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“I’m going to have the Montoro family over for a dinner,” Patrick stated without preamble. “With the passing of Isabella, it’s fitting we extend our condolences and reach out to them during this difficult time.”
Catalina nodded. “Of course. Tell me what we need.”
“The funeral will be Wednesday and I know they will have their own gathering. I’d like to have the dinner Friday night.”
Catalina pulled out her cell and started typing in the notes as he rattled off the details. Only the Montoros and the Rowlings would be in attendance. Patrick expected her to work that day preparing the house and that evening cleaning up after the party... Long days like that were a killer for her back and feet. But the double time pay more than made up for the aches and pains.
“Is that all?” she asked when he stopped talking.
He nodded. “There is one more thing.”
Catalina swallowed, slid her phone into her pocket and clasped her hands in front of her body. “Yes, sir?”
“If you have a notion of vying for my son’s attention, it’s best you stop.” Patrick eased back in his chair as if he had all the power and not a worry in the world. “He may not be marrying Bella as I’d hoped, but that doesn’t mean he’s on the market for you. Will is a billionaire. He’s handling multimillion dollar deals on a daily basis and the last thing he has time for is to get tangled up in the charms of my maid.”
The threat hung between them. Patrick wasn’t stupid; he knew exactly what was going on with his own son. Catalina wasn’t going to be a pawn in their little family feud. She had a job to do. She’d do it and be on her way in just a few months. Patrick and Will would still be bringing in money and she’d be long forgotten.
“I have no claim on your son, Mr. Rowling,” she stated, thankful her voice was calm and not shaky. “I apologize if you think I do. We dated years ago but that’s over.”
Patrick nodded. “Let’s make sure it stays that way. You have a place here and it’s not in Will’s life.”
Even though he spoke the truth, a piece of her heart cracked a bit more over the fact.
“I’ll get to work on these arrangements right away,” she told Patrick, purposely dropping the topic of his son.
Catalina escaped the office, making it out to the hall before she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Deep breaths in and out. She forced herself to remain calm.
If Patrick had known what happened in the laundry room days ago, he would’ve outright said so. He wasn’t a man known for mincing words. But he knew something was up, which was all the more reason for her to stay clear of Will and his potent touch, his hypnotizing kisses and his spellbinding aqua eyes.
Pushing off the wall, Catalina made her way to the kitchen to speak to the head chef. They had a dinner to discuss and Catalina needed to focus on work, not the man who had the ability to destroy her heart for a second time.
* * *
He’d watched her bustle around for the past hour. She moved like a woman on a mission and she hadn’t given him one passing glance.
Will wouldn’t tolerate being ignored, especially by a woman he was so wrapped up in.
Slipping from the open living area where Cat was rearranging seating and helping the florist with new arrangements, Will snuck into the hallway and pulled his phone from his pocket. Shooting off a quick text, he stood in a doorway to the library and waited for a reply.
And waited. And waited.
Finally after nearly ten minutes, his phone vibrated in his hand. Cat hadn’t dismissed him completely, but she wasn’t accepting his offer of a private talk. What the hell? She was just outright saying no?
Unacceptable.
He sent another message.
Meet me once the guests arrive. You’ll have a few minutes to spare once you’re done setting up.
Will read over his message and quickly typed another. I’ll be in the library.
Since he hadn’t seen his father yet, Will shot his dad a message stating he may be a few minutes late. There was no way he could let another opportunity pass him by to be alone with Cat.
He’d worked like a madman these past few days and hadn’t even had a chance to stop by for a brief glimpse of her. He knew his desires ran deep, but he hadn’t realized how deep until he had to go this long without seeing her, touching her, kissing her.
In the past two days Will had severed longstanding ties with another company that wasn’t producing the results he wanted. Again he’d faced the wrath of his father, but yet again, Will didn’t care. This was his time to reign over Rowling Energy and he was doing so by pushing forward, hard and fast. He wasn’t tied to these companies the way his father was and Will intended to see the real estate division double its revenues in the next year.
