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I was still fed almost everything to do with Calder through the filter of Asha, and it was all on a need to know basis. Which was why I was annoyed but not surprised when I learned only a half hour before the dinner with my in-laws that my husband and I wouldn’t be driving there together. I assumed that meant he’d meet me there.

I’d spent more time around his parents than I had around him. They’d always been quite pleasant, and they warmed to me more with every meeting.

In fact, a dinner with them where he wasn’t present would be considerably less nerve-wracking than the alternative.

Or so I thought before that night. I arrived on time. He did not.

My in-laws greeted me cordially at the door, led me to an impressive dining room, and we waited.

And waited. One hour passed, then another.

We ate without him and made polite conversation.

His parents, Pasco and Diana, didn’t even bring up his absence for quite some time.

We had a surprising amount to talk about, considering I’d had a meeting with my father-in-law mere hours before. You’d think he’d be sick of it, but he was very forthcoming with business advice for me, which I valued.

He was surprisingly kind. He was a bulldog of a negotiator. In the business world they called him The Punisher, but with me he’d shown nothing but patience and generosity.

He was a man who clearly knew what he was doing when it came to finances. I saw all access to him as an opportunity. An informal apprenticeship. I wanted to learn as much as I could from him. I couldn’t model forever, and I intended to keep building my wealth long after my looks were gone.

I wanted to be so rich that nothing could ever touch me.

Diana and I had just as much to talk about. Our schedules intersected constantly over the next two months as we would attend several family charity functions together.

“I apologize for this, Noura,” Pasco told me solemnly after three hours had passed. “My son and I have not been able to see eye to eye for quite some time, and I’d just like you to know that his boorish behavior tonight is a reflection of his contempt for me, and not you.”

“I don’t think he likes me, either,” I noted. I was shocked at my own candor. I hadn’t meant to speak those words aloud.

Pasco winced. “Well, then I apologize for that, as well. You deserve better.”

I shrugged. “It’s not your fault. Thank you for a lovely meal. I should probably go. I have an early shoot.”

Diana opened her mouth to say something, but paused mid-motion, mouth agape as the sound of a loud crash boomed through the house. It came from the direction of the entryway.

A moment later, Calder staggered into the room.

It was obvious right away that he was stinking drunk.

I stiffened in my seat. I watched his parents share a look. Diana look worried. Pasco looked furious.

Calder had eyes only for me. “Did you miss me, honey?” he sneered.

So he was a mean drunk. Good to know. Still, I felt like I’d been slapped. Every time I was starting to think he might be nice to me, he went cold, or worse, hostile.

I rose to leave.

“Are you feeling proud tonight, Dad?” he turned to his father. “Look how getting married when you told me I had to made me grow up and settle down. What a wise decision, Father. Good thing you didn’t break your perfect streak of never being wrong.”

“I never told you that you had to get married,” Pasco said with calm, dignified fury. “I only told you that you had to get married to someone I approved of if you wanted the startup capital to get your business back up and running. I think it was a fair trade considering your history of losing fortunes and choosing the wrong bride.”

I thought for a moment that Calder was going to lunge for his father.

“Banks. Please, stop,” Diana said softly. That alone seemed to take some of the steam out of Calder.

“I never should have come,” Calder said bitterly. “Goodnight, Mother.” He turned to leave.

I moved to leave, as well. I hugged Diana. She embraced me back, kissing both of my cheeks.