Page 53 of Point of No Return

Skar’s still looking at me, and I realize that I haven’t really agreed to what he said. My shrug is casual, if not mildly irritated. “I’ll be there.”

“There’s a dinner Friday night as well. 8:00.”

Business or family?I want to ask, but as his cold facade falls back into place, his usual frown as cold as ever, I know it doesn’t really matter.

“Liv and I are meeting for drinks then.”

Skar shrugs again, standing. “She can come with.”

“Skar…” I roll my eyes as he yanks on his blazer, adjusting the cuffs to fit over the ink on his wrists. “I had plans.”

“Change them.”

Every muscle in my body longs to reach out and strangle him suddenly, but I refrain. Instead, my hands dig into the counter, gripping the marble tightly.

I will not break.

“You’re in alovelymood this morning.” I paste on a smile, yanking back the pot of coffee and deciding it’s probably best not to walk by him. “Maybe all these mornings away from work aren’t doing you any good.” I pretend to be lost in thought. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

Something like a laugh comes out of him. “Don’t worry, Highness. You’ll be pleased to know it’s only for the rest of the week.”

“And…” I turn back toward him, leaning my hip against the counter. “Why is that?”

He doesn’t hedge, merely narrowing his eyes as he glances down at his phone. “7:00 tonight. 8:00 Friday.”

Then he’s gone- but the tension, the heat- is not. Because somehow I’m still pissed as hell. And it only angers me more that he’s one of the only people to get this kind of reaction from me.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Charlotte

My mother is already sitting at the lengthy wooden bar of the country club when I arrive. A glass of amaretto rests within her reach, and her dark mauve nails trace the rim of it as she watches a game of cards unfold in the corner. She doesn’t seem to spot me from where I’ve just walked in.

All I had to do was flash my golden key card at the club entrance, and they let me inside, but it’s been years since I’ve stepped foot in these expensive mahogany halls. I remember the way around like it was yesterday… and not summers ago after just having moved from Prevya.

I’ve always hated this place. Hated the people who are dressed to the teeth in their finest only to gather and gloat and gossip. My parents were always desperate to fit in. To define their own place in this world. And now looking at my mother checking the glittering watch on her wrist, she fits in too well.

Eva catches my eye from across the bar, waving me over. We kiss either cheek, and I slide into the seat beside her as the bartender looks my way.

“A paloma,” my mother orders for me before patting my hand and leaning toward me. “I have something for you.” A drink is in my hand a few moments later, and I smile my thanks as I listen. “What do you know about Skar’s work?”

My curiosity piques. “At Omenin? Only what you’ve told me mainly. Banking, pharmaceuticals. Why?”

“We’ve been forced to find other partners recently, and we’ve heard some interesting news about your husband’s recent business ventures.” Her eyes widen in emphasis as if saying the words might reveal whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean to me.

What partners?

“He met with Teams Consolidated last week,” she furthers.

“I know. I was with him.”

“They’re real estate. Large scale real estate. They work with some of the biggest businesses in the world. Did they make a deal? Talk about anything specific?” she presses, and only because I know Eva Orlova well-enough do I know just how out of character this is.

She never talks about business. Not like this, at least.

“Well??”

“Well- No. Everything was very vague. Friendly,” I think back to the dinner and the faces of everyone I met. Conversation usually steers clear of specifics. It’s usually polite chatter- and more often than not, it steers toward wishing Skar and I well with our recent marriage.

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