“And we broke up three years ago, which, yes, was a while but definitely not eons.”
“He’s single,” her mother said. “And so are you.”
Okay, so this angle was new. Isa felt her forehead crease. “I’m not…we’re not getting back together.”
“He’d like to see you, though. He misses you.” Her mother cut a scallop in half casually as if she wasn’t trying to steer Isa into the arms of a man who barely liked her, who’d never loved her.
“He doesn’t miss me,” Isa said. How could he? He’d barely tolerated her and her big ideas to start a business outside of Sawyer Financial when they were dating.
“I’m a man, Isabella.” Her father lifted his martini to illustrate his point. “I can see when another man is heartbroken.”
“Is that why Josh has been dating vapid excuses for women lately?” Isa mumbled. She wasn’t jealous, but it was frustrating to know that he’d carried out the plan he’d warned her about.
If you don’t climb to the top of Sawyer Financial mountain with me, Bella, I can find someone who will.
“You can’t blame him for drowning his sorrows,” her mother interjected.
“Oh, please.” Isa lifted her wine.
“We’ve already spoken to him about reputation. As upcoming president of our institution, we can’t have another repeat of Reese Crane’s issues.”
Isa put down her glass without taking a sip. Her father was referring to Reese’s reputation with women before he’d married Merina. Twice. Rumor had it he’d nearly missed out on being named CEO because of his philandering ways, but who knew what to believe?
“Renegades, those Cranes.” Her mother sneered.
“What do you know of the Cranes?” Isa asked, because seriously, how random was it that they’d brought up the Crane family the very week she’d stepped in as Eli’s assistant?
“We read the paper,” her mother said, chin aloft.
The gossip rags, she meant.
“Those groups of wealthy misfits are known for their rogue behavior. Sawyer Financial doesn’t need that type of attention.” Her mother chewed a tiny bite of scallop and carved another.
Yes, wealthy people were to be well behaved, quiet, and pave paths only with the gold of their ancestors. Heaven forbid one of them start a rebellion.
“Well, I’m sorry to say I won’t be getting back together with Josh to help repair his reputation. I’ll thank you not to pimp me out to the highest bidder in the future.”
“Isabella.” Her father’s fair skin went pink. “Don’t use that language with us. You know our position on you and Sawyer Financial. You know we want what’s best for you. You’re essentially pimping out the kinds of people your mother and I casually hire and fire. Where is the commitment in your business? To excellence? To permanence?”
His words never failed to cut her to the quick. Several defenses sprang to mind, all well worn. Frankly, Isa was too tired to participate.
“We want better for you.” Her father’s temper cooled and he laid a hand over hers on the table. She knew he wanted the best for her. At their core, both her parents did. But she refused to bend to their will if it meant sacrificing her dreams for theirs. “You’re our princess.”
She snatched her hand away. She was not a princess, refused to be a princess. She wanted to rule the kingdom, but she’d do so following her own rules, not those set by the elitist few.
“Dad, I’m happy. I tell you this nonstop. I’m happy with what I do. I’m good at what I do. I have thirty-two, er, thirty-one”—since Melanie’s exit—“employees to oversee and I won’t leave them in a lurch.”
Isa used to try to make her parents proud but soon found it impossible. Now she’d settle for quiet. If they’d stop harassing her about her lowly choice of vocation, she’d be eternally grateful.
“Anyway,” Isa said, slicing into her own scallop, “even if I wanted to date Josh, I couldn’t.” She hated to lie, but they hadn’t left her much choice. “I’m seeing someone.”
“Since when?” her father asked.
“Who are you seeing?” Her mother’s brow rose to its highest point.
“It’s still very new.” Like as of ten seconds ago. Isa redirected her eyes to her plate. “I don’t want to jinx it.”
Especially since it wasn’t true. Isa had been single and just fine, thank you, since she and Josh had split. She’d had a dinner date here and there before then, but over the last eighteen months, she’d quit dating altogether. Her focus had been on building Sable Concierge to the next level. And now that she was so, so close to that goal, her parents wanted her to start dating Josh?
No friggin’ way.
“Well, since this development is so new, you can plan on attending Josh’s ceremony,” her father said, adding an unfriendly, “Your new beau might not be around by then.”
“Is Josh going to be single then?” Isa snapped.
“Yes,” her parents answered at the same time. Damn. Had they put his dating status into his contract or something?
“And if you happen to be single,” her mother added with a smile, “I’m sure Josh will be overjoyed at the idea of your reconciliation.”
“Splendid idea, Helena,” her father said with a proud smile.
A perfect example of why talking with her parents was akin to talking to a wall. They had an agenda, and they’d see it through. The option of not showing up was tempting, but she also knew there would be many Chicago elite at that party. It wasn’t a bad idea to rub elbows with them. But the matchmaker thing was not happening.
To be sure, she’d hatch a plan of her own, Isa thought smugly as she sat back so the waitress could take her plate and replace it with a salad. Isa would find a fake date for that night to be her arm candy while she worked the room.
Win-win.
* * *
At her dining-room-table desk at Eli’s house, Isa jotted the afternoon’s tasks onto a pretty pad of paper she’d picked up at a fancy stationery store. Orange and gold flowers decorated the corners, and every narrow, crisp line was preceded by a checkbox. Nothing made her happier than a checked list, unless it was a pretty one.
She’d grown accustomed to working in here and was starting to favor Eli’s high ceilings and windows over her cramped, piled office. Today, the sun shone brightly, the day a little warmer than usual for late September. Sunlight filtered through the paned glass windows, giving an ethereal feeling to the rugged space—the dust motes sparkling like glitter. For the third or fourth time today, she pulled in a cleansing breath.
Dinner with her parents had left her frustrated for several reasons. Mostly because they were trying to mash her and Josh together. Simply put, Josh had been a bad boyfriend, prioritizing his work over Isa. Toward the end when he rolled out an ultimatum, she’d had an epiphany. She refused to take second place in his life—or in her own. She found the strength to leave him and the strength to move forward with her business idea at once. In a way, she owed Josh a thank-you for paving that path, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to date him.