Marrying Mari (23 page)

Gabe glanced at Ethan and made a face. “You explain.”

Mari turned to Ethan. “Our businesses in New York aren’t Colony businesses, beauty,” he said. “They’re ours, Gabe’s and mine, free and clear. Not the bank, of course, but the restaurant, the club. The hotel.”

“Hotel?”

“Our next project. A riverside hotel complex.” He sipped some wine, shrugged. “But because they’re not Colony businesses, owned by the group, we don’t get their business. This is catered by the club here, so the money goes back into the Colony’s treasury.”

“That’s—”

Ethan nodded. “It’s insular and limited. It’s also how the place has survived for so long. Everything that can be done from the inside is, which encourages young people to develop their skills and bring them back here. Everyone shares in the success and the diversity of the Colony as a whole.”

“To say nothing of the fact that Ethan has, what? Doubled their wealth since he’s run the bank,” Gabe added.

“A slight exaggeration. I’ve reinvested the funds in some riskier but also broader-based developments. They’ve been successful. That’s all.” He waved a hand. “Like I said, it just makes more of the ridiculous cash that irritates you. Now eat, so we can dance again. I like holding you in my arms.”

Mari smiled at him.

“That’s genuinely sweet, man. Thanks,” Gabriel said, which made Ethan roll his eyes and Mari laugh.

“Neanderthal,” Ethan muttered.

“Bossy.” Gabriel responded.

After dinner Mari excused herself and headed for the ladies’ room. As she left, she saw Donovan Chase pull Ethan aside.

Like the rest of the place, the women’s bathroom was elegant and lavish, with a salon filled with white brocaded loveseats, chaises longues and slipper chairs.

A few minutes later, she was reapplying her lipstick, when the door opened and three women stepped inside. She recognized Jackie, Lauren and Heather from Crave, all dressed up for the ball.

She sighed inwardly and refocused on her makeup. After blotting, she stuck the lipstick into her tiny purse and turned to them. “Hello again. Having a nice night?”

All three sneered at her. “I don’t believe you really showed up,” Jackie said.

Mari sighed again and stepped forward. “Guess I did,” she said blandly.

The trio moved to block her way. A gesture they meant to be threatening, she thought, but which was ruined by the fact that they resembled Disney princesses in their pastel pink, lavender and aqua gowns.

She merely stared at them, raising one eyebrow.

They stared back. Then Heather, the platinum blonde, started to fidget.

Mari stayed silent.

Lauren glanced at Jackie, who was turning red. Not a good shade for a Disney princess, she thought.

Mari folded her arms and stared.

Heather broke. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I wish I wasn’t, which is why I am trying to leave this bathroom. Want to get out of my way?” Mari said evenly.

“She
means
you shouldn’t be here at the Colony dance? You don’t belong?”

Mari noticed that Lauren ended every sentence with a questioning tone. It was an annoying tic. She just stared back.

Jackie started, “Look,” and Mari cut right in.

“No, you look, Jackie
Oh
, I was invited and I’m here. Whatever you don’t like about me, get over it. Move on. Ignore me, please. But I am here. Deal with it, girls.” She folded her arms and stared them down.

“Ethan.” Donovan Chase stepped up. “A few minutes?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“This precedent. It won’t hold up.”

He stared at the silver-haired man. “Is that the Board’s decision?”

“The Board hasn’t voted yet. I’m telling you my judgment, the same thing I’ll say when we meet. This isn’t a critical choice, like your examples. This is simply what you and Gabriel want. And that’s not good enough.” Chase shrugged.

Ethan forced himself to remain impassive under Chase’s scrutiny. “You’re certain?”

“I think this is the best thing for everyone. I’m not saying you have to end the relationship, understand, simply that there can’t be any official sanction. For God’s sake, Ethan, as CEO of the bank you’ve got to understand that. The Colony’s bloodlines have to remain above dispute. Unquestioned. Clean. You see what I’m saying, don’t you?”

Gabriel noted Ethan looked disturbed by whatever Donovan had said to him, but from across the room he couldn’t tell why.

“What’s the matter?” Allison asked. They were dancing, and he smiled down at the woman he considered his real mother.

“Nothing. It looks as if Chase upset Ethan. What?” He caught a fleeting look in Allison’s eyes. “You know?”

“No. Well, I wonder if it was about your request.”

Gabriel stared at her. “Have they made a decision? Did Nate say something?”

“No. Nothing. Perhaps it’s just bank business.”

“Or maybe it’s something about Mari.” He narrowed his eyes at Ethan’s back. His friend pushed open one of the French doors and disappeared onto the terrace. “Perhaps I should check.”

“Mariella.”

Allison’s sigh brought Gabe’s attention back to her. “What’s wrong?” When she just shook her head and refused to look at him, he spoke more gently. “Allison?”

“It’s just—I love you boys, but this is all so sudden. I could understand if you were being like this over one of the young women you’ve grown up with, someone you’d known from the Colony for years. But you just met Mariella. I’m not saying anything is wrong with her,” she said, forestalling Gabriel. “But marriage under Colony bylaws is binding. And you’re moving so fast with this girl who is an outsider to our traditions. Ethan said you were thinking about having the ceremony at the end of this month.”

“Yes.”

“But the Board hasn’t approved your petition.”

He studied her. “No. But it doesn’t matter. I love her. I think Ethan loves her too.”

“Has she told either of you she’s in love with you?”

“No. But I’m not worried.”

She blinked up at him. “Well.” She bit her lip, then smiled up at him. “Well. That’s good. But I still don’t see why you three have to be in such a rush. Let me have time to plan the right kind of ceremony and reception. Let people here have time to get to know her. My goodness, you still have to find a house, buy furniture.”

“I don’t care about an elaborate ceremony, and I’m pretty certain Ethan doesn’t either,” Gabriel said impatiently.

“What about Mariella?” Allison shot back. “Maybe
she
cares about the ceremony that’s going to tie her to two very wealthy men for the rest of her life.” She pressed her lips together. They danced in silence for a few minutes. When she spoke again, her voice was warm again. “Darling, you’re both my boys. I worry about you.” She sighed. “I’ll deal with Angelica then. She’s very interested in getting to know Mariella.”

At the mention of his mother’s name, Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. Where was the Queen Bee, he suddenly wondered. And where was Mari?

The outer door to the ladies room opened, and Irene entered. The trio tensed a little until they saw who it was. Then they relaxed. Jackie smirked at Mari.

Irene took in the situation, and came to stand next to Mari. “Hi, Lauren. Heather. Jackie, I think your mom is looking for you. Your date needs to get home before curfew.”

Jackie colored, but said, “Tell the outie, okay?”

Now they were all using that tone. It made them sound like whiny kittens. Mari sighed.

Irene looked furious. “What did you say?”

“Tell her why she’s not welcome.”

Irene narrowed her eyes. “She is welcome, Jackie. Or didn’t you notice her sitting with my family at dinner? Sitting between Ethan and Gabe. And don’t use that ignorant term.” Irene’s voice was sharp. All three stared at Ethan’s sister with their mouths open. “What?” Irene asked.

The trio continued to stare, so Irene turned to Mari, “You ready?”

She blinked, but said, “Yes. You?”

Irene linked arms and headed toward the door. “Oh, yeah.”

Out in the hallway, Irene shook her head. “Three ignorant tarts. What did they want?”

“Just to keep telling me I wasn’t welcome. They seemed to have some specific agenda but I have no idea. What did they mean ‘outie’?”

Irene made a face. “Just a word some bigoted Colonists use for those living outside the Colony walls. It’s narrow-minded, the notion that everyone else is inferior. No one thinks that way anymore except for some really old people. And some really stupid people, apparently.” Irene flapped a hand. “Did they bother you?”

“You’re kidding, right? I went to public school in Hell’s Kitchen.”

“All right then, sister.”

“Amen.”

They giggled and bumped knuckles.

Tony was having a tough night. He’d arrived late and found himself seated at a different table for dinner away from his family. But his brother was once again the center of attention. Couldn’t anyone find anything else to talk about? And now that he was on the verge of establishing a triad, that was the topic of every conversation with his sister, his parents and their friends.

He approached his mother where Gabriel had left her after they’d danced. If he apologized to her now, she wouldn’t get on him too badly, given that she was surrounded by Donovan Chase, Angelica Pryor and Betty Rawlings. He knew Mrs. Rawlings because he and her daughter Jackie had gone all the way through the Colony schools together.

They were talking in an alcove by the windows. His mother didn’t see him approach, and neither did the others. He paused, trying to overhear what they’d been talking about so he could figure out whether this was a good time to speak to her or not. They were talking about something that bothered his mother, he could tell. She was usually pretty calm, no matter what, but she’d actually grabbed Mr. Chase by the arm.

“Donovan, he says they’re going through with the ceremony at the end of this month.”

The older man shook his head. “That’s impossible. The Board hasn’t given its consent. I spoke to Ethan. I was quite clear.”

“Gabriel says they don’t care. That they’re in love.”

“They’d better care.” Chase’s voice was hard. “They’ve got a contract.”

“Who’s in love?” That was Gabriel’s mother. Tony recognized her voice.

“Your son says he’s in love with this girl. This outsider.” His mother sounded angrier than he’d ever heard.

“Gabriel? In love?” Angelica was scornful. “Ridiculous.”

“That’s what he says. Perhaps you’d better speak to him.”

“Better if I speak to the girl. Tell her a few things.” Tony winced at the venom in Mrs. Pryor’s voice.

“Jackie said she was hanging all over Gabriel at his club. She’s not even eligible as a mate, is she?” Mrs. Rawlings asked.

“Ethan’s brought a precedent to the Board. He seems to think it will stand up.”

“Tell me it won’t, Donovan, that you and the Board will stop this.”

Chase replied, “Calm down, Allison. Nate and I will handle it.”

“I warned you a week ago. Now she’s wearing a triad ring and she’s here, among us. You’d better handle this, right now, before it gets any more out of control. I won’t have Ethan’s life ruined.” Tony swallowed, glancing around. Now his mother’s voice sounded as deadly as Mrs. Pryor’s. He slipped away from the group before they could see him.

He looked around for his older brother. While part of him was elated that for once Ethan wasn’t the perfect one, another part felt dirty, unsettled, and conflicted. Maybe he should tell his brother or Gabriel what he’d heard?

A hand came down on his shoulder and he jumped.

“Where have you been?” His father. He turned, relieved, ready to ask Nate what to do about the overheard conversation.

Instead, he froze.

“Darling, what’s the matter?” his mother asked, looking at him with her usual expression of maternal concern and slight exasperation. “Where have you been?”

He opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Ethan re-entered the ballroom from the terrace where he’d gone to get his temper under control. “Clean, unquestioned” bloodlines—he knew what that meant. He wanted to find Gabriel and fill him in on the conversation with Chase. Then find his father and plan how Nate would handle Chase during the Board meeting.

“Cuz.” Peter tapped him on the shoulder.

“Have you seen Gabriel? Or Nate?”

“Uh, your dad is right over there, talking with Allison and Tony. No clue about Gabe.”

“Thanks.” Ethan saw his dad and started in that direction, but Peter grabbed his arm.

“I thought you wanted to know what I found out about Miami and your girl?”

Ethan flicked at look at him, then turned when he saw the serious expression on his cousin’s face. “I do.”