161 <b>A </b><b>Rival’s </b><b>Snub</b><b>, </b>ra’s Plea
161 A Rival’s Snub, ra’s Plea
“Right now,
<i>ally</i>. We’ve reserved the private dining room at Celestina’s. <b>Vivienne </b>stepped further into the conference room. “Henry, I know you’ve been instrumental in providing support from InnovaTech’s side.”
“Damien would like to treat the teams working on Project Nexus to thank everyone <b>for </b>their contributions,” she repeated, her gaze deliberately skipping over me.
Vivienne’s perfectly manicured fingers tightened slightly around her tablet. “Damien will be disappointed. He specifically mentioned wanting your input.”
The conversation drifted to other topics. Eleanor discussed charity events while Damien nodded asionally. I pushed food around my te, feeling increasingly out of ce in what was once my family.
“What are you two looking at?” I asked, taking a seat across from them.
“Science project,” Damien answered. “Cora’s building a model sr system.”
Vivienne’s professional mask slipped back into ce. “Of course, Henry. We’d be delighted to have you.” She turned toward the door. “Julian, if you change your mind, we’ll be at Celestina’s until two.”
He lingered a moment longer than necessary. “Eleanor asked if you’re joining dinner at the manor tonight.”
“Actually, we need to work through these together. The algorithms require both our expertise.”
Eleanor intervened smoothly. “Dinner should be ready. Shall we move to the dining
room?”
“What about?” he asked, his voice low.
We returned to our work, but concentration proved difficult. My thoughts kept drifting to Damien and Vivienne at Celestina’s, celebrating their sess without me. Even though I wanted no part of their disy, the exclusion stung.
“She specifically requested your presence. His tone revealed nothing of his <b>own </b>
<b>161 </b><b>A </b><b>Rival’s </b><b>Snub</b>, <b>ra’s </b>Plea
thoughts on the matter. “Seven o’clock.”
As she left, the conference room fell silent. Henry gathered his things <b>hastily</b><b>. </b>
“Something important,” I replied, holding his gaze. “Something that can’t <b>wait </b>much longer.”
I smiled. “Sort of. That’s why ourpany is called YodaVision.”
The Thorne Manor loomed ahead as my car approached the circr driveway. The imposing stone fa?ade, with its perfectly symmetrical windows and manicured gardens, had once intimidated me. Now it just reminded me of seven lonely years.
“Besides,” Julian added, “watching Vivienne realize she couldn’t manipte me was
worth it.”
“Like Yoda? Using the Force?” Cora asked.
ra’s POV
Vivienne turned to Julian. “And of course, we need our brilliant data architect there. Damien specifically mentioned wanting to discuss some ideas with you.”
I grimaced. “Eleanor’s been trying to orchestrate family dinners since we separated. They’re excruciating.”
The false sweetness in her voice made my skin crawl. Before I could respond, Julian intervened.
“Definitely.”
Cora shrugged. “Dad’s already helping me. He knows about engineering stuff.”
Damien looked up, surprise shing briefly across his features. His eyes–those deep blue eyes that once made my heart race–studied me for,a moment.
Vivienne’s smile faltered for just a moment. “I’m sure ra understands the importance of this meeting. Perhaps she can work on those parameters independently.” Finally, she nced at me. “You don’t mind, do you, ra?”
The question surprised me. /‘I hadn’t nned to.”
As dessert was served, I gathered my courage. This dinner, like all of Eleanor’s orchestrated family gatherings, would soon end with nothing resolved. If I wanted
161 Apvals Snub, ra’s
change, I needed to create it myself.
“Perfect” Damien paused, then added almost as an afterthought, “ra.*
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Dinner at the manor? That sounds… pleasant.”
Julian’s eyes flicked briefly to me before he addressed Vivienne. “I appreciate the invitation, but I’m afraid I have a priormitment with ra. We’re finalizing some crucial parameters this afternoon.”
It was the barest acknowledgment–just my name, nothing more. Yet <bing </b>from him, after days of silence, it felt significant.
“Good evening, Mrs. Thorne. The family is gathered in the east sitting room<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Julian,” he said, stepping inside. “Vivienne mentioned you couldn’t make lunch.
“Fine.” Damien’s eyes briefly met mine before returning to Julian. “I was hoping to discuss the neuralwork integration for Project Nexus. Do you have time tomorrow morning?”
“Grandma said you’re working on robots now, Mom,” Cora said suddenly, looking at me with curiosity.
“Not exactly robots,” I exined, grateful for her interest. “It’s artificial intelligence- teachingputers to think more like humans.”
Despite everything, I smiled. “Thank you.”
“Damien,” I returned evenly.
“Please extend my apologies to him,” Julian replied smoothly. “Perhaps another time.”
“You don’t have to go,” Julian reminded me.
Damien looked up, his expression unreadable. Cora barely nced at me.
I sat beside Damien, acutely aware of the space between us–both physical and emotional. He smelled of expensive cologne and power, a scent I once found intoxicating but now associated with rejection.
Henry beamed. “I’d be honored to join.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I said, forcing enthusiasm. “I’d love to help too.
161 A Rival’s Snub, ra’s Plea
Eleanor noticed me first. “ra, dear! I’m so d you could join us.”
After Henry departed, Julian let out a long breath. “That woman is something else<b>! </b>
“Eleanor will just keep asking if I don’t. Besides,” I sighed, “Cora will be there.”
“Hi, Mom,” she said absently, returning her attention to her tablet. “Dad, look at this part!”
Voices drifted from the sitting room. As I entered, Cora’sughter rang out. She sat beside Damien on the sofa, showing him something on her tablet. Eleanor sat in her favorite armchair, watching them with approval.
An hourter, a knock at the door interrupted us. Damien stood there, his tall frame filling the doorway.
A familiar pang resonated in my chest. Once, I would have been the parent Cora turned to for science projects. Before the separation, before Damien suddenly decided to be an involved father.
Julian shifted in his seat. “That’s very kind of him,” he said carefully. “When were you thinking?”
“If you finish your dinner,” he answered.
“Of course,” Julian replied. “Eight thirty work for you?”
Not once had she acknowledged my presence since extending the invitation. The deliberate snub was unmistakable.
With that, he turned and left, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air.
I followed him through the marble–floored hallway, my heels clicking against the stone. The familiar sound echoed in my memory–how many times had I walked these halls, hoping to find warmth in this cold house?
Henry looked between us, clearly sensing the tension. “I’m still avable if the invitation stands,” he offered awkwardly.
Simmons, the family butler, opened the door before I could knock.
Dinner progressed with Eleanor carrying most of the conversation. Damien answered when directly addressed, asionally checking his phone. Cora ate quickly, clearly
161 A Rival’s Snub, ra’s Plea
eager to return to her project.
Vivienne stood in the doorway, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. The invitation hung in the air like a challenge.
“With moving parts!” Cora added excitedly. “Dad’s helping me design it.
Julian nodded. “Unfortunately not. How was Celestina’s?”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said quietly. “There’s no priormitment<b>. </b>
I turned toward Damien, who was engrossed in his phone beneath the table.
“Cool,” Cora replied, before turning to Damien. “Dad, can we finish the project tonight?”
“Rain check on our dinner then?” Julian asked.
“Do you have timeter?” I asked quietly. “I have something to discuss with you.
Julian shrugged. “I’d rather have lunch with you than sit through two hours of Vivienne boasting about Project Nexus while Damien nods approvingly.”
Julian nodded in understanding. My rtionship with my daughter had grown increasingly strained since the separation. These dinners, however ufortable, were moments I could see her.
“I should… probably go with her,” he mumbled. “Thanks for the meeting, Julian. ra.” I tried not to let the dismissal hurt. At seven, Cora was increasingly mimicking the behaviors she observed–including Damien’s indifference toward me.