Chapter 61 I'm a Rutherford afterall
CHAPTER 61: I'm a Rutherford afterall
Silas
The heavy silence of the living room was broken by the sharp click of heels against the marble. I didn’t have to take my eyes off the tablet in my hands to know that it was Claudia. Lily had long retired to her room after our brief chat.
My errant sister wore the solemn expression that she had earlier this morning. She moved as if the sharp edges of her defiance had been softened by a weariness she couldn't quite hide.
I intentionally ignored her, going over the annual revenue report.
She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off before she could start.
“Are you still with him?” I asked, my voice measured.
She stiffened, a flicker of something haunted crossing her features before she smoothed it over.
“No,” she replied shortly. “It's over. I ended things with Jeff.”
I never realised how much weight the relationship she had with that rascal put on my mind until I felt something heavy lift off of my chest.
Despite everything, she was still my sister.
I raised my head to look at her. “Good. I hope I never have to set eyes on that bastard anywhere around you again. Whatever you had with him is over.”
She looked nervous about something. “But—”
“No buts, Claudia,” I cut in hotly. “I’ve had enough of your madness. Consider this a warning.” I paused to take a deep breath, continuing in a softer tone. “Natalie is still upset, and frankly, she has every right to be.”
She crossed her legs.
“Don't tell me you're taking her side? I'm your sister!”
“It doesn't matter,” I snapped. “Don’t you dare cause any more problems this time, Claudia. I won't have you bring negative attention to this family.”
A brief look of hurt flashed across her face, but it was gone as soon as it came, replaced by a cynical smirk that played on her lips.
“I just need your help about something really important, brother,” she said, solemnly. “And as for that woman, I have never given two cents about her feelings, and I'm not about to start now.”
She was about to say more when the front doors swung open.
Chauncey walked in with Vera at his side. There was this relaxed smile and air around her that disappeared the second her eyes darted to mine with an immediate, guilt-ridden flicker that told me she knew exactly which line she had crossed.
“Where have you two been?” I demanded, getting off the couch, my gaze fixed on them.
Chauncey didn't flinch. He remained remarkably calm, and stepped forward.
“Relax, brother. I just took your wife to visit her friend, Cherry at The Belvedere.”
I looked between the two of them. “I thought Cherry worked at a nightclub?”
Vera stepped forward.
“She quit. She works at the restaurant now. Chauncey took me there to see her, since we've not seen each other for a long time.”
“That's true. I met her there the other day I was there with Claud,” Chauncey added.
Vera gave a frantic, quick nod in concurrence.
Claudia let out a sharp, mocking scoff from the couch, seemingly out of her solemn shroud she's been wrapped in.
“The Belvedere?” She arched a brow in Vera’s direction. “Please tell me the rude server we encountered there isn't actually your friend?” she jabbed.
“I think you have it all wrong,” Vera spoke up. “Maybe there was a misunderstanding.”
“Oh, no there wasn't,” Claudia replied, an edge creeping into her voice. “Anyway, I think it perfectly explains so much about the lack of standards,” she spat with a smirk.
I ignored Claudia's barb, keeping my focus locked on my wife.
“And it took all day to visit and catch up with her at work?”
On a normal day, I would neither have cared nor bothered to inquire about all this. But that wasn't the case anymore. In addition I was still smarting from this morning.
“We ran into Lucas,” Chauncey intervened, leaning his shoulder against the wall. “They had a brief chat, and he informed us about the Founders Ball.”
Claudia's features stilled imperceptibly. She blinked and straightened up.
“Lucas?” she asked, her voice tight. “How's he? Is he attending the gala?”
My sister had always had feelings for Luther growing up. They seemed to be getting along quite well before she met that scumbag, Jeff.
“Obviously,” Chauncey replied, a hint of a dry smile tugging at his mouth, “he’s attending if he's already invited someone to be his date,” he said with a strange edge to his voice.
“Who?” Claudia asked.
“Cherry,” Chauncey said simply.
Claudia’s face contorted with irritation, her eyes flashing.
“That girl again? How the hell does he know her?”
No one replied to her. Honestly, I had no interest in who Lucas was bringing to the ball. My heated gaze was on Vera who was determined to avoid meeting my eyes.
“I can't believe this. It seems the Gala's standards have dropped since the organising body has now been eroded by skanks,” Claudia said. “Seems like I'll be attending the ball this year. I'm a Rutherford afterall.”
Vera looked like she had reached her breaking point.
“Excuse me... I'm going to head upstairs. I need to lie down," she murmured, excusing herself.
Claudia followed suit shortly.
“I think I'll retire too,” she announced. She pecked Chauncey’s head on her way out. “Goodnight, Cee. Thank you for sending my stuff over. I'll be expecting the rest tomorrow,” she called over her shoulder.
“Goodnight, Claud.”
Finally, the two of us alone in the sudden quiet of the foyer. Chauncey turned to me.
“Don't get mad at her, brother,” he said softly. “I was really the one who persuaded her to go. She was terrified of breaking your rules, but I pushed her into it. If you’re mad, blame me, not her.”
I believed him. For one thing, Chauncey was not a liar.
“Inform me next time, Chaunce,” I said, my jaw tight. “I hope this doesn't happen again.”
“Fine. Agreed,” he said, but he didn't move to leave.
We talked about a couple of things like the Founders Ball, Claudia breaking up with Jeff, and other things too.
Then, he regarded me for a long beat, his eyes searching mine with a directness that felt like a challenge.
“But tell me something, brother. What do you really want from Vera?”