by Lee, Nadia
“I’m so sorry I didn’t try to stop him from talking to you. I thought you knew him.”
The deep anxiety in Nancy’s voice snapped Meredith out of it. This was Nancy’s first month as her driver, and she really needed this job. Meredith’s over-protective brothers had thought it was ridiculous of her to hire a mother with no chauffeuring experience. If she were a betting woman, she’d wager a million bucks that her “nothing’s too good for my family” brother Gavin had already hired somebody to spy on Nancy’s performance. Meredith wasn’t going to let Nancy and her four teenage sons suffer over her brothers’ over-the-top concern.
Meredith forced a smile. “I’m fine. He’s the brother of an old friend.” Who I never thought I’d see again. Ten years ago, the notion had left her joyless. Now that he was back in her life, she could feel dread unfurling in her belly.
Nancy inclined her head and stared. The look probably worked well on her kids. Even Meredith wanted to squirm under the gaze.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Meredith said, clearing her throat and looking away. “I’m anxious to see my son.”
She had to hold him in her arms.
Chapter Two
The moment Meredith stepped into her brother Ethan’s penthouse in Arlington, the homey smell of home-cooked Italian greeted her. Ethan lived there with his wife Kerri Wilson, whom he’d married earlier that year in a spectacular ceremony in Thailand with hundreds of guests from the uppermost crust of society.
“Mommy!” Eric rushed over and gave her a hug, while his golden retriever Bear barked once to say hello, tail wagging madly.
“Hey, my man,” Meredith said, hugging him back. Even though he ate like he was getting ready to compete in a hotdog contest, he was still mostly skin and bones. She ruffled his soft brown hair, her heart brimming. This beautiful child was all hers.
“Did you know I helped Uncle Ethan cook?” he asked, his wide blue eyes sparkling. “Did you?”
“No, I had no idea.” She looked up at Ethan, who’d just come out of the kitchen. The recessed lighting cast a halo around his golden head. “How did he do?”
“Fantastic. He’s a great chef.” Ethan’s mouth twitched. “And Bear’s a great cleaner.”
Meredith laughed. “I’m sure. I’ve seen him in action a few times.”
“I made chicken parmesan, some garlic bread, salad…” He added, “And tiramisu.”
“Oh my god. I love you.” Ethan had inherited all of their Italian grandmother’s best recipes. It was probably sacrilegious of Meredith to think it, but he’d actually improved on some of them.
Kerri padded barefoot out of the dining room with a chuckle. Her coppery hair was pulled into a simple ponytail, and she wore a cute ruffle-sleeved pink blouse and jeans. “I swear he had me at least halfway when he cooked for me the first time. What woman can resist a man who not only cooks well, but loves to do it?”
Putting an arm around her, Ethan gave her a kiss, then whispered something into her ear that made her giggle. The newlyweds, Meredith thought. They looked great together. So in love and happy. It warmed Meredith’s heart. She’d made the right decision in not taking Eric to Houston. He needed to see relationships like this and have a positive male role model. Meredith knew she couldn’t provide either as a single mother, and it had bothered her for a long time. She wanted Eric to have every advantage—not just money, but the emotional foundation and support that could help him become a strong and resilient man.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Ethan said, and they all settled around the dining table.
The food was amazing—as usual. Conversation flowed freely, and Eric laughed and chatted animatedly. How different he was now. He’d grown somewhat subdued in the last few years, and she had worried. But ever since he’d started to spend more time with Ethan, he’d changed for the better.
After the male half of the group had moved to the living room to play video games, Meredith patted her tummy. “I don’t think I can eat anymore.” She moved to a seat next to Kerri so she could keep an eye on Eric. He was intensely focused on the TV screen, apparently determined to beat his uncle at some game.
“That’s always how I feel,” Kerri said. “I don’t even want to step on the scale anymore, because I’m afraid of what I’ll see.”
Meredith laughed. “It doesn’t matter how you look outside. You’re so beautiful inside it shows through.”
“Well, thanks. But you know I’m a numbers girl.” They laughed, and Kerri sipped her freshly squeezed orange juice. “And if we’re going to have an ‘inner beauty pageant’, nobody’s going to beat you. The things you do… You really make a difference in people’s lives.”
Meredith blushed. “It’s just giving some money to help out.”
“Don’t trivialize what you’re doing. You give people jobs and training…a way to keep their self-respect. That’s not easy.” Kerri shifted in her seat. “But if you need a little extra money, you should squeeze Barron. He has more than we could all spend in our lifetimes.”
That was probably true. Kerri’s grandfather Barron Sterling had so much money, it was mind-boggling. Just as Meredith was about to respond, Eric let out a loud “Yes!” and jumped, while Ethan clutched his chest in mock humiliation. She smiled at the scene. This happiness was what she wanted for her son, what he deserved.
“Besides, he’s with Stella now,” Kerri went on, sipping her juice. “So he owes you.”
Meredith cleared her throat. “I guess so.” By now, she should be more comfortable with the idea of her mom living with Barron. Intellectually Meredith understood her mom had been alone for a long time and she deserved to have another chance at happiness. But emotionally Meredith had a hard time accepting it.
It was her mom. Who—as far as she was concerned—had managed to have four children through immaculate conception.
Eric’s hooting laughter broke Meredith’s concentration, and the earlier encounter with Daniel flashed through her mind. Her stomach twisted. It was odd that he’d shown up out of the blue after—how long had it been?—ten years. She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Hey, have you heard anything about the Aylsters?”
Kerri raised her eyebrows. “The resort family?”
“Yeah.”
“I know Dan the Second passed away, so his son’s in charge now. Daniel.”
Meredith had heard about that already. She’d tried to avoid reading about the family, but it wasn’t easy to avoid news as big as Dan Aylster II’s death. “Anything else?”
“What do you mean?”
Meredith bit her lower lip. She couldn’t tell Kerri the other reason she suspected. “Just curious.”
“If you want to know all the gossip, I know just who to call.”
“Who?”
“My cousin Justin. The NSA could save a lot of money by just picking his brain.” Kerri whipped out her phone, dialed and placed it on the table. Meredith cast an anxious glance at Eric and Ethan, but they seemed too engrossed in their rematch to eavesdrop. Thank you, modern entertainment.
“Hello, beautiful,” Justin said on the speaker. His voice sounded warm and sweet to Meredith’s ears. “Are you calling to gloat about how happy your life is, while I toil away in the salt mines?”
“Ha. You mean while you boss everyone around in air-conditioned comfort?” Kerri said.
“What’s up?”
Kerri gestured at Meredith. Meredith swallowed and said, “Hi Justin, this is Meredith.”
“Ooh, two gorgeous women for the price of one. You should’ve said you were there. I would’ve totally ignored my heartless cousin.”
Meredith laughed softly. “You know you love Kerri. I just wanted to see if you knew anything about the Aylster family.”
“Oh.” All the lightness vanished from his voice. “Uh… What happened?”
“Nothing,” Meredith said. “I was just curious.”
Justin sighed. “Meredith, we’re family now, so you don’t have to be coy. I know why
you’re asking. Daniel called me a few days ago. We’re good friends, by the way.”
The tiramisu that had tasted so heavenly only a few minutes before turned into a lump in her belly. “I see.”
“Okay, well… You know about the island construction project TLD is doing, right? The St. Cecilia Resort and Spa?”
“Of course.”
“Did you know that we bid on the project, too?”
“I didn’t, but I’m not surprised.” Sterling & Wilson was TLD’s main competitor.
“Yeah, we did, although you guys obviously got the contract. Daniel was upset with the status of the construction, and he wanted to fire you and hire us. I told him it would be really awkward since we’re sort of entangled through Kerri and Ethan’s marriage, not to mention Barron and your mother.” A sense of wonder entered Justin’s voice. “I had no idea that man was capable of feelings for anything except money and crushing his enemies.”
“So that’s it? Just some problem with the spa?” Meredith asked, hoping.
“Well. If you want something a bit less work-related, apparently there was some kind of dispute over his father’s burial.”
“What kind of dispute?”
“Daniel’s sister was buried next to their mother, and Dan was to be placed between them. Daniel, ah, objected.”
“Did he say why?”
“Nope.”
Reining in her frustration, Meredith rolled her tight shoulders. Justin had to know more. “Didn’t you say you guys were ‘good friends’?”
“Yes, but I don’t pry…which is why we remain good friends.”
“Okay,” Meredith said. “I appreciate the information.”
“No problem. By the way, if Daniel contacts you about the resort, fix it. Now, excuse me, I gotta go. I have a date who’s even hotter than the two of you.”
He hung up, and Meredith gnawed on a knuckle. Kerri peered at her. “You all right?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Okay, now I’m curious. Did Daniel try to intimidate you into quitting the project or something?”
“No, nothing like that.” Meredith sighed. “The thing is, he said he’s been trying to get in touch with me, but I never heard about it from my assistant. And now he wants to meet me tomorrow at nine.”
“He’s in town?”
Meredith nodded. “Yeah. He kind of ambushed me at the airport.”
“That doesn’t sound great. Do you need reinforcements?”
Meredith shook her head. She was certain it was the business. On the other hand, Justin didn’t know the other—much bigger—reason why Daniel might want to see her one-on-one. She rubbed her palms along her thighs. “I’m sure I can handle it.”
“Okay. Why don’t I just have a look into the Aylster project to see what’s been going on?” Kerri was one of Meredith’s main advisors at The Lloyds Development, and she took her duties seriously.
“I’ll do the same.”
“I can’t believe TLD’s upper management has been so full of idiots all this time. Some are okay, but most are…ugh.”
“I couldn’t have come this far without you,” Meredith said.
“Hey, it’s all you. I’ve never seen anybody work as hard or be as quick of a study as you. I’m just Santa’s little helper.”
Meredith gave her a small smile. It was sweet of Kerri to say so, but Meredith knew that wasn’t true. Not only did Kerri have amazing work experience, but she also had an incredible education, including a Wharton MBA. Meredith hadn’t even gone to college. On the other hand, she hadn’t—and couldn’t—let that undermine her confidence. She had to turn the company around. She had to prove to everyone she wasn’t just Sweet Little Meredith. She wanted people to respect her for her abilities and intelligence just like they did with Kerri.
By the time she and Eric finally left, rain was falling heavily, a strong wind slanting it directly into the windshield of her car. The radio warned of flash floods in some areas. Meredith stared at the torrent. The water was washing everything away, cleansing autumn branches that were becoming barren. She wished she could wash away her past just as easily. Then the nasty ball of apprehension that went beyond professional concerns would disappear, leaving her with her son.
She reached over and took his hand. He turned to her, his mouth curving into a smile, and she gave him a quick grin in response. He was just so perfect, it made her chest hurt. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve him, but she was going to do her damnedest to make sure he was the happiest and most beloved child possible.
After they arrived home, she let him stay up for half an hour to play with Bear and check his phone for messages from his friends, then sent him off to bed after a long, hard hug. He was the best son any mother could ask for. No matter how many times she held him, she could never get used to the bursting feeling of love in her heart.
The bedroom door closed and Meredith turned to her mental list of things to do the next day. Nancy had promised to take Eric to his grandmother’s place in the morning. She knew all about Eric’s schedule now—how he slept over at his uncle and aunt’s penthouse on the days Meredith was out of town and the brunch in Maryland.
Meredith slipped off her heels and padded to her home office. She needed to review the Aylster Resort papers before her meeting with Daniel. He’d go away once she gave him some answers about the St. Cecilia project. There was nothing else for him in Virginia.
Chapter Three
Daniel sipped extra strong coffee at Ritz. The weather had improved overnight, sunny and windless, like it was apologizing for the moody nastiness of the day before. Around him people took tables for breakfast, and crisply uniformed servers moved toward hungry diners with the precision of heat-seeking missiles.
He enjoyed staying at high-end hotels and checking out their amenities and services from a customer’s perspective. It gave him ideas on how to better improve his resorts.
At nine o’clock sharp, Merry strode in. Her dark, artfully layered hair was unbound, making her look even younger than the day before. She was wearing minimal makeup, but then she didn’t need much. She was one of the few women he knew who were naturally radiant. The hem of her long-sleeved magenta dress swirled around her legs as she moved confidently across the restaurant.
She’d changed so much since Judy’s death. No more Skinny Little Merry. She was all woman now, full of curves and softness. His mind dredged up the memory of holding her the day before, the way her soft flesh had felt in his hands. He inhaled roughly as his belly tightened. The sensation was unwelcome. He didn’t want to feel anything for Merry. The media sometimes called her Saint Meredith for her charity work, but he knew the real story. She was colder and more self-centered than his father, Daniel “Dan” Aylster II had been, and not many could lay claim to such a dubious honor. He didn’t believe in wasting emotion on people who weren’t worthy.
Merry took an empty seat at his table. A server offered her a menu, but she declined. “Just coffee would be lovely. Thank you.”
All her pleases and thank-yous. Daniel remembered them well. He also knew they were automatic responses built into her by decades of training. Stella Lloyd didn’t raise ill-mannered children…except for Jacob, but he’d been disowned for his transgressions. Daniel ordered an omelet.
As soon as their server disappeared, Merry turned to Daniel. “Before we begin, I want you to know we have only about an hour. I have a brunch scheduled with my brother and his wife. And my mom.”
“And your son?” He’d heard about the boy.
Her face turned pale so fast, he thought she might pass out. She blinked a few times and pasted on a bright smile. “Yes. He’ll join us.” She dumped a mountain of sugar into her coffee and stirred. “And Barron Sterling too.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes at how blatantly she’d reminded him of her family’s connection to that old billionaire. The head of the über-wealthy Sterling family, he was infamous for his temper and capricious nature, and no one—not e
ven Justin—did anything that might upset the curmudgeon. If it weren’t for The Barron Factor, as Daniel thought of it, he would’ve fired TLD already.
Their server placed their orders in front of them and vanished after confirming Merry and Daniel didn’t need anything more. Daniel made a mental note of the efficiency, finding that he liked it.
“So. What is it that you want to talk about?” Merry picked up her coffee.
“The resort.”
“Great.” Her shoulders relaxed visibly, and she took a slow sip. “What about it?”
She had to be either incompetent or a liar. Maybe both. “For a start, why don’t you tell me what’s great about it.”
The cup hovered between the table and her mouth. “I’m sorry?”
“You said great.”
“Well.” She bit her lower lip. “That was a bad choice of words. I understand the construction’s behind schedule, but from what I read, we’re still okay. So, not a big deal.”
He barked out a laugh. “No wonder TLD is struggling. How can you think it’s no big deal? It’s a disaster.”
Merry stiffened, her spine straight. Her fingers flexed around the cup, and she set it on the table with deliberate care. “I just took over the company.”
“It’s been a year. I expect you to be on top of things or resign. It’s not like your family has a lack of decent executive material.” He took a healthy bite of his omelet. “Look, I’m not here to fight. I just want you guys to back off if you can’t get the job done. I don’t play with amateurs. There’s too much money at stake.” And his fragile reputation as the new head of Aylster Resorts. He had to show the board he was the man to lead the company or get the hell out. Family-owned didn’t mean family-screwed.
“I know it’s an expensive project. We’re one of the best, which is why Aylster Resorts hired us.”
“Were. Things have changed, Merry. TLD just can’t seem to deliver what my company wants. It’s nothing personal.”
“You’re overreacting to some minor dela—”
He raised a hand. “Have you been to the site?”