18. A Financial Transaction
A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION
Lorelei
“What’s wrong?” I eyed Axel as we walked up the gray cobblestone slabs toward the entrance of our summer house. A warm breeze flitted over the bluff, lifting the hair off my neck. Normally, this place put me at ease, but tonight my stomach was in knots.
And either Ax was feeding off my vibe on the ride over or there was something else going on.
A pale imitation for his usual warm smile tipped up the corners of his lips. “Nothing, blondie, I’m good.”
“You don’t seem good.” I jerked him to a stop at the foot of the steps and took in his crisp, button-down shirt and the broad slope of his shoulders in the dark jacket. He was picture perfect. “Does this have something to do with you disappearing yesterday?”
He shook his head, heaving a breath. “It’s just fraternity stuff. Nothing you have to worry about.”
“Are you sure? I thought you were getting cold feet about meeting my parents.”
The smile finally reached his eyes this time. “Nah, parents love me, and grandmas… like taking candy from a baby.”
An unexpected laugh bubbled out. “Well, Nanna won’t be here tonight, but I’ll definitely keep that in mind for next time.”
Next time? Where did that come from? There was only one mandatory dinner with the family according to our fake relationship rules.
I pressed my lips into a tight line and fidgeted with the plunging neckline of my floral sundress.
If Axel was weirded out by the faux pas, he didn’t act like it.
Instead, he linked his arm through mine and ushered me up the steps of the elegant Cape Cod.
“Let’s not keep them waiting, huh?” He dug his elbow into my side and coaxed out a half smile.
I paused at the final step and hauled Ax to a stop beside me. “You sure you have the story down?”
“Yes, Lore, you only made me repeat it ten times in the car on the way over.”
“Okay, good.” Drawing free of his hold, I rubbed my hands together, determined to ignore my moist palms. Why was I so damned nervous? He was right, my parents would love him. He was handsome, the star quarterback and most importantly, uber-rich.
When we reached the door, he stepped in front of me and opened it, dipping his head in a gentlemanly bow. “After you, Lorelei.”
As I crossed the threshold into the foyer, a pair of curious eyes lanced over us. Daddy stood at the foot of the staircase, observing every second of our interaction. I’d have to thank Axel later for pulling that chivalrous door opening crap.
“Good evening,” Father muttered, a cold edge to his typically frigid tone. I hadn’t called him in the morning like I’d promised. Instead, I’d been avoiding him like the plague.
Gisella appeared from around the corner with a warm smile. “Hello, Miss Lorelei, we’ve missed you around the house this summer.”
“Thanks, G. I’ve been swamped at school and with all the fundraising events for the sorority…”
She dipped her head, wisps of silver hair falling free from her tight bun. “I understand, Miss.”
Holding out her hand, she offered to take Axel’s jacket. As he shrugged off the navy blazer, Mom sauntered in with a martini in hand. “Oh, good, you’re here,” she crooned.
Judging by her beaming smile and the glossy look in her eye, this was not her first drink of the evening, nor would it be her last.
Giving her now empty glass to Gisella, she smiled, eyes intent on my date. “You must be Axel, I’m Greta. We’ve heard so much about you. I believe your mother and I headed a fundraiser to end domestic violence a few years ago.”
“That definitely sounds like Mom. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Battenberg.”
She playfully slapped Axel’s shoulder, and a high-pitched giggle slipped out. “Oh, please, call me Greta. Mrs. Battenberg is Grayson’s mother.” Her nostrils flared, mouth puckering.
She wasn’t exaggerating either, Grandma B was kind of a bitch. Her mother, Nanna, was the more pleasant of the two, but even with Axel’s charm around grandmas, I wouldn’t force him to endure either of them for long.
“It’s a pleasure, Greta.” Axel flashed her an award-winning smile, and my mother batted her false lashes as she slid her hand down his arm, squeezing his bicep.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, really?
Father swooped in between Mom and Axel before she started to drool all over her vintage Chanel Jackie O jacket. Dad reached for his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “Axel Vanderhart, correct?”
“Yes, sir, senator.”
“That’s a good grip you have there, son.” He winced, covering it with a lame attempt at clearing his throat.
Axel’s knuckles were white from the strain, and I couldn’t help the smile that tipped up my lips. “Sorry about that. That’s my throwing arm. I guess it’s just habit.”
Once he released the strangling grip, my father shook his hand out and folded it behind his back.
“Why don’t we come sit in the living room?” Mom motioned to the white linen couches.
Practically everything in this house was white or pale gray, which gave the home a light and airy feel.
It was a stunning contrast to our home in Boston which was littered with priceless antiques.
I appreciated the clean lines, but I was also terrified of spilling anything on the sea of pristine white.
“Gisella, the usual for me and get the kids some champagne.” Dad flicked an impatient hand toward our housekeeper, and she bounded off to the kitchen.
“Dad, what if Axel doesn’t want champagne?” I snapped at my overbearing father as I slid onto the sofa. Axel folded down beside me and slipped his arm around my shoulders. The unexpected move had a little of the fire draining.
“It’s okay, I’ll just have a sip. I have football practice early in the morning.”
“Oh, Axel, dear, I didn’t realize you had to train in the summertime. How terribly awful." My mother fanned herself as if the oppressive summer heat had somehow infiltrated the stucco walls.
He shrugged. “It’s not so bad. Honestly, I enjoy a good sweat session. It gets all the built-up tension out.”
“Mmm, I bet.” My mother took another swig of her martini and licked her lips. Great, now she was practically eye-fucking my boyfriend.
Thankfully, Gisella reappeared before I lost it. With a dip of her head, she placed the champagne flutes on the cocktail table, momentarily blocking Ax from her predatory gaze.
“So Axel, what are your intentions with my daughter?”
“Dad!” I shrieked as I reached for my flute which I now needed more than ever. “You can’t ask that. We just started dating.” I swallowed down a big swig of the bubbly liquid.
He eyed Axel, brought the crystal tumbler to his lips and gulped down a mouthful of scotch. “Exactly… you gave up the opportunity of a future with Brock Haversham for a mere possibility?”
Heat burned my cheeks, and I sank back into the couch, wishing it would swallow me whole. I hated for Axel to see how desperate my family was to marry me off.
Ax weaved his warm fingers through mine before sliding to the edge of the cushion and pivoting toward my father.
“If I may, sir, though it’s true Lorelei and I have only been dating for a short time, I can already see a future with her.
” His gaze darted to mine, and a silly smile curled his lips.
“I’ve never met anyone like your daughter.
She’s driven, ambitious, and one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.
And clearly gorgeous.” He shot a wink at my mother.
“Now I can see where she gets that from.”
Another unexpected surge of heat raced up my neck at the compliments. Keep it together, Lore, it’s all an act.
“So I ask that you just give us some time, Senator Battenberg.” Axel squeezed my hand and drew it into his lap.
“Because I’d hate for you to rush your daughter into the arms of a man who didn’t deserve her.
” He leaned forward a bit so that his massive thigh nearly hit my father’s, and the tenor of his voice dropped a couple notches.
“And I’d hate for you to sell her off to the highest bidder without regarding her feelings or considering the kind of man he is. ”
His gaze darted to my neck, to the marks, though long gone, were still firmly imprinted in my memory. And apparently, his.
“No, of course not,” my father gritted out. “There’s no real rush. It simply doesn’t look right, backing out of an arrangement like that. Lloyd Haversham is an important man and—”
“Which is probably why marriages shouldn’t be arranged like financial transactions.
” Axel threw my father a wicked grin. “Take for example, my oldest brother, Jackson, he just got engaged to his high school sweetheart. They’ve been dating for years and per the terms of our trusts, when we turn thirty, we get a substantial inheritance.
Jackson chose to wait until then so he could give his future wife the wedding she’d always dreamed of. ”
Dollar signs flashed across my father’s eyes.
If I wasn’t so nauseated by this entire discussion, I would’ve mouthed an I told you so. But the whole thing just didn’t sit well. I hated the idea of using Axel for his money and last name, even if it was part of the deal.
I shot up, ripping my hand free of his. “Excuse me, I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
Ax’s concerned gaze lifted to mine. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just have to pee after sucking down all that champagne.”
“Lorelei!” Mother scolded.
“Sorry, Mom, when you gotta go, you gotta go.” I snaked around the coffee table and darted around the corner and down the hall to the powder room. Slamming the door behind me, I leaned up against the light oak and blew out a breath.
God, how did I end up with such horrible parents? How did this become my life? I wished I could just hide out here all night, but it wouldn’t be fair to leave poor Axel to the wolves.
A long minute later, I drew in a steadying breath and walked back out into the hallway.
Axel marched toward me with an uncharacteristic frown. “I’m really sorry, Lore, but I have to go.”
“What? Right now?”
He nodded, eyes cast down to the floor. “If I could get out of this, I would, but it’s Sigma Delta stuff and I can’t say no.”
“You promised…”
“I know.” His jaw clenched. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear. Dinner with both grandmas even.”
A smile crept across my lips. “You’re really asking for it, Vanderhart.”
“What can I say, I’m a sucker for grannies.”
My parents' voices drifted down the hallway, Mom’s laughter grating on my nerves. The idea of spending the rest of the evening alone with them was completely out of the question. “Fine, I’ll let you out of it, but only under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You sneak out without my parents noticing, and you take me with you.”