A man of expensive taste, a commanding posture, and perspicacious judgment in his ominous eyes. There’s nothinghumble about this underground king before me. The type of man who, when he approaches you, makes your head unwittingly bow slightly.
I feel as big as a krill in front of a humpback whale. “Thank you, so good to see you again, too.” I throw on my best confident smile.
I look at the girl, who doesn’t get up, but she gives me a polite enough smile. Russell and Caden shake hands and Russell points to our chairs. “Sit, sit.”
His eager and jovial attitude might just ease my nerves enough for this to be somewhat pleasant.
“The menu here is phenomenal, hope you’re hungry,” Russell says, handing me a menu.
It doesn’t even look like it’s in English. So many names and flavours I’ve never heard of. I know I came from money, but I never saw this side of the high life. I’ve never had the chance to feel like I came from a rich family. Now I feel like a fish out of water. No pun intended.
A heartbeat of panicking later, and Caden takes the menu from my fingers. “I told you Elodie doesn’t eat fish, Dad.”
The statement could knock me from this building. How the hell does he know that?
“Ah, yes, of course, but she hasn’t eatenthisfish before,” Russell chides and winks at me.
I struggle to smile, the pungent smell of fish and the looming task of having to eat it are threatening to bring up my morning coffee.
“I already called ahead,” Caden says, leaning into me, “they’re preparing you something.”
What portal have I just stepped through? I’m tempted to demand to be sent back. To the land where Caden’s a knob and very easy to hate.
“Uh,” I croak, “thank you.”
He ignores me.
“So,” Russell says, rubbing his hands together. “We have so much to get to know of one another! Tell me everything.”
I splutter a laugh. “What would you like to know?”
Russell starts blabbering and I can’t help but realise that in the two situations where he’s been accompanied by a woman, he’s acted as if they’re not there. He hasn’t introduced me to this one, nor did he the one at the party. I guess it makes sense. Why waste breath on introductions when we won’t see them again?
Still, doesn’t it make Caden uncomfortable knowing his dad likes such young women? I mean, they look barely college age.
I do my best to answer as many questions as Russell has for me. He asks about my school life, my education, he asks if I have any medical history in the family he should know about. All basic, expected questions from a grandfather-to-be, I suppose. Of course, he doesn’t know that he won’t be a grandfather anytime soon. Not to my future kids, anyway.
Caden remains quiet during the interrogation, and I can’t help but wonder how many of my answers he already knows. Knowing I hate fish is such a niche thing to be aware of.
Food comes and plates fill the table. Caden had organised for them to prepare me a plate of all the foods I’ve eaten at his home. It’s basically a roast dinner. In a sushi bar. I wonder if they had to go out and get the ingredients specially.
The stiffness in my body melts slowly away as the lunch goes on. The girl beside Russell says hardly two words, and Russell makes no effort to include her in the conversation. It shouldn’t, but it bothers me. Then again, they must only be with Russell for his money. Not that he’s not attractive. He’s painfully attractive for an older man. Also, he’s much more courteous than his son. How is the guy sitting next to me supposed to be a mirror image of the man in front of me? Caden’s nothing like him. Although, I shouldn’t be naïve enough to believe this is really Russell. Acunning, devious man – that I’ve heard him to be – would wisely be polite and patient. All these questions – he’s sussing me out. If I say one wrong answer, perhaps I’d get a glimpse of where Caden’s foul demeanour truly comes from.
This is a fully grown, well-lived, highly experienced and tactical man. I must not forget who he really is. His charm and charisma are so heavily disarming, it’s quite easy to forget that this man can be cruel and despicable. That he runs an empire of murder and trafficking.
Caden has the temperament of a teenage boy. Perhaps with age he’ll grow to be even more like his father. I’m guessing that kind of lethal calm, power and self-assurance is only honed over years and years. I can’t bear to imagine what he’d be like with that deadly patience, for all his moves to be calculated and carefully planned. At least I get him to crack quickly, and his outbursts don’t come as a surprise. The thought unsettles me. How Russell could easily reel me in like a fish on bait. Yank me out and gut me, all with that pleasant, charming smile on his face.
No, I think I’ll take Caden’s straightforward, unapologetic hate for me over the deceitful, manipulating ruse Russell’s applying here.
“What about childhood holidays?” Russell says around a mouthful of salmon. “Anywhere you’d say were your favourites? Caden and Max used to love going camping. Bunch of cavemen, these lot. Been hunting and skinning deer since they learned how to walk.”
I purse my lips, disturbed by that mental image. Plus, any mention of my childhood stabs an icicle through my chest. I swallow my mouthful. “Not really. Dad wasn’t really the family-holidaying type.”
“Ah, right.” Russell says, bowing his head. “I apologise.”
An awkward silence blankets us, and Caden clears his throat.
Before I scream just to break the quiet, I slap a smile back on my face. “It doesn’t matter. All in the past now, I’m very happy with the life Caden has given me already.”
