‘I bought this winery close to fifty years ago now. It’s been a good investment, but it’s also been a great place to call home.’
It seemed the interrogation was over as the old man spoke about his winery business, but Logan wasn’t one hundred per cent sure.
A few minutes later, Rigby was pulling up outside the winery and getting out of the buggy. ‘Before I show you through the production side of things, we’ll go through to the office.’
Logan followed him in through the entrance and tasting room. Carlisle Cellars had a reputation for producing high quality red wines and there were dozens of tourists enjoying tastings.
‘Come in and have a seat.’ Rigby waited for Logan to enter the office, closed the door and sat down opposite him behind a desk. The relaxed body language as Rigby sat back in his chair didn’t gel with the shrewd aged eyes, and Logan felt distinctly uncomfortable.
‘When we met earlier in the week it was predominantly about business, and I like to keep my business and private life separate. Now you’re here as Sophie’s future husband, all bets are off. As much as I admire your business practice and ethics, there are a couple of things about you that make me uneasy.’ Rigby raised his hand and pointed a finger at him. ‘First, you’ve got a reputation as a playboy.’
Logan’s back stiffened. ‘I won’t apologise for not having been celibate before I met Sophie but I assure you those days are over.’
‘They’d better be or I swear I’ll come back and haunt you from the grave.’ The gnarled hand lowered, but the intensity of the exchange didn’t diminish. ‘Then there’s the fact that you were lucky to escape with your life a couple of years ago.’
‘There’ll be no more returning to danger zones.’
‘Good. I don’t want my granddaughter turned into a young widow.’ He paused. ‘You’re bound to have made enemies along the way in business, and you’re a very wealthy man. Have you considered hiring a bodyguard?’
Logan turned that straight back at him. ‘You’re very wealthy and you’ve made enemies, yet I don’t see you with a bodyguard.’
‘I’ve always felt safe in Australia, but times are changing, and I do have a security team who are extremely good and I pay them to be very unobtrusive. Sophie’s never been aware of it but she’s had bodyguards watching over her since she was a kid. There was no way I was going to take any chances with the lives of either of my grandkids.’
It made perfect sense, it just hadn’t occurred to Logan at all to delegate the responsibility of his own care to anyone else. He definitely should hire someone to keep Charlotte safe now.
‘Think on it,’ Rigby advised.
‘I will.’ As he said the words, another thought occurred to him. If Sophie had minders, did Rigby receive reports about her comings and goings? If that were the case, he’d be aware that Logan and Sophie had only just started seeing each other.
Rigby sat forward in his seat. ‘Is Sophie aware you’re applying for custody of your goddaughter?’
The old man didn’t leave a stone unturned and had obviously been doing some digging into Logan’s personal affairs. It was just as well Sophie hadn’t brought a hired escort for the weekend because she would’ve ended up mortified when the guy’s identity had been revealed.
‘I understand you have Sophie’s best interests at heart. If you didn’t I wouldn’t answer because as far as I’m concerned I’m answerable to nobody about this except Sophie. You can rest assured that I’ve been completely honest with her and she knows all about Charlotte.’
‘She’d make a great mum for any child. She’s got more love to give in her little finger than most people have in their hearts, and it’ll be good for her to have a child to love.’ He shifted in his chair. ‘Logan, I haven’t got long. I told you on Wednesday that the doctors aren’t sure I’m going to pull through this surgery; in fact, they’re now wondering whether I’m even a candidate for it.’
Shit! Logan’s brain rejected the terrible news but outwardly he remained calm for Rigby’s sake, because Sophie’s grandfather had suspiciously bright eyes and looked like he was close to a breakdown. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Sophie doesn’t realise, but if the procedure goes ahead and I do survive the surgery, the doctors have only given me a few more months at best. The results that came back Thursday indicate that the cancer has metastasised to my lungs and liver.’ The column of his throat worked up and down as he swallowed.
Jeez. Logan’s body tensed. ‘Nobody would know to look at you.’
Rigby let out a heavy breath but his voice was strong and controlled once more as he said, ‘They expect me to start fading away pretty quickly now and it’ll take a heavy toll on Sophie.’
‘She’ll be devastated.’
The old man nodded. ‘I’m glad she’s got you by her side. It’s not going to be pretty.’
‘I’ll be there for her.’
‘Well, I’m not going to go down without a fight,’ Rigby said briskly as he stood from his chair and took a few restless paces to look out the window at the vista of the vineyard. ‘I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them tell me when I’m going to die, and frankly, I’m not prepared to leave this earth until I know Sophie’s future is entirely settled.’
This tough, old tycoon commanded Logan’s respect. ‘And Felix?’
Rigby raised a hand to his forehead, turned and walked back to sink into his chair once more. Strain etched deep brackets around his mouth. ‘I gave both my grandchildren a chance to run my company.’
‘Sophie told me.’
‘Ah.’ Rigby gave him a long, considering look. ‘Felix is a problem. I’m worried about the things he’s doing in the mines. I’m afraid he’s cutting too many corners for profit and that there are decent, honest people going to get hurt in the process.’ He clicked his tongue in worry. ‘Lord knows, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with union leaders over the years but in this last six months under Felix’s management, it got to the point where I was phoning the unions to tell them to take action to safeguard the employees.’ He paused a moment and shook his head, his eyes filled with sadness. ‘Things are going to get pretty rocky at Carlisle Mining. I’d like to know that Sophie has your absolute support.’
Logan sat forward and looked hard at the old man. Did he know about the fraud Felix had committed? If so, Sophie was turning herself inside out with worry for nothing, trying to shield her grandfather when all along he knew the truth.
Logan began to burn with indignation on Sophie’s behalf, and he was determined to discover the answer. ‘Would this trouble have anything to do with Felix?’
Bloody hell. From what Logan saw written in Rigby’s eyes, the founder of Carlisle Mining did know.
There was a long pause before Rigby said, ‘You know exactly what the trouble is. I heard you were with Sophie until the early hours of the morning trying to sort through the mess my grandson has made.’
Logan jumped up from his seat, put his hands on the desk across from Rigby and demanded, ‘If you know about what Felix has been doing with company funds, why haven’t you stopped him?’
‘I had my suspicions, but I was only just made aware of Patrick’s findings yesterday afternoon.’
‘This is inexcusable.’ He straightened and his hands cut through the air with anger. ‘You sent Patrick to Sophie with the news without letting Sophie know you were aware of it? God, Rigby, she’s stressed to the max wondering how she’s going to break this to you and bring Felix to justice without upsetting you before your operation. You have to tell her you know what’s going on.’
Rigby arched a shaggy white eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.
‘If you’re keeping quiet about Felix to make Sophie pass some sort of test, you don’t need to, and I won’t allow it to continue. She doesn’t need to cope with this!’
Rigby’s lips twisted. ‘And how is she coping with it?’
Logan cursed and stared at him. ‘Her cousin’s just ripped off the co
mpany and will likely end up in jail. You’re about to have major and risky surgery. How do you think she’s coping with it?’
‘I’d guess she’s leaning pretty heavily on you.’
‘Is there a point to this?’ Logan demanded, trying to relax his fingers out of the fists they’d formed.
Rigby exhaled audibly and gestured to the chair where Logan had been seated. ‘Sit down, Logan.’
Reluctantly, Logan did as he bade.
‘You think I’m a tough old tycoon, but I’m going to confess that right now I’m feeling exhausted and drained. I simply don’t have the emotional or physical energy to deal with Felix right now, so I’ve been a coward, and I’m letting Sophie deal with it rather than having to face it myself.’
Logan ran his through his hair as he saw the disappointment on the other man’s face. Rigby was battling for his life, and he didn’t need to have to deal with Felix’s perfidy as well. Logan could only imagine the despair the old man was feeling to know that the grandson he had raised was a selfish bastard who didn’t care about wrecking Rigby’s life’s work for his own profit. ‘You may not have the strength to confront Felix about this and bring him to justice, but you should at least tell Sophie you know about it.’
‘There’s another reason I haven’t told Sophie I know,’ Rigby said slowly.
‘I’m listening,’ he said, ‘and you’d better convince me it’s a good reason or I’ll tell her myself.’
‘For the first time ever, Sophie has turned to someone to help her through a crisis at work and that someone is you.’ Rigby held his hand up to stop Logan as he tried to respond. ‘The reason I wanted Sophie to marry was so that she wouldn’t have to face these responsibilities alone. She’s included you in this problem, which means she trusts you. You’ve proved you have what it takes to stand by her and that’s important because although Sophie’s a top class executive, she’s still emotionally vulnerable.’
‘I’ve told you I’ll stand by her.’
‘A lot has run through my mind since I found out the cancer has metastasised. I’ve looked back on my life, and in particular, I’ve looked back on my relationship with Sophie.’ He looked away then closed his eyes before he said, ‘I’ve put a lot of my expectations on Sophie, and that wasn’t fair of me. I’ve groomed her to take over the company without ever really stopping to consider whether that was just what I wanted or whether it’s what she wants as well.’ Rigby’s fingers tapped a few times on the desk. ‘My granddaughter would make a wonderful Managing Director of Carlisle Mining. Bu —’
‘Exactly. So you’ll hand over that responsibility to her without question.’ The words were a directive not a query.
Rigby chuckled. ‘I like the way you champion my granddaughter, Jackson. She needs someone strong like you to look after her best interests.’
Logan raised a finger at Rigby and threatened, ‘You tell her you know about Felix or I will.’
‘I had my reasons for not stepping in before now, but I will speak to her about it.’
‘As soon as we get back.’
Sharp grey eyes pinned Logan. ‘No. Tomorrow.’
‘She shouldn’t —’
The old man cut right across him. ‘Why have you been buying up shares in my company?’
A great weight of guilt pressed down on Logan’s chest and he looked away, thrown by the old man’s sudden change in tack. The wily old devil knew that attack was the best form of defence. His question neatly deflected the heat away from his knowledge of Felix’s fraud.
When he looked back, Rigby gave him a penetrating glare. ‘Well?’
He could hardly tell the old man to mind his own business when it was Rigby’s business he’d begun acquiring. Nor did he want to have to justify his actions, especially when he acknowledged that the share acquisition had been a rash decision. This was a conversation he didn’t want to have on any level, and he’d already been regretting his actions.
‘I hear you now own 10 per cent of my company. Does Sophie know you’ve been buying shares?’ Rigby pressed.
‘No.’
‘Just when are you planning on telling her?’
It was a very neat turn around by the old man.
‘I’m planning on giving them to her as a wedding present.’ He would. The day after he’d instructed his PA to start buying the shares he’d realised he’d made an error of judgement. It was a stupid decision he’d made in haste, allowing his desperate need for Sophie to become his wife to rule his head.
He wanted Sophie to choose to marry him, not to be blackmailed into marriage. But having found out about Felix’s fraud, Logan was pleased he had begun to acquire shares. He would continue to do so and give them to Sophie so she could wield extra power over Felix if, by some miracle, her cousin wormed his way out of the charges of fraud and it came down to a corporate struggle between them.
‘I hope you weren’t planning on using your buy-up as a means of persuading her to accept your proposal?’
No wonder the man had made himself a fortune. Rigby Carlisle was as shrewd as they came. ‘I’ll make Sophie happy,’ Logan justified, unwilling to admit that the other man had guessed at his original intentions.
Rigby’s eyes held a wealth of emotion when he looked at Logan. ‘Sophie’s happiness is the most important thing in the world to me, Logan — more important than my company. She’s a great young woman and she deserves a great man. Are you that man?’
Logan returned his regard, man to man. Without blinking he responded, ‘Yes.’
The assessing look from Rigby seemed as though it was going to stretch endlessly. Finally, the old man sat back in his seat and relaxed. ‘I believe you are.’ He nodded. ‘Don’t disappoint her.’ Rigby sat forward again. ‘One more thing.’
Logan tilted his head slightly and raised one eyebrow in question.
‘Upon your marriage to my granddaughter I’ll sell you my shares. You’ll get a seat on the board and I’m going to suggest you become Managing Director.’
‘What? Absolutely not. Sophie —’
‘I’ve got my reasons.’
‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ Had the old man gone mad? The idea of him taking the position Sophie had earned was entirely preposterous. ‘I can’t believe you’d do that to Sophie when she wants to be Managing Director at Carlisle.’
Rigby gave a little half-smile. ‘Does she?’
‘It’s what she’s wanted all her life.’ He wasn’t about to tell Rigby that Sophie had
only voiced her uncertainties to him that afternoon. He was sure she was just going through a period of temporary doubt, and he’d be there to help her through it.
‘Life shifts like the sand in the desert. What someone wants one day may not
seem quite as attractive the next. I’m sure you appreciate that she’s a beautiful young woman, Logan, and although she did a sterling job when she took over the reins, I think there are other things in life that will bring her greater satisfaction.’
‘Such as?’
‘Marriage and family.’ He tapped a finger against the arm of his chair. ‘They’re life’s greatest blessings, and you’re offering her both.’
‘You talk to me about buying up shares without her knowledge, yet you engineer this behind her back?’ Logan accused. ‘You need to speak to Sophie about what she wants.’
‘I think she wants to run Carlisle for the wrong reasons. I’m sure Sophie believes she needs to fill my shoes to safeguard my life’s work, but that she’d much prefer to dedicate herself to family life.’
‘Then ask her,’ Logan demanded. ‘There’s no reason why she can’t do both with the appropriate level of support both in the office and at home.’
‘And if she doesn’t want the Managing Director’s role anymore, are you prepared to take it on?’
Logan found it difficult to believe he was being offered the role. ‘No. It’s an attractive offer but I’ll have my hands full not only with my company, but with looking after Scott’s in
terests for Charlotte. Besides, if I’m awarded custody of Charlotte, I’ll need to make a lot of time in my life for her and I’ve already decided to change some of my own work practices to achieve that goal. I want less hands on, not another role.’
There was approval in Rigby’s regard. ‘I like a man who takes his responsibilities seriously, especially his responsibility to his family. You’ll be part of my family soon.’
‘Charlotte and Sophie are going to be my family, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let them down in any way.’ He would never neglect them as his father had neglected Melissa and him. ‘Family loyalty is also important to me, Rigby, and what you’re proposing falls vastly short of that in my book, and Sophie deserves a lot more from you.’
For a moment, Logan imagined that he’d seen a sudden glistening of moisture in Rigby’s eyes and a shadow of sadness haunting his features. Then, Rigby nodded, his expression resolute. ‘I’ll talk to Sophie, but allow me the indulgence of thinking I know my granddaughter a lot better than you’ve come to know her in less than a week.”
The old man still packed his punches. Obviously his security team did report to him, and he was aware that Logan and Sophie had only recently met. God, Sophie would be livid if she knew her movements were being watched and reported without her knowledge.
‘Think on my offer,’ Rigby urged.
‘I’ve already given you my answer,’ he insisted.
‘You’ve given me an answer, but it might not be the one that is truly in Sophie’s best interests.’ The old tycoon stood up abruptly. ‘Now, let’s go and tour the winery.’
The stubborn man had received his answer, but it was obvious from his manner that he wasn’t at a point where he was prepared to accept it.
Chapter 14
Despite knowing that their relationship had been a whirlwind, and maybe suspecting the reasons for it, Rigby certainly didn’t oppose it. Logan guessed that the old man was probably a good judge of character and could see that Sophie and Logan were right for each other. It seemed Sophie was the only one who needed convincing.
Roses For Sophie Page 17