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I turn toward my son. "Is that right? Is that something you want to do?"
He hesitates.
"If you don’t—"
"He does." She nudges him. "Tell him, Isaac."
He draws in a breath. "It’s true. I’ll do the installations for the offices of Kane Enterprises."
"Is that right?" I narrow my gaze on him.
Isaac’s features redden. "I told you already I would, didn’t I?"
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be," I murmur.
“Shakespeare?” The girl blinks.
I arch an eyebrow. “Very good. Perhaps you’ll do better than I think in the EA role.”
“Was that a test?” She frowns.
"Maybe, maybe not." I can’t stop the smirk that curls my lips. Why do I feel the need to get a rise out of my son? It’s not that I don’t empathize with him; I do. Hell, if anyone knows what it is to be misunderstood by his parents, it’s me. And here I am, repeating the same cycle with my son. Why is it that I can’t do a better job of being a good parent? I tip up my chin at the girl. "So, in return for allowing you both to stay under my roof, you’ll come to work for me as my executive assistant." I turn to my son. "And you’ll furnish all of my offices around the world with paintings?"
"Yes," the girl nods.
My son hesitates, then jerks his chin, "Yes, that’s right."
I glance between them. "I accept your proposal, on one condition."
4
Lena
Now what? Can’t he make anything easy for us? Does everything have to be not only on his terms but also the result of him driving a hard enough bargain that the other person is left in no doubt as to who holds all the cards?
I scowl at him. His grin widens. His features light up, and for a moment, he looks younger than his years. Is this how he was before he took on the responsibilities that brought him to where he is now? Then, a canny look enters his eyes, and I realize it’s all a front. He turns on the charm when he needs to disarm his opposition. No doubt, he uses the tactic in his business meetings. No doubt, that’s all this is to him. Another negotiation. It doesn’t matter that it’s his son’s life he’s toying with. All he’s concerned with is winning.
"Well?" I jut out my chin. "What is it?"
"Just a little thing, I have a gathering for my friends to celebrate their wedding tomorrow night. The two of you will be there."
"You mean your business associates, don’t you? Since when do you have friends?" Isaac sneers.
His father purses his lips. "These people started out as business associates but they have become friends. Apparently, even I can’t go through life without forging the odd friendly relationship along the way." His voice is self-deprecating.
For a second, I glimpse a man who’s lonely. Someone who’s perfected the skill of building walls between himself and the world. Someone who doesn’t want to let people get close to him… Not even his own family. Maybe it’s not all that surprising how mixed-up Isaac is. If this is how his father treated him growing up, Isaac didn’t have a chance.
In the ensuing silence, Isaac glowers. His father adopts a look of boredom. Does he really not care if his son has a roof above his head? The tension between them builds until my nerves threaten to snap. Anger pours off of Isaac’s body, while his father lounges in his seat.
Isaac opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I cut in, "We’ll do it."
Isaac whips his head in my direction, his features angry. I hold his gaze, a pleading look in my eyes. "Please, let’s not make this more difficult. You know we need this," I whisper.
He seems like he is going to protest, then nods. "Fine.”
"This is your room?" I glance around the suite which is ten times the size of the crappy apartment we’d been living in, and I’m not exaggerating.
His father called for one of his staff to help us with the luggage, then he turned back to his computer in his study. Basically, we were dismissed. Isaac and I exchanged a glance, then I followed him out. He greeted the man who met us outside the study with a warmth I hadn’t noticed when he met his father. Isaac hugged him, then introduced him as Craig. Isaac explained that Craig and his wife Miriam took care of the housekeeping. She also did the cooking while Craig looked after the upkeep of the house and the grounds. He also welcomed me—something Isaac’s father hadn’t done. Not that it mattered. We have a roof over our heads, and I have a new job.
