PART THIRTEEN
Dinner began awkwardly. At one corner of the large table, Stefan and Jessica stared at one another even as they tried not to appear uncomfortable. Thankfully they were spared by the arrival of Mrs. Landsbury, who covered the silence with instructions to the staff on the presentation of the evening's meal.
"It smells heavenly," Jessica complimented the longtime Cassadine employee as the first course was placed.
"Thank you, Miss." Mrs. Landsbury beamed. "I hope that you will enjoy all that I've prepared. I do love to see people clean their plates."
Stefan smiled indulgently. "What Mrs. Landsbury is so diplomatically trying to ascertain is whether you are one of those beautiful women who sacrifice culinary satisfaction in exchange for outward appearance?"
Jessica reassured the waiting housekeeper. "I promise to do justice to your meal," she smiled.
"Good, good."
"That may have been an error," Stefan teased her. "This is only the first of four courses. Followed, naturally, by dessert."
"A four-course meal is normal for you? Everyday?"
Stefan gave her his most haughty expression. "Of course, Miss Griffin. I am a Cassadine," he said, as if that explained everything.
Jessica burst into laughter. "You are an elitist!"
"Thank you."
After her laughter subsided, the amused attorney remarked, "There's no need to be formal now. Please call me Jessica."
He nodded his acquiescence. "Such formality is foolish," he observed. "Especially since we have shared Cabernet."
Jessica felt a jolt of heat warm her insides. The memory of the Cabernet's taste on his tongue reawakened the physical attraction she had tried so desperately to fight. Stefan watched her reaction to his comment. He was satisfied to note the tiny pulse in her neck jump erratically.
Jessica quickly made use of her legal experience and presented Stefan with an implacable expression. By no means would she let him know just how much his comment affected her. "This is true," she agreed, watching him place a morsel of food into his mouth. "I suppose I can hardly pretend to be a stranger. Not after having become so intimately acquainted with your massive endowment," Jessica remarked.
Stefan choked at the crude comment. "I beg your pardon?"
"Your gigantic ego? The way you engineered this entire evening?" she explained innocently. "Why? What did you think I meant?"
Stefan's eyes narrowed. Jessica knew exactly what he thought. Which was why she said it. He was stimulated by her more each minute.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" Nikolas spat out.
"Nikolas!" Stefan stood quickly. Nikolas stood unsteadily before them, clothes rumpled and eyes bloodshot. "What has happened to you?"
"Didn't you hear?" he asked sarcastically. "The uncle I loved," Nikolas emphasized the past tense, "has made his triumphant return from the dead! From a staged death, actually."
"Nikolas-" Stefan attempted to approach him.
"Don't, Stefan." He backed away. "You should escape him while you can, Miss," Nikolas advised Jessica as he backtracked. "Or he'll destroy you like he did me."
Stefan watched in alarm as Nikolas turned and staggered from the room. "Jessica-" he began, only to have her wave him toward his nephew.
"Go," she said. "I understand."
"Thank you."
