by Marie Astor
“I’m so glad we’re going to be sisters, Ally!” Madison squealed. Madison was extremely close with her brother. In the beginning Ally had been worried about potential rivalry between her and Madison, but Madison had liked Ally right off the bat. They were already like sisters.
“Me too, Maddie. But back to the topic of the dress. Since your parents are going to be there, I think I should go for a more conservative look.”
“Are you scared of my parents?”
Ally shook her head. “Nope.” The truth of the matter was that she was scared to death. The fact that she had already met Ron’s parents didn’t make the occasion any less terrifying; instead it made it more so since she knew what to expect. Ally still remembered how Mrs. Graystone had given her a once-over the first time Allyson had been invited to the Graystone’s townhouse in Beacon Hill, Boston. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Allyson,” Mrs. Graystone had said, holding Ally’s hand in a cool, dry grip. “It’s Allyson Roberts, isn’t it?” Mr. Graystone had clarified. “Yes,” Allyson nodded, blushing for no reason. It wasn’t as though she was embarrassed by her father and everything he stood for; on the contrary, she was proud of it, but she wanted to be judged on her own merit, not that of her father’s. “Welcome, dear,” Mrs. Graystone smiled magnanimously. “Please, come on in.”
“Ally! Wake up!” Madison snapped her fingers. “Are you going to try on this dress or what?”
“I’m awake,” Ally countered. She hung the blue dress back on the rack; she could just imagine the expression on Mrs. Graystone’s face if she were to wear it. Ally firmly gripped the black chiffon she’d settled on. If she was going to succeed at being Mrs. Ronald Graystone, she had to start holding her ground. “I’m going to try on this dress. I’m sure Ron would agree with my choice.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Of course Ron would agree. Ron always agrees, but someone has to be the voice of style.”
Allyson raised an eyebrow—the voice of chaos was more like it. Still, she knew exactly what Maddie meant. Unlike his sister, Ron was an exemplary son. His fate had been sealed since he had been a pea in his mother’s womb. The only male heir, he was to follow in his father’s footsteps and carry the venerable legacy of Graystone & Runell, the multimillion-dollar law firm in Boston, Massachusetts his great-grandfather had begun. Unlike Madison, Ron wore his legacy with reverence and quiet pride. He had aced his LSATs and looked forward to three years at Harvard Law. Despite their differences the two twins were extremely close, but Madison never tired of daring Ron to break free from the yoke of the Graystone name. In fact, Madison was the reason why Ron and Ally got together in the first place. Madison made friends easily, and she and Ally had become very close after rooming together during their first year of college. At the time, Ron was dating a different girl; Annette Beale went to Wellesley, and the two of them only saw each other on random weekends and breaks. Every now and then Ally would catch a glimpse of Ron, but it never went any further between them than a few friendly words. Ally had liked Ron instantly. His handsome face and lean, muscular body had made her breath catch, but what sealed the deal was his seriousness, a studiousness that she never saw in the boys her own age, at least not the ones who were as good-looking as Ron. Still, Ron’s heart belonged to someone else, and Ally had abandoned hope until an unexpected opportunity presented itself. Madison was practically spurting with excitement when she told Ally that Ron and Annette had broken up. Apparently, Annette had found her long-distance relationship with Ron trying and had been indiscreet with one of the boys from Boston College. Ron never would have been the wiser had it not been for one of Annette’s friends who had speedily relayed the news to him, probably in hopes of redirecting Ron’s affections to herself, or just out of plain spite. In any case, Ron was very hurt, but he remained stoic throughout the whole ordeal, growing even more serious and studious. To cheer Ron up, Maddie had arranged for the three of them to go to the movies, but then bailed at the last minute, claiming a headache. Left standing together in the front of the movie theatre, Ally and Ron had no choice but to go inside, and the rest was history.
Allyson never revealed it to Maddie, but part of the reason why she fell in love with Ron was the aura of dependability about him. Of course it also helped that he was six feet two and broad-shouldered, had a smile that could melt your heart in a second, and a twinkle in his baby-blue eyes that could send goose bumps down your skin, but these were not the main reasons. There were plenty of handsome guys at Duke, but none of them were like Ron, and Allyson only hoped that she could do him justice as his wife. She knew that it wouldn’t be easy: it wasn’t just Ron she was marrying but the Graystone legacy. And even though she herself was far from a penniless bride, she understood the differences between their families. Victor Roberts might have more in his bank accounts than the Graystones, but his name didn’t carry the pedigree of the Graystones, who could trace their lineage all the way back to the Mayflower. In the world of the Graystones, Ally was an outsider, but because she loved Ron she was willing to work hard to be accepted. Allyson worried that their engagement might interfere with Ron’s studies, but he had assured her otherwise, adding that the only way he could make it through law school was with the knowledge that, upon his graduation, Ally was going to be his wife. It went without saying that their wedding would have to wait until Ron finished law school. Ally didn’t have any qualms about that. As much as she loved Ron, she was secretly glad that she still had three years of freedom. It was like having the best of both worlds.
“Fine, have it your way,” Maddie pouted. “I’ll be right outside, praying that you come back to your senses and change your mind.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Ally threw over her shoulder as she shut the fitting room door behind her. She wriggled out of her jeans and threw off her top. Taking extra care, she undid the dress zipper and stepped into the gown. She pulled her arms through the sleeves and was about to zip up the back when she heard Madison’s urgent scream.
“Ally, you’d better come out here!”
Allyson shook her head. At times Madison could be too persistent. “Maddie, I already told you that I’m going with the black dress.” Allyson surveyed herself in the mirror in confirmation of her choice. The dress looked perfect on her: the black color accentuated the smooth alabaster of her skin and the dark color of her hair, and made her blue eyes dazzle like sapphires.
She thought of a sapphire pendant her father had given her for her twenty-first birthday; it would go perfectly with the moderately low neckline of the dress. She was about to open the fitting room door and put Madison’s impatience to rest when she heard banging on the door.
“Ally, you have to see this!” Madison burst into the fitting room just as Ally was about to come out.
“Admit it, this is a better choice—” Allyson stopped short after seeing the expression on Madison’s face. “Madison, what’s wrong? What is it?”
Madison handed Ally her smartphone. It had a news article opened on the screen. “I think you’d better sit down.”
As Allyson read the headline her eyes flew wide open, nearly popping out of her head. “Victor Roberts, President and COO of Roberts Enterprises, has been arrested on charges of fraud, negligence, and threat to national security,” the headline read.
“It’s got to be a mistake. It can’t be real. Where’s my phone?” Ally rummaged through her purse. “Damn, I must’ve left it at home.” She was heaving now, her heart racing like a hammer, and she felt the world spinning around her. This couldn’t be happening. She needed to call her father’s lawyer and find out exactly what was going on. Maybe her father was trying to reach her this very minute and she wasn’t there to answer his call. When was the last time she had spoken to her father? Easter, and now it was the end of May. She was ashamed to admit that such breaks in their communication weren’t out of the ordinary. Her father was a very busy man, and she didn’t want to appear needy or interfere with his affairs. But now something t
errible had happened to him, and she had read about it on the Internet like a complete stranger. She wanted to be with him, to know exactly what was going on. She needed her father more now than she ever had. “I have to go! I have to get to my phone.” Allyson thrust her feet into her shoes and lunged for the door.
“I’m right behind you,” Madison followed.
“Miss, excuse me!” A saleswoman stood in Ally’s way.
Ally stopped dead in her tracks, realizing that she was still wearing the dress she’d been trying on. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror; her hair was disheveled and her face was flushed red. She could already see the headlines: “On the heels of the news of her father’s arrest, Allyson Roberts is caught shoplifting.”
“Leave her alone!” Madison snarled. “I’ll pay for the damn dress. She has an emergency.” Maddie threw her credit card at the sales person. She thrust her sunglasses at Ally. “Take these. You’re gonna need them.”
“Why would I need those—” Ally stopped short, understanding instantly. She hated wearing sunglasses, but she’d be crazy to venture outside now without a pair on. Growing up, Allyson had remained out of the spotlight—her father had made sure of that. The one time a photographer had managed to get a picture of her—when she was about five years old—her father had the man brought up on harassment charges, followed by a gag order. But now her father was powerless to protect her and she was prime bait. Every paparazzo on the street would be dying to take her picture. It was only a matter of time until they would seek her out.
“Come on!” Madison grabbed Ally’s hand, ushering her outside. Luckily, Madison had parked her car close to the store and within moments they were on the road, driving.
Ten minutes later Madison pulled up in front of Ally’s house. She helped Ally up the front stairs and opened the door for her, as though Ally were an invalid. By now the shock of the news had taken its toll, and although there was nothing physically the matter with her, Ally found it hard to function, as though she were wrapped in a cocoon of numbness, making even the simplest of movements extremely difficult.
Madison sat Ally on the couch. “Allyson, listen to me. I know you’re in shock, but you have to pull yourself together. There are a hundred calls you need to make, and you need to be one hundred percent, do you hear me?”
Ally nodded, although she didn’t understand why she needed to make a hundred calls. As far as she was concerned she only needed to make one phone call: to her father.
Maddie squeezed Ally’s hand hard. “Ally, listen to me. I know you’re scared, but you’ll be alright. It’s probably nothing. Your father will get out of this mess. Trust me, these things happen.”
Allyson’s eyes flew wide open, but she remained mute. What on earth was Maddie saying? These things didn’t happen, not to her, not to her father.
“My father isn’t a lawyer for nothing. You should hear about some of the messes his clients had gotten into. All old money, so venerable and discreet. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve just joined a very elite club.” Madison tried to bring Ally back to reality, but there was a glazed-over look of shock in Ally’s eyes. “Allyson!” Maddie’s hand slapped Ally’s face. Allyson clutched her cheek, staring at her friend. “I’m sorry, but you have to get yourself together.”
The sharp stinging of her skin brought clarity. With her now clear eyes, Ally saw the red blinking light on her answering machine. On the reading table next to the couch was her cell phone and it, too, was beeping angrily, bursting with tidings of bad news. No matter how bad, it was the news she needed to hear. Her father didn’t bring her up to be a babbling child; she was a grown woman now and she had to step up to the plate. “I’m all right now. Thank you.”
“You’re not mad at me? I don’t know why I hit you. I guess I panicked.” All of Madison’s toughness was evaporating as she babbled guiltily.
“I deserved it. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to need some privacy to sort through all of this . . . it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t want you to be in the position of overhearing things that could be compromising,” Ally said firmly. She was fully in control now.
“I understand. I’ll be home if you need me. I’ll let myself out.” Madison rose from the couch and headed for the door.
Allyson reached for her cell phone and hit the messages button. There were five messages, all from her father’s lawyer.
Please read on for an excerpt from Baiting Trouble (Book 2 of Sinful Business Series)
Excerpt from Baiting Trouble
(Book 2 of Sinful Business Series)
By
Marie Astor
Allyson Roberts has risen from the ashes. She now has a career, a relationship, and a purpose in life. But as a new assignment comes along, Jake Morrissey, the man who helped her rebuild her life and has been her rock ever since might now become too dangerous for her to love. Will Ally and Jake find a way to be together, or will their ties burn them?
Delilah Jones has always been the odd one out with a wayward past. Now, she has a chance to shine by completing an undercover assignment that has her colleagues at a standstill. But what if getting a lead will cost Delilah her only chance for true love? Will she have to choose between her heart and career, or will she find a way to have both?
Chapter 1
Brad Weiss wanted to skip up the corporate jet’s ladder, but instead he kept his stride measured as he respectfully followed his boss, Peter Langman, to board Orion Inc.’s corporate jet. As he made his way into the cabin, Brad was yet again impressed by the lush accommodations of the jet. He had flown the company plane on many business occasions before, but the luxury of private travel never ceased to please him. Someday, hopefully someday soon, he was going to have his own jet that he would use whenever it pleased him. Brad waited for Peter Langman to take a seat and then took the opposite seat.
For the past eleven years Orion had been Brad’s life. He was only thirty-three years old, but already the company’s chief operating officer, the COO. His title elicited frowns and arched eyebrows from many of the gray hairs at the company as well as those at their competitors, but Brad remained as impervious to the old geezers’ scoffs as he would to the buzzing noises made by flies.
“Are you comfortable, Brad?” Langman asked.
“I’m fine. Thank you, sir,” Brad replied deferentially. He owed his success to Peter Langman, the owner of Orion Inc. In addition to being Brad’s boss Peter Langman was also his mentor.
Brad sank into the supple leather chair. The flight to Hong Kong from Oregon was over fifteen hours long, so it was comforting to know that the seats were expandable into perfectly horizontal beds. This was going to be a very important business trip for Brad—a trip that could make or break his career, and he wanted to look his best upon arrival.
A pretty stewardess greeted them. “Gentlemen, may I get you anything to drink?” She was wearing a uniform with Orion’s logo insignia. Brad noticed that her pencil skirt and form-fitting jacket hugged her body rather suggestively. He wondered if the girl had a tailor alter the uniform. Although most CEOs would gladly use a sexy stewardess as a ploy to achieve an edge in business negotiations, Peter Langman was a straight shooter and he would’ve never approved sexy uniforms for his corporate jet flight attendants.
“Just some water for me, please,” Langman asked.
“The same please,” Brad followed his boss’s lead. There’d be plenty of opportunities for drinks later, but right now he needed to have a fresh head for the negotiations they had ahead of them.
“I will be right back with your orders, gentlemen.” The girl smiled and walked away, her hips swaying.
Peter Langman’s eyes trailed after the girl’s figure. “Don’t you think her uniform is a little snug?” he whispered disapprovingly.
Brad looked up from his papers distractedly. “Oh, apologies, sir, I wasn’t looking.” He pointed at the papers.
Langman chuckled. “Never mind.”
The girl returned with two bottles of Perrier and poured them into glasses with slices of lemon in each. Brad took his glass, keeping his eyes fixed on his papers the entire time. He wanted Langman to see how dedicated he was.
Langman took a long drink of his water. “Brad, you’ve been poring over this pitch nonstop since last week. You must have it memorized by now.”
“You’re right, sir. I do, but practice only makes perfect. Tomorrow is a big day for us and I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Oh, I don’t think you could do that even if you tried.”
“You’re very kind, sir.”
“I must admit I’m a little nervous.”
“Nervous, sir?”
Langman nodded. “Yes. Not nervous about the deal, but nervous about what it will do to the company if the deal goes through, which I’m pretty sure it will.”
Brad stared at him momentarily. “It will undisputedly establish Orion’s position as a liquefied gas provider of international importance.”
Langman nodded. “Precisely.”
“But isn’t that what we’ve been working toward, sir?” Orion had recently completed building three gas pipelines in China where it had contracts with three leading manufacturing companies. Impressed by the deal Orion had struck with China, Hong Kong too wanted a piece of the action. At first, Langman had been hesitant. He wanted to make sure that Orion had the capacity to deliver on these obligations and wanted to wait on the Hong Kong expansion, but Brad had done a detailed assessment of Orion’s facilities proving that Orion was more than capable of meeting these obligations. Now months of planning were going to come full circle. Brad and his boss had two meetings planned during their trip. The first meeting was going to be with a major Hong Kong bank to secure a loan Orion needed to build a gas pipeline to transport gas to its newest client, a major utilities company in Hong Kong. Once the loan terms were signed, they would then meet with the client to cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s.