Jacqueline rescues us from the uncomfortable state and claps her hands, announcing, “Let’s all go to the dining room for lunch.” Two servers in catering uniforms open the sliding wooden doors that separate the drawing room and the dining room to reveal a sumptuous brunch perfectly laid on the table. The Hawthornes gather at the table. As Ivy moves, I quickly step in and halt her. I whisper to her, “Your family has no idea what’s coming. I’ll enjoy tearing them down.”
Chapter 9
Ivy
“What do you mean?” His mouth turns up into a devilish grin. Fuck. Did I just fuck my family over, or is he toying with me? It’s hard to tell with him. Keeping a secret from him is already hard enough. I almost told him. Back in that sparse room, my mom calls a library. I almost said the words. However, when I tried to form the sentence, “Lake is your son,” the words wouldn’t come out. It’s better this way. If he ever finds out, he will do everything in his power to take Lake from me, and I don’t trust him to be rational. He took the knowledge of my having a son better than I thought, but I would not risk telling him the truth based on that alone.
“Your feud with Nolan is between you and him. Don’t drag me and the rest of my family into it.”
He disentangles himself from my arm and thrusts his hands into his pocket. Looking down on me like I’m a fascinating specimen, he says, “Then why did you give me your shares if you didn’t want to be part of it, as you say?”
I look around, afraid someone will hear. Thankfully, we’re alone and everyone else has gone to the other room. “I gave you those shares out of desperation.”
“And now you’re a rich woman in your own right because of it.”
Did I make a mistake? I’ve never run a multi-billion-dollar corporation like Hawthorne Inc, but I know enough aboutbusiness to understand that the number of shares he gained through our marriage is not enough for him to gain control of the company. He could negotiate for a board seat, but that’s about it. None of my brothers are foolish enough to vote with him, as he would require at least two other people. He would be a nuisance to Nolan, but that’s about it. He’s probably trying to scare me.
I ignore him and stride over to the dining room, leaving him to follow me. Everyone has already taken their seats and the only two left are situated close to the head of the table and directly opposite Nolan. I glance at Mom, who’s sitting at the head of the table drinking her wine and acting oblivious to what she has just done. I refuse to be taunted.
As I try to draw my chair closer, I sense a hand placed on top of mine. Damien’s. He draws out the chair instead and gestures for me to sit. Almost I ask where this chivalry came from until I realize what he’s doing; playacting. Everyone’s gaze is on us and any wrong move and our ruse will be over. I smile at him and take the sit. He takes the other chair beside me. Nolan is glaring at us the entire time with a semi-permanent expression of puzzlement. I turn to the person next to me, Thalia, who looks like she has committed the worst sin known to mankind.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s not your fault.” I wonder if she knows Lake is Damien’s child. Carey and Thalia have an odd relationship. I wouldn’t be surprised if he never told her. They barely communicate whenever they’re in public and there have been rumors they don’t sleep in the same bed, much less in the same room. I’ve always wanted to ask Carey what’s really going on, but he shuts down whenever anyone mentions Thalia.
“How’s your restaurant doing?” Nolan asks in a low voice, barely above the clanking of cutlery and hushed talking, that I almost thought the question wasn’t meant for me.
“It’s a patisserie, Nolan.”
“I passed by there recently,” Ty cuts in. “You weren’t there, but there barely was anyone in. The Starbucks around the corner is eating your ass. I don’t know if you saw.”
“You’re still going on with your little project?” Carey asks.
I feel myself slowly boiling. “It’s not a project, Carey, and thanks for visiting that one time just as we were opening, Ty. If you had come recently, you would know that there’s no longer a Starbucks and business is doing just fine.” Ty only came to my shop once, but to hear him tell it, one would think he was a daily customer.
“I still can’t believe you thought you could start your own franchise,” Ty says as he puts food into his plate. “Work is hard. I guess now you know.”
Slowly as I can, I try to speak without raising my voice. “I never said I want to open a franchise.”
“Approximately eighty percent of restaurants fail within the first five years. Yours is barely in its fourth,” Nolan says in a cool monotone voice.
“For fuck’s sakes, it’s not a restaurant!”
My outburst makes Thalia jump. Ty raises his hands in mock surrender as if he’s the offended party. This is why I fucking hate being around this family. I love my brothers, but they can be unfeeling douchebags sometimes. They’re still holding onto the lie my father told them. That I broke from the family to start something of my own. A lie I have perpetuated since out of pride. Their taunts only make me more determined to stick to it.
To add salt to the wound, Mom chimes in, “Is that why you’ve been gaining so much weight, darling? Have you been eating your own stock?”
The majority of the table bursts into giggles. Only Seb, Thalia, and surprisingly Damien, are quiet. Damien, in particular, is pressing down on his fork so hard it’s bending. He takes myhand in his and says, “Actually, I’ve been to her patisserie and it’s a booming business.” He turns to face me, a convincing look of admiration on his face. “You should absolutely think of franchising.”
I know he’s never been there. I doubt he knows I own a bakery or is even aware of where it’s located. His defense is more than I want right now. Tears that I didn’t know I was holding back shine in my eyes and my vision goes blurry. I cast my gaze down to my plate and try to blink them away.
“And Jackie,” Damien is not done, “Ivy’s body is perfectly fine the way it is.”
Mom clears her throat and shifts in her seat. “It’s only a joke. We like playing around with Ivy.”
“Simple harmless fun,” Ty adds.
Damien squeezes my hand. “Not at the expense of my wife.” His tone is resolute and laced with a hidden threat. It’s enough to end all the cajoling at my expense.
