Chapter Sixteen
I stare between father and son and blink rapidly, the physical resemblance now clear.
‘I’m pleased to meet you.’ I’m more bemused than pleased, but I hold out my hand automatically, as custom dictates.
‘Delighted.’ His father’s hand slips from mine to clasp his son’s shoulder. Kai looks uncomfortable with the action. Unimpressed. ‘Katherine . . . ?’
‘Saunders,’ I supply automatically.
‘And where did you meet my son?’
‘At brunch,’ Kai interjects. ‘Kate is a teacher at the American school.’ His gaze glides to mine as smooth as his reply. It seems he’s as good on his feet as he is horizontal. After all, we met at Al Mishael. Where I work. The school his family owns.Hell.
‘Ah, a teacher,’ replies his father, contemplative. ‘I wasn’t aware the American school employed teachers from outside its system. You’re Australian, my dear? Such a distinctive accent, I find.’
An awkward silence descends and somehow I feel it’s my responsibility to fill the space. I’m a hopeless liar but struck by a sudden idea, I go with it, albeit bewildered.
‘I have experience in the IB, the International Baccalaureate.’ Not true but it seems credible enough as my brow furrows, though I try not to examine too deeply why I’ve just lied.
‘Quite so?’ He turns now to Kai. ‘You seem to find the most engaging companions. You had brunch with Sofia last weekend, were both ladies your guests?’
And that would be the supermodel, then. Sofia. Even her name is glamorous.So-fee-a.And being around Kai must have affected my imagination because, that totally sounded like he meant something else.An après-sex-brunch-ménage thing?My brain must be broke.
Kai doesn’t answer, preferring instead to glower at his dad. Strange, but he, at least, seems amused.
‘Speaking of the lady in question, I ran into her yesterday. She seemed most anxious to see you.’
Kai’s countenance visibly darkens; a look to freeze an ocean but he offers no reply.
‘Oh, she endured my company kindly enough, though I’m sure I was a poor substitute.’ His father waves an airy hand now looking quite smug.
‘Of course she did,’ Kai responds, sardonic.
‘It’s a wise father—’
‘Save it for someone with the inclination,Father.’
I’m confused by the exchange. The nuances I read pretty clearly: shades and tones of antagonism and get fucked, but the topic. I haven’t a clue?
‘As entitled as you feel to this discussion, I’m afraid I can’t take part right now.’ Kai grasps my elbow like I’m his elderly aunt. ‘Miss Saunders was just leaving.’
I murmur a hasty goodbye, almost stumbling in Kai’s haste. A quick glance at the exit shows his father still watching us, his gaze almost calculating. The whole incidence leaves me very confused.
I stay silent in the elevator. I haven’t a clue what to say. I want to ask what that was all about, but families can be a touchy topic, I know. Besides, the aggressive looking tic in Kai’s jaw suggests now is not a good time to pry. He flicks through his phone while I silently scold myself for noticing the very minutiae of his expression, meanwhile I may as well be chopped liver.Uninviting and ignored.
‘I apologize. My father is...’ My eyes rise to meet his tentative smile. ‘...a difficult man. It would’ve been unwise to mention that you work at Al Mishael in view of ourfriendship. Thank you for going along with my misdirection.’
Friendship. Is that what this is, a friends with benefits kind of thing? In doing who I want, I should be fine with this label, so I attempt to fix an appropriate expression on my face.
‘Parents.’ I nod sagely, I think. ‘We all have our baggage. Some of us have parents we’d like to shove in a bag. But the woman I saw you with at brunch, Sofia?’ I stop myself. Our type of friendship probably doesn’t extend to those kinds of explanations.
‘A casual thing.’ His eyes flick upwards, having resumed interest in his phone.
‘At least you fed her breakfast before kicking her out, right?’
I’m not sure my delivery is as light as I’d intended, the acid washing through my stomach spills snark from my mouth. Kai’s head slowly rises, probably realising what he’s said or rather, to whom.
‘It sounds callous—’
