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Being Lizzy’s best friend all through college, I’d been semi-adopted by her family when mine was seemingly absent from my life and I’d been coached on all proper etiquette for a young lady.
Her parents sat across from each other at the far ends of the table, which in this case didn’t actually mean what the subtext suggested. They did, in fact, get along. Lizzy and I sat across from each other in close proximity.
The butler from earlier didn’t make an appearance. Instead, he orchestrated the wait staff, which appeared shortly after we’d settled, brought in the first course, and brunch began. Ted brought us up to date with current events, from politics to the weather, while the first course was removed.
It was always good to get his updates because I didn’t watch much news or read the paper regularly. It was simply too depressing. And up until this summer, I had been all about graduating with my degree in accounting, after which my efforts were focused on studying for the CPA exam.
Pleasant conversation continued throughout the meal. I was happy the subject of my love life hadn’t come up. By the time dessert was served, I was well-versed in all the hot-button topics of the day.
“Ted, is it true what they are saying about King?” Kathryn asked her husband.
I perked up as the name King was huge in New York.
He shrugged. “Now that he’s got that nasty diagnosis, it’s rumored his son has taken over.”
“I hear they call his son the Money Man,” Lizzy said and winked at me.
Kathryn scowled at her daughter. “Stop. That sounds like one of those rapper names.”
Lizzy shrugged. “I heard he’s hot and making crazy money for investors.”
“And catching the eye of the SEC,” Ted countered.
The SEC was a branch of the government that oversaw the financial markets to protect investors.
Though I considered Lizzy’s family my own, I kept my lips shut that I would be a part of the team auditing that company on Monday. I hadn’t known until then why we’d been called in when our firm wasn’t their primary auditors. But what Lizzy said made me curious.
“I wonder if he’s as hot as rumors say,” Lizzy mused.
I wasn’t as plugged in as everyone around the table. Yet it surprised me that someone so seemingly powerful hadn’t been captured in any pictures. “You haven’t seen him?” I asked no one in particular.
“Mom?” Lizzy asked, directing my question to her.
“My understanding is that he went to boarding school once his mother left,” she answered.
People had phones. These days you couldn’t sneeze on the streets of New York without fear you’d become a meme.
“There are no pictures of him?” I asked.
Kathryn shrugged. “I’ve seen some with him as a boy at Royce King’s home. But it’s been years.”
Ted added, “Once we moved our funds from his company, we haven’t exactly been invited over.”
“Maybe I should date one of the King boys,” Lizzy said, taunting her mother, who looked almost ready to choke.
There were multiple boys? “There are two?” I mouthed to Lizzy and she nodded.
It was easy to see the Kings had fallen out of favor with high society, at least in her parents’ eyes.
“Are you ready for your date tonight?” Kathryn asked, effectively changing the subject.
And to think I’d almost gotten off unscathed. I ignored the smirk on Lizzy’s face and said, “Yes, I’m looking forward to it.” Not! I kicked Lizzy lightly under the table. It didn’t stop her quiet laughter.
Really, I was so not looking forward to this. In fact, I pitied this guy. Whoever he was, he wouldn’t get a fair shot. I just wasn’t in the mood for a date. After last night, I just wanted some me time and, truth be told, I was more curious than ever about the King family.
I would be starting my new work assignment tomorrow and maybe I’d run into one of the Kings. Some extra sleep would serve me better. On top of that, who goes on a blind date on New Year’s Day? I wasn’t sure why I had agreed to it. But apparently, the stockbroker, also fairly new at his job, rarely had a day off.
“He’s a good boy. He’s a Wilshire of the Park Avenue Wilshires. You’d do well marrying into that family.”
Marriage? I wasn’t ready to date, let alone marry. But Kathryn had set this up. There was no turning back. And honestly, after all they’d done for me, how could I possibly say no? Still, I’d heard this all before. First, these dates had been directed at Lizzy, until her mother had finally given up. Lizzy didn’t care if she made a spectacle of herself and pissed off some guy who wasn’t her type. She didn’t care about the ramifications to her family’s reputation.
Not long after, Lizzy threatened that she was going to faint and got us out of there before her mother started planning a wedding for the stockbroker and me. By the time we made it back to her place, I was mentally exhausted.
