SWNOVELS Chapter 28
Gifts
Chapter 28 — Meeting the Family—1
Fiona gives me a tart little smack on the butt then, breaking my reverie and
laughing as she hurries over to the jewelry box waiting on my vanity. I give her a
weird look and cover my ass with my hands. “What is with people today,” I
murmur.
She laughs again as she comes over to me, standing behind me so that she can
hook the diamond solitaire around my neck on its slim silver chain.
“You got the ring?” she asks, smacking her gum.
“Oh, yeah,” I murmur, walking swiftly over to my bedside drawer and pulling it
open. I reach towards the back, fishing it out and pushing it swiftly onto my left
hand.
When I look at Fiona, she’s crossing her arms and shaking her head at me.
“A million—dollar diamond,” she says, “and you shove it in your bedside drawer?”
“Um,” I say, biting my lip in response. I hadn’t even thought about it. I look
around, wondering where else I should have put
it
“Nevermind,” she says, laughing at me more.
“Fiona,” I say, taking in her vintage Juicy velour sweatsuit. “Won't you please
come? I'll feel so much better with you there.”
comfortable here.”
I frown at her, knowing that something's up. But, she knows more about this
world than I do. If she doesn’t want to go, I'm not going to push her.
“Okay,” I say, sighing as I headed for the door.
“Wait wait!” she calls, unzipping a garment bag and revealing a gorgeous mink
stole.
“Oh my god,” I say, walking back towards it. “It's beautiful
“Yeah,” she says, admiring it. “Vintage. You lucky girl.”
Smiling she goes to wrap it around my shoulders.
“Wait,” I say, not wanting to touch it. “Is it...like real? Were those alive?”
“What are you,” she scolds, “some kind of tree hugger?”
cc
“It's wrong,” I protest, staring at it. “I feel so bad, thinking about those little
animals —
“Baby,” she says, taking my face in her hands, “It’s vintage. These minks died
over sixty years ago. No new minks died so you could look fabulous.”
I hesitate, my eyes taking it in. It is so beautiful.
“Come on,” she says, wrapping it around me before I can say anything, tucking
my hands into the little pockets at the bottom which help me keep it around my
shoulders. “It would be an
to these little minks, to leave them in the closet for another sixty years. Take them
out! Let the world admire them!”
Laughing, I head out of the room and down the stairs, brushing my face against
the wrap, enjoying the feel of the soft fur against my cheek.
I stop though, halfway down, when I see Kent at the bottom standing with his
arms crossed, his feet apart. Staring at me.
Shy, suddenly, I hunch my shoulders up towards my ears, clutching the mink
close against my chest, pressing my thighs and knees together. I'm abruptly very
aware of the shortness of my skirt. I don’t break eye contact though. Instead, I
bite my bottom lip hoping — ridiculously — that I look okay.
I swear I hear him growl as his brow lowers, his eyes locked on mine.
“Fay!” Daniel calls, joining his father at the bottom of the stairs. “Wow, you look
stunning.” He gives me a big smile and I start to move again, focusing on him as
I come to his side.
“Thanks,” I say, giving him a little punch on his shoulder. “You look pretty cute
yourself.”
B
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Gifts
Chapter 28 — Meeting the Family—2
He gives me a charming, bashful smile, and I'm reminded again just how good—
looking my fiancé is. Both of our faces turn to Kent, though, as he snorts at us,
shaking his head.
“Come on,” he says, nodding towards the door. “The cars are waiting.”
With that, we head out of the house. On our way to meet my entire family.
I whistle a little as we walk into the ballroom at the country club, impressed. This
place has a grand, old-fashioned kind of charm, with freshly buffed fine oak
floors, brass chandeliers, and sweeping views of the golf greens all along the
southern wall.
As soon as we enter, a waiter comes up to offer us champagne, Kent doesn’t
make eye contact with him, merely saying “whiskey, neat,” and surveying the
guests. However, Daniel ist more polite, nodding and smiling as he takes two
glasses from the tray, passing one to me.
We only get a few steps into the room before we are bombarded with attention.
“Is this her?” A plump woman says, hurrying over and reaching out a hand to take
mine. “Is this our darling lost Fav?”
him down.
Gifts
Chapter 28 — Meeting the Family-3
“Um,” I say, hesitating a little. “I think I'd like to...visit the bathroom,” I say, “before
I take that on.”
“Of course,” Kent says, turning with me, putting a hand on my back to show me
the way.
“Dad,” Daniel says, his face frustrated as he steps in front of us. “I'll take her,” he
says, shaking his head. “You've been kind of hovering all night —
“Nonsense,” Kent says, frowning at him and nudging me forward. As a trio, we
head towards the alcove with the little restroom sign. Daniel pushes the point
further.
“Seriously, dad,” he murmurs, “you can go, I'll stay by her side — I can handle this
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« ) SA
No, you can't Daniel,” his father
snaps, taking an aggressive step
towards him, cutting me off in my
“ :
path. “You have no idea what the
politics are in this room — who it
might be dangerous for her to talk to
— who is out for blood, who could be
: 3 " 3
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Daniel's face twists, angry. “And whose fault is that, dad?” he asks, his voice hurt
and stubborn. “You never involve me in these conversations, you never
“It's your fault, Daniel,” Kent snarls, Daniel falling silent. “It's your fault. Before
tonight you've never been interested in the family business — always more
interested in college and books
what you're doing in this world? Suddenly you're a boss, a Don, in the business?”
Daniel frowns at his father, crossing his arms across his chest, clearly hurt. “I can
handle myself,” he says, still angry but a little cowed. He knows, deep down, that
his father has a point.
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Kent opens his mouth to speak again
but I push past him, eager to get
“ ) .
away. “Um, I'm going to go to the
» :
bathroom,” I say, looking over my
“ :
shoulder at them. “While you
> » :
two...sort this out.” They ignore me,
turning to continue the argument
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When I come out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Kent is still standing there,
but Daniel is not.
“Where did he go?” I ask, looking around for him.
“He went to cool off,” Kent murmurs, his arms crossed. I can tell he’s still pissed,
but he’s putting on a controlled front for everyone in the room.
Just then, a waiter at the front of the room rings a gong. I jump and blink a little at
the noise, surprised. What the hell does that mean?
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Apparently, everyone else knows,
because they start to filter away
towards tables. The waiter scurries
: : «
over to us, bowing a little. “If you
: : ”
would please, sir, miss,” he says,
gesturing towards the head table.
« : ” :
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Kent nods and we follow him to a long rectangular table with just three seats left.
I watch as the waiter pulls out the furthest chair, gesturing towards it with a smile
and looking directly at
a little, knowing that he’s not going to be of any help.
With that, I sigh, thanking the waiter and sinking into the chair seated directly
next to Tristin, my new wicked stepmother.
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