“Daddy,” I said turning in his direction and grabbing an untouched glass of bubbles from the awaiting tray, knocking back a great, big gulp.
He followed the move but didn’t reproach me for it.
“To what do I owe this pre-dinner drink?” I asked, trying to sound normal and failing miserably.
He eyed me, his gaze probing as he took in my flustered demeanor. “I have a boy coming tonight, his name’s Daniel Scott.”
My mood sunk as his words hit home and I realized the true purpose of my presence this evening.
“I’d like the two of you to get to know each other better,” he continued, his eyes still coldly assessing. “However, you seem out of sorts this evening, perhaps you should go—”
“No!” I blurted out, too quickly. There was no way he was excluding me this evening, regardless of his opportunistic matchmaking. Taking a breath to calm my elevated heart rate, I tried to explain away my behavior. “I’m fine, Daddy, I just got dressed in rather a hurry and feel flustered.”
He didn’t look convinced and I realized for the first time that it was more than simply displeasure with me that had him concerned, he was on edge in general. Was tonight really such a big deal?
I gestured to the glass in my hand and assured him, “I will be fine after a couple of these.”
“You’d better,” he said, the words and the vehemence with which he spoke answering my unspoken question. Something major hung in the balance...
“Daniel’s father is also coming,” he continued, “and not only is the man influential in his own right but he moves in circles that we have yet to venture into. A personal tie to his family is a crucial move for us.”
I could sense Emma’s gaze on me, concern radiating from her. I really didn’t need her sympathy; this was just the way my life was. I would always be a pawn in my stepfather’s constant quest to succeed.
“Sure thing,” I said, taking another large swig to quash my mounting nerves.
“I also have my lawyer, James, who you know, and his wife coming. All you need to do is make sure Daniel is well tended to and we will take care of the rest.”
My skin crawled at the reference to James; the sleazebag really gave me the creeps with his wandering eye. The man thought his looks and wealth meant that he could leer at whomever he chose, whenever he chose. Maybe my presence wasn’t such a great idea after all. But giving my stepfather the satisfaction of admitting to being out of my depth didn’t appeal in the slightest. So I nodded my agreement and instead focused on downing the remainder of my drink.
Spying the empty glass, my stepfather took the bottle from the ice bucket and began topping it up, using the opportunity to give me a warning glare that clearly said “Donotfuck this up for me ... or else”.
Fear prickled down my spine as our eyes locked, just how big a deal could this be? I mean really, what was the worst that could happen?
The sensation of something cold trickling over my hand cut short my thoughts and I lowered my gaze, mortified to see that the glass shook in my unsteady grip, making it impossible for Dad to pour the drink cleanly.
Forcing my hand still, I lifted my eyes to face off the ferocity of his and tried to smile. “Thank you.”
“Darling?” Emma’s soft voice broke through the tension, her hand moving to rest on my father’s arm. “Perhaps you can takeme through your plans for the evening? I want to make sure I do all I can to assist.”
Her attempt to draw the focus away from me was a godsend and I flashed her an appreciative smile. She returned it, concern evident in her beautiful green eyes before she looked back to my stepfather and coaxed him away.
I felt uneasy watching them. The sight of Emma’s hand on him made me feel queasy and I realized that I was jealous. I studied her as they chatted, her face one of adoration as she listened intently to what he was saying. How could a person of her beauty and quality fall for a man like him? She had to be in it for the lifestyle he could offer. The idea of her having genuine feelings for him was too preposterous to believe and only incited further jealousy. I downed my drink and picked up the bottle for another. This was going to be one long night...
Chapter Three
To say that I was slightly inebriated by the time dinner arrived would probably have been an understatement. But I couldn’t work out whether it was the drink going to my head or the jealousy that coursed through my veins at watching Emma flirt with my stepfather. And with James and Diana for that matter. The four chatted intimately with Daniel’s father being graced with their attention at regular intervals so as not to leave him out. Daniel and I were simply left to make our own entertainment.
Poor guy too. Although appealing in an athletic jock kind of a way, Daniel was just way too boring. He seemed incapable of any discussion outside the track and field, he clearly had no intellectual qualities, and saw hard work as a thing “the grown-ups” did. His father had obviously given him an easy ride in life and coupled with his sporting ability, his brain had yet to be tested. Still, he found me interesting enough if his avid attention was anything to go on and that meant I was in good stead to please my stepfather.
“What say you, Abi?”
The question came from the man himself, Dad. All heads turned to me expectantly and all I could do was stare back blankly.
“You’ll have to excuse my daughter, she may be a beauty but her mind leaves something to be desired,” he said, the humor in his voice not quite meeting his eyes. He wasn’t impressed at my lack of attention.
The men around the table jeered, except for Daniel who had taken my distraction to mean that I was very much into him and what he had been saying. Poor sap.
“She certainly isn’t cut from the same cloth as you, Edward,” Diana said to my stepfather, the flirtatious purr to her voice delivering the insult with ease and causing my hackles to rise.Bitch!
