Page 8 of The Darkest Knight
"Roughing it with a knapsack," Bianca adds.
I roll my eyes, relieved when the server sets down our chocolate fudge brownies with ice cream.
"Stop it," I say, laughing despite myself.
They love ribbing me about my silly, stupid crush on my boss, but hearing them say it out loud makes me realize just how insane it really is. They might be joking, but they’re closer to the truth than I’d like to admit.
Because for all Rory lacked, Jett Knight is no better.
Chapter 4
JETT
Another goddamn Knight Family dinner.
These dinners happen way too often—about once a month, though sometimes less. That’s still too frequent.
The thought of sitting at that table, surrounded by my brothers and my father’s scrutinizing gaze, makes my skin crawl. Five brothers, one patriarch, and a legacy none of us asked for. Add in the Italian Knights—the “secret family” we didn’t know existed until we were teenagers—and it’s a recipe for torture.
I glance at my watch as I lean on Cari’s desk. “This is everything?” I ask, picking up the stack of information packets she’s put together for the Vanhelm deal. I want to give my father and brothers an update on where we are with it. Now that we’re in the final stretch, it should get wrapped up pretty quickly, but because Christmas will get in the way, it likely won't happen until the new year.
Cari looks up from her laptop, exhaustion etched into her face. Her eyes are red, like she’s been crying. She looks as if she's lost weight. Her skin is pale, and there are dark circles under her eyes. I step closer, feeling concerned.
“Everything?” she asks, distracted.
“C’mon, Cari. I have a lot riding on this. Family dinner night and all that.” I try to joke, to lighten the demand. Tonight is important because my father is waiting for me to mess up and I won't give him the satisfaction. But Cari looks especially fragile, and my jaw flexes as I try to bite back my words. I can’t hurl orders at her the way I usually do.
She sighs, rubbing her temples. “It’s all there. Everything.”
I chuckle, “Let’s hope I make it through the first sentence.”
This is going to be a hard sell, because my father, being the dinosaur that he is, has invested heavily in the fossil fuel industry. Renewable energy is going to be a hard sell, but luckily Dex is on my side. This sector is within his domain, but mergers and acquisitions are my realm of expertise. Although this company and its growth is exciting, this is new territory for me and I have the added complication that my father further hates this deal because I’m opting for collaboration, while my father would have gone for a hostile takeover.
“Let’s hope you do. I’m sending you my thoughts and prayers.”
Cari knows me well. She knows how much I hate these evenings. How much we all do—except for Paul Knight. He thrives on putting us all together and seeing how we do. And he likes hearing about deals and more money.
As if he needs more of either.
“Tough day?” She looks defeated.
She hesitates, then nods. “Yeah. My mom’s been throwing up again. It’s from the last infusion,” she adds quickly, like she needs to justify it.
I sit on the corner of her desk, the usual barriers between us slipping. “How’s she holding up otherwise?”
Cari shrugs, her voice brittle. “Hopeful. She’s trying to stay positive, and so am I.”
I nod, unsure what to say. I’m not exactly great at comforting people, but I want to say something that helps. “Clinical trials are groundbreaking, and we’re so lucky that she’s on one.”
Her lips twitch, almost like a smile. “Yeah. It’s our best chance.”
“Then hold onto that,” I say softly.
She looks at me for a moment, and I wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing. Then her eyes shift to the neatly stacked thick envelopes on her desk. “Seven copies,” she says.
I push off her desk, straightening my suit. “Thanks for staying late. I owe you one.”
She waves me off, but I make a mental note to give her another bonus. Christmas is coming, and I know how tight things must be for her right now.
