Hero Duty by Jenny Schwartz

of folders, which included the signed papers he’d previously insisted were important.
    ‘You’ll be coming to dinner?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Not tonight. Derek phoned and apologised last night. Portia is struggling and she’s changed her mind. Tomorrow will go ahead as planned, but she wishes tonight to be for family. A private gathering to remember Ian.’
    Jessica’s gaze shot to Brodie. This was about making it impossible for her to bring him as back up. Her breathing shallowed. Tonight’s dinner had been intended for twenty-four people, the maximum the dining room could comfortably hold. If Portia truly kept it in the family, there would be her, Derek, his fiancée, Anabel, and Jessica.
    Mae would just have to lay another setting for Brodie. There would be food enough. The cook must be howling about such a late change to the weekend’s plans. A dinner for four was very different to one for twenty-four.
    ‘He was a remarkable man.’
    Everyone in the room stared at Brodie.
    He contemplated the large oil painting that hung on the wall behind the desk.
    Jessica swivelled her chair and stared up at the larger than life-size portrait of her dad.
    Ian Trove had been a handsome man. Strong features, blonde hair only just beginning to silver, blue eyes. He’d had presence and the artist had captured it. Ian could have been selected from central casting to play the role of chairman.
    ‘Indeed,’ Joe said noncommittally.
    Jessica turned and saw him studying, not the painting, but Brodie.
    Brodie was watching her.
    She stood, no longer comfortable sitting beneath the painting of her dad. ‘I have the papers you were chasing, Joe.’
    He flicked a dismissive hand. ‘Vera will see that they go where they’re needed.’
    If he wasn’t here for the papers…
    ‘Good morning, Joe. Jessica.’ Derek sauntered in.
    Her stepbrother was an arrogant pig. He completely ignored Brodie and Vera. Maybe he was stupid as well as arrogant. It was the first time Jessica had thought that, but really? Who overlooked personalities like Brodie and Vera?
    Joe looked down at his feet, and a suspicion of a smile dented the corners of his mouth.
    So he thought Derek was stupid, too.
    No, not stupid. Derek was smart enough in his way. Maybe blinded by his own ego.
    She glanced up at her dad’s picture.
    ‘Jessica, dinner tonight will be family only. Mum has been trying to reach you, but you’ve made things difficult for her. If you had any decency you’d know that this is not the time to stage a drama and move out of home.’
    And now he was chastising her as if she were a teenager again. It was a role her family had slotted her into, and since it worked for them, they’d kept her in it.
    She bit down the harsh words that choked her. There had been no legal reason for her to leave the family home. She owned it. Her lawyers would have expensively overseen Portia and Derek’s eviction — they’d have been happier doing that than setting up the trust to administer the household’s expenses.
    Vera gathered up the stack of folders, shook her head at Brodie’s offer of assistance and walked out. She gave Joe the sort of admonishing look that said he, too, should leave the family to their private affairs.
    Joe ignored it.
    Then again, with the door open, Vera would also be able to hear every word.
    In this situation, with a billion-dollar corporation involved, no family matter was private. If Jessica allowed Derek to bully her, then the odds would go up that he’d finagle his way into her dad’s role as chairman.
    It was up to her to send a clear message. That was why she’d travelled all the way to Jardin Bay, to recruit Brodie. She had to stand her ground.
    ‘Derek, since you’re running errands for Portia — ’ Her stepbrother sucked in his breath hard. Joe stared at her, eyes beginning to gleam. Brodie showed no reaction.
    Then again, him simply standing there, between Derek and her, gave her courage. She pressed her hip into the