The Exiled Jeweler: a contemporary romance novel (The Rosa Legacy Book 2)

by Warren, Susie

  “I have a few meetings to attend, but keep in mind that we will need to be ready by tomorrow morning to begin photographing.”

  Leaving the conference room, Emilia went in search of her father. The tension in the air was palpable. The old-timers were upset that they were being excluded from the process.

  She had asked for several changes to the production room, but nothing had happened. She needed to speak with the general manager, but the disagreeable man was out again. Walking by, she smiled and said good morning to several people who looked up from their work. Business was slow and they couldn’t keep everyone busy.

  Meeting with her father, they went over the numbers. She sat back and tried to relax the knot of tension in her stomach. The numbers were problematic.

  Her father remained positive and pointed out small successes. He had quietly supported her through the last several weeks.

  Standing up and smoothing down her grey skirt, she said, “I’m going to meet with Alex this morning. I think he may be able to help with negotiating a better price for diamonds.”

  After countless hours reviewing the financials, she knew that layoffs were inevitable unless she was able to work a miracle.

  “Lia, we can’t do anything without sufficient capital. We need Alex Armati on our side. Without a major influx of capital, we won’t be able to purchase in sufficient quantities.”

  She thought about his concerns. They found a better location and a building for a much lower cost. But for Berceto to purchase the new building and have money for renovations, they needed an investor. But she wasn’t convinced that Alex Armati was that person. He wanted fifty percent of the company.

  After a few more minutes of discussion, she went back to her small office to check email. She had several requests for interviews which she forwarded to Liv.

  An older employee knocked on her door.

  Glancing up, she recognized Maria and smiled. “Please, come in. How can I help you?”

  Maria’s voice was hesitant. “I’m sorry to bother you, Ms. Berceto.”

  “Emilia. We’ve known each other since I was a young girl. I used to sit and watch you create strands of pearls.”

  A moment of silence passed between them.

  Maria said, “It must be very hard for you to be saddled with this business.”

  “I’m worried but mostly I feel grateful. Berceto is part of me and I know that it can be turned around.”

  “But there is very little work. People who have worked here for years, can’t afford to pay their bills. Everyone is now on three quarters pay.”

  Her heart softened. “I understand the challenges facing everyone. I’ll find a way to improve the cash flow.”

  ‘What if nothing changes? I’ve worked here my entire life. I don’t know how to do anything else.”

  Emilia stood up from her desk. “You won’t have to start over. Berceto will rise stronger than ever.”

  Maria left her office. She thought about how difficult it must have been for Maria to approach her with her worries. She needed to do something.

  She thought about the employees who had been with Berceto for years. When she was a child, they were her extended family. Her grandfather would invite them for summer barbecues and holiday parties. As the company grew larger, the dynamic had shifted. Her parents and uncle were much more private and reserved and purposely created more of a distance between the family and employees.

  On an impulse, s she drove over to the Armati Auction House to speak with Alex.

  She had to wait for nearly an hour to see him. When the receptionist finally brought her to his office, she was irritated and out of sorts.

  Walking in, he immediately held her gaze and she felt warmth spread throughout her body. Why did she have such a reaction to being in the same room with him?

  She heard the door close behind her and stopped in the middle of the room.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?” He seemed completely at ease.

  She attempted to keep her voice neutral. “It’s not a pleasure. I’ve been waiting in reception for nearly an hour and the rest of my day will be destroyed.”

  “I’m busy, cara. If you ask for a last minute meeting and agree to being squeezed in, then you’ll need to be patient.”

  This was off to a bad start. She needed a favor from him and now he wouldn’t be particularly agreeable.

  He went to pour himself a glass of water and turned to offer her one by raising a glass.

  His exquisite suit complemented his athletic build. She remembered his body clothed in swimming trunks and had to look away to dispel the image.

  She accepted the glass from him and took a sip.

  He asked her, “Have you come to tell me that you have told your family?”

  “Not yet. I came to talk with you about something else.”

  He checked his watch. “I have five minutes before I leave for New York.”

  Without thinking she said, “What about the gala on Friday?”

  “I expect you to attend the entire evening and allow yourself to be seen. I’ll have a courier bring you the necklace that afternoon.”

  Disappointment flooded over her in waves. Maybe he was going to New York to visit a woman?

  Emilia stepped forward and handed him a report on diamond prices.

  He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

  “Berceto needs to purchase diamonds at a more reasonable cost. I was hoping your contacts in the mining world could help us achieve that.”

  “No.” His dismissive attitude let her know that she wouldn’t be able to sway him. He held her gaze and then shrugged, “I need to go.”

  “You are not even going to consider helping me?”

  “If you have more to say then you can ride with me to the airport and my driver will bring you back.”

  Alex opened the office door and communicated a few details to his receptionist before heading to the elevator.

  She followed him and was surprised at how quickly they were in the limo heading to the airport. He had closed the window between the driver and the seating area.

  “You have fifteen minutes to argue your point. But be warned, I’m losing patience. There is an offer on the table for investment that you haven’t accepted and you have done nothing to set the record straight with your family.”

  She tugged on her skirt to cover more of her thighs and tried to push away the feeling of being alone with him in a small space. The scent of his cologne created a sensory overload and she wanted to melt at his feet.

  “I’m asking for your help. It’ll cost you nothing to share information with me.”

  “If you want me as a partner, great. We can sign the documents. I can hand over the cash and begin helping you streamline the business. But I’m not going to do it for free. You will need to hand over fifty percent of Berceto.”

  She met his gaze. “What if we used our inventory as collateral against a private loan?”

  “We are talking in circles. You owe enormous sums to your creditors, which would make a lien on your inventory almost impossible. The question is, are you willing to offer fifty percent to get my help?”

  Alex watched her take in a deep breath. She had a delectable body underneath her white silk shirt and he wanted to give her what she asked for so they could move their relationship to a more personal basis. But he wouldn’t allow himself to be taken advantage of by a beautiful woman. That was his grandfather’s weakness and it took years of struggling to put the business back on solid footing.

  “I don’t have anything to offer an investor except potential. I’m not willing to give up fifty percent ownership. The company has no liquid assets, dismal sales, and the workforce is sharpening their pitch forks.”

  He had to resist pulling her into his lap and sinking his mouth into her neck.

  “Emilia, you’ll have to do better than that. First of all, don’t show your weaknesses. Next, you must have something to bargain with before approaching a poten
tial investor.”

  He would enjoy every moment of seducing her. She was responsive and reactive.

  “I’ve already given you four of the most expensive heirloom pieces we have.”

  Her hair fell in front of her face as she looked out the window. He would love to take her to New York and forget about battling over the jewelry empire for a few days.

  “You’re wasting my time, cara.”

  Frustration rushed through his body. He needed to put some distance between them.

  The limo pulled up to the departure gate for private jets. “You are running out of time. Without additional cash, you will fold. Then I’ll purchase a hundred percent of the company from the courts.”

  Her chin lifted. “I can’t imagine the reputation would be worth much at that point. And I intend to look for a more reasonable investor.”

  “Goodbye, cara.” He reached over and placed a brief kiss on her lips before getting out of the car. He took his bag from the driver and walked into the airport without looking back. He wanted her with an intensity that shook him. He wanted to revise his rules about percentages and winning. He would rather pursue her then solve the mystery of his family borrowing money from Berceto decades ago. But he needed their relationship to be built on honesty. He wasn’t willing to put up with her parents forcing her to hide the truth. He knew from experience that it could be a slippery slope at times. His parents thought they were protecting his grandfather and the rest of the family, but in fact they enabled his behavior for years.

  Emilia spent the next few days trying to figure out Alex Armati. What did he want from Berceto? Why wasn’t he attending the gala?

  Emilia met Liv in Beverly Hills to find a gown for the gala. She had the image of the necklace on her phone and the challenge that faced the two women was finding the perfect gown to showcase it. She had already known that it would have to be an off the shoulder formal gown and she would wear her hair up.

  Liv, along with a boutique owner, had picked a crimson red gown that was wildly sexy and would bring attention to whoever wore it. As Emilia looked in the mirror, she worried it was too much. She would prefer a neutral gown that would showcase the necklace not the woman wearing the gown.

  Looking at herself in the mirror, she tried to find the courage to agree to the gown. Liv said, “You are not just showcasing the necklace for Alex. You are trying to get the Berceto name out there. A neutral gown won’t help with that.”

  She knew that most gowns would make her feel as if she was calling too much attention to herself. She needed to push past the fear.

  “But I have to feel confident or I’ll look awkward.”

  “I don’t know that you will feel comfortable. Going to a gala, wearing a million-dollar necklace and showcasing Berceto will be difficult for someone who was raised in a fortress and values obscurity.”

  Emilia turned back to the mirror. “I don’t value obscurity but I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself.”

  Liv was checking something on her phone and barely looked at her. “Emilia, you are somewhat reserved and you don’t like to be the center of attention. So you may need to challenge yourself a little here. We think this is the right choice for the gala.”

  She was tired of trying on gowns. It was true that she had very little experience with going to a formal event. “Let’s go with it.”

  The boutique owner helped her out of the gown and promised the alterations would be done within a day. Emilia paid an exorbitant price and arranged for delivery.

  “Do you want to go for coffee?” Emilia asked Liv as they walked along the busy sidewalk.

  “I made appointments at the spa. You need your hair and skin dealt with.” Liv was consulting her phone.

  “I look fine. The gala is three days from now. I’ll put on a mask that morning and spend extra time on my makeup before the event.”

  “I’m sure you would look beautiful, but you need to present a professional appearance for Berceto. Trust me, these appointments well help, and I’ve booked a makeup artist to come to your place a few hours before the event.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, Emilia recognized that while she may not want to be in the spotlight, she needed to take her friend’s advice.

  “First, you need shoes.” Liv pulled her into a shop and they purchased six pairs of expensive sling backs, stilettos, and sandals.

  They returned much later to the guesthouse, just in time to have dinner with her grandfather.

  Emilia said, “I don’t know if anyone will recognize me. And if they do, I’ll look like I’m trying too hard.”

  Liv smiled at her. “No. You look the part. No one will mess with you.”

  “My eyebrows will never be the same and I’m missing half of my hair.”

  Liv laughed and said, “Maybe we should go and see if Cecilia needs help.”

  Alex called her cell phone and she waved Liv on ahead of her.

  His voice soothed her nerves. “My head of marketing is pleased with your pre-gala media blitz.”

  “What do you mean?” Emilia stepped out onto the terrace and could see her grandfather greeting Liv warmly.

  “The photographs of you shopping and having your hair done are captivating. Liv is a rather talented writer and she is bringing a lot of buzz and curiosity to the event.” He sounded much closer than New York. Was he back in L.A.?

  “My cousin, Lauren, is a speech writer and is working with Liv on some of the PR. She works in politics and definitely knows how to gain exposure.”

  She knew photographs were being taken this afternoon, but she didn’t know that they were already posted to the blog.

  “She is talented and knows you well.”

  Emilia was grateful that her cousins stepped in to help her.

  Stretching her shoulders she said, “Fortunately for me, I’m fully dressed.”

  “You are beautiful in the nude.” She heard the teasing quality to his voice and didn’t let herself become defensive or angry.

  “I need to go. Nonno is waiting for me.”

  “Goodnight, cara.”

  She joined her grandfather and Liv in a pre-dinner drink. The conversation naturally flowed to Emilia’s resistance to the spa appointments and they both laughed while listening to Liv’s retelling of the afternoon.

  Her parents arrived and joined in the conversation.

  Her mother said, “You need to careful about bringing too much attention to yourself. There are risks to being in the spotlight.”

  Her grandfather changed the subject and suddenly they were debating the minimum wage issue.

  She thought about telling them it was Alex in the photographs, but the conversation shifted and she lost her nerve. It would be better to speak with her parents privately, as they were certain to have a reaction.

  Emilia helped Cecilia put the finishing touches on the meal and then they served the seafood pasta on a large platter along with a squash soup and salad. Throughout the meal, her grandfather led the conversation, telling stories about his childhood and how he had to take over Berceto much sooner than expected. He spoke about the intricacies of the business and his love for the design work.

  At the end of the evening, she said goodnight to her parents and Liv. Helping Cecilia clean up, she realized how much she had missed Alex over the last few days. Whenever she wasn’t drawn into a conversation, she noticed her mind wandered to Alex and what he was doing.

  She was surprised that he wasn’t going to attend the gala. She had originally thought that he wanted to attend the gala with her, but then he didn’t object when she mentioned that she would go with her grandfather. Now he wasn’t going to attend at all and disappointment flooded through her.

  Chapter 8

  Driving back to the guesthouse on Friday afternoon, the excitement had already gone out of the evening for Emilia. Without Alex attending the gala, she would need to force herself to show up and make small talk. The publicity surrounding the event wasn’t even causing her to worry.
Why was her stress about the media so focused on Alex? Was she afraid people would see how she felt about him? She acknowledged to herself that it was normal to be attracted to him; he was charming and hot. But her feelings ran deeper than that. She cared about what he thought and was willing to go against what she wanted to make him happy. She planned to tell her grandfather tonight that it was Alex in the photographs. Tomorrow, she would drive over and speak with her parents.

  She was proud of the work she had created at Berceto. She had finished the designs for the launch, allowing the outside agency to take over and create the campaign. She wanted to sign the deal on the new building and announce to the staff that they intended to move the company within sixty days but hadn’t figured out the financing yet. She would need to accept his investment into Berceto but not at fifty percent.

  Getting out of the SUV, she walked through the elaborate gardens to the guesthouse. She wanted to purchase her own home in California and sell her condo in Florida. She loved being close to her grandfather, but she needed her independence.

  Opening the door, she noticed Cecilia had cleaned for her. Everything was put away and the floors looked scrubbed along with every surface in the small guesthouse.

  The makeup artist was due within the hour. Pulling on her running gear, she went for a run to dispel some of her nervous energy. Liv was setting up when she came in and headed for the shower.

  “Your skin will look overheated.”

  She didn’t reply; instead she took a cold shower to cool her body and came into the living room wearing just a robe.

  Liv apologized to her. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m feeling so stressed about this event. I just want it to go well.”

  “It will. The gown is gorgeous and the necklace will draw everyone’s attention.”

  “The courier delivered the necklace while you were in the shower.”

  There was a knock on the door and Liv let the stylists in. After a brief setup, they began working on her hair and makeup. Liv took a few snapshots and then told her that a professional photographer from the Auction House was outside waiting for her.