Love California Box Set: Books 1-3 (Love California Series Collection)

by Jan Moran

  “The amount of the loan hasn’t declined, has it?” Verena felt a chill creep up her neck. The company couldn’t get by on much less.

  “It’s not that. You’ll actually have a lot more money to work with,” he said, sounding confident.

  Verena stared at him. An alarm went off in her head. “Why would I want to borrow more than we need?”

  Derrick shifted in his chair, picked up his wine glass, and swirled it in the halo of the overhead light. “Good color. You discovered this wine in Paris?”

  “That’s what I said. And I wouldn’t mind a glass.” Verena cast a cool glance at Derrick. He’s stalling, he knows I won’t like the terms. After emptying sliced carrots, romaine lettuce, and sweet peppers into the salad bowl, Verena took the roast from the oven to rest. Satisfied with her work, she wiped her hands on a towel, got her own wine glass, and sat across the kitchen table from Derrick. “Tell me about the deal.”

  As he made a show of pouring wine into her glass, he began. “Herringbone will make the loan, and you’ll have access to whatever else you might need in terms of management talent, lines of credit—you name it. It’s a good deal.”

  Swirling her wine, Verena narrowed her eyes at him over the glass. “We have a good management team already.”

  Derrick shifted in his chair. “As you expand, you’ll need a more experienced team. Of course, you’ll remain at the helm as CEO, but you’ll need a broader knowledge base on board.”

  “We’ve been in the skincare business for decades.”

  “Right, but there’s a new opportunity you’re going to need help with.”

  Verena arched a brow. She didn’t like what she was hearing.

  Derrick licked his lips and went on. “Herringbone has another beauty company that we want to fold into VSS. We believe VSS can be a beauty powerhouse, and this will be the first step.”

  “We’re running at full capacity as it is. Why would we want to dilute our efforts when we have such a tremendous opportunity already in progress in Asia?”

  “You have to think big, Verena. This nail care company has a great product line, but the management was lousy. With our help, you can turn it around.”

  Verena pushed back from the table. “Nail company? That’s not what we do. We focus on skincare.”

  “Close enough. Look, it did well in the mass market.”

  “In drugstores and discounters? That’s not even in our distribution network. Derrick, all we need is a working capital loan.”

  “But this is a great opportunity. It’s called Rainbow Nails—”

  “Hold it. I know Rainbow Nails. It’s a color line for teenagers. It’s not even in our league. We must maintain our image,” she said, shaking her head. “We can’t lose focus on our luxury positioning in the market.”

  Derrick passed a hand across his face. “You need to do this, Verena.”

  “No.” She folded her arms. “We agreed on a loan, that’s it.”

  Derrick raised a brow and tapped his wine glass, the tinkling of fine crystal shattering the silence. “Herringbone didn’t agree on anything,” he said in a measured voice. “This is the offer. I’ve seen your financials, and I suggest you listen to it.”

  Verena stared at him. A sinking feeling began to gather within her. She might need the money, but she had to proceed with caution. She slid her wine glass away from her. “I’m listening.”

  “Herringbone will advance funds for a minor equity stake in Valent. You’ll take over Rainbow and reinvigorate that company. We’ll take a seat on the board, contribute some management expertise, and grow the companies together.”

  Verena paused, taking it all in. “And then what?”

  “We’ll find a suitor, you sell and retire.”

  “Why would we want to sell?” She bit her lip, but the sinking feeling intensified. “I’m far too young to retire. My sisters will probably join the business someday, and our children, too. This is our family business.”

  Derrick met her gaze. “It’s also your opportunity to provide for your entire family. Then they can do whatever they want with their lives.” He reached across the table for her hand. “And so can you.”

  Growing more uncomfortable, Verena glanced down at his hand and shook her head. The idea for Rainbow was just too much. “I don’t know, Derrick. This is so far outside of our business plan. I can’t see how it makes sense for us.”

  “Herringbone can take your company to an entirely new level. We’re talking millions of dollars, Verena. You must think of your family. Mia likes to travel, and she should do it in style. Who knows how many years she has left? And Anika and Bella, what if they don’t want to work in the business? Don’t you want them to be able to do anything they’d like?”

  Verena considered his words. Was he really trying to help her, or just line his own pockets? Or both?

  “When Asia is in full stride, can you really handle the business?” Derrick stroked her hand as he spoke, his voice softening. “Someday when you have children, would you really want to spend weeks in Asia away from them?”

  “I suppose someone else could take those trips.” She closed her eyes for a moment. Derrick sounded so sincere. He had some good points. “I don’t know...”

  “Remember the life we’d planned together?” Derrick’s voice dropped a notch, nearly mesmerizing her. “I’ve changed, I promise. We could still make than happen.”

  “Don’t get any ideas.” Appalled, Verena snapped her hand back.

  “Verena, don’t be like this.”

  Rubbing her forehead, she thought about the past couple of glorious days with Lance, but she had to face the grim situation before her. This is my reality. She had to make this work, no matter how hard it might be.

  Sizing up Derrick’s expression, she wondered how often she’d have to see him, though she’d hardly seen him when they engaged. Yet the thought of tackling another company, especially one so different from their own, was overwhelming.

  The culture of Valent Swiss Skincare would change with new managers on board. She’d always run the business based on providing the best service to their guests. But this was big business.

  “Derrick, I’ll be honest, I don’t know anything about running a business in the mass market. You say Herringbone will support this new venture?”

  “Absolutely, I promise. As much as required.”

  She turned over the decision in her mind. Something didn’t feel right. Yet, she was not in a position to decline. “I’ll have my attorney look at it,” she said, her words laced with caution. “If I decide it’s not right for us, can I still count on the loan we need for working capital?”

  Derrick shook his head. “This is the only deal on the table, Verena.”

  “But surely—”

  “Roper made it very clear that unless you agree to these terms, there is no deal.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense. If VSS is a good investment, then why wouldn’t Herringbone go ahead with it? Seems the addition of Rainbow Nails could destabilize our company. If anything, it would be the riskier proposition.” Though she didn’t have his experience, this didn’t seem prudent. She stood to check on the roast. “What am I missing here?”

  Wearily, Derrick drew a hand over his face. “You ask a lot of questions, Verena, and I have to admit, they’re good ones. Here’s the deal, as a defunct company, Rainbow is dragging down one of our portfolio funds, and we’re trying to improve its returns, or its prospect of returns, because we need the investors in that fund to invest in our new fund. You know I have a big stake in this new fund, Verena.” He got up and stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. “This could be our future. We could have an even larger stake in it together.”

  “Derrick, don’t.”

  Not listening to her, he moved closer. “You’d be doing Herringbone—and your family—a big favor. And me.”

  She shrugged him aside to get a serving platter. “I don’t know, Derrick.”

  Turning brusquely fro
m her, he poured more wine for himself. “Look, I wouldn’t have agreed to bring this deal to you if I didn’t think you could do it.”

  He did have some good points about her family’s needs, but his attitude was grating on her nerves. Tamping down her tension, she drew a breath. “I’m thinking of Mia, and of Anika and Bella, too. It could sell for millions, you say?”

  “How often do you have the opportunity to secure their future? You could set up trust funds for each one of them. Think of the cost of their college education alone.”

  “I’ve already saved some for them. I really want them to have the opportunity that I never had to go to college. Twins are expensive.”

  “It’s a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. I promise, you won’t regret this. It’s the right thing to do.”

  She threw him a look of caution. “I’ll have to speak to my attorney and accountant. And Rainbow should be a separate company. If it doesn’t perform, I wouldn’t want it to hurt VSS.”

  “Of course, absolutely. I’ll send the term sheet to you tomorrow. As long as you approve, we can move to the legal agreements immediately. And from then on,” he added, “you’ll be on the path to success.”

  Derrick made it sound so easy. He always talked about buying, building, and selling companies as if they were baseball trading cards.

  She pulled on a pair of oven mitts. Glancing over her shoulder at Derrick, an involuntary shudder went through her. Herringbone’s plan still didn’t feel right to her.

  Yet, she knew she might have to make the best of the situation for her family’s sake. Her gut twisted as the thought of it. As a result, the business and life she had always known would change.

  Perhaps it was time for change.

  As she hefted the hot roasting pan, Derrick approached her from behind.

  “How’s that Beef Wellington? I’m starving,” he said, clasping her bottom with his hands and squeezing for emphasis.

  Or not. Fury seized her. How dare he touch her like that? After sliding the roast from the pan onto a platter, she picked it up and whirled around, anger blinding her reason. “Here you are.”

  The platter tilted in her hands. In a split second, the roast took flight, landing squarely on Derrick’s polished Gucci dress shoes.

  “What the hell?” Derrick leapt to his feet and yanked off his shoes. Bits of pastry crust crumbling from the roast swam in the juice puddling in his shoes.

  “Oops.” Verena leaned back against the counter, the platter dangling from her fingertips. “And don’t you ever touch me again,” she shot back.

  Derrick scowled at her. “What’s the matter with you? These are expensive shoes!”

  “Obviously not anymore,” Verena said.

  Ripping off his socks, Derrick glared at her. “This is not funny. You could’ve hurt me.”

  She looked down at his gnarly feet. “Not with that set of toenails to defend you.”

  “And dinner. Look, it’s ruined.”

  Verena couldn’t suppress a wry laugh. “How about a salad? Or a pedicure?”

  “You’re nuts, you know that?” He grabbed a kitchen towel and began rubbing his shoes. “I’m out of here.”

  After Derrick stormed out in his bare feet, Verena grabbed her wine and sat down, surveying the damage and satisfied that she’d stood up to him.

  On the counter, her phone vibrated with a text. She ignored it. Had to be Derrick, and she was finished with him.

  As the wine warmed her throat, she couldn’t help but wonder, had she just destroyed her only option? And her family business along with it?

  18

  CLAD IN HIS chef whites, Lance removed his hat and took a break from the Paris competition, striding outside to gather his thoughts. Or get rid of them. The memory of Verena and their last night together had been running like a tragic movie through his mind.

  Outside, horns blared, jolting him back to the present. Watching the traffic jam on the street, Lance thought that if he ever needed a cigarette, it was right now.

  But he’d promised Verena.

  Instead, he strode into a café and ordered an espresso. Not that it would calm his nerves, but he’d had restless nights since Verena left and was in dire need of caffeine.

  The day after Verena had gone, Lance had thrown himself into the competition he’d come to Paris for. Though he’d taken time to have to a hotel concierge arrange for a bouquet of white lilies and tuberose to be delivered to Verena’s home.

  He’d also seen Mia and the twins off when they departed to visit her sister in Switzerland. That sweet woman had clearly arranged this chance meeting in Paris with Verena, and he would be forever grateful to Mia for that.

  Never had he had such a wonderful time, or felt such an incredible connection with a woman, as he had the last two days with Verena.

  “Expresso, monsieur?”

  “Oui, merci.” Lance sipped the espresso, turning his thoughts over in his mind.

  Their last night had been nothing short of perfect.

  Yet when he’d left her at the door to her room, she’d sounded so sad. What had she said? He’d been so enamored with her that he’d hardly registered her last words to him at the time. Mainly because what she said seemed so out of sync with the amazing evening they’d had dancing at Le Speakeasy and strolling the streets of the arrondissement.

  Lance cupped his chin in his hand, thinking. What were her words again?

  He’d said, Paris won’t be the same without you.

  Nor my life without you, she’d replied before she shut the door.

  That’s exactly what she’d said. He was sure of it.

  Five little words.

  Never had five words caused him so much grief.

  Not until he’d returned to his room and emerged from his love stupor the next morning did her words really strike him.

  He’d thought she meant that her life in Los Angeles wouldn’t be the same without him until he returned.

  He gulped the espresso. Yeah, that’s what my ego wanted to hear. But then she made it even clearer.

  So he tried to call her, but she was already on the plane.

  He sent an email telling her how glad he was that they’d run into each other again in Paris. When she didn’t reply, he grew concerned. By then the competition was in full swing and demanded his full attention.

  The next time he tried to call, it was far too late and he didn’t want to wake her. So he sent another email.

  Still no reply.

  Again he tried to call and text. She didn’t respond, and his call went to voice mail.

  She’d been worried that last day they were together. Was she in some kind of danger? Surely Mia would have called him if she had been.

  Or did Derrick mean more to her than she’d led him to believe? He’d tried to warn her about that creep.

  Cursing himself under his breath, he knocked back the rest of the espresso.

  If only he’d been listening better that night. What had he done to turn her away? He recalled every detail of the evening but he couldn’t think of anything he’d done, other than try to show her that she was the most important woman in his life.

  And save her from drowning, even though he would’ve done that for anyone.

  Walking back to the event, Lance grappled with what now looked like hard evidence. Verena Valent dumped me. But why?

  He deserved an answer.

  Yet he wasn’t the kind of man to push a woman for one. He didn’t go where he wasn’t wanted.

  She’d sure seemed to have genuine feelings for him. His certainly were. Or had it only been the magic of Paris?

  He couldn’t accept that, although he didn’t want to come across as a stalker, and he feared he’d already reached out enough times to qualify for that status.

  Smacking his forehead with his palm, he hurried back to the event. He needed to get his head back in the game.

  The mysterious disappearance of Verena Valent from his life would have to wait until he
returned to L.A.

  19

  VERENA LOOKED AROUND the conference table in the VSS office. To her right, Lacey shifted uncomfortably. Lacey’s yellow blouse was a burst of sunshine among the otherwise weary team on this dreary day. The company controller, Annette Margaux, along with the Vice President of Marketing, Pearl Cho, sat directly across from her. And at the end of the table was the VSS corporate counsel, Jack Epstein. They were all studying the last round of documents from Herringbone that Lacey had passed out.

  Verena waited in the silence, listening to the rain pelt the windows and turning over options in her mind. After she’d dumped the Beef Wellington on Derrick’s shoes, he had called her the next morning. I deserved that, he’d said, actually apologizing for being so forward with her. He assured her the deal was still on.

  Even so, Verena had continued to try to find alternatives to the Herringbone deal. In the meantime, she had given her management team a few days to study the plan for Rainbow Nails that Herringbone had suggested. Everything about it was wrong, and she knew it, but if VSS wanted funds from Herringbone, they would have to find a way to make the deal work.

  Unless she could find another option. How many calls had she made to bankers, friends, and private investors since she’d returned from Paris? She couldn’t even count them. The economic news was worsening by the day, too. As if she needed reminding.

  “So, let me hear some of your thoughts on this deal.” Verena asked her team. Even having to consider it went against her better judgement, but it was quickly becoming their only option.

  Annette vehemently shook her head. “Rainbow is essentially a defunct company. There’s no infrastructure, so we’d be responsible for rebuilding the company from the ground up. It will be costly. They have a huge inventory assortment—unless you trim the product line—so that will put a lot of pressure on the bookkeeping function.” She peered over the rim of her stylish navy glasses. “We’ll definitely have to add more people.”

  “And we can’t really leverage our existing field support,” Pearl said, brushing her jet black hair over one shoulder. “The team in the field is already stretched thin. I can call on a couple of major accounts, but after next month, my calendar is booked solid with our Asian expansion. Maybe we can outsource Rainbow’s sales and marketing, or add another person to sell into those markets and oversee the field support.”