The men appearing at her doorstep would serve as summons enough, but I sent a note for her as well.
It read simply 'Bring your wife.'
* * * * *
I waited a while to join them after the two were shown in. They would have been told to wait in the first-floor living room, spacious and empty. It was expected that I would be busy, even at this time of night, and appearances were important. They were most of what I did.
They would have been checked for weapons upon entry. I instructed the men to be thorough, but I wasn't expecting them to find anything. Sabine was arrogant, but she wasn't stupid. She would have come unarmed and she would have done as directed. As unorthodox as it was to bring a spouse when meeting with a captain, she would have no choice.
I waited to enter a little longer than I normally would. Sabine was angry and embarrassed to be caught, implicitly accused of wrongdoing by the invitation. No one met with me unless there was a problem. I wanted her to be flustered. I wanted her to wait.
When I was ready, I entered the room from an adjoining suite, closing the door behind me. "Sabine." I smiled thinly. "I'm so glad you could make it."
She stood, the younger woman at her side rising along with her. "My captain. I would never turn down so gracious an invitation." She responded with a crude attempt at her own feigned smile.
I waved at the white leather couch in the center of the room, indicating they should sit again. I sat in one of the matching formal chairs that confronted it.
"Is there a... particular reason you wanted to see me... us... tonight?" She was already nervous. I could skip the pleasantries.
I looked just slightly off to the side, framing my response. "Tell me, Sabine. In broad terms, what branches of my business have you been allocated?"
She stiffened. I had come to the doorstep of her misdeed, but not quite entered. She wasn't sure how dumb she should be. "Vineyards. Wine, spirits, your main distribution channels." She met my eye. "Ma'am."
I suppressed an indulgent smile at her genuine deference. "Tell me about... the Ze Dinis vineyards." I waved a few fingers, as if the thought had just occurred to me. "Anything in particular to note?"
Her jaw clenched when I brought the subject up directly. "Of course. I... have been keeping an eye on the harvests in the South with the winter coming sooner than expected. We'll try and obtain the water and seeds we need to-"
She talked for a short while about delivery and logistics, playing dumb. Clumsy of her. I had all but accused her directly. If she had owned her greed and mistakes, I might have had some sympathy.
She settled back as she talked, growing more comfortable in her misdirections.
If she wouldn't take the bait, I would feed it to her. I raised a hand to stop her droning. "If I wanted a strategy discussion, I needn't have pulled you from bed. Why is it that you think you are here?"
"I... I believed this to be a social call, lady... " She said, feigning some surprise. She was certainly stubborn.
"You think I would stay up so late on the sudden impulse to see you? You think so highly of yourself."
"I have always thought of our relationship as special." She bowed her head slightly only to glance up at me. "To me, you are like a mother." The pitiable look she tried to make fell flat on her face.
I imitated it, just as fake. "Oh sweetie." I let it drop. "I am not your mother."
Frustration grew out of her features. "But we
are
family, aren't we? That's why you can chastise me like this."
Obstinate child. If she could not be made to admit her own wrongdoing, I would put it in front of her. I would draw her guilt out of her another way.
I stood, and towered over her from across the room. "You are only
family
insofar as what you can offer it. You only belong to this family when you
submit
to it." Her shoulders were creeping upwards, her jaw was setting.
You have been maneuvering for your own gains, buying land you have no right to own, hoping I wouldn't see you if you stepped just outside of my territory. You have been whittling away at
my
vineyards, cobbling together your own, personal stake in
my
business."
Her face was pinched. She practically folded her arms in a huff. I made one more point before her tantrum broke. "Everything you hide, everything you
have
belongs to all of us."