Nick heaved a sigh. “After seeing the two of them together yesterday? I think it’s the same for my dad.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
Nick nodded his agreement. “Me too.”
* * *
On Thursday afternoon, Nick made his way through the lobby of his father’s office building, heading toward the elevator, since Dad’s office was on the top floor. Originating with Nick’s great-grandfather, the family business had been managing real estate for more than fifty years, and Dad was what you would call a real estate tycoon. The company handled big land purchases, mostly for resorts and large hotels, and not only did they work to acquire property state side but handled deals all over the world, which was why Dad traveled so much.
Dad’s secretary must have been expecting him when he stepped off the elevator, because Helena’s smile was wide when Nick approached her desk.
“I haven’t seen you in ages, Nick. You look so much like your dad. And you’re so tall,” Helena murmured. “He’s expecting you. Go ahead and step inside.”
Nick grinned, walking toward Dad’s office door. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she answered, returning to the work she was doing on her computer.
Dad was on the phone when Nick walked into his office, and he held up a staying hand, motioning for Nick to sit on the couch near the window overlooking the city.
When he hung up the phone, Dad stood from behind his desk, walking over and staring through the window.
Finally, Dad spoke. “Once you turned eighteen, I was planning on telling you everything I’m going to tell you now. I’ve even had papers drawn up by our company lawyers that are supposed to be handed over to you on your eighteenth birthday, if for some reason I’m not here to discuss everything with you in person.”
What could Dad want to tell him that would warrant documents being drawn up by a lawyer?
“Why do you suddenly want to tell me whatever it is now?” Nick asked.
Turning away from the window and sitting across from him in a club chair, Dad held his gaze. “I’m worried about trouble brewing between your mother and me when I tell everyone about Mike.”
“It’s the right thing to do,” Nick said.
Dad sighed. “You’ve grown up a lot Nick. I think I would rather you hear everything from me now, because of the responsibility I’m going to be handing over to you. The truth is, since your kidnapping, I don’t know who I can really trust.”
“But why would Mom care about the fact that you have another son, if he was born before you two were even married?”
“Wait until after you hear what I have to say, and then you’ll understand my concerns.”
“Alright.”
Dad rested back in the chair.
“I’ll go back to when I was still seeing Thérèse.” Dad closed his eyes. “I didn’t want to say anything else to her the other day, because now that I realize her disappearance was coerced, I didn’t want her to feel any more devastated than she already was.”
Standing, Nick walked over to the small fridge Dad had in his office and pulled out a couple bottles of water from inside.
Handing one of the bottles to Dad, Nick sat back down as Dad continued, “I never wanted to run this company. I planned on telling my mother and father that I didn’t want to move forward in business. Dad had a trusted vice president who was perfectly capable of taking over. Even though I knew I could do it, I didn’t want to. Did I know what I would do? No. But I did want to get married and have a family, and Thérèse was the woman I wanted to be with.”
“If you didn’t want to take over, how did you end up doing it anyway?”
“I felt lost, Nick, after Thérèse disappeared. I did try to find her, by the way, and it was like she disappeared into thin air. I have a feeling your grandparents had something to do with that. It turns out the reason they were pushing me into a marriage with your mom was your Grandfather Ramsey, Gwen’s father, was blackmailing my father, about a land deal that wasn’t done on the up and up years earlier. At that time, if it had been discovered, it could have destroyed the company. I didn’t agree to marry your mother because of our family’s reputation, which was my parents’ purpose, I did it to save the jobs of thousands of people we employ worldwide.”
Nick just sat there with his mouth gaped open.
“I know it sounds crazy, but your mom and I weren’t always unhappy, Nick, otherwise we wouldn’t have three kids. We dated for about a year, and truthfully, I thought we would be happy.”
Nick finally spoke. “What happened to change things?”
Dad pursed his lips. “That’s where it gets complicated. This has to stay between you and me, Nick, no matter what.”
“I understand,” Nick muttered.
“Your mother’s father had this crazy power over her. I discovered that your mom was siphoning company funds into an account belonging to her father. Apparently, the million that had been handed over to her father after our marriage, which was something I was never told about, had already been spent, and her father was able to get access through Gwen.”
Nick asked, “When she was working part time for you in your office?”
“I can’t believe you remember,” Dad murmured.
“The nanny we had back then used to tell me when I asked where she was.”
“I put a stop to it. And I could have filed charges, but I simply replaced the money out of my personal account and let it slide.” Dad stood and began pacing through the office. “But it was a lot. They’d been siphoning money for eight years, because it apparently began right after we were married. That’s how stupid I was. I thought when Gwen wanted to work in my office, it was for the benefit of our marriage, so we could become closer.”
“Mom has never been the affectionate type, even with the girls,” Nick admitted.
“I know. And I got the impression that we were beginning to fall in love with each other a little. But then there was this betrayal.”
“Do you know who kidnapped me?”
“We were never able to find out, but coincidentally, it came right after I discovered the missing funds and put a stop to it.”
Nick blinked. “Do you really think Mom would have gone along with something like that?”
Dad heaved a sigh. “I just don’t know Nick. Your mom has always been so hard to read. I still don’t understand why she’s always felt compelled to help her father. And why would your Grandfather Ramsey need all the extra money? I had him checked him out, and as far as I can tell, he’d not in any financial trouble.”
“So what do I need to do?”
“Stop by at my lawyer’s office sometime soon, and go over the paperwork with Ned Langston, so you understand the situation better.”
“Alright, Dad.”
* * *
Mike was able to enlist in the Air Force when he was still seventeen, and when he went to get his physical and take his entrance exam right there in Richmond, Nick and Rand went along with him not only for support, but because Rand was planning on enlisting himself, and wanted to better understand the process.
And with the aid of a strong recommendation from Rand’s grandfather, the Colonel, Mike was on his way at the end of the summer to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Chapter Four
Twelve Years Later.
Bali, Indonesia.
Nick had enjoyed himself this week, visiting Rand McAllister here where he lived on Bali. It had been a long time since they’d all hung out together.
Nick grinned, watching Rand get shut down by the beautiful redhead, who was sitting with her friends at the bar across the room.
Rand blinked, when the woman turned away, reaching for her drink.
Rand stood there, looking dumbfounded for another couple minutes before apparently giving up.
The redhead had already returned to conversing with the woman sitting beside her at the bar, who was obviously a friend.
That’s when Nick became aware of the beautiful blonde she was speaking with, and literally stopped breathing, glancing at her face when her eyes met his.
Her white blonde hair was pulled back from her face, which was classically lovely, with high cheekbones and huge luminous eyes, which Nick predicted were more than likely a deep dark blue.
His heart began beating madly when she suddenly smiled.
Nick was definitely distracted, because Jack Wellman, his other close friend who’d traveled with him to Bali, was laughing loudly as Rand strolled back to their booth, settling in beside Jack.
Nick, who was seated across from Rand, smiled widely before he spoke. “Watch the operator at work, huh?”
Rand shrugged but seemed oddly irritated.
Reaching for his beer mug laying on the table, Rand took a sip and quickly changed the subject.
“It’s nice that you guys finally made it back this year,” Rand muttered. “What’s it been—over two years since you were here last? I’ve made quite a few friends, but I still get treated a little differently.”
“It probably has something to do with the fact that you live in a mansion,” Nick answered dryly.
Rand rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but I worked side by side with everyone I hired when I had it built.”
“That was immediately after you moved here. Wasn’t it?” Jack leveled him with a stare. “The natives probably took offense to that and thought that you didn’t trust them to do a decent job.”
Rand grimaced. “I guess I never really thought about it like that.”
At that moment, a pretty Balinese girl appeared at the table. “Hi, Rand. Can I get you more to drink?”
“Hi, Ni Luh,” Rand answered, looking slightly uncomfortable.
“How about another pitcher?” Jack asked, sitting up straighter.
Ni Luh kept looking at Rand until he spoke.
“Sounds good,” Rand murmured, refusing to meet Ni Luh’s gaze.
“Alright,” she answered, her voice sounding flat.
After she scooted away with a tempting sway of her hips, Nick stared at Rand accusingly. “I thought you decided to play it safe by keeping your hands off the island girls?”
Rand hung his head. “I have been, since I broke it off with Ni Luh. We didn’t do anything but go out for dinner a couple times. Everyone just assumed there was more going on than there was.”
“Why stop dating?” Nick asked. “I notice the islander families are incredibly close. Maybe her father expected you to do the honorable thing?”
“No,” Rand muttered. “She knew from the start that I wasn’t going to make any promises.”
Jack looked as relieved as Nick was.
“But her brother got on my case anyway,” Rand answered, looking sheepish. “The island girls are very easily swayed. Apparently, some of them consider dating as a prelude to marriage, no matter how much you try to convince them that it doesn’t work that way in American culture, so I’ve only been dating tourists now. There are less complications that way.”
Nick continued his reprimand. “You know the womanizing was bad enough when we were back in school, Rand, but aren’t you getting a little old for one-night stands? I mean, don’t you want more out of your life? You seemed to be getting a lot out of the Air Force, when you enlisted. I can’t figure why you decided to opt out after all that intense training you were telling us about, even though you turned twenty-five, and supposedly gained control of your inheritance. Sitting around on the beach and drinking the day away when you’re retired is one thing, but is that what you’re planning on doing for the rest of your life? Squandering your great-grandmother’s inheritance? Do you actually even own the house you built? Won’t you forfeit it if you don’t live here on Bali year-round? It seems to me that building here was a really stupid idea if you’re planning on leaving eventually.”
Rand’s look was thoughtful when he answered, “What would you say if I told you I have been thinking about the future and actually planning ahead as well?”
Nick was taken aback. He really had been getting on Rand’s case today.
“I can’t tell you much about it now, but I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching during the last three years. Just because Dad didn’t think enough of me to make room for me in the family business, doesn’t mean I can’t succeed on my own. Let’s just say, my inheritance is funding an excellent cause.”
“Sorry, man. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, lately.” Nick ran a hand over his face.
“Tell him,” Jack said softly, looking at Rand. “He’s not going to say I told you so.”
Nick sighed heavily, leveling Rand with a steely stare. “Marissa broke off our engagement.”
“Shit,” Rand answered. “You should have told me. I’ve been wondering what’s been going on with you this week.”
Nick shrugged. “That’s kind of why we’re here. Jack talked me in to taking a break and getting away from Virginia for a while.”
Rand nodded agreeably, reaching over and giving Nick a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “This is a great place for getting away, that’s for sure. And hey, I never said I didn’t like her. I just thought she was thinking too much about getting ahead and not enough about you.”
Nick wouldn’t tell the guys why the engagement had really been broken off, since he’d been the one to do it. Coming home early from work one day earlier this summer, Nick had caught Marissa in bed with another guy. His pride had been more hurt than anything, because he’d already been worrying about the fact that he and Marissa had different future expectations.
Jack grinned. “Being invited to stay in a luxury home built on the oceanfront is a pretty big incentive for taking some time away too.”
“I can’t believe you’ve added an infinity pool since the last time we were here,” Nick mumbled. “I love that.”
“I do too,” Rand admitted. “I use that pool every day.”
Nick stared across the Indian Ocean’s rolling waves, where they had a clear view of the beach from the Oceanfront Bar. Because of its location, as well as the delicious cuisine, Rand said it was one of his favorite hangouts. There were several luxurious restaurants and bars spread across Bali, along with some incredibly hot night spots, but there was something so relaxing about being able to sit outside while eating and drinking with friends, staring at the spectacular view of sand, surf and tropical landscape. This place had more of a down-home feel and was a favorite drinking hole for both Aussie and American tourists.
Rand slowly stood. “I’ll be back in a minute, guys. The food should be here shortly.”
“Alright,” Nick muttered, shaking his head.
What in the heck was going on with Rand, Nick wondered? Although it hadn’t seemed to interfere with their sightseeing, and everyone was having a great time, Rand was constantly disappearing.
Nick noticed the redhead Rand had approached was now standing. Leaving her two friends at the bar sipping drinks, she headed outside through the same doors Rand had just walked through, exiting the restaurant onto the oceanfront patio.
As Nick sipped his beer, he watched as the pretty blonde and her friend strolled toward a table that had just become available.
After the two of them sat at the table, he caught the blonde looking his way.
Nick caught his breath again, because she was even lovelier close up.
Something in the way she inhaled a deep breath made him wonder if she was checking him out too.
Although she avoided his eyes, Nick continued watching her while Jack rambled on about some of the last few places they were planning on visiting today.
And then the food arrived, and the two of them began eating.
Finally returning and sliding back onto the seat in the booth where his food was waiting, Rand was giving the redhead a side glance again as she returned to the table where her friends were waiting.
When Rand picked up his burger, he caught Jack’s gaze.
Jack appeared un
usually thoughtful, Nick realized. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but Nick suspected Jack knew something about Rand that Nick didn’t. Jack had been quick to defend Rand from Nick’s disapproval the entire week, and Nick was beginning to wonder why Rand was living on Bali. Something was odd, and Rand didn’t appear to be satisfied with the life he was living here.
“Date tonight?” Jack asked dryly.
“Nah,” Rand answered, grinning. “I wouldn’t leave you two on your own since it’s one of your last few nights here and we’ve already made plans.”
“Ah,” Jack muttered. “Tomorrow night, then?”
Rand grinned, rolling his eyes as Nick looked back and forth between them wearing a puzzled frown.
The three of them had gone to grade school together, but Jack hadn’t become a close friend until they were all in high school since he’d never had the opportunity to play sports like Rand and Nick. Jack’s dad had died while he was young, so he’d helped his mom pick up the slack by taking care of his two younger brothers.
Unlike Jack, who’d always been able to read Rand well, Nick had been way too distracted by events going on in his own life, especially after meeting Marissa, so he’d lost touch with Rand during the last couple years.
They’d all had a pretty good time this week. Rand had given them a tour and they’d visited several places on the island Rand hadn’t been to in a while. After snorkeling and scuba diving, they could surf right outside of Rand’s front door since his home was located beside the beach. Jack and Nick had visited here a few years ago, and feeling more adventurous, they’d gone rafting and tried kitesurfing as well as flyboarding, which Rand was really into. Jack and Nick, not so much, even going as far as to suggest Rand had a death wish.
Nick wondered about Rand again, studying him closely.
After the three of them finished eating, Rand set aside his napkin, leaning back in his seat. “Anything special you both want to do this afternoon?”
Nick shrugged. “I thought about just taking a good old-fashioned walk, and maybe picking up a few souvenirs for the family.”
St. Nick's Christmas Wish (Holiday Hunks Book 7) Page 3