Tempting the Heiress
Page 5
Felicia and Farrah stood, and Felicia accepted the woman’s hand. “I’m Dr. Felicia Blake.”
“I’m Mrs. Lin Kaile, Dr. Griffin Kaile’s mother. We met briefly at Griffin’s graduation,” she explained, offering Felicia a quick shake with her fingers before dropping her hand as though she was afraid she would catch a disease.
“I remember. Nice to see you again,” Felicia replied, suddenly chilled by the woman’s icy tone and demeanor. As far as Felicia could remember, there had never been any exchange they’d had that warranted the woman’s dismissive behavior.
Mrs. Kaile beckoned the younger woman. “And this is my future daughter-in-law, Jia Richardson.” Felicia’s heart dropped at the introduction as Jia quickly joined the older woman’s side, murmuring something insulting in Mandarin.
Felicia responded to the young woman in the same language, letting them know that she did not appreciate her making such a derogatory statement about her and her sister—that they were like puff pastries, pretty but no substance. She didn’t even know them.
Both women turned their glares toward Felicia, who met theirs head-on. Farrah offered her sister a proud smile but remained silent.
Mrs. Kaile broke the silence. “You speak Mandarin?” she asked, leveling an inquisitive stare at Felicia.
“We speak several languages,” Felicia replied, smiling at the woman’s obvious discomfort.
“I must remember that,” Mrs. Kaile responded with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, offering Felicia a tight smile before turning her attention toward Farrah. “Do you speak Mandarin, as well?”
“No, unfortunately I haven’t mastered that language yet, but I’m learning. Felicia’s an excellent teacher.”
Mrs. Kaile’s eyes landed on Felicia’s face. “You know our language well enough to teach it. I’m impressed,” she replied, her face sending a slightly different message, this one of undisguised disapproval.
“If I may ask, why did you say you’re not her daughter-in-law yet?” Felicia said, putting her focus on Jia.
Before Jia could respond, a trio of women entered the lounge area, but before proceeding any further, they swept a gaze across the others, then made a hasty retreat.
“They’re announcing their engagement tonight,” Mrs. Kaile clarified. “After we celebrate my Griffin’s accomplishments, of course. After all, tonight’s all about my son.”
Butterflies started making their way to Felicia’s throat, preparing to make their exit. While the other women may have missed the change in Felicia’s demeanor, Farrah clearly did not. “Congratulations. We wish you well,” Farrah said, covering for her twin’s lapse.
“Yes...congratulations,” Felicia managed to force past her lips.
“So you can imagine my surprise when I saw your name on the final guest list, especially since no one in the family invited you,” Mrs. Kaile informed her, tightening her grip on the purse she held as if expecting someone to make a grab for it.
Farrah tilted her head slightly. “Yet we were invited and under the impression that this celebration was also a charity event...a fund-raiser for a hospital.”
Mrs. Kaile raised her chin slightly. “Yes, of course, Dr. Barry’s welcome guest. He’s a client of yours, I understand,” she said, her lip curving upward slightly.
“He’s a family friend,” Farrah corrected. “Now, if he were a client, I wouldn’t be able to share that information with you. But I’m sure you understand, being the daughter and mother of doctors.”
Really, Farrah? Why don’t you just tell the woman you investigated every aspect of Griffin’s life, including his parents?
The older woman smiled and then dropped it as quickly as it appeared. Her eyes narrowed on Farrah. “You do know quite a bit.”
“You have no idea,” Farrah said, smiling.
Felicia moved a few inches closer to her sister, saying, “My sister’s not only our company’s chief legal counsel, she’s an excellent investigator,” she affirmed. The last thing Felicia wanted was for Farrah to start crossing swords with Griffin’s mother and Alyia’s grandmother. Especially since they would still have to meet with Griffin at some point and it wouldn’t do for there to be bad blood between their families.
“Mother Lin, we should return,” Jia said, checking her watch. “It’s time to open the doors.”
There was a slight pause as the petite woman took in those words. “You’re right, my dear. We mustn’t keep everyone waiting.” Mrs. Kaile gave the sisters a small nod and turned to leave only to turn back to say, “Enjoy yourselves tonight. It’s going to be a wonderful evening for Jia and my Griffin.”
“Actually—”
“We wouldn’t want to be anyplace else tonight,” Felicia supplied.
Farrah plastered on a tight smile as she watched both ladies take their leave. They hadn’t cleared the area before she whirled to face her sister.
“What changed your mind? I thought you wanted Fletcher to handle things?”
“I do... I did... I mean, I do,” Felicia said, frowning.
Farrah laughed. “I think you’re right to stay...handle this yourself. Would you want to marry someone without all the facts?”
Felicia dropped down on the sofa, really wishing she could have avoided Griffin’s mother and made a faster exit than those women moments before that heated exchange ended. She never understood why Griffin’s mother disliked her. “My business is none of hers...not yet, anyway,” she declared.
“I’m not talking about her and you know it.” Farrah stood with her right hand on her hip.
“Oh...” Felicia placed both hands over her face and shook her head.
“Right. Would you want to get married without knowing all the facts that could possibly change your life and perspective on things?”
Felicia lowered her hands. “Wait a minute,” she said, rising from her seat and grabbing her sister’s arm. “We’re not here to stop an engagement. You do get that, right?”
“Of course we’re not, but who knows what will result from your little bombshell.”
Felicia’s right hand flew to her throat and she rapidly shook her head. “No, I can’t do this. I won’t be the cause of anyone’s problem.”
“You won’t be,” Farrah reassured, pulling her sister out of the lounge. “Now let’s get going. We have an engagement to stop,” she said, laughing as she charged down the hall.
“Farrah Blake Gold, get your butt back here!” Felicia said through gritted teeth, but was talking to nothing but air.
Chapter 7
Griffin stood in the middle of a cozy sitting room, which was only a few doors down from the ballroom where his guests were gathering. The dark wood floors were covered in Oriental rugs and there was a mixture of stylish leather seating. Griffin let the warmth from the floor-to-ceiling fireplace wash over him while enjoying the solitude with a single malt whiskey. This was an important night for him and the hospital, and all he could think about was Felicia and their chance meeting. He often wanted to call her, but her lack of contact spoke volumes. The door flew open and an all-too-familiar voice broke the room’s silence.
“There you are, Griffin,” his mother said, entering the room then closing the door behind her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Griffin turned and offered his mother a wide smile. “Everywhere but here,” he said, bending his six-foot frame to kiss his mother on her cheek. “You look lovely, as always.”
“Thank you, son. Your father loves me in blue,” she said, running her hand across the front of her floor-length, blue lace gown. “He’ll let me show off my shoulders but that’s about it.”
“I know,” Griffin said with a laugh then tossed back the remainder of his drink, placed the glass on a side table and buttoned the jacket of his Kiton tuxedo. “Shall we go?” He offered h
is mother his arm.
“Not just yet,” she said, patting his arm and taking a seat in one of the tall, leather wing-backed chairs. “Sit,” she commanded, gesturing toward the matching chair facing hers.
Griffin knew that tone and realized that this wasn’t going to be a comfortable little chat. He unbuttoned his jacket, took a seat and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “All right, Mother, what’s going on?”
“Can’t a mother just want to talk to her only son, her only child?” she said, offering him a sheepish smile.
“Mother,” he said, raising his left eyebrow.
“I thought this might come in handy tonight.” She reached into her palm-size purse and pulled out a small, blue velvet box. “This is one of the many rings your father gave me.” She placed the box in the center of his hand.
Griffin took in the simplicity of the textured box and then opened it to take in its contents.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “Your father has always had great taste. It’s a four-carat, flawlessly cut marquise diamond with jade accents. Absolutely perfect for tonight’s festivities—a reason to celebrate.”
Griffin sat back and sighed. He closed the box and placed it on the small table that sat between them. “Mother, the last time I checked, all my colleagues were here to congratulate me on my accomplishments and offer well wishes on this next endeavor.” He grimaced. “Not to mention, this is a fund-raiser for the hospital.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied smoothly.
He didn’t miss the fact that her gaze darted to the ring box and her own wedding band before reconnecting with his. Griffin’s forehead creased. He could always tell when his mother was either up to, or hiding, something, which made her a horrible poker and bridge player.
“But the family is here and so are the Richardsons,” she continued. “I just think it would be a wonderful surprise for everyone if you announced your engagement tonight. Right here, in front of everyone,” she said with a flourish.
“Mother, I’d be surprised if any one of our family members wasn’t expecting an engagement tonight. I’m sure you’ve already prepared them for one.”
“Well, you have the ring...”
“Jia and I haven’t even discussed marriage,” he pressed. “I care for her deeply but it’s not...”
The downward turn of his mother’s lips was not something he wanted to even try to interrupt. “Never mind.” Griffin ran a hand down his face. “Mother, I know you have things all mapped out in your mind, but I have to be honest here. Jia may not be The One.”
At that moment a face, memories and even fantasies that plagued his dreams for years suddenly popped into his mind.
Smooth skin. A perfect body he’d craved for far too long. Thought-filled hazel eyes that always seem to call to him and long, black hair that often smelled like vanilla. The way her mind could string a series of chemical and biological facts together that proved her hypothesis so effortlessly signaled that she wasn’t like any other woman he’d known.
“Griffin. Griffin, are you listening to me?” his mother asked, her tone rising an octave.
“Yes—no, what was that last bit?”
His mother dropped her shoulders. “The ring, what do you think?”
“The ring is beautiful,” he said, turning it over to get a closer look. “Isn’t that the fifth one Dad gave you when he proposed? A proposal that you rejected...often, but you still kept the ring?” Griffin asked, laughing more at his father’s brilliance at recognizing his mother’s manipulation than the fact that she believed she’d been successful at hiding her true sentimental reasons behind rejecting the jewelry he offered.
“Your father was just trying to keep the romantic promise he’d made all those years ago—to get me a proper engagement ring—even though we were already married,” she said a little defensively, and each word caused a shock of understanding to whip through him. “Besides, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted at the time, but I’m sure Jia would love it. She loves diamonds and jade, and it’s big and expensive. It speaks to our station,” she proudly expressed.
“And that’s what this marriage is all about. It’s for you, isn’t it, Mother?”
Griffin stood and walked toward the fireplace, taking in its crackling while trying to keep his composure. While he loved his mother, her constant interference could wear on him. She had been the one who had pushed until he began to date Jia. She thought their similar heritages, her elevated financial status and Jia’s submissive upbringing made her his perfect match.
Griffin turned back and faced his mother. “You think she’d be a good fit for me, regardless of what we feel for each other. What about love and passion?”
While he knew it was ridiculous, Griffin couldn’t help but think that, if given the chance, he and Felicia could be happy. That she could even meet his mother’s high standards.
His mother waved off his concerns with a delicate hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re much smarter than that. Marriage is a partnership, and you have a marvelous future ahead of you. You need an appropriate wife by your side. Love and passion are irrelevant, but they will come.”
“You adore Father. You fought your family to be with him,” he reminded her, slipping into Mandarin.
“Yes, I do...and I did. I lost my family in the process, too,” she replied in Mandarin before switching back to English. “While that will never be your worry, son, I do want what’s best for you. I know your father would agree that a partner that wants the same things as you is worth her weight in silver, gold and uncut diamonds.” She laughed, placing a hand over her heart. “I love it when he tells me that.”
At that moment the door opened. “I thought the party was down the hall,” a deep baritone voice coming from an older, gray-eyed version of his son, wearing a similar black tux, said. He crossed the threshold and made his way to his wife’s side. “Everything is ready and they’ve started to let everyone in. You two plan on joining us anytime soon?”
“Hello, Father.” Griffin hugged the only man he ever admired as if he was the life preserver he so desperately needed.
“Of course we are,” Lin said, greeting her husband with a quick kiss on his bearded cheek. “I’m just trying to convince your extremely stubborn son that tonight would be the perfect time to propose to Jia.”
Griffin’s gaze met his father’s in the hope that he could read him like always. “Oh, Lin, let the boy be. He’ll make his choice in his own time.”
Lin turned her attention to her husband, eyes flashing with a silent warning. “The time is now and you know it! Between his new position at the hospital and his commitments to the company, he’s going to need a strong, uncomplicated partner by his side. Not to mention she’s beautiful, sharp as a sword, comes from a good family and can’t wait to have children.”
“But, dear—”
“No buts.” She turned her attention back to Griffin. “Look, darling, we only want what’s best for you.” She glanced over her shoulder at her husband, a move she often did when she was expecting his full agreement, which she got with a smile and a nod. Lin’s smile surpassed that of her husband as her gaze zoomed in on her son, who wasn’t smiling at all. “Just think about it, darling.”
Griffin knew his mother meant well and she may have even been a little right. However, he also knew that what he felt for Jia wasn’t what he’d once felt for the woman that got away. Griffin certainly wasn’t sure he was ready to settle for anything or anyone less.
“I’ll think about it, Mother, but I’m not making any promises.”
Lin smirked, captured her husband’s hand and led him to the door. “Take a minute, but you have a ton of folks waiting to hear from Grady Memorial’s new cardiac chief.”
Griffin Sr. smiled. “We’re very proud of you, son.”
Griffin’s heart expanded every time his father used those words. He buttoned his jacket and headed for the exit just as he heard a small knock before the door slowly opened. He stopped short at the sight standing before him. Griffin’s breath caught in his throat and he thought he might be going into shock. Had his nostalgic moments conjured a beautiful illusion?
“Felicia... Felicia Blake?” he whispered to the woman standing in the doorway and then frowned when a vibe that hit him said the name didn’t quite fit. “Wait...you’re not Felicia.”
“Very good,” the woman said, taking a step back. Someone else, someone identical in almost every way, came and took her place.
“Hello, Griffin,” Felicia said barely above a whisper.
Chapter 8
Felicia slowly crossed the room’s threshold, and just the sight of Griffin with his thinly trimmed beard and those beautiful gray eyes was enough to resurrect the butterflies she thought she had under control. She tried to stay calm and open her mouth to add a memorable follow-up to her greeting, only to have her inner geek take over.
“Congratulations on your new assignment. Head of the Grady Cardiac wing. Quite impressive. I understand that Dr. West and Dr. Baker were both contenders for the position,” she said, trying to ignore the way he was looking at her—like she’d just hit him with a Taser.
Griffin continued to stare in silence.
“However, your clinical accomplishments in the field outweigh Dr. West’s research on animals. Not that clinical research isn’t important, especially to someone like me, but that can’t hold a candle to actual human successes. As for Dr. Baker—”
“As fascinating as I’m sure all this may be...” Farrah said, glaring at her sister.