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“You forgot to mention a billionaire,” Elijah says, taking a large sip of the whiskey he has in front of him.
“Enough Elijah!” It’s Francesca’s voice that cuts through the silence this time.
“Sorry, Mother, but don’t you think it’s convenient? She splits up with her fiancé and then she and Gabriel shack up together within five minutes. Are you so focused on Gabriel finding a woman that you can’t recognise a gold digger when you see one? Leah comes from nothing. She grew up on a council estate.”
I raise my eyebrows at his words. Maybe I should have expected the security and cyber expert to have run a background check on me, but I’m not ashamed of my upbringing or how hard I worked to get where I am. I will not let some wealthy prick make me feel inferior because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
“Her fiancé left her. His new girlfriend is pregnant. It wasn’t Leah’s choice to leave. She found herself homeless without her cash cow of a fiancé. Did you know he’s a trader, earning a seven-figure bonus? Leah upgraded when she stuck her claws into Gabriel.”
I sit back, unaccustomed to this level of venom being spewed in my direction. The background check certainly explains the instant hostility.
Gabriel is on his feet next to me facing off against his brother.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“What?” Elijah pushes Gabriel back, and I’m amazed Gabriel holds his ground due to the size of his sibling.
“Eli, you’re out of line,” Caleb says.
“Apologise, now,” Gabriel says.
I can sense the anger radiating off him.
“What, for speaking the truth? For being concerned that you brother dearest, are being taken for a ride?”
“You don’t know the truth,” Gabriel hisses in his brother’s face. His face a mask of anger. “Not every woman is Darra.”
“Maybe not, but it’s the truth, or are you too blind to see it? Too taken with a hot, wet —”
I’m drawn to the young girl sitting next to her father, her eyes wide as she stares at the two men.
“Enough,” I say, shooting a look towards Lottie, whose eyes have now dropped to the table in front of her.
The two men remain chest to chest until Gabriel finally steps back, returning to my side.
Elijah’s eyes drop to his daughter, and he places a hand on her head, his eyes softening.
She pushes her chair back and stands.
“Lottie?” Elijah asks.
“I’m...er...just going to the bathroom.”
We all watch as the young girl makes a hasty exit.
“Now the peacocking is over. Maybe we can have the main course,” Kat says, throwing Elijah a look of pure disgust. “I apologise for my brother’s lack of manners, Leah,” Kat adds.
Elijah gets up, shoving his chair back. “Don’t apologise for me,” He spits out at his sister.
“Then don’t be an ass,” she says coldly.
My stomach hardens, and the back of my throat burns.
“Stop, please,” I say.
I turn to Gabriel, my hand resting against his cheek. A silent message passes between us.
“Leah, don’t,” he says, his voice almost pleading.
