She worried about him and all the stress he seemed to be under.
She’d caught him in the gardens last week on the estate. He was daydreaming, and never heard her approach. More than likely he was thinking about her mother.
The business wasn’t losing money. Was he contemplating selling it off? But she wanted to run it. She wanted the opportunity to show her father that she could do it. She was business savvy enough. She just needed him to see how capable she could be. But her father and she weren’t exactly close. Not like she read about in books or heard from other friends about their relationships with their dads. No, hers was very concise, restricted, and composed. But she fought that tooth and nail, and tried to get her father to pay close attention to her. It just wasn’t in his personality.
She even tried to mimic him and his obsession with work and organization. But that didn’t even work. He probably still didn’t like her calling him Daddy, but she did sometimes, just to get under his skin. She wished they were closer, like when Mom first passed away. But he was growing distant, and she didn’t understand why. Calling him Father all the time made her feel stuck-up and snobby. That wasn’t her. It seemed so vain and obnoxious. Since she was nine, and assertive, she’d called him Daddy. He was forced to get used to it.
Chiara could run the business perfectly, if her father would have any confidence or real deep care for his only child. She was a hell of a lot more capable than Marvin McShay, the president of the company. That man was a conniving weasel, who actually thought he had a chance of landing Chiara. Like that would actually happen. He may be hot, but I’m not stupid.
“Are you all right?” she asked again. “The party is going on and guests continue to arrive.”
“Yes, of course I am. I just have a lot on my mind.”
She looked at him. He was such a handsome man. His dark hair and the light strands of gray by his ears made him appear wise, attractive, and sophisticated. He was an older bachelor now but wanted nothing to do with dating or even socializing alone with a woman. He loved his wife Patricia that much. Chiara looked exactly like her mother, and she wondered if that was why he seemed to distance himself even more.
“I know that you’re worried about the company, Daddy. You know that I would like the opportunity to try and run it. Look how well I’ve done campaigning and developing the advertising department.”
“Chiara, no. I think it is best that you stay in your management position for now. You make an excellent salary, you work very hard, and there will be other opportunities for you.”
“Daddy, it’s what I want to do. I can be the manager, the president of the company, and make some seriously needed changes. I’ve been through the system from the bottom up. I just need the title and the authority to make it happen.”
He stared at her a moment and seemed as though he was either contemplating her statement or thinking of a way to shoot her down.
“Honey, it’s not what I want for you. Besides, Marvin McShay is doing an excellent job. The company is doing very well. I want you safe. I don’t want you in the spotlight and exposed to all the negativity. Marvin can handle that better than you.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “Because he’s a man? Please, he hardly has a spine,” she said with her hands on her hips. Her father almost smirked. It was quick, but he recovered and held a firm expression.
“Chiara, he has a spine. He has a reputation as a hard-ass. He’s a good man. He’s very personable and attractive. He wants to date you.”
“Daddy, really? Are you freaking serious? You want me to date some stuck-up, rich, conniving snob like Marvin McShay? The man is a jerk who sleeps around with every easy slut he can land.”
“Chiara!”
“Well, what? You want to know the truth or do you want me to sugarcoat it for you? For crying out loud, Daddy, the man sleeps with more women and throws his money around like he’s royalty. The private jets, the trips to the Southern states supposedly looking into our seaports about the quality of the seafood, it’s all a farce. He’s an asshole.”
“Chiara Costiano, I can’t believe your mouth. This is not what I expect from my only daughter. Your forwardness and your shoot-by-the-hip loose tongue is why you can’t be in charge. You can’t go around speaking your mind and saying everything that pops into your head.”
“Why the hell not? You’ve taught me everything I know about business, about being aggressive and thorough, and Mom taught me how to be empathetic and courteous. I think I’ve been doing a pretty damn good job at winning over most of the employees.”
“And in your personal life? Have you won any men over? Have you even been dating? I don’t want this business taking over your life. I want what’s best for my favorite daughter.”
“I’m your only daughter,” she replied with an attitude as she crossed her arms and huffed.
He stared at her with that stern expression of his. It still made her concede even in arguments where she knew she was right. Her daddy had such an influence on her. She loved him with all her heart, and would do anything he asked of her, despite the distance he placed between them. Or perhaps, she just wanted to love him in hopes that he would love her the same way.
“Chiara, please. You’re twenty-six years old. You have more than enough money to not work a day in your life for three lives. You need to live a little. You need to date, and not worry about me so much. If this company was sold off tomorrow, or went under, it shouldn’t mean the end for you. It should mean a new beginning. A time to live your life. It’s what I want for you.”
“But I do worry. I know how difficult it has been for you since Mommy died.”
Her father looked away from her and lowered his head. He was so in love with his wife Patricia. He adored her and had showered her with love and gifts and just the simple things in life. They vacationed together and spent time alone with weekend trips. She wanted to feel the love she’d witnessed between her mother and father. She wanted that bond, and that empowered connection. But had yet to find it.
Every man she met knew her as Chiara Costiano, a wealthy heiress, a sure thing for a secure future, so there was never any love. She wasn’t easily manipulated. Men she dated either automatically loved her or they pretended to, and then it fell apart. She never felt anything real for a man. Instead she saw them as conniving, manipulating fuck heads. When they saw her, they saw wealth and a ticket to a secure life. Because of that, she chose to not even get sexually involved with men. It wasn’t worth the headache, the fear that they would try to latch on. So maybe she was a little high-strung and needed some action? She had ways to ease the need. Even if they were lame and left her sometimes more aroused and needy than when she started. She swallowed hard. She should not have these thoughts right now. She didn’t need a man, a lover, someone else to not trust.
Thanks a lot, Heather, for putting this idea in my head.
There was nothing to focus on but her career, and now even that her father wouldn’t allow her to indulge and progress with.
“I do miss her. I always will, but you are my priority now, Chiara. You need to focus on the things you want in life. There are situations you know nothing about. My job is to protect you, and to ensure that you have a bright future and have the best things in life.”
“But, Daddy I do have those things, but I want to do more for the family company. I want to take it over. I know that I can do it.”
“No.” He raised his voice and she was surprised. “The company is my business, and I make the final decisions with it. If I decide to sell, or to break up stocks, then the decision is mine.”
“Sell? What the hell do you mean sell?”
He waved his hand at her as if indicating to say no more. This was the side of her father that frustrated the living shit out of her. She wanted to stomp her feet and growl in annoyance. She was a grown woman, and he still had the ability to make her want to throw a tantrum. But of course she wasn’t like that at all. She took a deep breath and st
ared at him. She wondered whom he had in mind to sell to. Then it hit her.
“Not Marvin McShay? You wouldn’t dare sell this company to that man?”
Her father was silent as he stared at her. Then it hit her.
“Oh my God, that’s why you keep pushing me to date him. You want him to run the company, and for me to be his naive little woman? What do I look like, some easy, simpleminded bimbo without a brain for business?”
“Chiara, please calm down. I shouldn’t have said anything about selling. I’m still not certain what I am going to do. I have to weigh my options.”
“Great, Daddy. You weigh your options. You think about this though. I have worked hard since college and during college to establish myself in the company and gain the honest respect of the employees. Despite what bullshit Marvin and that board of wretched corrupt snobs has tried to do. I would appreciate at least an opportunity to show you what I am capable of. Perhaps come up with a time frame, to give me the chance to prove it to you. I know I can run the company better than it is being run now.”
Her father held her by her shoulders and stared down into her eyes.
“Honey, you’ll be in the advertising, management position whether I sell the company or not. I can promise you that. But ultimately, my priority is to protect you and keep you safe and out of harm’s way.”
“But—”
“No buts. There are things you don’t know.”
He stared down into her eyes, and she could have sworn she saw him well up with tears, and then he went cold again. He never showed his emotions. Never.
She was irate, but what could she do? He was her father, and he had the final say. But she did wonder if perhaps there were other interested parties. There seemed to be some extra guests at the party tonight that normally wouldn’t attend. She’d figure out whom he was thinking of selling to.
“Chiara, get that look off your face. You’re not involved with this decision. I’m sorry, but I have my reasons. Now, let’s go greet our guests.”
“Fine, but I am not greeting Marvin. He annoys me.”
Her father chuckled. “He adores you though. Can’t you try to date him, for me?”
“Absolutely not. He adores a piece of ass, Daddy, and especially one with both physical and financial assets.”
Marvin? Like I would ever get involved with Marvin?
“Chiara Costiano, I don’t know where you get this attitude from. Your mother and I weren’t like this at all.”
* * * *
“I don’t get it. Why would Robert Costiano want to sell?” Zane asked as he sat on the leather chair, sipping some cognac. He was waiting for Cash to leave for the party.
Cash stood in front of the mirror by the wet bar in their penthouse, adjusting his bow tie. They both attended black-tie affairs so often that they had over a dozen personally tailored tuxedoes.
“You heard his story when we met him a few weeks back. He’s getting old, and he isn’t happy about where the business is headed. If he gets out now, he can at least live a very good, secure lifestyle. He’s worried about his daughter as well. Selling to us is the right thing to do. He wants to keep it silent. The man is smart. It would be in his best interest to quietly sell to us.”
“I’m not too sure. There are things missing in his story. Why not let Chiara take it over. She seems more than capable. More than just a pretty face, from the old photo we got a hold of.”
“We haven’t even met her yet, Zane. You know as well as I do that what she seems like on paper may be different than in person. He wants her to remain as manager of advertising. He doesn’t want her to have the burden of running a multimillion-dollar business.”
“Cash, have you looked over the files we had our team gather? This company has major potential. The board members could be its downfall, and their lack of commitment to the company they work for. When a board worries more about the money they’re making than the product they’re producing, a business sets up to fail. They’re a bunch of greedy bastards. Costiano’s business could be one of the largest processed seafood distribution centers in the Northeast. Its building is in a key location by the seaport, and the offices are ideally located near all major transit and commuter stations. It’s accessible, it’s had a steady growth over the last twenty years, and I don’t understand why now, why suddenly, does he want to sell?” Zane asked.
“Well, partner, that is exactly what we are going to find out. We’ll need to get some people inside. When we meet with Costiano we’ll go over some of what we need.”
“Your father knows Robert Costiano well. Does he think Costiano could be lying about why he wants to sell?”
“He’s not a hundred percent sure, Zane. He’s known him for about five years or so. The only reason I’m even agreeing to this possible sale is because Robert really seems to care for his daughter and her future. He’s not planning on sticking around New York. And like you said, Zane, this is a great business opportunity. Making money, buying, selling, or recreating companies is what we do.”
“Don’t forget about the security business we have. That’s been booming lately. You know what I’m thinking? Costiano wants out of here fast. I have the feeling he wants to leave the country. We’ll have to get our team on top of the investigation. We both understand how great this company Costiano owns could be. I mean, we could take this company over and make millions off of it. We don’t even have to sell it off if we don’t want to.”
“Really, Zane, you’d like running this type of business out of all the hundreds of other businesses we’ve bought out, rebuilt, or sold for millions of dollars?”
“Cash, it’s an easy business to maintain. We pick who runs the offices and distribution center. We pick the bigwigs in charge.”
“I kind of like wiping my hands clean of these things once we make our money. If you think you like it so much, then you can hold more stock, and maintain a larger piece of ownership. How’s that?” Cash asked him, as he stood in front of Zane, ready to go to the party.
Zane downed the rest of his drink. “I’ll think about it. Let me see what some of the employees look like.”
Cash shook his head.
“You’re crazy, and be smart. Don’t go falling into bed with some chick who works for the company.”
Zane straightened his tie, appearing debonair and confident.
“Hey, that’s how you really get the inside scoop on things. Going undercover is being resourceful.”
“It’s undercover, not under the covers. Let’s head out.”
Zane smiled to himself. He wondered if there was a woman out there that would be perfect for him and Cash to share and make a full commitment to. The chances of finding such a woman who had all the characteristics, sex appeal, and beauty they each looked for in a woman was like a billion to one.
Yeah, a billion to one. Not good odds at all.
* * * *
“So, what is the next step?” he asked his boss over the phone. He was getting antsy. He never understood all this business shit and corporate blackmailing. He just liked to get down to the good stuff. Break some bones, rough some people up, and torture, maybe even kill, some people. He smiled as that needy feeling filled his gut. He was good at his job. He was a professional killer. But sometimes, lately, he felt the need to cause pain and to kill without even being hired to do it. He shook the thoughts from his head. He needed to focus on his boss’s voice and not the voices in his head.
“I told you, we needed to take our time with this. We’ve got someone on the inside. He’s making progress. Costiano looks grim. He needs to sweat a bit.”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen him yet. Do you want me to place the stuff in his home office? No one is around.”
“Yeah. Leave the documents, and the pictures of his daughter.”
“Okay. I’m on it.”
He disconnected the call then looked around the hallway. Still no one was in sight. He would think, with all the servers hanging around and some security,
that Costiano would have it better secured. But his bad decisions were this guy’s good luck and opportunity. He eased his way down the hallway further then into the home office. Yeah, Costiano’s daughter was a knockout. She was no little girl anymore. She was a voluptuous woman with an hourglass figure and her mother’s beauty and charm. He’d have no qualms at all about banging her, taking her for ransom, or just having his way with her before he took her life. But he would definitely take his time. A year, maybe two, with her tied to his bed. Yeah, that would be nice.
He went about placing the envelope onto the desk, then exited the room. He wished he could see Costiano’s face when he saw the pictures. He personally liked the one of Costiano’s daughter swimming in the pool in her tiny white bikini. He’d made copies of that one for himself. Smiling, he exited the room and joined the other guests at the party.
* * * *
Chiara stood by her friend, Heather. She worked in a different department at Costiano’s company, and they had been friends since college. They loved shopping together, hanging out, and sharing their innermost desires. They had been doing that a lot lately.
“Now, there are some serious prospects here tonight. Your dad knows so many hot guys. We’ll be able to get you hooked up and coming in no time,” Heather said, and Chiara gasped then shook her head at her crazy friend. She was in such a sour mood right now, and nothing would lift her spirits. She couldn’t believe that her father actually wanted her to get involved with Marvin. Thank goodness the slimeball hadn’t found her yet. He would probably hang all over her and pretend they were already an item. God, I hope my dad didn’t give him false hope that he had a chance. Would Daddy do that to me?
She felt Heather give her a smack in her side, and as she turned to look at her, she noticed the dead set stare on Heather’s face. She followed her line of sight, and wow, Chiara saw two of the sexiest men she had seen in quite some time. Both wore tuxedoes, both had dark wavy hair, one jet black, and the other dark brown. Their expressions were serious yet observant as they glanced around them, taking in the sights.
A Billion to One [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2