The Secret (The Evolution of Sin 2)

Elena’s eyes narrowed even though her lips automatically formed a genteel smile as she stepped backward to introduce him. “Mr. Paulson, please let me introduce my siblings, Sebastian and Giselle.”

Mr. Paulson wore a light metallic silver suit that perfectly matched his coiffed helmet of hair and stern expression. Despite his austerity, there were deep brackets around his broad mouth that indicated he smiled often and his pocket square was orange, which meant that he couldn’t take himself too seriously.

“Wonderful to meet you.” He clasped my hand in both of his and even though I understood he wanted the gesture to be warm, welcoming, the feel of his eyes cataloging every inch of me negated the effect.

“Mr. Paulson i

s the CEO of Dogwood International Hotels,” Elena explained with a significant eyebrow raise, trying to convey the importance of this fact. “Daniel and I invited him tonight to meet the family. Unfortunately, my youngest sister Cosima is away in Miami at the moment on a photo shoot but she sends her regrets.”

“Ah, Cosima.” Mr. Paulson had a surprisingly soft voice, his words carefully spoken. “She is a delightful young woman. I thought for certain she would be married by now.”

I frowned and opened my mouth to question his odd comment but Elena shot me a glare before I could.

She laughed lightly and placed a gentle hand on his arm. “She receives proposals by the dozens but my younger sister believes in the sanctity of marriage and doesn’t take entering into it lightly.”

While they smiled at each other, I nudged Sebastian in the ribs and he shrugged, rolling his eyes.

“You and Sinclair have been engaged for ages now, when are you love birds going to tie the knot?” Mr. Paulson asked Elena, but his eyes veered towards me.

It was a smart move. It took me at least three seconds to rearrange my shocked features into some semblance of normalcy. Engaged?

Sebastian’s hand pressed between my shoulders comfortingly and I watched him jerk his head slightly from side to side.

Aware of Mr. Paulson’s eyes, I swallowed my relieved sigh.

“We are happy as we are,” Elena was saying but she fiddled with the long string of pink pearls at her neck nervously. “In fact, I’ve never been happier. My entire family is living in the same city for the first time in years.”

Seamus wasn’t here, but he had long ago ceased to exist for us so I guess our father’s absence didn’t really matter. Still, Elena’s increasing insincerity made me uncomfortable, and my fidgeting brought Mr. Paulson’s attention to me.

“Family is the most important thing in a person’s life, I’ve come to realize. My wife is the most important person in my life. Are you married, young woman?”

I bristled slightly at his condescension but hid it behind a flashy smile. “I am not.”

“And you?”

Sebastian laughed. “Happily, single.”

Mr. Paulson’s disapproving frown was nowhere near the magnitude of Elena’s glare. A sharp prickle of foreboding lanced my spine.

“Companionship is the greatest treasure in life,” he said.

Sebastian’s answering grin was glorious. “I assure you, Mr. Paulson, I do not lack for companionship.”

The older man’s face twisted with disgust. “True companionship is about loyalty and commitment. It does not come and go as the changing of the tide.”

“Not the best analogy,” Seb winced theatrically. “The waves always kiss the shore.”

The two men stared at each other but I couldn’t take my eyes off Elena whose lips were so pursed, I wondered if I put coal between them, they would produce a diamond.

“Paulson, I see you’ve met Giselle and Sebastian,” Sinclair said as he stepped slightly in front of Sebastian to shake the businessman’s hand.

I hid my smile behind my hand as my brother glowered at the back of Sin’s head.

“Yes, yes, it’s good of you to bring your fiancée’s family to an event like this. It’s important to have your support system beside you,” Paulson said with a broad smile that brought out surprisingly charming dimples in his cheeks.

He was definitely a man stuck in the 1950s but he did seem to genuinely like Sinclair.

“Fiancée,” Sinclair murmured softly.