“I’m sure they’re wonderful.” I held one of the shells in my hand.
“You know this dinner is a celebration.” His eyebrows were high on his forehead.
“Oh?”
“You know this is about the hotel. I’m very proud of you, Kennedy.”
My chest warmed. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad you got the Vieux Carre, Dad.”
He tucked the linen napkin at his collar. He had to wiggle his tie to make space. “There’s something I think you should know about the arrangements. About how everything fell into place. Now that it’s official. You should see the total picture.”
We took a second to wait while the glasses of champagne were poured by our server.
“What do you mean? I thought the auction went well.”
He smirked. “It wasn’t that simple. I had to play a little game of chess ahead of time. It paid off.” I knew how chess was played.
The bubbly happiness started to turn sour. “What did you do?”
He winked. “Kennedy, you know this move meant everything to me. Everything to the company. This is the home that you are going to create for the next generation of Martins.”
“Well, that’s not happening anytime soon.” I hated when he talked about me like I was a piece of livestock to breed.
“This is where your dynasty begins. Your own legacy.” He spoke as if we were in a hobbit book. Had the medication altered his personality? This was intense, even for him.
“Dad,” I tried to quieten him.
He ignored me. “I couldn’t risk losing the key piece. Not on the very first deal. Not when this one matters more than all the others.”
My stomach flipped. I couldn’t eat the oyster. I placed it on the bread plate. What in the hell was going on with him?
“Can you just tell me?” I asked. I’d never be able to guess.
My stomach plunged another level when I heard a saxophone start up. I searched the restaurant. The artist was outside on the street. The shutters had been thrown open. I wasn’t the only one who noticed his playing. Small smiles lingered on the guests.
“Kennedy? You seem distracted. I’m trying to tell you something important. Something about your future.”
“No, go ahead. You have my attention,” I lied, tearing my head from the window and zeroing on my father. “I’d like to know about your game of chess.”
“Good. Good. These are the life lessons that are the most important. Because I’ve made a decision. A big decision about your future.”
“Which is?” I said a quick prayer that he hadn’t met a premiere New Orleans bachelor.
He took his time making his way around the tray of oysters. “See, I’ve realized something about you Kennedy. If your mother were here, she would have said I told you so.”
I blinked. He never mentioned my mother.
“You are a valuable asset to the company. In fact, you’re going to be the face of the company.”
“I don’t think I understand.”
It always bothered me the way he held his knife in his fist as if he used it to bludgeon someone rather than spread butter or cut a steak.
“You’ve picked up on the details and the reports quickly. You beat out every man in the city today for that hotel. And let’s face it, I’ve had more bad days than good lately. I’ve had to start considering that.”
He wouldn’t say out loud what was going on with his health, but the reference was clear. I knew I couldn’t ask questions about the pills that remained next to his nightstand.
“Dad—”
He raised his hand, still balling the knife in his fist. “Hear me out.”
I nodded. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“You might be able to secure a good merger to a good New Orleans family, but you’re young. There’s no reason to limit what you could do by setting up a marriage.”
I knew my eyes bulged. I couldn’t help it. “Really?”
“The Corbans played too many games. Your better than them anyway.” He finished off his champagne.
“What? What does this have to do with the Corbans?” Specifically, I wanted to know about Knight. The restaurant seemed to darken. I could no longer here the sax player.
“I want the power in this town. I’m going to have it,” he stated. “My choices are take everything from Raphael Corban, or join forces with the bastard. I offered him a family merger.”
My hands began to shake. “You made a formal offer? For me?”
“I did. But his son refused it.” He seemed happy. Gleeful.
“When?” I gritted my teeth.
“He had up until the auction to make a decision.”
I shook my head. “No. When did you make the offer?” I pressed for details. I had to force myself to accept what my father was telling me.
His stare was blank. “The day he stopped by the house. Our first meeting. We had drinks in the study, and I wrote the letter to Raphael.”
Oh God. That was the day. The day the light faded in Knight’s eyes. The day he made me feel like the most beautiful enthralling woman before he yanked it away.
I pushed back from the table, reaching for my clutch. “Kennedy, what are you doing?” my father asked.
“I have something I need to do.”
“Not the Corbans.” He glared at me. “Don’t go near them. Not now.”
“Dad, Knight was important to me. Until you did this. I have to talk to him.” I didn’t feel like explaining where I was going or the million things going through my head right now.
“He made his decision. He doesn’t want to marry you.” The words hurt, but not the way he thought. I didn’t want to get married right now either.
I stopped along the side of the table. “These family rules are archaic.”
“They have always been a part of our history. Our legacy. Your mother and I made a good match. Sit down. This is our celebration dinner. People are staring at you. At me,” he hissed.
“I can’t. I have to talk to Knight.
