Chapter 102
Alexander
“Alexander!” My aunt Patricia waved enthusiastically. “Come sit by us!”
I made my way around the table, nodding to various family members. Uncle James and his wife Susan, cousin Michael with his new girlfriend, Grandmother Eleanor looking regal as ever, Grandfather William pretending to study the menu he’d memorized years ago. My stepbrother Henry slouched in his chair, probably nursing a hangover.
“You’re late,” Father stated as I took my seat.
“Traffic.” I signaled the waiter for a scotch. “Scarlett, what an unexpected surprise.”
She smiled sweetly. “Georgia invited me. Hope you don’t mind.
“Of course not,” Madelyn chimed in. “Scarlett’s practically family.”
I caught Georgia’s smirk behind her water glass. This wasn’t a coincidence – they were up to something.
“How’s business, son?” Father asked, cutting through the tension.
“Business is strong as ever. The merger-”
“Always business, always money!” Grandfather William dropped his menu with a dramatic flourish. “We’re here for lunch, to spend time with family. The stock market will still be there tomorrow.”
I hid my smirk behind my scotch glass. The old man had started this family fortune through ruthless business dealings, but now he played the role of a doting grandfather who only cared about family bonds. It was almost laughable, considering I’d tripled the company’s value in just the past eight years through the very same aggressive tactics he’d once championed. The Knight Industries‘ success was my life’s work, just as it had been his, whether he chose to acknowledge it or not.
“William’s right,” Father conceded, adjusting his tie. “Let’s eat. I hear the new chef does wonders with the ribeye.”
The waiter appeared, taking our orders with practiced efficiency. I requested rare ribeye, asparagus, and no potato. Before he could move on, Grandmother Eleanor cleared her throat.
“Speaking of family matters…” She fixed me with that penetrating stare that had terrorized generations of Knights. “When are you planning to settle down, Alexander? You’re not getting any younger.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. This again. “We’re here for lunch, Grandmother. Shall we focus on
that?”
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Chapter 102
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“I know several lovely young ladies who’d be perfect for you,” she continued, ignoring my deflection. “There’s Catherine Montgomery’s daughter – a sweet girl who just finished her MBA at
Harvard.”
“Catherine Montgomery’s daughter?” I forced a polite smile. “Grandmother, with all due respect, I’m quite capable of handling my own love life.”
“But darling, you’re not getting any younger. And the Montgomerys are such a respectable family.”
I took a long sip of scotch. “We can discuss this another time when we’re both free. Perhaps over tea next week?”
“Oh, very well.” Grandmother’s eyes softened as she watched me cut into my steak. “At least eat properly. You’re looking thin. A strong man needs his meat.”
I caught Madelyn beaming at me from across the table, her smile sickeningly sweet. Classic move – she was probably planning to bring up Scarlett’s expansion plans again. She’d been pushing that agenda hard lately, trying to leverage family connections for business gains.
“Alexander, dear,” she cooed right on cue. “Would you pass the salt? You always know exactly where everything should be. Such good business sense.”
I passed the salt, fighting back an eye roll. If she thought buttering me up would change my mind about Scarlett’s ridiculous expansion plans, she was in for disappointment. But let her play her little game – it was almost amusing watching her try to manipulate the situation.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You’re always so thoughtful.” She touched my arm lightly. “Just like your
father.”
Christ, this woman was laying it on thick. Instead, I focused on my steak, letting her sugary compliments wash over me. The ribeye, at least, was perfectly cooked – bloody and tender, just how I
liked it.
I cut into my steak, savoring the rich flavor while Madelyn continued her performance.
“Alexander, darling, you really should join us more often for family gatherings.” She delicately dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Henry and Georgia miss having their big brother around.”
I nearly choked on my meat. Big brother? They weren’t kids needing supervision, and I wasn’t some teenage babysitter. Henry was probably nursing another hangover from his club–hopping, and Georgia was too busy playing socialite to care.
“Work keeps me busy,” I said simply, taking a sip of scotch.
Father’s fork clattered against his plate. “That’s all you ever say, Alexander. Work, work, work. There’s more to life than the office.”
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“The company doesn’t run itself.” I shrugged, catching Scarlett’s eye across the table. She was practically undressing me with her gaze. Christ.
“I’ll make more time for family,” I offered, turning to engage my aunt Patricia in conversation about her recent trip to France. Anything to avoid Scarlett’s predatory stare.
“Paris was divine,” Aunt Patricia gushed. “Though the coffee was terrible. Nothing like Italian espresso.”
My cousin Michael cleared his throat, “Alexander, this is Emma, my girlfriend.”
I nodded at the petite blonde beside him. “Welcome to the circus.”
“Thanks,” she laughed. “Michael’s told me so much about you.”
“All lies, I’m sure.”
Uncle James leaned forward. “Remember when these boys were teenagers? The trouble they’d get
into…”
I tuned out his reminiscing, focusing on my meal while deliberately avoiding Scarlett’s continued attempts to catch my eye. Her foot brushed against my leg under the table. I shifted away, pretending to be fascinated by Uncle James’s story about our childhood mishaps.
The sooner this lunch ended, the better.
I drummed my fingers against the table, watching Scarlett attempt to catch my eye for the hundredth time. Her foot brushed against my leg again – definitely not accidental.
“Remember that summer in the Hamptons?” she purred, loud enough for the table to hear. ” Alexander was such a gracious host.”
I took another bite of steak. “That was months ago.”
“Oh, but what memories!” She laughed, all teeth, and practiced charm. “The midnight swims, the beach parties…”
“The hangovers,” I added dryly, making Uncle James chuckle.
Grandmother Eleanor perked up. “Scarlett, dear, you and Alexander were quite close then, weren’t you?”
“We still are,” Scarlett smiled sweetly. “Just in a different way now.”
I caught Georgia hiding a smirk behind her wine glass. Of course, she’d invited Scarlett – probably hoping to spark some drama. The two of them had been thick as thieves since school.
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“More wine?” The waiter appeared at my elbow, a welcome interruption.
“Please.” I held out my glass, avoiding Scarlett’s attempt to play footsie under the table.
Father cleared his throat. “The new development project downtown – how’s that progressing?”
Thank god for the business talk. “On schedule. The foundation work starts next week.”
“Excellent.” He nodded approvingly. “And the budget?”
“Under control.” I cut another piece of steak, savoring the rich flavor. At least the food was worth enduring this circus.
Scarlett leaned forward, giving me an eyeful of cleavage. “Alexander always keeps everything under such tight control, doesn’t he?”
I ignored the innuendo, focusing on my meal while the conversation drifted to safer topics. The sooner I could escape this orchestrated matchmaking attempt, the better.
“Anyone for dessert?” the waiter asked.
“No,” I said quickly, checking my watch. “I have meetings.‘
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Grandmother tsked. “Always rushing off. The tiramisu here is divine.”
“Let the boy go if he has meetings,” Father started, but Grandfather William’s fist hit the table.
“Nonsense! Dessert is part of a proper meal. Sit down, Alexander.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
