by Lee, Nadia
“No.”
“Gotten any recent photos of the progress?”
“No.”
“Well, then. On what basis are you telling me I’m overreacting?”
“On the basis of we can fix this. Give me some time to investigate.”
He wanted to say no. This was ridiculous, and it’d only waste more time. The resort needed to open on schedule.
On the other hand, Justin had said Sterling & Wilson wouldn’t touch it unless things were resolved amicably between The Lloyds Development and Aylster Resorts. And at this point, Daniel didn’t trust anybody except his friend’s company. “Fine. You have a week.”
“A week?”
“Plenty of time to ‘investigate’.”
She frowned. “Okay. I’ll do that. I’ll personally go to St. Cecilia Island and figure things out.”
“Excellent. I’ll have my admin send you an itinerary.”
“What?”
“I’m not letting you go down there by yourself, so you can take a cursory glance and tell me everything’s fine. I want to point out exactly what’s wrong with the work your company is doing.”
“I really don’t need you breathing down my neck.”
His gaze briefly flitted to the delicate line where her neck sloped and merged into her shoulder. He shook himself mentally. This was no time for idle fantasies; his board was breathing down his neck. “Nevertheless.” His voice was firm and cold. “The point is non-negotiable.”
* * *
Meredith parked her car in front of her mom’s three-story home in Chevy Chase Village. It was a lovely neighborhood, affluent and well-kept, with manicured lawns and beautiful yards. Her mother’s flower garden was already prepped for the upcoming winter.
Meredith shook all over as memories of the morning flooded back. How dare Daniel talk to her like she was some kind of…airhead?
Thank god they had decided to end the unpleasant “meeting” after half an hour.
Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel. Did Daniel think like her oldest brother Jacob, who had used a family party to announce that she was a stupid girl who was good for nothing except knowing her place and keeping her mouth shut?
That version of her was gone now—if it had ever been there in the first place, and even if people around her refused to accept the change. She’d be damned if Daniel was just going to pop into her life and join the doubters.
Daniel hadn’t said a word about Eric, but that didn’t necessarily mean he was in the dark about him. She rubbed her stomach. If she could be sure all Daniel had against her was how incompetent a businesswoman he thought she was, she wouldn’t have this nasty feeling in her belly. She could deal with the humiliation of being thought of as silly or stupid by someone. She couldn’t deal with the possibility of losing her son.
She forced her body to relax and took several deep breaths. She had to go in and face everyone at the brunch…including Eric. She couldn’t come in feeling upset and ruin the whole thing.
Once she was sure she had her emotions under control, she got out of her champagne-colored Mercedes. The minute she walked inside the house, Bear barked a welcome. “You’re here!” cried Stella Lloyd, extending her arms for a hug.
Meredith gave her mom a long hug, needing this comfort. No one soothed Meredith like Stella. “How are you?” Meredith said.
“Very well, thank you.”
Stella glowed, her dark eyes bright. Her undyed hair had silvery glints that looked attractive in a simple chignon. She was one of the few older women who didn’t mind showing her age. “Everyone’s here. Ethan’s making his specialty omelets and French toast.”
“Great. Where’s Eric?”
“Outside with Barron, plotting world domination, as Kerri would probably put it.” Stella smiled with affection.
Meredith laughed. She hadn’t been sure about her mom and Barron, but it seemed like he was making her happy. And he was trying very hard to make up for neglecting Kerri when she was growing up…and he spent a lot of time with Eric too. For a ruthless former corporate raider, Barron actually made a pretty decent “grandfather”.
“Hey, perfect timing!” Kerri said, placing a big bowl of cut fruit on the table. “The food’s just about ready.”
“I’ll go get Eric and Barron, then.”
Meredith went to the backyard. Cold weather had come earlier than usual to Virginia, its chill stinging her face. The air was crisp with a hint of wood smoke and something spicy that she always associated with late autumn and winter at her mom’s place. Big orange pumpkins dotted the garden. Her mom would take a day and carve a few of them for Halloween and keep the rest for pies and other treats. The soil was rich and moist from the previous night’s storm, and Meredith stepped carefully to avoid the muddy spots.
Barron was a solidly built man who dressed both comfortably and expensively. The burgundy cashmere sweater on him must’ve cost quite a few pretty pennies. His eyes were bright, and his mind was even brighter, which was how he’d amassed his vast fortune.
At the moment, the terrifying business icon was showing Eric how to swing a golf club. As much as the boy thought Ethan could do no wrong, her brother was a horrible golfer.
Eric turned around and gave her a wide grin. “Mom, look at this!” He waved his club around wildly before handing it to her. “Barron got it for me. It even has my initials!”
Her jaw slackened as she took the gorgeously balanced chrome club. Tiny diamonds glinted at the tips of a golden inlaid E and L on the shaft. “Oh my gosh, Barron, you shouldn’t have.”
Barron waved dismissively. “A boy needs his own club.”
“With his own initials? And diamonds? It’s too extravagant.”
“Bah. If you think this is extravagant, wait until Christmas.”
Eric looked up at Barron with utter adoration. “Really?”
Barron gave him the flinty look that had caused incontinence on the other side of many a negotiating table. “You just wait and see, young man.”
“Yes!” Eric jumped, pumping his fist.
Meredith shook her head. As much as she didn’t like to spoil her son, she couldn’t help the warmth spreading inside her at how thrilled he looked. “Did you say thank you to Barron for the present?”
“Yes, ma’am. But I can say it again.” He turned to the older man. “Thank you for the golf club, sir. And for whatever the Christmas present is.”
Barron let out a booming laugh. “It’s not Christmas yet. And we’re talking plural, young man.”
“Presents?” Eric almost squealed, his eyes huge. He launched himself at Barron and hugged the old man as tightly as he could. Barron blinked and patted Eric’s skinny back.
“The food’s ready,” Meredith said, pretending not to notice a watery glint in Barron’s eyes.
“All right!” Eric put away the golf club and ran into the house. Meredith lingered behind and walked with Barron.
“Barron, really, you shouldn’t have.”
He gazed at the sky for a long moment, then finally lowered his head to look at her. “Why not? I have the money”—he cleared his throat—“and from what I’ve seen the boy can use some nice things.”
“He has plenty of nice things.”
“No one can ever have enough nice things.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to spoil him.”
He chuckled. “My dear, a measly golf club won’t spoil him. As for the Christmas presents, everyone deserves a great Christmas.” Some of the laughter left his face. “I’m an old man, Meredith, and I wasted quite a lot of time being foolish. I want to make as many good memories as possible while I still can.”
The honesty in his tone touched something in her heart. Of course he would want to do that. He’d given up those years with Kerri because he’d been too busy grieving for what he’d lost in a family tragedy rather than appreciating what he still had left. “We all have lots of wonderful memories with you already.”
“
Those sorts of memories are another one of the things that no one has enough of. I need to make a few more before I move on.”
“You will.” Meredith looked at him, wanting him to know she understood. Time was so fleeting, and you never knew when yours would get cut short.
He took her hand and squeezed it. Together they entered the loving mayhem that was the family brunch.
* * *
Checking his phone to make sure there weren’t any emergencies or missed calls, Daniel returned to his suite alone to pack. A lithe, busty blonde had slipped him a napkin with her room number scrawled on it, which he’d tossed in the trashcan right in front of her. He wasn’t in the mood.
It took less than a minute to stuff all his things into a small carry-on bag. His phone vibrated, and he glanced at the screen.
“Hello, Uncle Claude,” he said.
“Hi, Daniel. How did the meeting go?”
“Everything should be resolved within a week. How did the board react yesterday?”
“I was able to convince them to take a step back and give you more time and room to demonstrate your leadership. It’s unfair of them to put so much pressure on you so fast. It’s only been a few months.”
Daniel grunted. The assholes on the board didn’t care. They wanted to see Daniel perform a miracle. They wanted the St. Cecilia resort built last week.
Their impatience was appalling, especially after how they’d put up with his father’s missteps in the last few years. Dan had once been a superb corporate chief, but that had changed a few years prior to his death. He had changed…just like he’d done before.
Daniel realized his jaw was starting to ache, and he unclenched his teeth. The company was solid enough to withstand a few executive errors. It was now up to Daniel to put it back on the right track. And this was his test, a chance to convince the board he was the man to lead Aylster Resorts for the next few decades.
“So when are you coming home? Might be a good idea to have a small party, invite the board members. Let them know you’re a likable guy,” Claude said.
“I don’t have time for that,” Daniel said. “I’m coming home for a few hours and taking off again.”
“So soon?”
“There’s a lot of work to do.”
Claude grew quiet. Finally he said, “I see.”
“Don’t worry. They’ll like me well enough when I take care of the business and make everyone piles of money.” He would ensure that the company flourished under his management. He would show his old man he wasn’t some “worthless shit.” And he would show the board that Aylster Resorts was his. By legacy, and by right.
His father had taken so much from him already. That man wasn’t taking this from him too.
Chapter Four
Meredith pulled into the underground parking at a luxury condo complex in Arlington, not too far from Ethan’s. Kerri checked her text messages. “Ethan’s trying to teach Eric how to play golf.”
“That won’t end well.”
Eric had stayed behind in Maryland to spend more time with her family while she returned to Virginia with Kerri. Ethan had promised to bring him back later.
Kerri nodded as they got out of the car. “No kidding. Your brother’s great at a lot of things, but golf is not one of them.”
“Why isn’t Barron teaching Eric?”
“He’s apparently too busy romancing your mom.”
Meredith made a face. “I soooo did not need to hear that.”
“You perv. They’re too old to do the things you’re thinking.”
They took the elevator to the penthouse on the top floor. It belonged to Alex and Natalie Damon, the latter of whom was Kerri’s best friend and Meredith’s second business advisor. But as the three women worked together, their relationship had evolved into something more…almost like a support group of sorts. Meredith was grateful; since Judy’s death she’d felt bereft of the support that could only come from really good friends.
They rang; the door opened, revealing a beautiful Asian woman with a sweet smile and an even sweeter personality. She didn’t have any makeup on—not that she needed it, given how clear her skin was—and the simple fitted navy blue sweater and black jeans made her look down to earth. Nobody would’ve known she was the daughter of a former U.S. senator and married to one of the wealthiest men in the country from the way she dressed. She welcomed them into her home. “Coffee, tea…anything?” she said, padding barefoot to the kitchen.
“Coffee please,” Meredith said, while Kerri asked for juice. Natalie’s Pixie-Bob cat Matto came over, bumping into Meredith’s legs insistently. The animal was huge, coming up to her knees, and had upswept ears that somehow reminded her of Batman. Meredith scratched behind them and Matto purred his approval.
The women sat around the coffee table. The penthouse was quite large, but obviously decorated by people without children. Shiny chrome, glass and fragile-looking figurines dominated the place. Meredith knew from experience that nothing stayed shiny and smudge-free with kids around.
“Kerri texted me you had a meeting with Daniel Aylster. How did that go?” Natalie said, nursing her tea.
Meredith brought them up to date. “I don’t know why he’s so unreasonable about it. It’s not like the construction’s totally off track.”
“Hmm. You know what, though? I don’t like it that the only thing you have is verbal reports,” Kerri said. “The guy who’s managing things right now was hired by Simon Caldwell.”
Meredith’s face scrunched on auto-pilot. “Seriously?” Abusing his position as CFO, Caldwell had embezzled a substantial amount of money from The Lloyds Development. She’d been so busy with other things that she’d missed the connection between Simon and the construction manager. If the man was anything like Simon… She shuddered.
Natalie nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. I don’t trust that man. His reports are sort of…generic. He rarely mentions specifics, and it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on.” She rifled through some papers and pulled something out. “Look at this one. It was prepared by somebody who retired recently. Much more thorough and full of specifics that give a clear picture of the progress.”
Meredith took the paper and looked at it, biting her lower lip. Sure enough, she could see exactly how the project was progressing. “I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Daniel might’ve been right about us.”
“Don’t worry. The good news is that Daniel’s giving you a chance to fix it. You should go to St. Cecilia and see what’s going on. If the project’s doing worse than the guy makes it sound, you’ll be able to tell when you’re there.”
“And then you can fire his ass,” Kerri said.
“But what if I don’t really notice anything wrong?” Meredith had thought it was a bit strange that the reports were sort of generic and sparse, but she’d assumed that was normal. She was out of her depth here.
“Take a few experts from the company with you. They’ll be able to tell.”
A loud chirp interrupted Kerri. Natalie checked her phone and winced. “Sorry. It’s my mom. She wants to discuss our great-aunt’s weird fatalistic mood over picking out her final resting place.”
“Doesn’t she already have one picked out?” Kerri said.
“Apparently she changed her mind. Now, anywhere west coast just won’t do. It’s got to be Virginia where the rest of the family is, and she wants me to pick her plot because she’s convinced I can see dead people and gauge their moods.”
“What?” Meredith said. That sounded preposterous, but she’d seen some really spooky psychics during her travels in Europe. She lowered her voice. “Can you?”
“Of course not. She thinks I can because I’m Asian.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask. It’s ridiculous. Anyway, forget my crazy great-aunt. Back to the resort—didn’t you also say Daniel was coming with you?”
Meredith nodded.
“Well, there you go. He can point out what he doesn’t like, and you can discuss ho
w to resolve the matter into a win-win situation. Aren’t you guys friendly?”
Natalie and Kerri both peered at her. “I used to be best friends with his sister Judy, until she died in a car crash,” Meredith said. “But Daniel and I weren’t that close or anything.” Not for lack of wanting on her part.
Daniel had been stunning—tall, handsome and smart—and she’d had a secret crush on him ever since she could remember. They hadn’t grown that close because he hadn’t been around much, and she’d actually been grateful for his absence. No matter how hot he was on the outside, his heart was cold.
Sadly, that hadn’t stopped her dumb hormones from noticing how gorgeous he still was. Why couldn’t people’s outsides match their insides more exactly?
“But it doesn’t matter,” Meredith said. “I have to fix this. The company can’t afford to lose a client as important and high-profile as Aylster Resorts.”
* * *
The next day, Meredith scowled as she read a text from somebody who claimed to be Daniel’s administrative assistant. This admin person sent details of the one-week inspection of the resort site in St. Cecilia. Daniel wanted Meredith in St. Cecilia later that night.
What the…? She never left town until Monday, to ensure she spent the full weekend with her son. She already spent so little time with Eric as it was. Meredith texted the admin, letting her know of the complication. Her phone buzzed with a response.
Mr. Aylster is firm on the matter. If nobody from The Lloyds Development can join him, I’ll convey the message. However, the trip will not be rescheduled.
Ugh. The admin was just doing her job, but Meredith was beginning to dislike her anyway. From the way it sounded, Daniel was looking for an excuse to fire TLD and make her look like an incompetent idiot for losing an important client.
“Hey, Mom,” Eric said from the kitchen. “You want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”
She set the phone on the table. “Sure.”
She sat and watched her son make a sandwich for her in the open kitchen, feeling a funny little ache in her heart. He was a good boy, well-mannered and considerate. He also did well in school and got along with his friends. Any mother would be proud to have a son just like him. And Meredith wanted to spend the full Sunday with him.