Chapter 26 #2
“And I don’t want to have any kids for the foreseeable future.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Good. I’m not ready to share you. Let’s go pack.”
It took me less time than it did for Mom due to her recent shopping spree and Kaya admiring everything.
By the time they finished, Edi was calling Konni about a new article.
I pulled out my phone to read the latest about Motan’s newest social climber, me, who was seen “posing” outside her burning home to gain public sympathy after the backlash from her sordid dating scandals and ostracism by Mrs. Steele.
It was amazing how something so simple could be skewed to fit the narrative they wanted to sell. And the worst part? People believed it, commenting that I’d gotten what I deserved. Divine karma.
“This confirms you’ve made the right choice,” Kaya said. “You’ll love the Steele estate.”
She was already towing Mom’s suitcase toward the door.
I glanced at Konni as he hung up.
“It’ll be handled soon,” he said.
“I’m tempted to take care of it today,” Kaya called over her shoulder. “But I think a high-end shopping spree the day of the fire wouldn’t be tasteful. We’ll wait until tomorrow.”
Konni drove, and our moms planned the shopping trip in the backseat. They agreed to skip anything high-end for now. Every day stores would make us look less like money grabbers and Mrs. Steele look like the down-to-earth woman she was.
My phone started to ring just as we reached The District—the neighborhood in Motan for anyone with money where the mansions sprawled on manicured hilltops.
I saw “Sperm Donor” and silently cursed myself for thinking of him earlier.
“Put it on speaker,” Konni said, seeing who was calling.
The conversation in the back quieted as I answered.
“Sophia,” Dad said, his voice dripping with compassion. “I saw the news. I’m glad you and your mom are safe, but you must be devastated.”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
“Of course it is. I can imagine what you’re having to deal with. Where are you and your Mom staying?”
He was the last person I would tell that I was staying with the Steeles.
“We’re still talking it over.”
“I know you don’t have much money right now.
I can loan you enough for a few days at a cheap hotel, but you need to consider Hestian's offer before things get any worse. He’s a man of standing, and your reputation is already so questionable that you wouldn’t be fit for public events anymore.
But if you’re willing to stay home until after the second child, he’ll agree to marry you. ”
I lifted my hand to stall Mom’s rage when she leaned forward.
“His offer and your misguided attempt at sage advice don’t interest me. I would rather remove my uterus with a spoon than let Hestian within a mile of it. And no amount of desperation will ever make me change my mind.”
“Sophia,” Dad said sharply.
I hung up before he could say more.
“Breathe through it, Abbye. That man isn’t worth your temper. We all make mistakes when we’re young. He was yours. Forgive your younger self, and celebrate the version you are now, wise enough never to pick someone like him again.”
I twisted in my seat to look back at Mom.
“Nothing he does reflects on you. Ever.”
“I agree,” Konni said. “He’s making his own problems and will need to deal with the consequences.”
The car slowed, and I turned to look at the massive gates slowly swinging open in front of us. Trees hugged the winding driveway, making it impossible to see the home—if you could call it that—until we cleared them.
The impressive estate sat atop the next hill.
It had five stories with turret-type towers on the corners, a steeply pitched roof in the middle, and an enormous balcony shone in the midday light.
The balcony was duplicated on the third and fourth floors.
Two massive columns extended from the ground to the third floor, accentuating the oversized front doors.
“It looks like a French castle,” Mom said from the back.
“That was the inspiration,” Kaya said. “Wait until you see inside.”
Harlow emerged to help with our bags once we parked, and Kaya led us inside for a tour. The front rooms were grand and showy, like the entry. But toward the back of the home—castle?—they were cozier spaces that the family used regularly.
She and her husband had a bedroom suite on the second floor. Konni’s grandparents had a suite on the other end of that floor. But, there were plenty more to choose from. Mom took one in the middle.
Konni led me to the third floor, where his suite overlooked the back garden.
“I can’t believe you grew up like this and are still so…normal.”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“You’ve met my mom. Normal was my only option.”
He kissed the side of my neck in a way that had me questioning the soundproofing.
“You’re a saint for putting up with everything,” Kaya said.
I smiled and shook my head. “It’s not a big deal. When I accepted the position in Mr. Steele’s secretariat, I knew it would be high profile. Mr. Steele knows it, too. That’s why he pays all of his immediate staff well.”
While we spoke, the photographer clicked away, moving a little each way to capture our expressions.
“Does this mean you didn’t attempt to pay her off for pursuing your son?” the reporter asked.
“It’s utterly ridiculous that I would harbor ill will toward anyone for loving my son. He’s a wonderful man. Who wouldn’t love him? If Ms. Elmantas were ever to develop feelings for him, I would be delighted. She’s a very sweet person.”
“You’re saying that you’d welcome a secretary into the Steele family?”
“I'm saying that I’d welcome whoever my son loves. Secretary, debutante, short order cook at an Italian restaurant…it doesn’t matter to me as long as they love each other.”
The reporter turned to me.
“What are your thoughts about Mr. Steele?”
“In the short time I’ve worked with him, he’s earned my respect. He’s a driven and dedicated leader who holds himself to the same standard of excellence he expects from his employees. He probably could ease up on the amount of coffee he drinks every day, though.”
The reporter chuckled, as did his mom.
“I think that should be enough,” he said, looking at Kaya. “Thanks for agreeing to the interview.”
“Thanks for promising to report it unbiasedly. I’d hate to have to file another defamation suit. Honestly, I’ve never been so insulted in my life. I’m not that kind of person.”
I reached across the table and patted her hand. I heard a shutter click as her hand covered mine.
After they packed up, she and I went shopping downtown, something she’d told the reporter that she’d insisted we do to make up for the slander and the house fire that people were treating so callously.
By the afternoon, I had all the replacement clothes I could want, some pretty new earrings she insisted I buy, and some heels that might be on my pillow next to me tonight when I went to bed.
Konni, who had texted me throughout the day, was waiting in the entry when we returned home. He pulled me in for a hug and buried his face in my neck. His deep inhale and groan made his mom laugh.
“They get needy like that in the beginning. If it gets to be too much, cry. Tears turn them inside out.”
He lifted his head to scowl at her.
She grinned and walked away with the bags. “I’ll take these to show your mother. Dinner is at six.”
Konni picked me up and took the stairs, two at a time.