Chapter 2 Andrew
I pull in and scan the row of guests’ cars, but none are Daniel’s. No surprises there. Daniel will probably be late for his own funeral. I straighten my jacket, taking a moment before heading inside.
The air is cool and I pull in a deep breath, steadying myself. This dinner is important. For once, Daniel is doing something that is completely selfless. Something good for the family.
I step through the front entrance, the voices from the drawing room drifting down the hallway. The butler gives me a nod and I offer a curt one back as I make my way inside. I’m curious to meet Emily Young, Daniel’s bride, the woman willing to marry for the sake of rescuing her family’s business. I can respect that kind of pragmatism.
My mother is the first to look up and greets me with a small smile, though her jaw is tight. She’s good at hiding it, but I know her too well. Daniel being late must be driving her up the wall.
“Andrew, darling,” she says, rising gracefully from her seat to kiss my cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Of course.” I glance at my father, who is nursing a drink near the window, his expression unreadable. “Evening, Dad.”
“Andrew,” he replies, giving me a brief nod. “You’re just in time.”
I turn back to my mother as she gestures to the two women seated beside her. “Andrew, I’d like you to meet Mrs. Young and her daughter, Emily.”
Mother and daughter stand up. I exchange pleasantries with Mrs. Young. She resembles a delicate porcelain figure, fragile and graceful. Her smile is polite, but there’s a certain weariness in her eyes.
I turn my attention to Emily. And then I stop. For a moment, I forget to breathe.
Emily Young is stunning.
Her simple black and white evening dress hugs her figure just right—elegant, but undeniably sexy. Her deep green, almond-shaped eyes meet mine; cool and assessing. Her oval face, framed by waves of chestnut brown hair, is serene, composed. She cuts a calm, collected figure.
Not the type of woman I was expecting to meet. I swallow and extend my hand, “Emily.”
She reaches out, her hand cool in mine as we shake. “Andrew,” she says, her voice smooth, polite, but distant. Her eyes, those green eyes, take me in the same way I’m taking her in.
“It’s a pleasure,” I manage to say, though I’m still caught off guard.
She tilts her head ever so slightly, a flicker of something in her gaze—curiosity, maybe. “Likewise.”
“Have you heard from Daniel?” I ask, turning back to my mother, though I already know the answer.
She shakes her head, the faintest irritation slipping through her otherwise calm exterior. “No.”
Father looks at the clock. “We can’t keep waiting for him,” he says, doing a poor job of hiding his annoyance.
I’m irritated too. I hope this doesn’t turn Emily off my brother, but I’m pretty sure she’s well aware of his tardiness.
We move toward the dining room and I find myself walking beside Emily. Pinpricks of awareness light up my skin. I’ll be damned. I’m attracted to my brother’s fiancée. Anyone would be. She’s a very attractive woman and her lavender scent doesn’t help.
We settle into the dining room, the clinking of silverware, and soft conversation filling the air. I can’t shake the tension running through me as I sit beside Emily. The scent of lavender drifts over and it stirs something in me.
Damn it, Andrew. Focus.
The small talk flows, but I only half-listen, nodding when appropriate. My father clears his throat, shifting the conversation.
“Emily,” he says, folding his hands on the table, “I was hoping your father would join us tonight. It would have been a pleasure to meet him. ”
The briefest flicker crosses her eyes before Emily responds smoothly, “Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it. He’s taking a much-needed sabbatical after decades of managing the family business. He finally decided it was time to step back temporarily and focus on himself.”
My mother raises her eyebrows, her curiosity piqued. “I would think he’d want to be present for his daughter’s wedding, especially one as important as this.”
Emily holds her ground, her smile unwavering. “I insisted that he not cut his travels short. The wedding arrangements are under control, and I’ll introduce him to Daniel when he returns. We thought it best he focuses on his health.”
I’m impressed by how well she handles the scrutiny from my mother. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t crack under the pressure of the unspoken questions hanging in the air.
It’s clear she’s used to navigating difficult conversations. A skill that will no doubt serve her well in this marriage.
By the time the main meal is served, everyone is anxious and trying not to show it. Every few minutes, my mother glances at the door as if he might suddenly appear.
Finally, she leans over, keeping her voice low but firm. “Andrew, can you call your brother?”
I sigh, pushing my chair back as I stand. “Excuse me for a moment.”
My voice is neutral, though inside, I’m boiling. This is Daniel’s dinner party and he’s treating it like a casual get-together he can skip. It rings twice before he picks up.
“Daniel,” I say, not even bothering with pleasantries. “Are you on the way?”
There’s a pause on the other end before he answers, “I’m in New York.”
I blink away the irritation that flares into something hotter. “You’re what? ”
“I’m not coming,” he says, his voice flat. “I’m not marrying Emily Young.”
For a second, I’m stunned. My mind races, but the words feel like they’ve knocked the breath out of me. “You waited until six weeks before the wedding to say this?” My voice rises despite myself.
“Do you even realize what you’re saying? This isn’t just about you. We need a stake in Riviera, and this marriage is the only way we can get it.”
There’s silence on his end, then Daniel’s voice comes back, cold and detached. “It’s always business for father, isn’t it? And now for you. I’m not doing it, Andrew. You can tell them the wedding is off.”
I clench my teeth, fury coursing through me. “Don’t be a fucking coward. Come here and tell them yourself. Face everyone, including Emily and tell them to their faces.”
The line goes dead.
I stand there, phone in hand, seething.
This isn’t just about the wedding. This merger was my shot. My chance to prove myself after everything—to show that I’m more than just the ex-soldier with issues.
I worked alongside my father before I left for my military tour, but it was always under his shadow. I wanted my own space to make decisions, to carve out something for myself. But, leaving created a wedge between us that never healed.
Father never forgave me for abandoning the business to serve my country.
Now, because of Daniel, that opportunity for redemption is slipping through my fingers. The deal with Riviera—something I could have spearheaded—is crumbling because my brother has suddenly decided he doesn’t want to get married.
Fuck! I curl my hands into fists.
I take a deep breath and slide my phone back into my pocket, forcing myself to calm down. I have to tell them. Clearly, that coward of a brother, will not .
When I return to the dining room, all eyes turn to me.
I clear my throat, every step heavy as I make my way back to the table. “Daniel won’t be coming tonight. He’s called off the wedding.”
The words drop like a bomb. Shock reverberates around the table. My father’s hand tightens around his glass, the color draining from his face. My mother’s mouth falls open in disbelief.
Mrs. Young looks utterly stunned, a gasp escaping her lips. And then there’s Emily. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t react immediately, just sits there for a moment, processing the words.
I pour myself a large glass of whiskey and down it in one go.