The Fearless King (The Kings #2)(37)

Eliza lifted her chin and fell into step beside him, refusing to let her brother outpace her with his longer legs. “I still don’t understand why I was called home for this.”

“We have to deal with him, which means you have to deal with him, too.”

She wanted to slap that cold expression right off his face. “Yes, well, I’ve had to deal with Mother ever since she was exiled. She might be out of your hair, but she’s essentially moved in with me while she supposedly scouts for other places to live.” In the meantime, Lydia had begun meddling in every aspect of Eliza’s life, and kept making worrisome comments about how shitty Eliza’s agent was at his job. If she didn’t give the woman a project or a small country to conquer soon, Lydia would slip into her life permanently, and the small bit of breathing space Eliza had fought so hard for would disappear as if it’d never existed.

“It’s nothing more than the three of us have been dealing with for the last twenty years, Eliza. It’s about damn time you grew up.”

Grow up, Eliza. Stop being such a spoiled brat, Eliza.

She swallowed a sharp response. It wouldn’t make a difference, and they couldn’t afford to be visibly divided when facing down their father, no matter their personal opinions of each other. Nothing she could say would change Anderson’s mind, anyway. She wasn’t brilliant, wasn’t particularly business savvy, wasn’t technically advanced beyond other people in her generation. The only thing Eliza excelled at was being pretty. She made it an art form, and was widely renowned for it.

But pretty only went skin-deep.

A fact her oldest brother never hesitated to remind her of.

He stopped just inside the door, his jaw tight. “If at any point you feel uncomfortable, we will leave. The only thing you owe him at this point is a meeting, seeing as how you’re not officially an acting part of Kingdom Corp.”

Even his help comes with thorns.

She lifted her chin. “I can handle it.”

“All the same.” He opened the door and allowed her to precede him.

The dim lighting gave her pause for half a heartbeat, but Eliza had walked runways where lights blinded her plenty of times before. This was nothing compared to that—even knowing what waited for her. The hostess caught her eye and led the way back to a private room situated in the far corner of the restaurant. It was called the Cellar, and the decor more than lived up to the name, the exposed brick and flickering candlelight raising the small hairs on the back of her neck.

Or maybe that was the man who pushed slowly to his feet at their approach.

Elliott held out his hands, and there was nothing she could do but take them and let him tow her closer. He brushed a perfectly polite kiss against her cheek, but bile still rose in response. Show no fear. “Elliott.”

“Eliza. Thank you for making the time.” As charming as ever, all warm voice and easy smiles. If she hadn’t seen the moment when the peace turned to nightmare, she might not have believed it possible of this man. Even so, Eliza knew all too well that she’d been spared the worst he had to offer—something her siblings held against her, even if they weren’t aware they were doing it.

“Let’s keep this short.” Anderson held out a chair for her—as far away from their father as the table allowed. The move warmed some of the cold from her body, even though she knew he did it more to spite Elliott than to protect her.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Easier said than done.

She sank into the chair and arranged her long skirt around her. “I’m surprised you’re back in Houston, Elliott. I thought you hated this place.”

“Oh, that.” He waved it away. “Home is home, regardless of the baggage that comes with it. Isn’t that right, Andy?”

“It’s relative.” The words were so clipped, it was a wonder he didn’t chip his tooth.

Eliza shifted, drawing both men’s attention to her—and away from each other. “You said you had a specific reason you wanted to see me?”

The smile fell away from Elliott’s face, leaving a serious mask in its place. The earnest father, who wasn’t willing to spare the rod for fear of spoiling the child, but who would do it out of love rather than anger. It was as much a lie as anything else about him. “You’ve done good, my girl, but it’s time to stop playing around and come home.”

She sat up straighter. “What are you talking about?”

“Your siblings have all done their duty to the family.” He twisted his mouth as if sharing an inside joke just between the two of them. “Now it’s your turn.” He reached across the table and covered her hand with his own, and it took everything she had not to drive her fork into the fleshy part of his forearm.

The room fell away around them, the rushing sound loud in her ears overwhelming everything else. But not loud enough to drown out his next words. “It’s not so much to give, really, my girl. Asher Bishop is attractive enough, and he’s got the kind of money that can ensure you keep up the lifestyle you should be accustomed to.”

“Explain what the fuck you mean, old man,” Anderson snarled.

Elliott never took his gaze from her. “It’s already set in stone, Eliza. You’re a vital part of securing a merger that will move Kingdom Corp into the big leagues, where it’s always belonged.” His smile widened, as if he thought she’d be pleased with this turn of events. As if he dared her not to be happy. “No point in theatrics or threats. What’s done is done.”