Chapter 15 Nova
NOVA
“Happy birthday.” My mother smiled at me and then Ryker.
As usual, her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Your father had some business to take care of this morning.” Glancing around the quiet dining room of Nottswood Country Club, she lowered her voice, even though there was no chance of being overheard at our private table.
“There’s been a little hiccup with the supply line, and he had to go to the port to sort things out. You know how it is.”
Ryker rolled his eyes, and my mother caught it, her mouth thinning.
“You’ll be the one to sort out the problems when you’re the head of the syndicate. You should be taking an interest.”
His hard gaze whipped to hers. “Don’t worry, Mother. I know exactly what’s expected of me.”
She deflated, waving her hand at the table. “Good. Now, shall we begin with a champagne toast while we’re waiting?”
Unsurprisingly, my father didn’t make an appearance.
It was optimistic of my mother to even assume he’d be there at all—business came first, and any problems had to be taken care of immediately before they got out of control.
Eventually, even my mother grew tired of waiting, and we were able to order food.
I picked at my brunch, slicing my eggs into tiny pieces.
Opposite me, Ryker hadn’t even bothered to pretend he had an appetite, ignoring his plate and immersing himself in whatever was on his phone screen.
My mother was undeterred, going through yet another rundown of the day’s itinerary in between forkfuls of eggs Benedict.
“—the mayor’s son—”
“What?” Ryder’s head shot up, cutting off my mother mid-flow. She blinked but recovered quickly.
“I was saying that unfortunately, the mayor will be in attendance tonight. It… Well, you know. Politics.” She laughed lightly. “The invitation was extended to his son—”
“Ghost— I mean, Aleksi’s gonna be there?
” There was something unsettlingly dark in my brother’s eyes that sent a chill down my spine.
I knew, of course, that Alek wouldn’t be there, because he was happily settled at Alstone College, and there was no way he’d come back here for a weekend to “celebrate” something I would never have chosen for myself.
“Wait your turn to speak.” My mother’s eyes narrowed. “As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, the invitation was extended to Mayor Sullivan’s son, who will not be in attendance.”
“Too much of a coward to show his face,” Ryker muttered under his breath, but I heard him. I aimed a swift kick to his shin, and his gaze shot to mine, his eyes widening for a second, before he smirked. “What a shame he can’t be there,” he said, all false, honeyed tones.
“Indeed.” My mother had lost interest already, moving swiftly on to another topic. I doubted she’d even heard him. “The photographer would like to capture some candid shots in addition to the posed ones tonight, so I need you to be on your best behaviour for the duration.”
“I know.”
“The limo will collect you from home at seven thirty and take you to the Volkov estate. Both of you.”
Ryker and I exchanged glances. A fucking limo? he mouthed, and I shrugged helplessly.
“The Volkovs are paying for this, and you will do as they wish,” my mother said sharply.
Of course.
My brother’s phone screen lit up, and he huffed out a breath, rising to his feet. The chair legs screeched against the flagstones as he pushed it back. “Sorry. I need to take this,” he gritted out, shooting me an apologetic look as he raised his phone to his ear.
When we were alone, my mother glanced around us before leaning in. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Darling, I have a special birthday gift for you. Here.” Sliding a cardboard packet across the table, she gave me one of her false, professional smiles.
I stared at it with wide eyes, taking in the brand name on the side. “The pill?”
My mother nodded. “After your last health check, I took the pre-emptive step of organising a prescription. You will be engaged soon, and you will be expected to perform…certain duties. Anton may wait until marriage, or he may expect them sooner, as is his right.”
As is his right? I gaped at her. “You don’t actually think I’d agree to that, do you?”
Her mouth thinned. “Don’t be so ungrateful.
All I’m trying to do is prevent any complications before you’re ready for them.
Despite what you may think, I want you to complete your education at Cranham University.
” She paused, her gaze sweeping downwards.
“I didn’t have a chance to complete mine.
Children are a…complication in our world. They need to be carefully planned.”
“Oh.” My fingers closed around the packet.
I couldn’t bring myself to thank her.