Chapter 44
James
"James Hamilton, married?" Nathan slaps me on the back with enough force that I stumble.
We arrived at Margot’s place half an hour ago. My brothers are all here. As are Nathan Davenport, Sinclair Sterling, and Toren Whittington. They're friends of the family. Margot must be plotting something with the companies they represent to invite them to what’s, essentially, a family event.
"Congratulations on the new arrival."
Nathan gives me a strange look.
"What?"
"That was a year ago."
I blink. Fuck. I’ve royally screwed up again. I’ve been so in my own head and involved in growing my business that I haven’t been able to keep track of important events in my friend’s life.
"I’m sorry." I rub the back of my neck, apologizing for my dickishness. Yep, that’s getting to be my new reality. "It seems like yesterday when…" David? William? I draw a blank.
"Ben," he interjects, coming to my rescue when I fumble.
"Ben was born," I continue smoothly, trying to save face. Knowing, already, that I failed, but also knowing I need to keep trying to salvage what’s left of my sorry ego.
He smiles knowingly. "Yes, Ben is a year old already."
"Time flies, eh?" I wince.
I sound like one of those social media posts that state the obvious yet seem to draw a fascinating number of people to agree.
"Want to see pictures?" His face goes all soft and goofy.
Then, the cutthroat CEO of Davenport Group pulls out his phone and thrusts it under my nose.
It shows a baby frowning at the camera. He scrolls through the pictures.
"And this is when he took his first step. And when he spoke his first word. Oh, his first tooth, isn’t he adorable? "
I have to say the baby’s something. In most of the pictures he has a wrinkled forehead and lips which droop at the sides like he’s going to burst into tears at any moment.
"He’s definitely a chip off the ol’ block," I manage.
I must have said the right thing, for Nathan nods his head with enthusiasm. "That’s what my wife says."
"Uncle James, did you bring me a gift?" An imperious voice asks.
I look down to find Freya staring up at me.
Today, she obviously dressed up for this party.
She’s in a black skirt, black stockings, and black blouse.
She has her hair in two pigtails. And with her dark eyeshadow and lipstick she’s a dead ringer for Wednesday Addams, which is slightly creepy, if I’m being honest.
"Was I supposed to bring you a present?"
She sniffs. "If you want to be in my good graces."
"I promise, I’ll get you one next time." I deliver a salute in her direction.
"Make sure you don’t forget." She turns her gaze on Nathan.
"And you are?" Her voice could cut ice with its sharp edge.
Nathan’s lips twitch, but he steadies his expression and holds out his hand." Nathan Davenport."
"The CEO of the Davenport Group." She nods. "Your upcoming merger is ill-advised."
His jaw drops.
So does mine.
He recovers enough to cough out, "Excuse me?"
"You're paying too much for the infrastructure. The real value is in the proprietary tech, which is currently undergoing a litigation review you clearly overlooked."
"Uh?" He looks like he’s swallowed a bug. A myriad of expressions passes over his features. Then he nods slowly. "I’ll take another look at the details before I sign off on it."
"Good.”
He looks at her with curiosity. "Where did you read the details of the merger?"
"In the Financial Times, of course." She looks at him with an expression that implies the answer was self-evident.
He lowers his chin. "You’re an impressive young lady. When you’re old enough to intern, make sure you look me up."
"Actually, I’d rather intern with Uncle James." She turns to me.
"With me?" I’m taken aback.
Her eyes shine. "I love the complexity of putting together all the flavors related to creating a dish that tickles the palate and satisfies the senses. I believe working in the pressure cooker environment of a professional kitchen will help me in becoming a well-rounded artist." She nods.
What the fuck? How does this kid know all this when she’s only ten?
I’m sure she gets bullied at school the way kids who’re different in any way tend to. I’m glad Harper is using some of the money from our agreement to pay for her to study at the Royal Drawing School.
The trust fund I’ve started for her seems doubly important.
I’m going to make sure her genius is nurtured. That she gets all the opportunities she deserves. Anyone who messes with her will have to contend with me first.
The vehemence of my thoughts takes me by surprise. But isn’t that what anyone in my position would do? Wouldn’t they want to protect someone who’s as much of a genius as this little girl?
"Freya, it’s dinnertime," Briar calls out from across the room.
Margot arranged for her housekeeper to take care of Freya so that Briar can eat with the adults.
Freya makes a face. "I’d rather hang out with you."
"If you want to become a world class chef, you gotta eat and get your stamina up."
She brightens. "Okay." She holds up a fist.
I bump it. She turns and darts off, all gangly limbs and pigtails, stopping to talk to Gideon on the way.
Nathan stares after her. “She’s so freakin’ smart, it’s mind boggling.”
"Yeah, that’s my niece."
He gives me a strange look.
"What?"
"There was almost paternal pride in your voice."
The back of my neck heats. I try to feign a casualness and shrug. "She’s part of the family. It’s okay for me to feel that way."
"Sure." His lips kick up. There’s a teasing look about it that makes me flush further.
"Fuck you, man," I say lightly.
He holds up his hands. "Didn’t say anything, man."
Beckett walks over to join us. "Hey, I ran into your wife and introduced Rowan, because you haven’t bothered to do so far."
Rowan comes up behind Beckett and slaps me on the back. "Congratulations, brother. Sorry I missed your wedding. A little notice would have been great. I could have moved things around; made sure I was in town."
"Sorry. I couldn’t wait." I raise a shoulder.
“Couldn’t wait to get hitched, eh?” He gives me a knowing smile.
I rub the back of my neck. It’s helpful in selling the marriage if they think that I was so eager, I rushed my bride to the altar.
So, I nod. “Something like that.”
Beckett snorts. "She’s too good for you. I wonder how you got her to marry you?"
"Not something I’m revealing." I glance toward where Harper was talking to Phoenix and find her gone.
I look around the conservatory but don’t see her.
"If you’re wondering where she is, Phe took her on a tour of the house." Beckett smirks.
"Wouldn’t have believed it unless I’d seen it with my own eyes. You’re pussy-whipped, mate," Rowan says slowly.
"What?" I scowl without taking my gaze away from the door. Because apparently, I’m waiting for her to make an appearance. "You have it all wrong."
"I think not." I hear the snicker in Rowan’s voice, but my mind is too busy wondering which part of the house she's in to respond.
Given I see her every day at work, then also at home, you’d think I’d be happy to hang out with my brothers instead. And it is nice to see their faces, instead of my team. But for some reason, I already miss Harper. Because I haven’t seen her, for what, five minutes? I am pathetic.
"Holy shit." Rowan stares at me in amazement.
"What?" I scowl.
"It must be love. That’s why you married her so quickly, eh? You couldn’t risk her being with anyone else?” Gideon inserts himself into the conversation.
"It’s not—" I begin to deny it, then quickly stop myself. It’s good if they believe that’s the case. Lends authenticity to our arrangement.
"You got me there.” I raise a shoulder.
I’m not exactly lying to my brothers. But am I lying to myself?
Nah. I’m not in love with her. So what, if I know her better than I know anyone else.
I know how she scrunches up her features when she’s focused on her work.
How she likes to put her hair up in a messy bun under the skull cap she wears.
And how she keeps losing her hair ties when she runs her fingers through her hair at the end of the day to take it down. I know how she smells.
And I may have watched her as she naps in the car on the way home from work when she’s tired. My heart sinks.
I’m developing feelings for her. I’ve allowed her to get under my skin.
I’m going to have to put more distance between us.
But first, I have to find out where she is. I walk up to Geoffrey, Margot’s butler.
“Have you seen my wife?’
“She’s with Lady Hamilton, sir.”