Chapter 13
Nicholas apologized to Harper before Valerie did.
Poorly.
Which made it more believable.
He came to my house without gifts.
Good.
Harper stayed beside Daniel.
Also good.
Nicholas crouched several feet away.
“I made the elevator go somewhere it shouldn’t.”
Harper frowned.
“Why?”
He looked at me.
I gave him nothing.
His answer.
“Because I wanted something from your dad.”
“What?”
Nicholas swallowed.
“His job.”
Simple enough.
Harper thought.
“You have job.”
I almost laughed.
Nicholas did too.
“Yeah.”
“Then why?”
Children are merciless philosophers.
He looked embarrassed.
“Because I wanted a bigger one.”
Harper nodded as if greed had finally become understandable.
Then:
“You made elevator bad.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t.”
Nicholas looked at her.
“I won’t.”
She returned to her coloring.
No hug.
No forgiveness ceremony.
Perfect.
Outside, Nicholas exhaled.
“That was worse than any council.”
“Good.”
He looked at me.
“You enjoying this?”
Apparently everyone thought I did.
“No.”
Then he surprised me.
“I still think you centralize too much.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
He frowned.
“Good again?”
“Argue it at the table.”
His expression shifted.
That was the new rule.
Ambition allowed.
Manipulation punished.
He could rebuild authority through work.
Not family theater.
May you like
For the first time since the gala, Nicholas looked relieved.
Maybe honest conflict is easier to live with than secret allegiance.
