The Wedding Venture: 5-hour read. Marriage of Convenience, Romantic Comedy (Colorado Billionaires Book 3)

by Regina Duke

  Jason watched the elevator doors close, then turned to Grace. “This is the worst I’ve seen. What brought it on?”

  “She came in screaming, ‘No music in this house of pain.’ I think she’s reliving the morning of the funeral.” Grace touched Jason’s arm. “Last night you said Vicky plays better than your mother did. But Jill never played the piano.”

  Jason walked to the baby grand and slapped a hand on its shiny black surface. “I remember music before the accident. Someone played this piano every day of my life until mom and dad died.”

  “It was Dolores,” said Grace. “She loved it. She would come in here and play for hours. It was her favorite room in the house.”

  Jason dropped onto the piano bench. “How could my memory get so twisted?”

  Grace sat down next to him. “Grief is a powerful thing. It can destroy us, if we’re not careful. Losing your father was the tipping point for Dolores. She turned this house into a funeral parlor. She couldn’t bear to be reminded of what she’d lost.”

  “So she took all the family pictures and stashed them away in my parents’ room.”

  “And she sent you away to boarding school. And she quit playing the piano.”

  “But why? Music had nothing to do with the accident.”

  Vicky spoke from the door. “She was doing penance.”

  Jason looked up. “That was fast.”

  “Her hair was an excuse to get her upstairs. Her room is more familiar to her. I suggested she lie down and we’d wake her for lunch. Her sense of time is distorted.” She drew near and touched the piano. “Remember the photo of your parents in front of the catamaran? I think Dolores has never forgiven herself for giving them that gift. She’s not merely hiding from her memories. I think she’s punishing herself. Music gives great pleasure, and she’s not going to allow herself any pleasures, ever again.”

  Jason released a pent-up breath. “Unreal. But I think you’re right. It makes sense. It’s the only explanation that fits.”

  Grace asked, “Are you a psychologist dear?”

  “No. Just a pianist who spent her childhood watching her mother try to take care of her grandmother. Oh!” She put a hand to her mouth. “I just realized something. My poor mother. That’s why she was never able to pursue her own piano career. I let myself think it was because of me, because I was born, but all those years when she said ‘family responsibilities’ were the reason she gave up trying for the concert stage, I think she was talking about my grandmother.” She put a hand over her stomach. “Seeing Dolores’ condition has brought that home to me.” She shook her head slowly. “I think I owe my mother an apology.”

  The doorbell rang. Jason got up, but Mrs. Johnson beat him to the door.

  Jason said, “I think paying off her mortgage will go a long way to saying you’re sorry. The lawyers are here.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  11:00 a.m. Wednesday

  Jason asked Mrs. Johnson to lead the lawyers through the house to the library. He leaned toward Vicky and said playfully, “I just want to remind them whose money we’re working with. They can get possessive and recalcitrant.”

  Vicky felt overwhelmed by the length of the document the lawyers had concocted for them to sign. She sat at the table in the library as the senior partner droned on and on about various details. At one point, she grew alarmed as he seemed intent on talking Jason out of paying her half the money up front.

  “No,” said Jason firmly. “She has a great need for those funds and I will see that she gets them”

  Vicky signed and initialed in a dozen different places and consoled herself with the knowledge that these guys wouldn’t understand a word of her senior thesis on music theory. Jason signed as well with a great deal more confidence than she had felt. He was certainly used to thinking in terms of large sums of money. She zoned out as he began shaking hands and thanking the lawyers for their assistance.

  As their conversation turned to Dolores Darby’s health, Vicky excused herself and wandered the length of the long ballroom toward the music room. She found Grace there, standing at the tall window and gazing out at the patio fountain.

  “Oh, hello dear,” said Grace. “I was just watching Mr. Lopes work on the fountain. Dolores calls this part of the grounds her patio. Not quite the concrete slab that sits behind my little house, but I suppose we suburbanites don’t have a patent on the word.”

  “It’s beautiful,” said Vicky. “But you’re right. It doesn’t look like any patio I ever saw.”

  Mr. Lopes was on his hands and knees pulling tiny weeds from between the paving stones that formed paths around the central fountain. Today he had two young men working with him. One was cleaning the marble angel that crowned the fountain. The other was trimming roses in preparation for winter.

  Grace wiggled her fingers in greeting when Mr. Lopes looked up. “Poor man. Thanks to Gloria, he now has weeks of work to catch up on before winter sets in. I think there’s a third boy out there somewhere, mowing the lawns.”

  Vicky lowered herself daintily onto an embroidered chair.

  “Are you feeling all right, dear? You move so slowly.”

  “Oh, I’m fine. It’s just that these chairs look so expensive, I’m afraid I’ll break one.”

  Grace laughed. Her eyes sparkled with humor. “You’ll get used to it now that you’re going to marry Jason. Besides, the furniture here is accustomed to being used. Wait until you see the house in Toledo. Some of those pieces are truly old.”

  “The Darbys have a house in Ohio, too?”

  “Not Ohio,” said Grace. “Spain.”

  Vicky suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

  Grace continued, “There are pieces in that place that date back to the Spanish Inquisition.”

  Vicky chewed her bottom lip. “Grace, do you think I’m a fortune hunter for agreeing to marry Jason?”

  “Not at all. You’re a young woman in a difficult situation who has been blessed with a solution. If you call it quits after a year, no harm, no foul. But I’ve seen the way you and Jason look at each other. I think there’s a lot of potential in your relationship. My sister was worried that Dolores would think she was a fortune hunter, too. She didn’t know what kind of money Thomas had until after they were engaged. They spent their honeymoon at the house in Spain. She told me she felt way out of her depth. And I told her that anyone can learn how to give orders to servants. You don’t have to be born to it.”

  Vicky got up and gave Grace a hug. “I can see why Jason thinks the world of you. You’ve got such a wonderful grasp of things.” She let her go. Her brow furrowed. “Your sister’s name was Jill? And Jason’s father was Thomas?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” Grace moved to the baby grand and perched on the bench.

  “And you say Dolores is the one who used to play the piano?”

  “Correct.”

  Before Vicky could continue, Jason and the entourage of lawyers reached the music room.

  “So nice to meet you, Ms. Winn. I think Jason’s very lucky to have found a woman who is willing to face the realities of marriage before the ceremony. This prenup should serve you both well.”

  Vicky thanked everyone and shook hands.

  Jason walked them to the door and had one last quiet conversation with the one named Clayborn, before returning to her side.

  Vicky smiled at him.

  Grace excused herself. “I’m going to look for a cup of tea in the kitchen and see what Mrs. Johnson has in mind for lunch.”

  Vicky asked Jason, “Should we have fed the lawyers?”

  Jason shook his head. “Trust me. With the money we paid them just for this visit, they’re planning a huge festive meal at an expensive restaurant somewhere. Besides, I wasn’t going to spring guests on Mrs. Johnson at the last minute.”

  “We were watching the gardeners,” said Vicky. “It feels funny to have a gardener.”

  “You have a whole team of gardeners.”

  “How man
y houses do you own?”

  Jason pulled his head back and looked at her with a bemused expression. “What has Gracie been telling you?”

  Vicky lifted a brow and assumed her snootiest expression. “She let it slip that there’s a house in Spain.”

  “Ah, yes. Toledo.” The way he said it sounded nothing like Ohio. “We’ll go see it in the spring. It’s depressing there in the winter.”

  Vicky stood in front of him and ran her hands up and down his biceps. “Grace said something else interesting, too.”

  “And what was that?”

  “She said our relationship has potential.”

  “Really?” Jason pretended to search the ceiling for a reason Grace might have said such a thing. “I wonder what she could possibly be talking about.”

  Vicky slugged his arm.

  “Ow.” Jason grabbed for her and tickled her ribs. “You launched a sneak attack. Well, how’s this?”

  Vicky shrieked with delight and giggled uncontrollably. After a few moments, she managed to beg for mercy. “Please stop! I can’t breathe.”

  Jason pulled her into a gentle embrace. “Potential, huh? We’ll see about that.” He ambled with her into the gallery.

  Vicky said, “I was impressed by the way you stood up to the lawyers. Your aunt and uncle did a great job teaching you the ropes if you don’t find those guys intimidating.”

  Jason chuckled. “I guess so. They reminded me from childhood that these guys work for me, not the other way around. So yes, they did prepare me.” He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “Are you okay? You seemed awfully subdued while we were signing the papers. You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

  “Too late now,” teased Vicky. Then she smiled. “No, not at all. You’re not regretting your offer, are you?”

  “Hmmm.” He rubbed his chin and looked pensive.

  Vicky slugged his arm again.

  “Hey! Round two?”

  “Sorry. Guess I’m feeling feisty now that the contract is signed.

  Jason took her hand. “No regrets here. I feel like Aunt Grace was right, that my uncle led me to you when I needed help. Without you, dealing with Gloria would not have been so easy.”

  Vicky made a face. “Be careful. Don’t let your guard down. I don’t trust her, and there’s still Darius out there making trouble. He’s so spiteful. And I think I’ve figured out why he came to Eagle’s Toe.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “Don’t keep me in suspense,” said Jason. “Out with it.”

  Before Vicky could explain, two different ring tones sounded. They both reached for their phones.

  Jason held up a finger, silently asking Vicky to hold her thought so he could take his call.

  Vicky held up a finger for the same reason. They both grinned, then separated to deal with their phones.

  Jason moved toward the library and Vicky moved toward the music room.

  Jason answered his call. “Hello?”

  “It’s Mina. Madlyn said you wanted to talk to me.”

  “Yes, thanks for getting back to me. I know you have a business to run, but it seems that Gran’s former personal assistant fired all of her maids. Gran does okay in the afternoons, but she really needs someone to help her in the mornings. Would you be able to recommend someone?”

  Mina was silent for so long that Jason asked, “Are you there?”

  Mina said carefully, “Jason, are we talking about a maid or a nurse?”

  Jason blinked at his phone. Then he said, “You’ve noticed her decline, haven’t you?”

  “Yes,” said Mina. “I’ve told the girls here never to sell her anything in the mornings. I always offer to bring whatever has caught her eye to her in the afternoon. But she hasn’t been to my shop in several weeks.”

  “That’s very kind of you. We need a house maid and if you know of a nurse who might be interested in meeting Gran, that would be excellent. Her doctor is coming later to check on her.”

  “Let me put my thinking cap on,” said Mina. “Meanwhile—” She hesitated.

  “Yes?”

  “If it would help, I could come by for a few hours a day until you find the right person. Madlyn is ready to be a store manager. This would give me a reason to let her try her managerial wings without me hovering in the background.”

  “Willie, you’re the best ever! Sorry, you go by Mina now. I’ll try to remember.”

  “No problem. Every time you use Willie, I remember that sweet little boy that got jealous of the time I spent with his mother. Dolores already knows me because I’d help at night when she needed me. I’ll come by this afternoon and see what I need to bring in the mornings.”

  “She often wakes before eight. Will that be a problem?”

  “My cats wake me up at five, so there’s no problem. I can get to the house by seven.”

  “Fantastic. Aunt Grace is here. I know she’ll be thrilled to see you again.”

  ****

  Vicky saw her mother’s number on the caller ID and greeted her eagerly. As she spoke, she drifted into the grand entry hall and settled on an upholstered bench.

  “Mom! I’m so glad you called. I wanted to ask you the best way to pay off your mortgages.”

  “Pay them off?” Elsa sound surprised.

  “I told you I wanted to help, didn’t I? When we spoke yesterday morning. Remember? I can pay back the money you spent on my schooling, too.”

  “Victoria, have you won a contest I didn’t know about? Are you giving concerts and didn’t tell me? How can you possibly pay off my mortgages?”

  Vicky held her excitement in check. Her mother didn’t know anything about what had transpired since Monday. She wondered how to break the news. “I don’t have any concert news to share, but I have acquired a well-paying job. Er, a position, actually.”

  “At a university? Will you be teaching?”

  Vicky paused again. This was harder than she expected. “No, not that kind of a position. But I’ve been offered a hefty advance on the year’s wages.”

  She was stunned when her mother’s voice turned cold.

  “I see. You’ve accepted a job that brings in so much money, you can pay off my mortgage? I’m ashamed of you, Vicky. I raised you to be a decent, upstanding, hard-working young woman, but instead you’ve cheated on your fiancé and taken to a vulgar life of fast money.”

  Vicky’s confusion sharpened her tone. “What? Cheated on who? Fast money?” Well, it was the fastest money she’d ever made, but she didn’t really have it yet. “Mother, what are you talking about?”

  “Darius called. I know everything.”

  Vicky heaved an exasperated sigh. “You believed Darius but you can’t wait to throw your daughter under a bus?”

  “That’s no way to speak to your mother.”

  “Did Darius tell you he dumped me the night before the J and T Competition? That he was so cruel, I cried for two days? That I couldn’t play at all?”

  Silence. Then, “He said you ended the relationship because you were seeing someone else.” Elsa’s tone was snippy and sharp as a knife.

  Vicky felt it stab into her heart. “He’s lying, Mother. He’s been lying to me since we first met in college, and he’s lying to you now.”

  “He said you abandoned your apartment in San Francisco and flew off to Colorado to be with your secret lover.”

  Vicky’s exasperation outraced her pain. “I was evicted from my apartment. Madlyn bought my airline ticket. And I don’t have a secret lover. Darius lied.”

  “Then it was all a lie? Including the part about you paying off the house?’

  “That part is true, but that came from me, not Darius.” She spat his name.

  To her dismay, her mother now sounded even more disappointed.

  “Well, then. At least part of what he said was true.”

  “What part? Mother, you’re not making any sense.”

  “I suppose you would feel that way if you’ve already drifted t
his far away from your roots. Don’t worry about my bills. I don’t want anything to do with dirty money.”

  “What dirty money?” Vicky wanted to climb through the phone and shake some sense into her mother. “What did Darius say?”

  Elsa was silent. Vicky waited. Her mother always counted on her begging for information, but she was too angry to give her that satisfaction. After several seconds, Elsa enunciated coldly, “He said you’re prostituting yourself for money.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Jason was pleased that Mina was willing to help with Dolores. His anger toward Gloria was growing by the hour. He’d spent his last ten minutes with Clayborn and the others discussing her situation and the harm she’d done to the household.

  He glanced around for Vicky, but didn’t see her anywhere. It was a big house. Perhaps she went upstairs or maybe she was hanging out in the kitchen with Grace. That had always been Grace’s favorite room. She loved baking cookies for him as a boy.

  Jason wanted to touch base with Vicky, but he needed to call the family butler first. Alistair wasn’t answering his cell. He headed upstairs to Dolores’ study to look for a different number.

  Mrs. Johnson was making a quick exit from Dolores’ room and Jason couldn’t blame her. His grandmother was up again and feeling like her old self.

  “I don’t need to see my doctor! How dare you make an appointment behind my back.”

  Mrs. Johnson shot Jason an apologetic look and rushed downstairs.

  Jason knocked on Dolores’ door before stepping inside.

  “Jason, dear. So good to see you. Did you sleep well?”

  He caught himself before reminding her that she’d already caused a scene downstairs that morning. He took a page out of Vicky’s book and pretended it never happened. “I slept like a baby, Gran. I hope you did, too.”

  “Yes. Lovely. So nice to have Cook bring up my tea.”

  “I thought you were upset with her?”

  “Nonsense. Wonderful woman.”

  “Okay, then,” said Jason. “I’m going to step next door and fetch the butler’s phone number.”

  “I hope he’s cutting his vacation short. The house has been in chaos without him.”