14. Chapter 13 Soren
My heart rate rockets as I gauge my parents’ reaction as we approach the table. I didn’t tell anyone the reason I wanted us to meet. Eva eyes us, knowing some type of drama is about to occur. I watch her eyes light up with the possibilities.
I pull Gin’s chair out, placing her beside me. “Mother, Father.” I clear my throat. “I’d like to formally introduce Ginevra as my fiancée.”
Eva does a little fist pump. “I knew something was up.”
My mother’s eyes are going from Gin to me, looking completely confused. “No offence to you Ginevra, but is Karissa not coming back from her vacation?”
I look down at Gin and she’s beet red, looking like she’s ready to murder me. I vow silently that I’ll make it up to her. It hadn’t occurred to me that maybe I’m using Gin as a shield against my parents until now. Fuck, I’m an asshole.
I look back down at her and wish I had thought of another way to break it to my family. Gin doesn’t need to feel unwanted. She’s innocently caught in the crosshairs of family business.
“If she does return, I will not be marrying her.”
My mother accepts my answer, knowing not to ask too many questions, and my father’s jaw works itself back and forth.
“Son, can we talk for a moment?”
“Congratulations,” Eva announces, bringing everyone’s attention to her.
My father’s eyes grow large and his face is turning redder each second he thinks he’s being ignored. I let him sit there for a few more seconds, allowing Eva to be excited for us, before I turn to face him.
“Can this wait for later? Family dinners are not used for business.” I used my mother’s favorite statement, and it has my father narrowing his eyes at me. They turn into black tiny beads.
I already know what he is going to say. Ginevra brings nothing to the table. Karissa brought an alliance, and wealth. It no longer matters what he thinks, because the family is on board with this union. That’s all I need, but it’s driving him crazy that he doesn’t hold the power to put a stop to this.
“Yes, I hope you two make each other happy,” my mother adds with a warm smile. She’s the glue that holds our family together.
I place my hands on Gin’s tense shoulders and give them a little squeeze. I need to touch her to keep me strong. I wait to see what comment my father might have, but he doesn’t say a word, just sits there seething.
“This calls for a toast,” Atticus says happily, using his hand to call the waiter over.
I release Gin’s shoulders and take my spot beside her, my hand searching for hers under the table. The moment my fingers touch hers, she moves her hand away.
I hate the silence that surrounds us. When I get nervous, I fidget. It’s a habit my father has tried to beat out of me, but has been unsuccessful.
I place my arm over the back of Gin’s chair and her shoulders try to nudge it away. I focus on my breathing before I pull her chair closer to me. I don’t care if my father can read me like a book right now.
“When is the wedding?” my mother asks.
“No sense in the hotel down payment going to waste. I’ll still be getting married there,” I answer, but wish I could push the date up. Gin looks like a caged cat that would love nothing more than to run from me right now. If I could marry her tonight, I would. I don’t want to give my father any time to ruin this.
“Who knew you were so financially responsible?” Displeasure drips from Gin’s voice. “From the number of vehicles you buy, I thought you were the type who likes spending money.”
I lean into her, her perfume distracting me for a second. “Don’t worry, I’m rich. You don’t have to worry about the cost.”
She flashes her furious eyes at me and my cock grows hard. “I’m glad you think so highly of me. Just as an FYI, I don’t give a fuck about your money.”
I’m taken aback by her statement. “That’s not what I meant, Gin. We both know you are no gold digger.”
“You will see soon, Ginevra, that Soren likes to toss out the old for every new shiny object he sees. Just as you have seen with his cars,” my father jabs.
I breathe in deeply, trying not to lunge across the table to strangle my father. I know this is him getting back at me for not waiting until Karissa is found and forced to return.
“I assure you, Father, Gin is no shiny object. She has a kind heart, kinder than any of us sitting at this table. I’m the lucky one in this situation.”
“At least we can agree on one thing,” he retorts, not clarifying what that one thing is.
I sneak a peek at Ginevra and find she has a strained, fake smile on. The one she’s too polite not to wear. Her thumb twists and turns her engagement ring as she sits there silently. I can feel her building up her invisible walls by the second.
“If you continue to be rude, my fiancée and I will leave.”
My father and I glare at each other, the turmoil coiling around the table. I grab Gin’s hand from under the table, linking my fingers between hers, and refuse to let go. A vice grips my heart, squeezing it tight, and I hold my breath, refusing to be the one who backs down.
My father takes a sip of his water, but his eyes never leave mine. He’s not used to me not backing down from him, and I have been doing it more since Cyrus was named Don.
“No one is leaving. You brought us here to celebrate, and that is what we will do,” my mother says, her tone relaying that my father and I need to stop fighting.
Gin is still rigid, not saying a word. I hate the fake polite smile that is plastered on her face for my family’s benefit.
“I’m sorry this is a shock to everyone,” Gin replies, surprising everyone at the table. “I was under the impression Smooch-ems had already told you.” She pinches my cheek hard, but I refuse to react like she wants. Then she squishes my cheeks together like you might a child. “Poopsie here was so excited to announce it to the world.” My brothers are trying to hold back their laughter and doing a shit job of it, but there’s something about the way she’s touching me. It’s gentle, soft, and sends a jolt of current through my entire body. “Did you know he has offered to donate one million dollars to my favorite charity?”
She lets go of my cheeks, leaving my mouth gaping. My father jumps at the opportunity. “Poopsie here has never donated to a charity in his life, Ginevra. If your father was alive, you would know the difference between being bought and a donation.”
I stand, knocking over my chair. I’m about to jump over the table when Cyrus interjects in a calm, deep voice. “Both of you sit down and shut up. As it’s been pointed out, this is a celebratory family dinner.”
I sit back down. My jaw is tense and my molars grind against each other. My father fucking smiles at me, taking another sip of water.
I open my mouth with a comeback but Cyrus gives me a look that tells me to shut the fuck up. Thank God the server chooses this moment to show the thousand-dollar bottle we ordered. They take their time, going from one person to the next, pouring the bubbles. It’s probably a good thing, as it allows me a few distracted moments to cool off.
My brothers start talking about football while I continue to stew internally. It takes everything in me to let go of the earlier comments made by my father. I can deal with that later, when Gin’s not around. She gives my hand a small squeeze before engaging in a conversation with my sister. Gin has a way of being everyone’s rock, but who does she have to rely on? I’m going to be that person. It’s the least I can do since I’m the one pushing her into this mess.
By the end of dinner, everyone has relaxed. All but Gin. She’s a good faker and pretends to be happy about our dinner, even hugging my mother at the end, but I can see right through her.
I take her hand. Surprisingly, she allows it as we walk to my car, since hers isn’t here. The moment my family is out of view she rips her hand from mine.
“Shocker, another new car,” she comments.
“Speaking of cars, your car is unreliable. I’ll pick you up in the morning and drive you to work.”
“Not a chance. I don’t want to be seen with you more than I have to.”
“Fine. I’ll drop off a new car for you to use.” I open her door and she turns toward me. Her eyes flare with anger, so much so that she doesn’t realize how close we are.
“You will do no such thing. That so-called unreliable car is mine. I’m not one of your gold-digging whores, and I won’t be accepting anything from you.”
“Now, why won’t you accept anything?” I step in, our bodies touching. I love having her this close. My heart rate picks up, anticipating this little fight. I’m a bad person.
“I won’t have you thinking I owe you anything. You can’t control me, Soren.”
Fuck, she’s gorgeous when she gets feisty like this. I love that she has a mind of her own, is independent, and doesn’t accept other people’s bullshit, especially mine.
“Fine, then.”
She opens her mouth to argue, then closes it when there’s nothing to fight me on. She eyes me with suspicion, as she should. I don’t give up this easily and she knows it. She dips her head to take her seat and I swear I see disappointment taking over her features, but it’s gone too fast before I can be sure.