Wealth (free and completed)

Chapter 12 - Unwanted Visitors, Strange Family Members

Janus

Andrew took the invitation seriously. The Saturday right after he met Val for the first time, he visited. He was polite enough to send me a text, inquiring if it was alright. I told him that he did not have to ask me if it was Val that he planned to see. After all, I was not her father, and she was not a teenager who needed permission.

My plan for the day was to lock myself in my study and check my team’s submitted designs one more time. However, Joseph had other plans. He invited everyone for lunch in the garden. Everything was set up as if for a party. After all, the family itself was large enough for tea parties and luncheons. One thing that I liked about how Joseph handled Briar Hill was that lunch included the loyal employees. Randall and Hannah and their families were regular parts of the get-together.

That Saturday, two six-seater, white garden tables were prepared for the family and our one guest – well, two. It seemed that Joseph wanted to introduce his new girlfriend. I offered to sit with the servants, but he would not have it.

“You're the heir to Briar Hill, Janus. There's no way we're letting you sit with – with. Oh, stop looking at me like that, Hannah. You know what I mean."

Joseph knew how to use his charm to get rid of any awkwardness. He was ready to say "with the servants" but stopped himself just in time to have been rewarded by a sharp glance from Hannah. The elderly woman went off to sit with Randall and their families. Each table had its own fancy meal arrangements. Each white metal table had a glass top. While each plate was already given portions of salmon sliders, deviled eggs, and a few other items, I had not peered at closely enough. The middle of each table had cheese boards and salad.

Joseph and I took the heads of the table. His new girlfriend sat to his right and Emilie to his left. I had Andrew to my right. Valerie's wheelchair was close to him, to his right, while Rafael was to my left.

"I'm so glad everyone can make it," Emilie chirped.

"Oh, are you?" asked a surprised Joseph. "Anyway, siblings, I'm here with Lara. She owns a gym near Sangster Leathers.

"Ah, makes sense!" exclaimed Rafael. "Of course, the busy CEO will find someone from nearby."

"You know that's not how it works, Rafael," Joseph's voice carried a warning tone.

"Nice meeting you, Lara. Welcome to Briar Hill, though I'm pretty new to the place myself," I nodded at the blonde. She had the same shade of hair color as Emilie and was only slightly slimmer.

"Nice meeting you, too, Janus. Yes, I've heard of you. I'm happy that your family finally found you."

"I met Lara at the gym first, that's true, but we got to know each other in a different setting. We work together in a group."

"Don't be shy about it, Joe. We met at workaholics anonymous," Lara offered. Mm. It made

sense. Joseph did not seem like the alcoholic or druggie type, but like his siblings, he seemed to have a tendency to be obsessed.

Emilie, drinking her tea, spluttered.

Or was he?

"I'm sorry, brother. Workaholics anonymous? Are you sure you're not just trying to find a woman with enough money to rival yours?" she asked, a spiteful look on her face.

"Emilie, are you okay?" Joseph's voice was smooth, but his eyes were sharp. Lara seemed oblivious to the hardness in his eyes since he was facing the other way.

"Why don't we all say grace?" Valerie cut through the tension with her idea of another awkward proposition. I had not heard the family say prayers together. I had no idea what faith they followed. As a lapsed Catholic, I would take any of Val's suggestions.

"Val," whispered Rafael. It was more like a protest, but Val had already closed her eyes and started praying. Since Lara and Andrew looked like they were on board, the rest of the siblings had no choice but to bow their heads and put their hands together.

"Well, that was a series of awkward moments. Apologies to Andrew and Lara," Rafael said as he fixed his table napkin on his lap.

"Oh, maybe next time, you, me, and Janus will bring our special someones too," drawled Emilie. "I did not get the memo that a plus one is needed for this little luncheon."

"It’s hard to keep up with people nowadays,” Rafael teased.

I murmured my agreement, sneaking a glance at Valerie and Andrew. They seemed preoccupied in their little world, whispering to each other in-between bites. He also had his elbow on her wheelchair’s armrest. Too close for comfort. Whose comfort it was was anyone’s guess. Valerie and I had not yet talked after the kiss.

It was clear that the kiss was consensual, but she did not want to talk about it afterward. Did I want to respect her wishes? Yes. However, it did not stop me from trying to meet her eyes from time to time. She had not been to Tristan James since she met with Andrew there. I had offered to drive her, but she said she was busy with work. To be fair, she did have a full teaching load.

“So, are you going back to dancing, Rafael? I’m sorry, but I’m your fan,” Lara said.

“I’m back, Lara. I have been practicing for a new show. It’s going to be avant-garde this time.”

“Tired of classical ballet, brother?” Joseph asked.

“Not really. I just need something to take away the boredom from time to time. This new program is pretty interesting, too.”

“Thanks so much for having me here. I thought that you would all be snobbish, but I was wrong,” Lara said happily, her hands clasped together.

For a workaholic, she seemed like the cheerful type. I could already imagine her waking up early to get to work. Then, she would be shouting words of encouragement at her gym. Even though they also met at the workaholics' anonymous thing, her energy would have been noticeable even to Joseph.

“Well, you haven’t really heard me talk much yet, darling,” Emilie said. She looked half-drunk, as usual, but that afternoon, I could tell it was more of an act. It was probably the way her eyes flashed an angry look at Joseph. She was very much in control of her actions.

“You sound like a fifty-year-old when you do that, Emilie,” Joseph said.

There was some tension there that I could not understand, but the visitors seemed oblivious. On the other hand, Rafael seemed focused on his food. I spied a Bluetooth earpod in his ear. He nodded up and down to the beat while taking spoonfuls of food in his mouth. Upon close inspection, each spoon did not carry as much food as it might seem. Rafael was not only slim because of exercise but also because he controlled his intake.

“I don’t believe this is the time to put these things on the table,” I found myself saying. I tried my best not to insert myself into the conversation.

Who was I, anyway?

I was the newest member of the family. I was also the reluctant heir to Briar Hill.

“I agree,” Valerie said, looking at me gratefully.

The rest of the lunch was more amiable, with everyone finding something more pleasant and vague to talk about.

“So, sister, is Andrew your special someone?” Rafael asked. He seemed genuinely curious and excited for Val. He was her closest sibling. So, I could understand that he needed to know.

I tensed. I could tell that Valerie did the same, her jaw clenching and unclenching. Andrew did not seem to notice her reaction.

“We are friends for the moment, enjoying each other’s company,” Val said.

“I’m hoping that she will let me in,” Andrew added with a smile. He looked so hopeful that I almost felt guilty about trying to talk to Valerie about the kiss.

What was it about, anyway? She initiated it, yes, but she was probably confused. Should I tell her about my suspicions? Should I tell her that if these possibilities of inappropriateness didn’t so consume me, I would have done more than just kiss her?

“How long do you two know each other? Wow. Valerie, you impress me! I didn’t think you’d been leaving the house, but somehow you’d snag yourself a man! I’ve been to the club three nights this week, and what do I get?” Emilie crowed.

“What do you get? A few one-night stands,” Rafael grumbled.

“We’re still in the getting to know stage,” Andrew said, off to rescue Valerie’s reputation. Of course.

“At least Valerie is trying to get the know the guy, Emilie,” Joseph scolded.

Again, there was an uncomfortable look between the two.

“Why hasn’t anyone asked me?” I pitched in a joke, feeling fake at how my cheeks hurt as I tried to smile. However, I had to think about Lara and Andrew, who got to know my new family in a not-so-positive light. We were in business, after all. I knew that Joseph did not behave this way outside Briar Hill, but somehow the mansion affected him.

“Nobody asks you, brother, because you are too focused on your work. I’ve heard things about you,” Rafael shook his head, but I could almost swear that he meant it to be a show of admiration.

Or, perhaps, it was disbelief?

“Oh, you got me there,” I chuckled.

“So, nobody has caught your eye, Janus?” asked Emilie. The shaking of her head was clearly disbelief. She licked some invisible cream from her lips and stared at me.

“While nobody might have caught his eye, my boss has caught the eyes of many women at work,” Andrew laughed.

“You two work together?” Lara exclaimed.

“Yes, we do. He’s my boss. He introduced me to Valerie.”

“Interesting,” murmured Emilie.

“Why so, Em?” asked Rafael. He seemed like he was fully invested in the conversation then.

“Well, it seems our new brother is giving away our youngest sister,” she purred.

“I’m not giving anyone away. I just thought of how the two would be a good fit together,” I explained. “The rest of the decision is theirs. They are getting to know each other. At least the rest of you get to leave Briar Hill during the day. Sometimes, you choose not to go home. Valerie needs someone to drive her somewhere. Maybe, in time, it will be Andrew who does it for her. They alone get to decide.”

Valerie watched me with wide eyes, trying to sift the truth from what I was saying. I nodded back at her, making the eye connection appear to be a mere passing glance between brother and sister who had agreed on something.

“Makes sense,” Rafael nodded. Then, he seemed to be looking at Emilie triumphantly. They were trying to one-up each other, these two.

I was glad that somehow Joseph and Lara had retreated to their conversation. She leaned towards him as he held her hand in both of his. Perhaps the eldest Sangster would soon settle down and stop bringing random ladies to Briar Hill? Who knew? Not my business. But Lara seemed like a lovely young woman.

“So, Andrew, who’s been eyeing our brother?” asked Emilie.

“A few ladies. Um, Gwen from Accounting, for one. At least, that one’s the most obvious.”

“Aren’t you a little gossip, Andrew?” teased Emilie.

“Well, you kept on asking him!” snapped Val.

“Getting protective now, sister?”

“This is getting old. Let’s stop this. We are not children,” I said wearily.

Despite the little awkward exchanges, the lunch was generally a success. Joseph was heading off to stay the night with Lara. I could not blame him. Andrew also had to go. Things seemed to have gone off alright between him and Val, and I just wanted to corner her and ask her what they talked about and what she felt about it all. Of course, I had no right to do that. Andrew gave her a peck on the cheek, respectful. He was truly the kind of man you brought home to your parents.

***

That night, I stayed in the garden. I told Hannah I was just making the most of the tables set outside. I sat on one of the chairs while my legs rested on another. I wore a blue pinstripe pajama set, which I felt silly in. However, I could not possibly wear only boxers outside.

“They can remain there, Mr. Sangster, you know,” she said, pleased that I liked how she had set up the tables and chairs.

“You can call me Janus.”

“No, sir, I would not dream that. You are your father’s heir, and we would give you the same respect we gave him.”

We bid each other goodnight.

I watched the moon and nursed a brandy snifter in my hand when I heard a familiar voice follow a whirring sound.

“Janus?”

“Oh, hey, Val,” I greeted, straightening myself.

Valerie looked lovely, as usual, looking mysterious under the moonlight. Her eye looked white under the rays. Her pale blue silk nightgown peeked from behind her modest, pink cotton robe.

“You did not have to do that,” she said.

“Why are you here? I told Hannah I just wanted to use this new setup.”

“Oh, yes. We used to do everything in the gazebo. This one’s good, too. I – I’m ready to talk.”

“You were probably right. There’s nothing to talk about unless you want to share what’s up with you and Andrew.”

“No,” she whispered. “I want to talk about what I feel. About you.”

Oh, no. No, Valerie. No.

“You’re confused. That’s all. Give it some time, Val. Andrew’s a nice guy.”

“I’m only sort of dating him because I think he knows something about my past. I will tell you when I find out more.”

I wanted to tell her that I also wanted to get back to her when I had also found out more about our intertwined pasts. Our father figure had made things too complicated for us.

She wheeled herself closer to me, and I could not possibly arise and go to another chair to avoid her. It would be cruel.

“Kiss me, Janus. This time, do it. Then, tell me you don’t feel anything about me.”

She did not understand that I would refuse because I knew I had feelings for her – but I just was not sure what. They were intense, though, and her lips had gotten too close. So, I kissed her. I reasoned I only wanted to see for myself. Feel. However, one little chaste kiss became more passionate, and I found my fingers in her hair. She moaned. My lips found her neck, nibbling at the soft skin. I smelled her scent of honey and jasmine, my nose flaring. I was overcome with passion, my hand moving in her robe and squeezing her breast through the thin silk. Her kisses become more ferocious.

Who knew that about Valerie Matthews?

Then, she let go for both of our sanity.

“Good night, Janus,” she smiled as she wheeled herself away from me. She seemed content, having gotten her answer.

I knew that I had to solve two mysteries as soon as possible: my father’s murder and Valerie’s parentage.