and it ruined your bracelet.”
My mind blanked. I hadn’t known he had lied to them. Though, I guess it was better than stating I was kidnapped by a man who butchered women and left their parts lying around for decoration.
I nodded quickly, smoothly covering my surprise. “Yes, there was. And I’m fine. I will need a new bracelet, though.”
With an annoyed sigh, Father stated, “Your mother insisted we pick one up for you today. It’s programmed with all of your previous data.”
Mother cleared her throat and stood to her feet, recovering her sense of decorum as she brushed her suit pants off. “You didn’t answer me. Why haven’t you come home?”
