“Then we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we!”
Aviva knew she was being fickle, but she changed her mind there and then. Jackson had appalling taste in women and she agreed with Delphine, Camille had to go. She’d been working on the assumption that he was still dealing with Laura when she’d put her plan in motion. But meeting Camille made her even more thankful for what she was about to do.
Seeing her guest standing alone at the door, Aviva excused herself and hurried over to greet her.
“Hi, Meredith, I’m so glad you could make it.” Reaching over, Aviva gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you, but I still don’t understand why you invited me.”
“I invited you because I like you.”
“I like you too, but I have a feeling you’re up to something, you were way too insistent that I attend this company party.”
Aviva knew if she didn’t manage the situation correctly, Meredith would bust her in a heartbeat. She was a successful business woman and nobody’s fool.
Ignoring the older woman’s comment, she linked their arms and pulled her further into the room. “For goodness sake, it’s a party, relax and have fun. Come and meet my husband.”
Jason and Jake were standing off to one side of the room looking bored, and Aviva shook her head. She loved a good party so she couldn’t understand why they hated them so much. The other curious thing was that nobody approached them. People mingled around them, but it was almost as though some sort of force field separated them from everyone else.
As she drew closer to them, she understood what was going on. It was her husband, he was scowling and he was probably doing it on purpose to keep people away. He was a Kingdom and the managers and their partners wanted to get to know him better. But it appeared he had other ideas.
“Jason, Jake, I’d like you to meet a good friend of mine, Meredith Carter. Meredith, my husband, Jason. You already know MacKenzie, this is her husband, Jake.”
The introductions concluded, Aviva began chatting a lot faster than normal and received strange looks from the small group. She didn’t notice though because her mind was elsewhere.
As Jake took and handed Meredith a drink from a passing waiter, she took the opportunity to pull Jason slightly away from their group.
“Jason, I need you to–”
“No.”
“You don’t even know what I’m asking so how can you say, no?”
“Easy, I know you and whatever scheme you’re involved in, I’m not going to like it so, no.”
“Why are you always so bloody difficult?”
“Angel, if I were difficult, I wouldn’t be standing in a room full of people I don’t particularly like.”
“Okay, fine!”
“What are you and MacKenzie up to?”
“As you won’t help; it’s none of your business.”
“Aviva!” Jason warned
Looking over at MacKenzie, Aviva shook her head in the negative. Giving her husband a dirty look she walked back to join the group. Undaunted by Jason’s stubbornness her mind worked to find another way to set her plan into motion.
When Josh and Lux joined them and after a series of subtle head gestures, he walked away and she soon followed. Minutes later, she’d explained what she needed him to do, and unlike her husband, he agreed.
When all the players in her little plan were in place, Aviva again linked arms with Meredith and offered to introduce her to a few more people. Josh was talking to Camille, who readily moved away from Jackson’s side as Delphine joined him.
Not wanting to appear too obvious, Aviva stopped a couple of times before she reached her final destination. Before too long they reached Jackson and Delphine.
Reaching up, she gave Jackson a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, you look as dapper as ever.”
“Thank you, my dear and you look even more beautiful than ever.”
“Thank you.” Turning to her friend, Aviva pulled her into the conversation. “Meredith, this charming man is my father-in-law, Jackson Kingdom.”
When he took the red-heads hand and smiled, Aviva thought he held on to it a little longer than necessary. The color that rose in Meredith’s pale cheeks confirmed it. Suppressing her smile of glee, she introduced Meredith to Delphine.
“You have a very lovely and… resourceful family, Mr. Kingdom.”
“Resourceful?” Jackson questioned.
“I’m being kind, believe me.”
“I’d like to know more, and please call me Jackson.”
Aviva wanted to fist pump the air. He liked her, Jackson liked Meredith. He never told people to call him by his first name if he didn’t.
“Why don’t we see if we can refresh your drink while you fill me in on the deviousness of my daughter-in-law? Oh, excuse me, resourcefulness.”
Aviva knew she’d been well and truly busted and she didn’t care. Meredith was nothing like Laura or Camille, and that was exactly the type of woman Jackson needed.
Chapter 30