Ember (Constant Flame Duet Book 1)

by Christi Whitson

  “Dad’s business dinners tend to take on the feel of a conference meeting, only with better food,” she said dryly. Owen chuckled.

  “I’ll be ready to stab you with my fork or something if you start to nod off,” he teased.

  Lena smiled at his wit but remembered the animated discussion she’d witnessed between Owen and Nate, realizing that he would probably end up enjoying himself that evening just as much as her father would. Rather than feel displaced by that scenario, however, Lena was actually grateful for Owen’s presence. She hoped that it would take the spotlight off of her a little and that she might actually leave her father’s home in a reasonably good mood for once. Lena laughed sardonically under her breath.

  Wouldn’t that be something.

  Chapter 16

  When Lena and Owen entered Nate’s formal living room, there were already a number of people waiting for dinner to be served. Nearly all of them greeted Lena with warm familiarity, and Owen tried not to look as out of place as he felt among them. Instead, he focused on Lena’s presence, drawing on the natural comfort he always found at her side. She moved gracefully about the room, introducing him to Nate’s guests with the skill of a seasoned hostess. Everyone either worked for GC or was married to someone who did, and Lena was on first-name terms with all of them. She asked after their children by name, expressed concern over someone’s recent illness, and congratulated one couple on their recent wedding anniversary.

  Nate was deep in conversation with a shorter man who looked to be several years his junior, in spite of his thinning hair. A young woman stood slightly off to the man’s side, wearing an expression of polite interest and holding a glass of wine. Although Lena and her father had exchanged a brief wave when she and Owen had arrived, she had intentionally worked her way around the room in the opposite direction so that Nate would be the last person they greeted. If the last two meals she’d shared with Owen and her father were any indication, there was a chance that Nate would end up monopolizing Owen for the better part of the evening.

  “Hey, honey,” Nate smiled, greeting Lena with a one-armed hug and a kiss to her temple.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  “And Owen,” he continued, reaching forward to shake Owen’s hand. “I’m glad you could join us.”

  “As am I, thank you.”

  “Let me introduce you to my good friend and business partner Jeff Phelps and his daughter Madalyn. Jeff is our CFO, of course, and Madalyn works in our Accounting department.”

  Owen shook hands with the other gentleman and the young woman at his side, offering each of them a polite smile. Lena observed Phelps closely but was careful to keep her wariness of him out of her expression. He spoke to Owen with his usual South Carolina accent and benign smile, giving little more than a brief nod in her direction, but she couldn’t be certain that he wasn’t merely maintaining a neutral facade. The only thing remarkable about his behavior was the fact that, when he’d glanced at her, he hadn’t been looking at her face. Not that that was anything new.

  Lena’s preoccupation with Phelps caused her to miss Madalyn’s initial reaction to Owen. Madalyn was an attractive woman in her late twenties, and her gracious manners and sweet smile seemed to put people at ease. Lena had always felt, however, that she was a rather artificial woman. There was a sharpness in her eyes that belied her pleasant smiles, and Lena was instinctively wary of her. Madalyn’s eyes moved up and down Owen’s body as though she were a predator eyeing its next meal. She was no longer merely listening to her father’s conversation but was now doing her best to insert herself into it, and Lena inched closer to Owen without conscious thought.

  “Are you sure you’re only nineteen?” Madalyn trilled flirtatiously. “You seem far too mature to be so young.”

  Yeah, he’s almost ten years younger than you are, bitch. Gross. Lena’s brow was wrinkled slightly in disgust, and she wasn’t surprised to see a similar expression on Owen’s face, though his was perhaps slightly better concealed.

  “Positive, but I will graduate from UW next spring. I’ve moved through school quickly.”

  “That’s quite impressive,” Phelps commended.

  “I’m telling you, Jeff, Owen is certainly one to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised if he started his own company and was well on his way to making his first million by this time next year,” Nate said enthusiastically. He went on to expound on Owen’s business model while Phelps nodded and hummed in the appropriate places.

  Lena didn’t disagree with her father’s assessment; she was fully aware that Owen was a genius. She was, however, a little surprised to hear her father singing such high praises to someone like Phelps. The only person she’d ever heard him exalt so passionately and publicly was herself.

  As Lena listened, she didn’t miss the way Madalyn’s sea-green eyes seemed to glitter with interest. She persisted in trying to hold Owen’s attention and even managed to find little opportunities to touch his arm or hand. He pulled away from her repeatedly, not wanting to be rude but having no interest in the woman whatsoever. Neither Nate nor Phelps seemed to notice anything, but Lena found herself growing thoroughly irritated with the woman’s behavior.

  “Babe,” Lena said softly, tucking her hand into Owen’s arm. “I think I still owe you a tour of the house, don’t I?”

  “That you do,” Owen grinned, relief evident in his expression. “Will you excuse us, please, gentleman?” Madalyn’s expression soured at being pointedly excluded. Nate and Phelps gave him a nod and returned to their prior discussion as Lena led Owen from the room. “‘Babe?’” he asked her with a smirk.

  “Sorry,” Lena shrugged.

  “Oh no, you can’t take it back now.” He knew the satisfaction was probably rolling off of him in waves, but he didn’t care. Not only had Lena intentionally acted like his girlfriend, but he was thrilled that she actually seemed jealous. Owen chuckled as she rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, come on. You have to know the only woman in that room who holds any interest for me is you. I think we’ve established that pretty firmly, don’t you?”

  Lena didn’t reply as they continued through the various rooms on the lower level, but her lips were curved upward in a smile she couldn’t seem to wipe off. She’d never been the jealous type, and she didn’t think that was what she’d been feeling toward Madalyn. I was just helping him avoid a cougar. Like a good friend…

  “So, do I get to see your room?” Owen asked, his tone playfully suggestive. Lena laughed openly.

  “Uh, no. Things tend to get out of hand when we’re alone in bedrooms, and I doubt my dad would appreciate us having a quickie during his dinner party.”

  “I wasn’t planning on telling him,” he grinned. “Nate does seem to like me though. I’d be willing to bet he’d be on my side about the whole relationship thing.” Lena gave a rather unladylike snort.

  “That goes to show how little you actually understand him. My dad is categorically opposed to anything that could get in the way of my graduating and going to work at GC.”

  “Good… I don’t want to stop you from doing either of those things.”

  Lena sighed and shook her head a little but didn’t argue with him. She kept the tour fairly brief, showing him the library, the media room, and the terrace. It was really a mere fraction of the house, but she knew that dinner would be served shortly and preferred not to stray too far from the dining room. Being late to dinner would probably result in being seated next to someone she’d rather avoid.

  Luckily, dinner was announced just as they returned, and Lena took one of the chairs next to Nate’s customary seat at the head of the table. Owen opted for the seat next to hers, and they were both relieved to see that Madalyn was stationed toward the foot of the table, next to Phelps. She was on the opposite side, however, which meant she was still able to make eyes at Owen at every opportunity.

  The conversation was light as the food was served, and Owen found himself watching Lena a little more closely than usual, if such a thing we
re possible. He was struck by the change in her demeanor in comparison to what he’d come to expect from her. She was truly playing the part of the mogul’s daughter, and the performance was flawless. As the conversation inevitably turned to business matters, Lena seemed to have no problem holding her own. She engaged her father’s colleagues in intelligent conversation, offering rational opinions and observations whenever appropriate. If Owen didn’t know better, he would think that she was actually enjoying herself.

  Except he did know better.

  He could tell by the set of her shoulders, by the occasional tension in her expression, by the pitch of her voice… Those minute details were apparently lost on everyone else in the room, and Owen was starting to wonder if her father, who surely should have known her better than anyone else, was oblivious as well.

  Directly across from Lena was Nate’s head of Human Resources, Ben Kearney, and his wife Melissa. She’d always gotten along well with the majority of Nate’s senior staff, and Ben had always been kind to her.

  “So, Lena, how is school going for you this year?” Ben asked politely as he spread butter over his dinner roll.

  “It’s great. We’re just gearing up for midterms,” she replied.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing her name on the Dean’s list again,” Nate beamed proudly. “When she comes to work for us full time, I don’t doubt she’ll be running her own department within a year.” Several of the guests chuckled at his remark, but Lena tensed unconsciously.

  “Do you know what department you’d like to work in, Lena?” Ben inquired.

  “Finance,” Nate answered for her, still grinning. “It’s where she’s strongest, and I have no doubt she’ll be a success there.” A few people glanced in Phelps’ direction, and he responded with his trademark benign smile.

  “We’ll certainly be happy to have her.” The words were delivered in his smooth, Southern drawl, but something dark flickered in his eyes. Lena suppressed a shudder.

  Owen noticed the subtle change in Phelps’ expression as well and wasn’t sure what to make of it. The man seemed nice enough, but there was something slightly off about his demeanor. Maybe it’s genetic, he thought wryly. It also hadn’t escaped his notice that Nate had answered the question for his daughter, and Lena had neither confirmed nor denied his assessment.

  “How about you, Owen? What are your plans after you graduate?” a voice asked from a little way down the table. He recognized the speaker as Nate’s head of Marketing, but he couldn’t recall the woman’s name.

  “I hope to start my own business,” he replied. “I’ve got a business model drawn up. I’m just looking for investors and… the right opportunity.” Owen turned on the charm he’d learned so well, giving a modest sort of smile.

  “What industry?”

  “Well, to be honest, I’m hesitant to limit myself to single industry. My interests are varied, and I anticipate getting involved in a wide range of fields.”

  “That’s a wise approach,” an older male guest said approvingly. “The economy is certainly more stable now than it was a few years ago, but diversifying your interests is always a smart move. How old did you say you were?”

  “I’m nineteen, but I’ll graduate next spring.” Several people around the table made sounds of surprise at his answer, and Ben Kearney was looking at him speculatively.

  “Have you considered applying for the summer internship program at GC?” he asked. “I’m sure you’d be accepted, and it would be a good way to get your feet wet while preparing to start your business.”

  “I’ll definitely consider it.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Nate agreed. “We’re always looking for talent like yours, Owen. There’s no need to wait for the annual summer internship though. You should just come to GC with Lena on weekday afternoons and Saturdays to start learning the business. We can iron out the details easily enough.”

  “Um…” Owen was caught off guard by the suggestion and truly wished he could give a different answer. “I appreciate that very much, Nate, but I work on Saturdays, and I really can’t afford to leave my job.”

  “Well, of course, but surely we could work something out. I wasn’t suggesting an unpaid position,” Nate chuckled. Owen looked pleasantly surprised by his statement, having assumed that any internship he might be qualified for would be unpaid.

  “Oh, well… I would definitely be interested then, sir,” he replied, trying not to appear too eager.

  “Excellent. We’ll talk about it more tomorrow. Leave your number with me before you head home, alright?”

  “I will, thank you.”

  Nate dismissed his thanks with a casual wave and turned the conversation back to Lena, who had been silent throughout the previous exchange. Owen blinked nervously as he read the tension in her features and posture, noting that it increased when her father put her back in the spotlight.

  “Lena’s been working at GC since she was sixteen,” he announced proudly. “She started learning the business young, and she knows her way around it almost as well as I do these days.” Lena’s answering smile was brittle, but once again, Owen seemed to be the only one who noticed.

  “You haven’t been in my department in a while, Lena,” Madalyn added with her typical exaggerated warmth. “If you’re going to eventually end up in Finance, I’d have thought to see more of you.”

  “I was there over the summer,” Lena answered mildly.

  “Oh… I suppose you were,” she giggled. “Perhaps our paths just didn’t cross often.”

  Lena fought the urge to roll her eyes with difficulty. She had, in fact, ‘crossed paths’ with Madalyn Phelps nearly every day last summer. Madalyn was merely attempting to give the impression that Lena’s presence had been too inconsequential to be memorable. To Lena’s relief, someone redirected the conversation to a topic that didn’t involve her in any way, and this time, she didn’t join in the discussion.

  Owen watched her covertly, wondering how she would react if he reached beneath the table to hold her hand. Would she shrug off his support? Would she be appreciative? Judging by the look on her face, Lena wanted nothing more than to leave her father’s home as quickly as possible.

  Unbeknownst to him or anyone else in the room, Lena was already planning her escape, but it wasn’t anything as simple as excusing herself from the table and sneaking out the back door. She craved something more elaborate than that… a true escape, even if only for one night. She longed to shed her good girl persona, to numb herself with alcohol and boost her mood with something a little stronger. Lena needed stress relief, the only kind she really allowed herself to have. She was exhausted by every part of her life at that moment, from her steadfast efforts to be an exemplary student to the arduous performance she put on for her father and his colleagues.

  She wanted to be someone else… just for a little while.

  Saturday

  Although Owen had been expecting his call, he was still somewhat surprised to hear from Nate the following morning. Lena had been oddly silent for the remainder of the evening, almost as though she’d shut down a portion of her mind, and Owen had been fighting the urge to check in with her since the moment he’d opened his eyes. Nate, it seemed, had noticed nothing, but whether it was because he’d been distracted by his guests or because he simply didn’t see the signs, Owen couldn’t tell.

  Owen’s opinion of Nate was ambiguous. On the one hand, he did seem to love his daughter very much, and he was without a doubt one of the most successful people Owen was likely ever to know on a personal level. However, Nate’s blindness when it came to Lena was concerning as well as frustrating. Although Owen’s instinct was to stand up for her, he knew it wasn’t his place, and Lena had never so much as implied that she would appreciate his help in the matter.

  “Last night you mentioned not wanting to leave your current job,” Nate said once the pleasantries were out of the way. “What kind of work are you doing right now?”

  “I work i
n an auto repair shop that’s run by a family friend. I started there as a teenager. I’m mostly in the office now, but I started in the garage and still pitch in when I’m needed.”

  “So, you’re not afraid of hard work, and you’ve shown ability in more than one area. You’ve moved up,” Nate surmised. “That’s very impressive for someone your age. I really think you’d enjoy coming to work at GC, and I’m more than willing to make it worth your while. I’d imagine an intern salary would be higher than what you’re making now.”

  “I’m sure it is, sir, but you know as well as I do that you’d never be offering me an opportunity like this if I weren’t friends with Lena. I prefer not to accept handouts, sir. I want to make my own way.”

  “And I certainly admire that, but I won’t take no for an answer on this one, son. Don’t look at it as a handout because I’m hoping that once you graduate, we’ll be able to convince you to stay on,” Nate chuckled. “You’re an incredibly bright young man, and I’d be an idiot not to want you on my team. I understand that you want to be your own boss, and I can appreciate that. I have no doubt you’ll achieve that someday. If you’re able to secure the capital to start your business, then I’ll be happy for you, but you should have a backup plan. And I’m confident that GC would be a good fit for you.”

  “Can I think about it?” Owen asked cautiously, wishing Lena had been more receptive to conversation on the way back to her apartment the previous evening. He wanted her opinion.

  “Not really,” Nate laughed again. “Hell, son, I don’t think I’ve ever actually had to persuade someone to take an entry-level job.” Owen winced and nodded in acceptance.