Be a Doll(62)

“Would you like something to drink?’’

He checked the time on his gleaming, and without a doubt expensive, watch and frowned. “No. It’s too early for a stiff drink and I already had a coffee.’’ He turned toward the living room, going straight for the couch without waiting for my invitation to take a seat.

I might have a difficult background and I might have spent a few years without a roof over my head, but it baffled me that a man like him wouldn’t muster a modicum of politeness and education in all situations. I believed that my years at Carter Manor had made me even more sensitive to everything regarding polite etiquette and such, but that man truly ruffled my feathers.

Without a word, I joined him on the couch, but chose to sit on the opposite sectional. I sat properly with my back straight and my legs pressed together elegantly even if I was wearing damn yoga pants and not some fancy skirt or slacks.

“I suppose you’re not here on a social call, Mr. Grimes. What can I help you with?’’

His dark eyes narrowed on me, probably deciding on the spot of which route to take. Inside, I was slightly nervous, not because that man impressed me even if he did look a lot like an older version of Mathis only more sinister, but it was the reason of his visit that unsettled me. I flew blind and I didn’t do well when taken by surprise at a weak moment.

“Are you aware that my son is planning on a hostile takeover on a friend of mine’s company?’’ he asked with an even voice, falsely calm.

I entwined my fingers in my lap delicately and nodded. “I suppose you’re referring to Mr. Moran.’’

“Mathis did talk to you about his plans then,’’ he said and I perceived a slight surprise underneath his appearance of detachment.

“Let’s just say that I’m not as stupid as you think of me. Our dinner with Mr. Moran and his wife here is quite memorable and Mathis vowed to make him pay. Considering your visit here, I can put two and two together.’’

“Then I shouldn’t have to explain at length why you should tell my son to stop acting so harshly for such an inane reason.’’

Mr. Grimes’ eyes bore into me, probably thinking such eye contact could sway me to his advantage. For a businessman, I found it baffling that he could underestimate someone without actually knowing them. He immediately put me in the whore category and in his mind it seemed that it couldn’t go with a smart brain.

I kept a calm expression on my face, stopping my lips from twitching into a sneer when I really wanted to let go of my composure, but with a man like him it wouldn’t help my cause or untangle the situation I was in.

From the little I gathered of the family dynamics, I knew that Mr. Grimes and Mathis’ issues stemmed deep and I was only a new tool to use as a matter of discord.

“I’m sure Sylvie isn’t interfering in your business matters, Mr. Grimes, and I don’t intend on overstepping that precise boundary.’’

The cold laugh coming from him chilled me as uneasiness grew, snatching from me the warmth in my body. “Don’t compare my marriage to yours, young lady. We both know this is a charade, a joke. The reason of your presence in my son’s life is a matter of a business arrangement and the reason why he’s buying Moran’s company is because of you and because he doesn’t want people to question his marriage.’’

Stiff and angry, I clasped my fingers together in my lap more tightly, but that was the only sign of my growing temper. “Mr. Grimes,’’ I began with an even voice, but the chill in my tone was unmistakable. “Mathis’ mind is set and I will not get in the way. His business is his to deal with as he sees fit. If you have some grievance, I will ask you to discuss your issues with him.’’

“I see that you like to use lady manners.’’ He leaned back on the couch, showing me without saying that he wasn’t ready to leave or drop the subject. If anything, the harshness in his eyes accentuated and in that moment I realized that the coldness in Mathis’ eyes held more warmth than his father’s. “Is that from the time you spent in that bordello?’’

He was baiting me. I knew it. I breathed calmly, pushing through the pain in my lungs that was typical when anger was about to get the best of me and smiled at the older man facing me. It was probably my most fake smile and the one that pained my cheeks the most, but it was my best weapon. Showing no weakness by hiding behind a polite smile.

“As much as Carter Manor’s ethics are debatable, it has nothing to do with a bordello. If you have nothing better to say than insult me because I’m not doing what you want me to, I’ll ask you to leave.’’

He eyed me a moment without saying a word, without blinking and then he grabbed his tie and repositioned it on his still flat stomach in spite of his age over his pristine button-down. “I wonder if you’ll be siding with my son again when he starts coming home later and later to spend time with another woman. I really wonder how long that fealty to your husband will last, because I can assure you that my son has no real interest in you other than for your plastic.’’ He stood up then and buttoned his suit jacket, quite in the same way Mathis did. “You shouldn’t forget where you’re from.’’

“I’ll never forget, Mr. Grimes. You shouldn’t forget the loyalty you should have towards your son.’’

He bent and grabbed his briefcase and glared at me once he stood straight again. I went to my feet too and rounded the coffee table to lead my father-in-law back to the door. I was too angry now to care for my appearance and what he might be thinking.