Behind them, Lianna’s mom approached with a man who looked like he could be her father.Haughty.And they had the same nose.
“What’s wrong, Princess?”he asked.“Why are you upset?”
She turned to look at him, her angry expression turning crestfallen.
“Drake doesn’t want me at Steele Corp anymore.”
“Of course he doesn’t,” Kaya said in a soothing tone.“He knows how much your parents want you to find a…husband, which can’t happen if you’re working twelve-hour days.You’ve given enough to Steele Corp, Lianna.Stay focused on your social life outside of work, and you’ll find someone who ignites your heart before you know it.”
A hint of desperation showed on Lianna’s face before she looked at her mom.
“Kaya’s absolutely right,” Christine said.“Working at Steele Corp won’t help you attain the man you want.”She patted her daughter’s hand and focused on me.
“Ms.Elmantas, I’m glad to see you didn’t suffer from that golfing incident.I saw Kaya’s recent social update.You’ve achieved so much in such a short time.You’re obviously a very talented and driven young woman.I’m sure it won’t take you long to get back on your feet on your own, but we’d like to offer our help regardless.We have a few rental properties around the city if you’re interested.”
It took everything I had not to laugh.
Tsking, Kaya reached for my arm.“You promised you’d stay at least until your mom’s cast is off.”
“You did,” Mom said, lifting her broken arm as if it were a witness.
I smiled at Christine.“Thank you for the very kind offer; however, I have a feeling everything I own would mysteriously vanish if I glanced at a suitcase.”
“Possibly even boarded windows and locked doors,” Konni said, half under his breath.
Kaya chuckled.“I would never unlawfully detain anyone.Coaxing and bribing are much more efficient.Although Sophia is regretfully resistant to both methods.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not as strong-willed,” Mom said.“Kaya’s cooking is Michelin worthy, and her company is filling a void I didn’t know I had.”
Kaya gave Mom a heartfelt look.“Having you and Sophia stay at the estate is the best thing that’s happened in years.The house feels like a home again.”She turned to Christine.“Konni finally moved back in.I couldn’t possibly give that up.”
“You moved back?”Lianna asked with a hint of alarm.“Why?”
“Because of the company, of course.”
“You’re not actually attracted to this gold digger, are you?”
The murmur of conversation around us fell silent.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Lianna’s lackof situational awareness as she stared at Konni in disbelief made Kaya set her hand on his arm to stop his response.
“Gold digger?”Kaya said lightly.“How many times did we hear that about ourselves, Christine?As if humble beginnings made us less deserving of our husbands’ love and attention.Perhaps you should show Lianna where you grew up and a few of those old articles so she knows her roots too.”
Christine flushed in discomfort at Kaya’s polite reminder, but not Lianna’s father.
“Lianna is a Stonestock,” he said stiffly.“She knows her roots and her worth.”
“As does Ms.Elmantas,” Kaya said.“Oh, and before I forget, thank you for withdrawing your investment, Laurence.Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to pass the opportunity to Abbye.
“If you’ll excuse us, I see someone Abbye needs to meet.Thanks to Sophia, stocks are soaring, and Abbye’s interested in expanding her investment portfolio with those Steele dividends.”
Kaya took Mom’s arm to lead her away, leaving me with Konni, who had no problem wrapping my hand around his arm.
The silence behind us was deafening as we followed our moms.Keeping my smile pleasant, I suppressed my overjoyed, petty inner bitch.
Kaya did, in fact, introduce Mom to several people with investment opportunities.
