Page 34 of Royal Shark
His jaw clenches just like Gabriel’s does when he’s irritated. “No.”
“Why not?”
He speaks through his teeth. “He’s suffered enough.”
He strides out the door.
I go back to my table and sit with my espresso, lost in thought. Even though he was clearly not thrilled to spend time with me, he was helpful. And he did say he’d get back to me if there was a problem. If he was completely closed off from my family, he wouldn’t even meet with me.
I look to the ceiling and blow out a sharp breath. There’s reason to hope. Plus Silvia has met him and his brothers. Maybe Silvia is the key to uniting the families.
~ ~ ~
Sara
I don’t think I’ve been this social in years. Drinks with both Rourke twins and now a dinner party at Silvia’s apartment. I stopped uptown at Columbia to meet Chloe, and we rode the subway down to Central Park south, where Silvia and her husband live. It’s pricey real estate, but not as upscale as I would’ve expected from royalty. I thought Silvia would buy a multimillion-dollar unit in the Dakota, where all the famous wealthy live. I did hear that Villroy’s fishing economy was faltering and they bolstered it by using their fishing industry to make high-end cosmetics. The day spa and casino were created to pamper and entertain respectively, but it all started with cosmetics.
Chloe has barely spoken to me the whole way here because she’s studying for an organic chemistry test through notes on her phone. I worry about this girl. I mean, she already did the hard part—got into the college she wanted and placed out of several intro science courses. Now that she’s there, she needs to let loose a little.
I glance over at her. She’s wearing her usual uniform of cardigan, tank top, and jeans. It’s an all-weather foolproof system. Sometimes the cardigan comes off, and sometimes it stays on. Wow! The colors are a neutral palette that she mixes and matches. Today it’s a pink cardigan over a light beige tank. She doesn’t waste time on fashion. We resemble each other—same blond hair and green eyes—only she’s petite with fine cheekbones and a bow to her top lip that makes her look like a sweet angel. She used to be hell on wheels. Now she’s all study all the time.
“Okay, put your phone away,” I tell her with a jab to the ribs.
Her eyes flash. “Ow!”
“Stop studying. We’re going in the building now.”
She sticks her phone in her purse. “You didn’t have to jab me!”
“Yes, I did, because you don’t hear me otherwise.” I’m the mom, except I’m her big sister.
She gets quiet, and I see she’s mouthing words to herself. She’s not one for mocking backtalk. She’s probably reciting scientific formulas.
I snap my fingers in front of her face to break the formula trance. “How’s school?”
“Fantastic! My advisor worked out the perfect schedule for me to double major in bio and chem and still graduate in three years.”
“Double major in three years? Why don’t you just do the combined biochem?”
A serene smile blooms on her face. “Because there’s so many courses I want to take in both bio and chem. I need the double major.”
We stop at the front desk and check in. This place used to be a hotel and is now apartments.
“Silvia says she’ll be down in a minute,” the clerk says.
“Thank you.” I turn to Chloe. “Have you been to any parties yet?”
“You know I’m not into the party scene. It’s a waste of time.”
“Are you making friends? Hanging out?” It’s been a little over three weeks since she started school and I fear she’s studying all the time.
“I do have a study group. About five of us, sometimes four.”
“Anyone cute?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend. I’m very focused on my goals right now. Three years and then I’ve got Harvard Medical School in my sights.”
And then she’ll be locked away in a lab for her career. “Maybe you could join a club.”
