But she shook her head. “It’s fine. Really. Plus, I’m hoping they’ll be serving some of the same food we had for lunch that day in the trailer. Those salads were delicious!”
It was a good distraction and it worked. Within minutes they were all seated around the dining room table.
“Leanna,” his father began as soon as they were seated. “We have all enjoyed your desserts. Did you go to school here in North Carolina or did you train in Europe?”
“Mostly here in North Carolina. I took classes at the community college all through high school. I actually graduated high school with my associate degree. After that, I studied at Johnson and Wales in Charlotte and then did several internships–one in San Francisco and one in New York.” She smiled. “Europe would have been amazing, but I couldn’t afford it. I keep telling Brody how I’d love to go and eat my way around Paris.”
Everyone laughed and Leanna allowed herself to relax and figured her cousin’s mood would improve over lunch.
“Really?” Mr. King asked. “Paris, you say? Well, when Brody accepts his promotion and has to travel to Paris for business, we’ll be sure to add a few days to the trip so you can go with him!”
Turning her head, she looked at Brody who was staring intently down at his plate. “Dad…”
“Nonsense. You know we were going to make the announcement soon and now that I know how much Leanna would love to travel, the two of you will have to take the company jet so you can have some alone time. And who knows? The two of you in the most romantic city in the world?” He looked at his wife and smiled broadly. “We could be planning another wedding, Sylvia! And this time, our future daughter-in-law will be coming with her own event planning business!” Then his smile turned to Leanna. “Could you imagine a destination wedding there? Think of the cakes and pastries!”
“Dad…” Brody warned again but no one was listening.
Meanwhile, Leanna’s head was spinning. Were these people seriously talking about her and Brody getting married? Did they know something she didn’t?
“Oh, Brody’s getting the promotion?” Travis said, not sounding at all pleased. “Isn’t that convenient.”
“I guess people get the company jet when it’s only somewhat business-related,” Charlene commented and Leanna wasn’t sure where to look first. All around her people were talking and none of it was making sense. When she looked over at her cousin, however, she had a very smug smile on her face that said, “I told you so.”
Brody hadn’t mentioned the promotion in a while, but it sounded like it was something he knew was coming. Why didn’t he tell her? And why was he suddenly working less if he was going to be taking on more responsibility?
“I’d like to propose a toast,” his father called out, raising his glass. “To Brody. We’ve seen so much growth from you in these last several months and we know Leanna had a lot to do with it. So maybe we should be toasting her as well, huh?” he added with a laugh. “Either way, here’s to the big future you always wanted, Son. Out of all my boys, you’ve made me the proudest. Cheers!”
Seriously, what the heck? She thought. Did the man just blatantly say he had a favorite child?
The only ones drinking were Mr. and Mrs. King and Charlene. Brody was still staring down, Travis was glowering at all of them, and Leanna felt a little sick to her stomach. She was about to excuse herself when the staff came in with platters of food.
“Wonderful! Perfect timing!” Sylvia said. “I chose all of Brody’s favorites since we’re celebrating him today!”
Once he gets his promotion, you’ll be history.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
She’d been such a fool. Everyone always told her she was gullible but even this had to be some kind of new record for her.
Brody wouldn’t look at her because it was all out in the open now. He had secured what he wanted to secure and she was no longer needed and he was going to break up with her.
Only…it didn’t feel like that. He was too concerned earlier, too willing to leave.
Probably because he can string you on a little longer and enjoy messing around with you…
Oh, God…
The thought of food was almost enough to make her sick, but there was no way she was going to make a scene here. Maybe Brody had lied to her; maybe everything he’d said to her was a way for him to get what wanted from his father. And as much as it broke her heart, sadly, she understood. If there were something she could do to finally get her parents’ acceptance, she would do it.
Maybe not go to the extremes Brody did, but…she would probably do it.
He played on her emotions and she was an easy target.
When was she ever going to learn?
Swallowing the lump of emotion that threatened to choke her, she accepted the food being passed her way and did her best to keep a smile on her face.
And prayed she could keep it there until it was time to leave.
With or without Brody.
He was seething.
Full of rage.
And because his mother raised him with manners, he held it in until lunch was over.
Once everyone was done, Brody excused himself and asked his father if he could speak to him.
Alone.
“Brody…” he heard Leanna plead when he went to walk away and he snapped at her because his patience was holding on by a thread.
“This doesn’t concern you!” And he hadn’t even looked at her as he said it because his sole focus was on getting his father alone.
As soon as the door to the study was closed, he exploded. “What the hell was all that?” he demanded. “Why would you say all those things?”
“What things?” his father asked, playing innocent.
“You know exactly what things! They were all lies and you just couldn’t stop talking! What were you thinking? Do you have any idea how you made me feel? Or Leanna? Or Travis? Or…hell, even Charlene? What is wrong with you?”
With a careless shrug, his father walked over to the leather sofa and sat down. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me. We both know you were testing me about the promotion. And your brother has gotten a little too laid-back. Once this wedding nonsense is over, hopefully he’ll get his head out of his ass and realize he has to actually work for a living.” He shook his head. “I have a feeling he’s going to have to work a lot to keep that one happy.”
“Dad!” he snapped. “Listen to yourself! That is a horrible thing to say!”
“It’s the truth! You know it and I know it. You were just brave enough to say it first.”
As much as he wanted to bask in the twisted compliment, there was more at stake here. “Okay, forget about Travis and Charlene for a minute. You have to know that I wasn’t testing you about the promotion. I don’t want it. Not anymore.”
“Nonsense! You’ve been chasing that damn position for years! I’ve had to listen to you pitch yourself for far too long. I thought I’d make you grovel a bit but then you surprised me by turning it down. Well…bravo. I’m the one who ended up caving. You should be happy!”
“But I’m not because I don’t want it!” he stated firmly. “I’m not happy, Dad, and I haven’t been in a long time. I’ve been chasing that position and I thought it was what I wanted, but it’s not. It wasn’t a game or some ploy…”