After a little time, Esther taps her glass with a spoon.
‘We’ve got an announcement of our own, haven’t we, dear?’ Esther says pointedly to Otto.
‘Oh yes! Quite.’
He turns to Christopher with a beaming smile. Realising it’s probably something to do with the wedding, her stomach sinks. Under the table, she squeezes his hand.
‘My boy, I’m so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are and you’re really growing into the young man I always expected you’d be.’ He turns his gaze to Haf, a warm glow of pride. ‘And you’ve found yourself a wonderful partner to walk this life with, and trust me when I say’ – and now he takes Esther’s hand – ‘that family is the most important thing. And so that is why I’ve decided it’s the time for your true inheritance.’
What on earth does he mean?
‘True inheritance’ doesn’t sound like just money, which is what she was realistically expecting for a potential future-wedding conversation. That’s what rich parents do, right? Pay for stuff.
A very strange look shadows on Christopher’s face, not quite resignation. Maybe... fear?
Even Kit is softly frowning.
Something else is going on that she’s missing.
‘Dad—’ begins Christopher, but Otto continues ahead.
‘It’s time for you to join the company. I want you to learn the ropes and become my replacement. And then, it’ll be yours.’
Oh no.
This is everything he didn’t want. Everything this whole fake-dating thing was set up to avoid. And it still happened.
After all of this... and maybe they even made it all worse with the fake engagement. Her head swims.
Christopher looks green – like he’s going to be sick.
‘I . . . I . . .’ he stammers.
‘Look, he’s overcome! Good news, isn’t it? Father and son together, me teaching you the ropes.’
Christopher gasps like a fish out of water.
‘Do you even want that, Christopher?’ Kit nudges softly.
They can’t make this decision for him; he must be brave enough to say it.
‘Of course he does, Katharine,’ Esther says. ‘What a silly thing to say.’
‘It’s not silly. Look at him. Does he look happy to you?’
Kit’s right – the green tinge has lessened a little, but he’s flushed, and resolutely staring at the food on his plate.
‘He’s just surprised, aren’t you, Christopher?’ Otto says, beaming. ‘He’s been waiting for this his whole life.’
‘I—’
That’s all he says, to start with. He doesn’t even look up from his plate, and under the table, Haf can feel his leg vibrating with anxiety. She places a hand on his thigh as if to say, ‘I’m with you.’
‘You just need to hand in your notice at work, and then we can organise a start date for you in the spring. You’ll be free of the Ratliff-Zouches, at least,’ he says with a booming laugh.
Out of the pan and into the fire, she thinks. Or out of one fire into a much bigger fire with more responsibility. A fire you have to keep burning.
‘Of course, it’ll come with a pay rise too.’
