Page 14 of Shattered Crown
The study door swung open behind me.
"Brother!" Xavier's voice preceded him into the room. "Just the man I was looking for."
Great. Another problem that needed solving. I didn't turn from the window. "How did you get in?"
"Mathilde let me in. She loves me." I heard his footsteps cross the hardwood, and then Xavier appeared at my side, grinning. "Unlike some people."
I turned to look at him. He was dressed for a night out as he always was. His linen shirt was unbuttoned one button too far, his brown hair artfully disheveled in a way that probably took twenty minutes to achieve. I knew all about his hair stylists and personal shoppers and… need I go on?
Xavier helped himself to the bar cart, pouring a generous measure of the whiskey I'd been drinking. "You look like you’re in a bad mood. What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Convincing." He took a sip, made an appreciative sound. "You’re having the good stuff. Must be serious."
"What do you want, Xavier?"
"Can't a man visit his beloved brother without wanting something?"
I just looked at him.
Xavier laughed. "Fine. The Hendersons are throwing a party tonight. You remember Phillip Henderson? His wife is out of town, and he's celebrating."
Typical. "Celebrating what?"
"His wife being out of town." Xavier grinned. "Come on. It'll be fun. When's the last time you did something fun?"
I turned back to the window. "I'm busy."
"You're always busy. Don’t you get tired of being so stuck up?" He moved closer, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Seb. Live a little. You're thirty-four, not sixty-four. There'llbe beautiful women, expensive champagne, terrible decisions waiting to be made…"
"Like the terrible decision that cost eighty thousand dollars?"
Xavier's hand dropped from my shoulder. His green eyes deflated for a second. He was embarrassed. Interesting. If he felt that way, then why wouldn’t he just clean up his act?
As quickly as the expression came, it was gone, and his easy smile returned. "Mother told you."
"Mother always tells me."
"It was a misunderstanding. I had a run of bad luck…"
"You always have a run of bad luck. That's the third time this year."
"Who's counting?" Xavier moved to the leather armchair near the fireplace, dropping into it with an exaggerated flair. "Anyway, that's handled. Water under the bridge. Tonight is about fresh starts and new opportunities."
I watched him sprawl in the chair that had been my father's favorite, one leg hooked over the armrest, whiskey glass dangling from careless fingers. He looked so much like our father. The same dark brown hair, the same strong jaw, the same easy charm that could fill a room.
Our father had loved him unconditionally. While for me, it was conditional on the fact that I behaved and brought in good numbers. Never just as I was.
"I'm not going to the party," I said.
Xavier shrugged. "Your loss. I'll tell Phillip you send your regards."
The study door opened again. Isabelle swept in wearing a cream silk blouse and wide-legged trousers, her dark hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. Her gray eyes found mine.
"I thought I heard voices." She crossed to the bar cart and poured herself a glass of sparkling water from the crystal pitcher. "Xavier, why are you here?"
"Charming as always, sister dear."
