Chapter 9
JOSEPH
It was a strange experience sharing the dark space with someone.
Only Su Yin has earned that privilege, and yet when I took Tiffany there, it didn’t seem wrong at all.
I suppose it’s because we share a painful past. Something in common at least, and I wasn’t kidding when I told her I would slay her demons with pleasure.
In doing that, it would almost be like slaying mine, and I realize that will never happen.
I’ll take a close second though, and I’m impatient to get started.
As we enter the dining room, I note the lunch on the sideboard waiting for us to help ourselves.
“I, um, thought I was having lunch in the kitchen.”
Tiffany dares to question me, and yet I let it slide. She doesn’t know the rules—not yet anyway, so I say dismissively, “You eat with me unless I choose otherwise.”
I point to the food.
“Come, you must be hungry.”
As she helps herself, I take my seat that overlooks the impressive garden outside. It’s large for London but a mere pinprick in the ones we are used to. It suits me, though. London always has, because it allows me to be the man I choose to be and not the one my family expects.
Tiffany sits silently beside me, and I don’t make polite conversation.
Why would I? I didn’t want her here. Once again, it was out of my control, and I have resigned myself to the fact that my life will never be under my control.
When my father dies, Nico will take over.
If not him, Simeon or Julius. I am so far down the ranks it’s laughable, meaning I will never be the master of my own destiny.
But I am in London and now I’m home; normal business will resume.
“This evening we have drinks to attend at my neighbor’s house.”
Tiffany says nothing, and I like that—a lot.
“His name is Malik Karim. He is not here often and is in town with his wife, Eliza. We will introduce you as my fiancée, kind of soft launch our engagement to society.”
“But–”
She attempts to speak, and I shake my head. “You will play along, Tiffany, because it’s in your best interests to.”
“How is it?”
“Because it’s the only way out of your nightmare. I wasn’t lying when I told you Morgan is your biggest threat. You see, you are the spark that will light the entire Diamond Dynasty.”
“I really don’t understand.”
She sounds weary, almost uninterested, and I’m surprised at that.
“When your father died, he left his fortune to his daughters. Morgan inherited nothing but a mere allowance, and yet had control over the estate until you fulfilled the terms of his will.”
“Go on.”
I have her attention now, which is a good thing because I will say this only once.
“You must be with child by the time you are twenty-five, and the same goes for your sisters. If that condition is not met, none of you will receive anything, and the fortune reverts to Morgan as the trustee.”
“I really hate that woman.”
She sounds almost petulant, causing me to snap, “Focus, Tiffany. Hate will get you nowhere. Careful planning and a cold heart will deliver the perfect revenge.”
Once again, she falls silent, and I add, “There are many questions that hang over that woman, but we will park them for later and discuss the three keys instead.”
“I don’t know what they unlock.”
“That’s not what I asked. I want to know where they are first because without them, we unlock nothing.”
“You were there when Sister Agatha Maria told me a woman collected them. It was probably Morgan dressed as the wicked witch from Snow White.”
Her attempt at humor rolls off me, and I snap, “This is not a joke.”
“I doubt you laugh much, Joseph.”
She’s right, and I shrug, my fingers closing around the stem of the wine glass as I stare over my domain outside.
“Laughter.”
I consider the luxury I have never been allowed.
“When was the last time you truly laughed, Tiffany? A moment in your life when there were no problems crowding your mind, and you had nothing to fear?”
She says nothing, and as the dark cloak of my life tightens against my neck, I attempt to distract my mind.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I’m surprised at her question because nobody has ever asked me that before.
“Talk about what?”
I’m stalling for time, and she sounds almost sympathetic as she says in a low voice, “In answer to your question, the last time I laughed was in the convent. It’s a happy place that keeps the world away.
Nothing can touch me in there. I am safe and nobody wants to harm me.
Life is parked and lived in one glorious existence and it’s no wonder I am in a hurry to get back there. ”
She makes a valid point, and I can certainly see the appeal, and yet the thought of it angers me.
“That’s not living.”
“It is to me.”
“So, you would hide rather than experience the beauty of the world? To travel to amazing places, meet someone, have a family, experience that together.”
“Are you saying that is your wish?”
“No, but doesn’t every woman want a child, a family?”
“Of course not.” Her tone is dismissive.
“None of the nuns in the convent wish for that, Joseph. They prefer peace, solitude, and a simple life over the problems the real world throws up daily. There is a lot to be said for that, so please don’t judge me by others’ standards. It’s rather an arrogant view in my opinion.”
I say nothing because she’s not wrong. I am arrogant, and after a few moments she asks tentatively, “What do you have in mind?”
“As in?”
“As in my, um, well, revenge?”
She has returned the conversation to business, which is where I am most comfortable, and I’m grateful for that.
“I believe we have a three-step approach. First, we marry, then you produce a child before we take over the Diamond Dynasty.”
“That could take years.”
“We have until you are twenty-five and so yes, we do have a few years, but a lot can happen in that time and if Morgan has her way, you won’t be alive to celebrate your twenty–fifth birthday.”
I state facts, no matter how shocking, and Tiffany sighs.
“I don’t doubt you, Joseph. I’m fully aware of how her mind works, but why not just, well, get rid of her, and then we can carry on with our lives?”
Her words cause me to laugh out loud, something that doesn’t happen very often, and she snaps, “Do I amuse you, Joseph?”
“Of course. Not many nuns ask the mafia to murder their stepmother.”
To my surprise, she giggles, and it’s a sound that surprises me. There isn’t much laughter in this house, and for some reason, I like it.
“You say mafia.”
Her tone isn’t fearful, merely curious, and I’m surprised at that.
“Would it shock you to learn that is my family business?”
“Not at all.”
She shrugs and turns to me with a curious smile.
“It suits you to be honest. I really can’t see you as an accountant or anything along those lines.”
“Does it frighten you?”
“I’m not afraid of you. You are a temporary problem I must deal with before returning to my life inside the convent. I’ll do what I must to make that a reality.”
“Even it means committing a sin?”
“I’ll have a lifetime to pray for forgiveness.”
She shrugs. “I didn’t ask to leave the convent. I didn’t ask to be the target of a woman like Morgan, and I didn’t ask to be here, so if I break a few rules to get back to what I did ask for, I’m certain God will forgive me, even if it takes my entire life on my knees praying for his forgiveness.”
She shrugs and says almost as an aside.
“So, we’ll play your game, Joseph, but if I may ask you one thing.”
“You may.”
I’m curious what she is going to ask.
“Can we murder Morgan Sorcusi before I’m obliged to be with child? Because if that happens, my life may as well be over, anyway.”
I’m stunned as she glares at me. “You see, if I have a child with you, I will never leave, and so Morgan’s threat of ending my life may be the more attractive proposition.”
Thank God for that.
We are back on territory I’m familiar with. I prefer hatred over companionship any day of the week, and manipulating others into doing my bidding is pure entertainment to me.
This time I shrug.
“I share your aversion to a lifetime with you, so yes, we can murder your stepmother, but I’ll leave it up to you to explain to your sisters why they will never receive their inheritance.”
I stand, noting the confusion clouding her expression, knowing that her love for her sisters will override any personal ambition of hers.
It’s at this precise moment realization hits her hard because the chains snap in place as she understands exactly the sacrifice she will make, whether she likes it or not.