Five Star Desire. Jacquelin Thomas

you?”

      “You know how badly I wanted the Special Projects Director position. Well, Dad gave it to someone else.”

      She wiped her mouth on the edge of her napkin. “I told you that might happen, Kellen.”

      “I really didn’t think Dad would do that to me.”

      Zaire passed him the pitcher of orange juice. “You really shouldn’t take this so personally.”

      “I can’t help it,” he responded as he poured the orange liquid into a glass. “This just shows me that Dad doesn’t think I can handle a position like that. Sorry, but I’m insulted.”

      She reached for a slice of bacon and placed it on her plate. “Have you talked to Dad about your feelings?”

      Kellen shook his head. “No. There’s no point, Zaire. He’s already made up his mind.”

      She gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry.”

      He shrugged in nonchalance, then busied himself fixing a plate of food.

      Zaire stated, “I’m glad you’re here because I’d like to talk to you about Dreyden.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin again. “I think there’s something going on with our brother.”

      “I feel the same way,” Kellen responded. “I’m worried about him.”

      “He’s losing so much weight, and he doesn’t seem to eat as much as he normally does. That’s totally not like Dreyden. That man loves to eat.”

      “Did you say anything to him?”

      Zaire nodded. “He just brushed me off by saying that he’s fine.”

      “He did the same to me,” Kellen stated.

      “I’m going to talk to Mama.” She finished off her bacon. “Maybe she can find out what’s wrong with him.”

      “She may already know but just doesn’t want to betray Dreyden’s confidence.”

      “You’re right, but I’m still going to say something to her.” Zaire took a sip of her juice. “How do you like the job so far?”

      “It’s okay. I’ve just been doing some shadowing,” Kellen responded. He sampled the scrambled eggs.

      “You don’t sound excited at all.”

      “I’m not,” he replied truthfully. “You wouldn’t be excited either if you had to watch others doing what you want to do.”

      “Kellen, I better not hear you complaining of having too much work or feeling overwhelmed in a few months, because I’m going to remind you of this conversation.”

      “I won’t, Zaire. I have a job and I’m grateful, but I would like to at least do what I’ve been hired to do.”

      “You need to learn patience.”

      “I am,” he countered. “That’s why I took the job.”

      “Kellen, I have to be honest with you. Your attitude really sucks,” Zaire stated. “I certainly hope you’re not going into the office like this.”

      He considered her words. “You’re right. I’m going about this the wrong way.”

      “It’s okay to be disappointed, but you can’t let those feelings take over.”

      Kellen nodded in agreement. “I hear what you’re saying.”

      “So what are you getting Harold and Amy for a wedding gift?” she asked.

      He shrugged in nonchalance. “I don’t know. I haven’t even looked at the registry. I’ll probably just give them a gift card. What are you getting them?” Kellen finished off his toast.

      “I am struggling with that, actually. The man is rich and has everything. I don’t have a clue what to get them.”

      “Maybe we should ask Livi for some suggestions. I’m sure she’s come across some trinkets during her last buying trip.”

      “Kellen, that’s a great idea. I’ll give her a call this morning.”

      He finished off his breakfast, and then pushed away from the table. “I guess I’d better head to work.”

      “Try and have a good day.”

      “I’ll give it a shot.” Kellen broke into a grin. “You have a good one, too.”

      Ten minutes later, he was in the car and driving into Los Angeles. He had a couple of technical training classes on his agenda for today. Kellen didn’t mind the training sequence; he enjoyed it. However, it was his appetite, making him hungry to get started on a project.

      Might as well get this out of my mind, he thought. Addison was not going to allow him to work on anything until after he completed his training sequence.

      She’d announced that she would not be in the office today until after lunch because she had a couple of off-site meetings. Kellen felt a thread of disappointment. He appreciated beauty and she was one stunning woman.

      Addison was all business, though. Normally, he knew within minutes if he’d made a connection with a woman. Kellen could tell when a woman was attracted to him, but with his boss—he couldn’t get a good read on her.

      Not that he was looking to have a relationship with her. Kellen didn’t really want to deal with problems on the job that a liaison could bring.

      Chapter 3

      By the time Saturday arrived, Kellen was more than ready to enjoy the weekend after a week of training classes and observing his coworkers as they worked on various projects.

      Harold and Amy’s wedding would be a great distraction.

      A few years ago his family had been an embarrassment to their DePaul relatives, but they had finally managed to come together. Kellen was grateful. His father had often told them that they were stronger as a family. He agreed.

      As a team, Malcolm and Harold were a force to be reckoned with. Harold had great ideas and vision for the future. It was Harold’s idea to expand the Alexander-DePaul brand into other countries.

      He gazed at the two-story, Cape Cod-style venue overlooking the ocean with an architect’s eye. Harold and Amy had chosen the Swan Manor in Manhattan Beach for their wedding. It was the perfect choice for them, Kellen decided after overhearing his mother say the couple favored beautiful gardens and the beach.

      He followed the stream of guests to the back of the house where cocktails were being served by a waitstaff dressed in black pants and bow ties with crisp, white shirts, amid bougainvillea, koi ponds and lush greenery. Kellen glimpsed the Pacific Ocean in the backdrop of the garden.

      “This is very nice,” Kellen heard Zaire remark. She and her husband arrived within seconds of him and Dreyden.

      “Leave it to Harold to invite any and everyone on L.A.’s social register.” He took a sip of his wine.

      Dreyden chuckled. “Looks like he invited all of Hollywood, as well.”

      Kellen agreed. “The big jewels are definitely out of the safe today, and there is more couture out here than on the entire third floor of Neiman Marcus.”

      When time drew near for the ceremony to start, Kellen and his family made their way inside one of the elegant banquet rooms that was filled with light from French windows.

      His mother dazzled in a royal purple Oscar de la Renta gown. Sage mingled nearby in a black-and-white Ralph Rucci haute couture gown from Paris while Zaire wore a turquoise-colored gown designed by Vera Wang with Cartier turquoise-and-diamond jewels.

      Livi was the matron of honor. She walked up, looking lovely in a champagne gown with a train. “Has Blaze arrived?”

      “I