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“I don’t know, man, just fucking knock.” Finn kept his eyes on his feed. “If he called for you, he’s expecting you.”
Bastian glared at him for a beat before raising his fist and rapping on the door.
“Come in!” Henry’s bellow came a second later.
“Guess he wants you to go in,” Finn muttered.
“A great help as always,” Bastian shot back, then pushed the door open into Henry’s office.
Ursa Poseidon stood in front of Henry’s desk, her hands folded neatly in front of her, casting a dry smile toward Bastian as he entered. It had been five years since he’d seen her, shortly after Henry’s wife had died. She’d given some lame excuse that she couldn’t stand to watch her brother in such pain after losing his wife the way he had. Bastian had other suspicions about her abrupt departure.
“Bastian.” She inclined her head in greeting. Her stark white hair was wound up into an enormous twist on top of her head. One thick, black streak on the right side was the only color to her hair. The deep red lipstick thickly painted on her full lips stood out against the paleness of her skin, aside from the dark mole just to the right of her mouth.
“Ursa.” He acknowledged her then turned to Henry. “I can come back later if you’re busy.”
“No.” Henry stepped out from behind his desk. “My sister was just going up to her rooms. She’s had a long trip.”
“Yes. I’m absolutely exhausted.” Ursa feigned a frown. “Before I settle in for the night, I think I’ll check in on my favorite niece. Is Ariella home?” She asked with an undertone of mischief that set off Bastian’s warning bells.
“No. She’s out shopping.” Henry set his stare on his sister.
“Hmm, a little late for that, isn’t it?”
“She was having dinner with a friend as well. I will have her find you in the morning. Good night, Ursa.” Henry dismissed her.
“I’ll see you in the morning then.” She flashed a quick grin then maneuvered around the chairs toward the door. “Nice to see you again, Bastian.” She paused beside him, waiting for a response. He nodded just to get her moving again.
“That woman.” Henry shook his head when the door shut behind her.
“How long will she be here?” Bastian was already planning to have eyes on her while she was within the Trident walls.
“Three weeks.” Henry scoffed. “She’s in town to promote her new fragrance.” He rolled his eyes.
When Ursa was pushed out of the Trident business, she went out on her own, creating a new company with her name on it. He’d seen her perfumes in the stores in town over the last few years.
“Thankfully, I’ll be gone for most of her damn visit.” Henry sank into his chair behind his desk.
“Your trip up north.” Bastian nodded.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I’ll be gone for two weeks. I’m leaving Sunday morning. I’m taking a few men, but I have something more important for you to do.”
Bastian slid his hands into his pants pockets.
“Anything.”
Henry chuckled. “I hope you have the same attitude when I tell you what it is.”
That didn’t exactly give Bastian the happy tingles.
“I need you to keep an eye on my daughter.” Henry’s smile slid. “Ariella is to meet me at Robert Faulkins’s home tomorrow night for a party. I have a dinner meeting. Otherwise, I’d be sure she attended myself.”
Bastian’s jaw ticked. Ariella was by far the most stubborn of Henry’s daughters. She needed a stronger hand than Henry was willing to use with her, but it wasn’t Bastian’s place to tell him so.
“What time does she need to be there?” He asked.
“Eight, and not a second late. Please, Bastian, she’s meeting Robert’s son for the first time, and I don’t want her to give a bad impression.”
Chad Faulkins. Bastian’s hands curled into a fist in his pockets. He was an arrogant son of a bitch who acted like the world should be handed to him on a fucking silver platter. Bastian had no doubt he would feel the same way toward Ariella. Marrying him would condemn her to being put on a shelf only to be taken out when he wanted to play with her.
