The food was passed around the table. Fettuccini with a seafood cream sauce, angel-hair with a meat sauce, bruschetta, salad, and various side dishes. Harper loaded her plate, ravenous after the long day.
“Must be nice to be able to eat such rich and fattening foods.” Marjorie, sitting on the other side of the table, eyed Harper’s plate with disdain. “I can’t imagine.”
Harper snatched a couple of olives off the antipasto plate before she handed it to Carter. “It is, actually. I can eat whatever I want and never gain a pound.”
At the look Marjorie gave her, she wondered if the woman knew how to do anything but glare.
Two seats down from Harper, Kitty laughed. “Every woman’s dream!”
Betts added, “Men think our dream is to find Prince Charming. But no. It’s calorie-free food.”
Harper, Kitty, and Betts shared a laugh. Marjorie’s lips tipped up in a feeble attempt before she helped herself to a bird-sized portion of angel-hair pasta.
Carter, who’d snatched the seat beside Harper, leaned in. “Whatever you’re eating or not eating, it’s working.”
Harper shifted her attention to Derrick, sitting opposite her, hoping for some support. But he was focused on Russell.
Derrick asked, “How’s business been? I read in the Wall Street Journal about that big merger—”
“Let’s not talk shop tonight.” Russell set the bowl of seafood pasta in the center of the table. He leaned over to Betts and kissed her on the cheek. “Looks delicious, babe.”
She beamed at him. “I hope it tastes good.”
They dug into their meals, and for a few moments, the only sounds were the scrape of silverware and the appreciative mmms of the diners.
“Wow.” Keith lifted his fork, which was piled with pasta and tomato sauce. “This is awesome.”
“Thank you,” Betts said. “It’s Russell’s mother’s recipe.”
“Good cook, your mother?” Harper asked.
“Second best.” Russell smiled at his wife, who blushed. They acted like newlyweds. Harper was about to ask how long they’d been married when a knock sounded at the door a moment before it opened.
A man stepped into the room. He was short, heavy-set, and had white hair and a white beard. He wore a sport coat over a polo shirt and slacks.
All the men stood. “Constantine,” Russell said. “Glad you could make it.”
Constantine surveyed the dinner table, and his eyes narrowed the tiniest bit. “I see you waited for me.”
Russell just laughed. “Betts’s house, Betts’s rules.”
Betts stood and produced a smile, though it was tight on the corners. “And Betts was hungry. Grab a seat.”
Only when Constantine headed toward the table did Harper notice there was a woman behind him. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. Blond, blue-eyed, slight, and beautiful.
Russell must’ve just noticed her, too. He crossed the room, and Betts followed. Russell held out his hand. “I’m Russell Caldworth. This is my wife, Betts. Welcome.”
The woman glanced at Constantine before shaking Russell’s hand. “Hi. I’m Jenny.”
Russell introduced her to everyone, then introduced Constantine to Keith, Kitty, Derrick, and Harper, while Betts set another place at the table. The man barely nodded at any of them. He turned to the girl. “Come in and sit.”
Jenny followed Constantine to the table.
And that’s exactly what it was—obedience. In fact, except for Russell and Betts, everyone in the room seemed to fawn over Constantine. It wasn’t shocking, really. The man emanated strength and power and authority. But did he wield those over this tiny, cowering woman?
Constantine sat at the end of the table, though Jenny hadn’t reached her seat yet, the empty chair beside Harper. The rest of the men, Derrick included, waited until Jenny and Betts sat before they resumed their seats.
When the food had been passed to the new guests, Harper leaned toward Jenny. “I’m Harper. In case you missed it.”
Her gaze flicked to Constantine, then to her plate. Then, for an instant, they focused on Harper. “Nice to meet you.”
Constantine dominated the conversation, telling them about his latest business ventures, but Harper barely listened. She ate her dinner, tried to ignore Carter, who occasionally whispered comments in her ear that made her skin crawl, and focused on Jenny. Something about her didn’t sit well. Harper had seen that vacant look in people’s eyes before. Jenny reminded her of so many women she’d known back in Vegas, woman who’d latched on to some man thinking they’d hit the jackpot only to discover they themselves had been the prize. Women who’d gotten stuck with horrid men in horrid relationships and didn’t have the courage to break free. Harper had seen that expression in the mirror. She knew it well.
Harper didn’t know much about the world of finance and big business. But women being cowed and used? Unfortunately, that was a world she knew very well. She’d been there, and she’d met a lot of women who’d been there. If she’d come out of prison with nothing else, she’d come out with the determination to help women who were trapped in relationships with cruel men. She didn’t know if Jenny was in that category, but she intended to find out and, if she could, to help.
Derrick caught her eye across the table. She could see the need there. The need for her to help him schmooze Constantine. She didn’t think she’d be helping Derrick much tonight. Maybe if he knew what she did, he’d understand.
Something told her he wouldn’t.