It was a sad attempt at levity for my sake. She could obviously feel my stress.
“And your—” I glanced at her neckline, hovering just over her heart. “Did you make the appointment?”
She bit her lip, avoiding eye contact.
“Laney.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve had two weeks, and I’ve seen two more episodes during that time,” I pressed. “I’m starting to feel like a nagging mother hen. Baby, you need to take care of your health.”
I didn’t want to press her, but the girl obviously had an issue with doctors. I understood it had something to do with her mother getting sick and the discovery of Laney’s heart condition at the same time, but even just a quick Google search had informed me that the procedure she needed would be a relatively quick fix. She just needed to see the doctor and schedule it.
“We’ve had a lot to do,” she said. “I’ll do it on Monday.”
I tugged on her hand. “You promise?”
She sighed but nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’m going to sic Ruth on you, and you know she doesn’t let anyone get away with anything.”
Laney blanched adorably. Clearly, Ruth intimidated her as much as she did me. Brendan knew what he was about when he hired that woman.
“Come on, Ari.” The servers were starting to bring out the salad courses, a clear sign it was time to find our seats at the family table. “Time to find my family and eat. Brace yourself.”
I thought I heard her murmur something like, “I always do,” but couldn’t quite make it out as we wove our way across the ballroom. My father was waiting for us at the long table at thefront, seated at the center as if this party were actually thrown in his honor, not ours.
Typical.
Most of my family had already joined him there. Brendan and Simone were down at the end, happily on the family periphery now that Brendan was no longer the chosen one. They were making polite conversation with Shea and her date, a kid I recognized from Andover, whom Mac was giving a death stare from his position at the wall behind her. On Dad’s other side sat Liza and Liam, besides three more empty seats for the two of us and Owen, who was busy arguing with someone on the other side of the room.
“Is that Jenny Churchill again?” I asked Liam as Laney and I sat down beside him.
Liam leaned out of the way while a server set down his wedge salad. “Yep. She came as someone else’s date, apparently. He’s reacting about the way you’d expect.”
“You mean masking his jealousy by accusing her of sabotaging the family?”
“Well, did you see what she wrote about the upcoming board meeting?” Liam pulled out his phone and swiped to the story. “It’s basically rumormongering, and the worst of it is about him. He’s right to be pissed.”
I glanced at the headline.
IS BLACKGUARD PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH CEOS AGAIN?
I frowned. “Well, that’s just unfair. We had one turnover.”
“Yeah, but look what she wrote about Owen and Shea.”
I scanned the rest of the article and found the part he was talking about.
Brendan Black’s sudden resignation from Blackguard after only two months prompts the inevitable question: what if it happens again? While Ronan Black, despite a hedonistic reputation, is obviously competent with business, should he also decide the position isn’t for him, would either of the remaining Black siblings be able to handle the pressure? If the board has to choose between a war veteran with a history of mental illness or a dilettante who has yet to prove her mettle in the world of business, it might be time to look behind the Blacks for stewardship of one of Boston’s biggest job creators.
“‘History of mental illness,’” I repeated. “Ouch. Although I don’t come off great here either.”
Liam snorted. “She basically says you have a lot of game. I wouldn’t worry about it, especially since you and Laney are putting on this show.”
“What show?” I asked meaningfully with a quick glance at Laney, who was wrapped up in a conversation with Violeta about feathers or something equally vapid. Thank God she hadn’t heard.
Liam grimaced and mouthed “Sorry” before setting himself to his salad just as Owen arrived, trailed by Jenny.
