Pfft.In Callum’s world, that wasn’t possible. James was his son and his son belonged in Ryder International, even if it meant chipping away at his soul every day. With Callum, doing things any other way than his way was never an option.
Kinga took his water bottle from his hand and sipped. Replacing the cap, she considered her words. “My grandfather is as tough as old leather and it’s his way or the highway. I’ll give you a classic example of how controlling he is...
“He had a brother, Ben, who was fifteen years younger than him. From what I can gather, rumors always abounded about Ben’s sexuality and Callum couldn’t accept that his brother was either bisexual or gay. Ben was, in Callum’s eyes, embarrassing the family name.
“Callum and Ben ran Ryder’s together at that time, but Callum wouldn’t stop nagging Ben to find a wife and have a son. Ben finally confirmed all the rumors and told Callum that he’d fallen in love with the man he wanted to be with. Callum couldn’t accept it, and he tried to force Benjamin out of the business.”
“Harsh.”
Kinga agreed.
“There was a huge family ruckus. It affected my father’s relationship with Callum because my dad publicly supported his uncle. Ben died in a car crash before my parents married, I don’t think my mom met him. Anyway, the authorities said he was speeding, that he had to have been distracted to end up dying in a one car accident. I think that my dad quietly blamed Callum for Ben’s state of mind. He and Ben were close and my dad refused to obey Callum’s order to cut him out of his life, and Callum has never forgiven him for taking Ben’s side. Callum didn’t even go to Ben’s funeral when he passed away.”
“That’s quite a story,” Griff said.
“Yeah, my grandfather is ruthless, controlling and old,oldschool. In fact, and don’t take this the wrong way, I was surprised he had you around for dinner. My grandfather doesn’t generally have much time for supposed degenerates and reprobates.”
A strange look crossed Griff’s face. “Maybe he hasn’t read the tabloids.”
Kinga snorted. “My grandfather is as sharp as a tack—he’s sure to have read them. Anyway, you survived and he wasn’t particularly rude to you. And I’m sorry that you had to hear about the entire history of the Ryder-White clan. Congratulations on not falling asleep.”
“Hopefully those DNA tests come back soon. If they don’t, he might blow a gasket,” Griff said, his dimples flashing. “And, for the record, I’ve yet to meet a parent, or grandparent, I couldn’t charm.”
Kinga patted his shoulder. “Apart from being gorgeous, you are also incredibly modest and self-effacing.”
Griff’s laugh, sexy and low, rolled over her. “You are very good at keeping my feet on the ground, Kinga.”
“It’s tough but I’m up to the challenge,” Kinga replied, keeping her voice light. She couldn’t let him suspect that it was a job she wouldn’t mind doing for a long time. The thought made her feel icy cold.
She’d never give a man,anyone, that much power over her. No, it was better to be like her parents, uninvolved and unemotional. They weren’t blissfully happy but theywerereasonably content. Reasonably content was all anyone could ask for, right?
Asking for more was looking for heartbreak.
She should end this, sooner rather than later. Maybe Griff would hand her a way to ease out of his life with the minimum of drama. They did, after all, still have to work together.
“Changing the subject... Have you heard from that prick again?” Griff demanded, annoyance tingeing his words.
“Mick?”
Unfortunately, she had. He’d left a voice message, apologizing for going to Viola’s and begging for a meeting with Kinga to clear the air. He suggested dinner at his house and the thought made her want to vomit.
Was she imagining the red in Griff’s eyes? Deciding not to tell him about the dinner invite, she deflected. “I heard from one of my journalist friends that he’s sent out an invitation to a very exclusive cocktail party. My source says he’s been teasing a big announcement, but his political ambitions are an open secret.”
“When is this cocktail party?”
“Uh, on the second, I think. At one of the restaurants downtown. Very smart, very ritzy. The media is invited, too. My friend says most of them are going only because of the free snacks and an open bar.”
“So he’s going to get his time in the spotlight?” Griff asked.
“Sounds like it. If the press doesn’t make a big song and dance about his bid, he’ll find it harder to break into the news cycle and to get his face before the public.” Kinga frowned at him, suspicious. “You aren’t planning on gate-crashing his party, are you?”
Griff raised one arrogant eyebrow. “And give him the press coverage he wants? Hell, no. Though I wouldn’t mind meeting him in a dark alley and seeing how he likes to be on the receiving end ofmyfist,” he added.
Maybe it wasn’t politically correct, but there was something lovely about having a strong, protective man in her corner, prepared to stand between her and the world.
But...
But Griff was temporary, someone who wasn’t sticking around. She couldn’t start relying on him.