Page 13 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

Being home made me think about my father constantly. Each time I walked into his study, I half-expected him to spin around in the big leather chair and ask me some random question on African geography or Olympic medals. His mind worked at warp speed, so I never knew what topic to expect next. I really missed our conversations.

I went downstairs and snuck through the kitchen where Bonita, our housekeeper, was busily preparing dinner. Bonita Pandy had been with us forever and lived in her own suite at the back of the house.

“What’s for dinner?” I asked, hugging her from the back.

“Oh hi, honey.” She turned to kiss my cheek. Bonita had actually begun working as our nanny but ended up staying. “Roast beef.”

“With Yorkshire puddings?”

“Of course, they’re your favourite.” They were my father’s favourite too, but neither of us mentioned that.

When I walked into the living room, my mother and Uncle Thomas were sitting by the fireplace and having aperitifs with Greg and Rebecca. My uncle reminded me of my father. And since he and my mother were sitting in the very same chairs my parents usually sat, the resemblance was even stronger. I blinked quickly to get rid of the sudden moisture in my eyes.

“Hello, Amanda.” My uncle rose up and gave me a brief hug. His voice was so like Daddy’s as well, but I steeled myself.He’s gone, Amanda. Don’t keep dwelling on all the missed opportunities.

“Help yourself to a drink.” My mother motioned to the stocked bar cart in the corner. I wasn’t sure if I wanted all my wits about me or to dull my senses before dinner. Uncle Thomas could hardly bear being away from the Vice, and he wanted to know every detail of our days. I understood that he felt distanced from the office, but he was trying to micromanage all our actions. I decided to go for dulled senses and poured myself aprosecco,then I sat down on the other side of Rebecca.

She squeezed my knee. “I’m so glad you’re working with Greg now.”

“Thanks. Poor Greg. I guess D.J.ing wasn’t paying the bills.” Rebecca and Greg met in their university music program, and both of them were music geeks. Now she worked in sales for the Vancouver Symphony.

Rebecca’s normally sweet expression turned south. “I’d be just as happy if Greg went back to music.”

“You don’t like him working for the Vice?”

“Being acting General Manager is very stressful for him.” I nodded. Greg was a smart guy, but he got overwhelmed very easily. She lowered her voice so nobody else could hear us. “And I don’t like that place at all. There’s this sleazy atmosphere. And Greg is clueless about women, but it’s only a matter of time until he notices....”

“Notices what?”

She gave me an incredulous look. “Have you not looked around the office there? There are a ridiculous number of sexy women there. I try not to be jealous, but he’s so handsome and sweet.”

“What are you talking about?” Rebecca wasn’t making total sense, but it was adorable that she thought my brother was some kind of chick magnet. He had been so awkward around women before they met.

“God, Amanda, your whole family goes around with their heads in the clouds! When you go to the office tomorrow, look around.”

“Are you talking about the Ice Girls?”

But my mother interrupted ourtête-à-têteat that moment to offer us some hors d’oeuvres, so we didn’t finish our odd conversation.

Uncle Thomas addressed both Greg and me. “So, what’s new at the office?”

“Actually, we had something really big happen.” Greg leaned forward.

“What was that?”

“Chris Luczak came in for our meeting on Friday!”

“From the Millionaires?”

Greg nodded. “Yeah, he came along with Donald Swan. But that’s not even—”

“I can tell you why they’re there,” Uncle Thomas interrupted. “They’re after the team. That’s been their agenda all along.”

My brother shook his head. “They didn’t say anything about buying the team. They actually offered to help us—out of respect for Daddy.” Diplomatically, Greg didn’t mention any of the shady comments they’d made about Uncle Thomas.

In my opinion, it was time to cut the business talk, but Greg continued. “In fact, they’re loaning Lucky Luczak to us. He’s going be a hockey consultant.” Greg’s beaming smile communicated exactly how great he thought that news was.

Uncle Thomas’s eyes bulged slightly, but he held back his opinion on all this great news. “Just be careful. Don’t reveal anything to him.” He muttered something about “snakes in the grass,” but only I heard that part.

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