Promise (Venture Capitalist Book 2)

by Ainsley St Claire

  She sits back in her seat and relaxes before she says, “Busy, but that’s nothing new. How was yours?”

  I share with her all the ins and outs of my day without mentioning my meeting with Catherine. “I have tickets to the hottest event in Seattle on Saturday night. Can you come with me? It’s at the Museum of Flight. It should be a lot of fun.”

  She lights up. “I’m not sure I have anything to wear.”

  “Don’t let that stop you. I know you can find a lot of options in San Francisco, or we can go shopping that morning here in Seattle. I’d love to help you pick something out,” I tell her with a devilish grin.

  “I can call someone at Nordstrom. Are you sure?”

  “More than sure. I’ll send you the flight information. Can you leave Thursday night?”

  “I have an interview on Friday morning with a potential attorney. I could probably be at the San Francisco airport by one, if they have a flight.”

  “I’ll get back to you.” In a quiet voice, I add, “I’ve missed you this week.”

  “I’ve missed you, too.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  Sara

  I’ve spoken with Trey at least once every day this week. I'm in love with him. I’m certain on that. He never leaves my mind, always with me mentally if not physically. It's incomprehensible. He's my one stable force, my rock in a world filled with chaos, and I desperately need that in my life. I can’t believe I’ve only recently realized it.

  It’s strange—frightening, even—how you can go from someone being a complete stranger to then being completely infatuated with them. Wondering how it ever was that you were able to live without them because you sure as hell couldn’t imagine being without them now. He’s my best friend and, as cheesy as it sounds, he’s my anchor.

  My cell phone pings, and I see it’s Henry: I’m coming over. Can you meet me at Starbucks for a cup of coffee? It pings again. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.

  Me: I’m very busy today. It’s not a good time.

  Henry: Please. It’s urgent.

  I absolutely resent being summoned by Henry. I’ve told him time and again that we are nothing more than work colleagues. Besides, right now he’s only the major shareholder of his company. He currently doesn’t run it because of the lawsuit, so there’s no reason why I should be dealing with him at all.

  I tell Annabel on my way out, “Henry Sinclair has texted me that he’s at Starbucks across the street and would like to meet me. Can you please tell Mason that he’s welcome to join me?”

  I walk down to Starbucks, bitter that Henry’s essentially dropping by unannounced. I see him sitting in the corner, and he waves to me.

  “Thank you for coming down. I picked up a drink for you.”

  I take a seat opposite him. “Thank you. What is it?”

  “It’s your regular drink—a nonfat latte,” he replies, obviously proud of himself.

  I’m too irritated to tell him that isn’t my drink. “Thank you.” I take a sip, missing the hazelnut flavoring that reduces the coffee bitterness. “What do you need?”

  Henry reaches forward, grasps my hand and says, “Claudia has agreed to grant me a divorce. We can be together.”

  I almost choke on my drink. “Henry, let me be very clear. I’m involved with someone else. I’m not interested in you romantically. I’m not in a place to be able to be your friend. Please only e-mail and text me if you need something work-related, because moving forward, that’ll be the only time we need to interact.” I rise from the table, proud for standing up for myself, and leave him to walk back up to my office, stopping long enough to ask the barista, “Can you add three pumps of sugar-free hazelnut flavoring?”

  As I walk out, Mason and Cameron approach me. “What did he want? Are you okay?” Mason asks.

  “Thanks for walking over. Henry wanted to tell me he’s divorcing his wife.” Cameron and Mason both blanch, but I assure them, “Not to worry, he’s getting his just desserts.”

  ***

  I had spoken to Jennifer at Nordstrom this morning and explained about the fundraiser in Seattle. “Do you have anything that might work for me?”

  “I have the perfect outfit for you. I can bring it over this afternoon. Do you have a time preference?”

  Jennifer arrives a little after four thirty and brings with her a stunning Calvin Klein navy blue full-length sleeveless gown, a beautiful and sexy silver pump with a matching handbag, and a silver cashmere pashmina wrap. She includes matching LaPerla lingerie, and surprises me with a rental of a diamond necklace and matching cuff from Cartier.

  Staring at the stunning shimmering jewels, I gush, “How did you manage the jewelry?”

  “Well, I know the manager of the store, and I shared that you were headed to Seattle and most likely would be photographed wearing it. It didn’t take much, but I did give him your Black Amex number in case it doesn’t make it back or you decide to keep it.”

  I laugh and pull her in for a warm embrace. “You’re a lifesaver. Thank you, Jennifer!”

  “Have a great time. And when you get back, let’s work on a spring wardrobe for you.”

  “Deal!”

  I didn’t sleep well at all last night. I’m nervous to have all these diamonds in my possession, and I’m also excited to see Trey and spend a weekend with him in Seattle.

  I arrive at the office early, and Annabel’s there waiting for me.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, Annabel. I certainly don’t expect you to be here in the office so early.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind. The learning curve is a bit steeper than I expected, so I’m putting in the extra hours to make sure I get caught up. Plus, I knew you were heading out early today and would probably need me. I’ll head out a bit early myself if I’m done and you’re good with it.”

  “Sounds good. Elizabeth Rollins will be coming in to interview for the attorney position about nine. Please let me know when she gets here.”

  My interview with Elizabeth goes well. I like her and set her to meet with the other partners so they can give their rubber stamp of approval. She went to Santa Clara for law school and realized the actual practice of law isn’t for her, but she’s outgoing enough to blend in with our company culture while also serious enough to get her work done.

  I share, “My plan for the position is to help with all the due diligence and help to draft the sales contracts. You don’t have any experience in this area, so it may take some time to get you up to speed. “

  “I’d love the opportunity to learn from you and take as much off your plate as you’re willing to give me.”

  Before leaving, I poke my head into Emerson’s office. “I like Elizabeth. If Mason, Cameron and Dillon like her, and her references work out, then I’m good with offering her a job.

  “Great. You headed back to Stinson?”

  “No. Trey is in Seattle, so I’m heading there.” I wave and start for the elevators, my car service having alerted me that they’re two minutes from arrival.

  “Have fun. I want details on Monday,” she yells after me.

  As I exit the elevator, I see the car waiting for me, and he whisks me off to the airport and drops me at the departures area. I walk right through to security and make it just in time for boarding. Sitting in my first-class seat, I worry about having close to a million dollars in diamonds in my carry-on.

  When I land and walk out to the arrivals area, I see him standing at the base of the escalators holding a sign with my name on it. Women are standing around and staring, and I see several taking photos with their cell phones. He’s so sexy with his tie pulled down, the top button undone and his hair showing a bit of curl at the top.

  Might as well lay claim to my man.

  I walk up and give him a deep and passionate kiss, our tongues doing a delicate tango. “You look good enough to eat,” I murmur.

  “That sounds exciting. I think you can tell how much,” he whispers as we pretend we don’t hear the cam
eras clicking away. He takes my garment bag and drag bag and escorts me out to his waiting car.

  Once we get settled in the back seat, his arm goes around me and I snuggle in close. “What’s the plan?” I ask.

  “We have dinner reservations downtown tonight, but first we need to head into Bellevue and meet with a lawyer.”

  “Do you want me to wait in the car?”

  “No, it’s important you hear this. I’ll want your perspective.”

  “No problem. Does it have anything to do with your acquisition?”

  “Yes. Afterward, we’ll head to the hotel and have dinner at the top of the Space Needle.”

  “Very touristy, but I love it.”

  Kissing me on the nose, he says with great affection, “I knew you would.”

  I pull out my carry-on and show him the Cartier boxes. “I don’t know what to do with these, but I don’t feel comfortable carrying them around.”

  “Wow. That’s some serious ice.”

  “I know. I’m renting it to go with my dress tomorrow night. If you think it’s too much, I can leave it in the hotel safe.”

  “I think it’ll be perfect because you’re wearing it.”

  It takes us almost an hour in traffic to get to Bellevue. We walk into the building elevator, and he lets the doors close before he turns to me and says, “Sara, I don’t want this to be too big of a surprise. I want you to know that I love you very, very much. I’ll explain everything over dinner.” He pushes the button to the twenty-fourth floor, and we begin to rise.

  “I love you, too, but you’re making me nervous.”

  Kissing me, he assures me, “I love you. Remember that.”

  As we exit the elevator, a young woman is waiting for us. She walks us to a large conference room that overlooks the mountains and, in the distance, I can see Mount Rainier. She opens the door and asks if we’d like something to drink. We politely decline while a gentleman in his mid-fifties with sandy blond hair approaches. He watches me carefully.

  He shakes hands with Trey and turns to me as Trey introduces him. “Sara, I’d like you to meet Paul Ellington.”

  My heart stops. Staring into his eyes, I see my own reflecting back. I know exactly who Paul Ellington is. He’s my biological father.

  He turns to a group of people behind him who look like him. “I know you’ve had some e-mail exchanges with my wife, Catherine.” The woman next to him raises her trembling hand for a handshake. “And these are our children, Paul Junior, Michael, Grace and Mary.”

  I’m staring at replicas of me. I nod and murmur, “Hello. Very nice to meet you.”

  Paul continues, “Catherine has recently told us about you. I hate to admit this, but we’re all in a bit of shock.”

  “I’ve had thirty-two years to deal with it, so I can only imagine.” I feel the anger rising from within. Turning to Catherine, I spew, “You told me you wanted nothing to do with me.”

  “Sara, Catherine was young and confused. She didn’t realize the repercussions her decision would have. She ran away from her parents and me when she learned she was pregnant. She didn’t tell them, and she didn’t tell me. In speaking with Father Tom, she thought by giving you to him, you would find a better family.”

  “Then why wouldn’t she give up her parental rights when I asked her seventeen years ago?” Paul appears surprised, and Catherine gives me a look that could kill. “I spent my whole life waiting for you to come back. Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” I glance at Trey and find the courage. “This is the first time I’ve looked into anyone’s eyes who’s related to me. That’s all I ever wanted.” Staring at Catherine, I tell her, “You’re the one who has to sleep every night knowing you left a three-year-old to the State of California and never looked back.”

  I can see how angry Catherine is becoming, but I’m not interested in any explanation she could give.

  I look at Trey. “Do we need to do anything else?”

  “No, sweetheart.”

  Paul implores, “Sara, this is very new to us. Catherine was young. She didn’t know that leaving you behind with a priest would create so many problems for you.” I’m stunned by this as he continues, his tone softening. “And I can see a bit of a surprise for you, too, right? We all want to get to know each other a bit better.”

  “I’m not sure I want that from you.” Gazing around the room, I seethe, “From any of you, for that matter.” Staring at Catherine and Paul, I assert, “I’ve essentially been on my own since I was three years old. If you didn’t want me, you should’ve given me up for adoption rather than leaving me to hope that you were going to come get me one day.”

  Paul appears crestfallen. I hear his daughters sniff and cry. Catherine is fuming, and her boys are sitting stoically.

  Looking at Trey, Paul inquires, “What are our next steps?”

  “Know that it’s going to get out what happened with Sara,” Trey replies. “She’s a big deal in the technology world and has been interviewed by several publications about her start in life. It took my private investigator less than a day to trace it to you. This is going to come out, and you need to prepare. I’ve lived in the limelight my entire life. It isn’t easy. This is going to be hard on all of you.”

  “And when you want to blame me,” I chime in, “remember that Catherine is the one who dumped me at a church and then refused to give up her parental rights when I was thirteen years old, so my loving foster parents weren’t allowed to adopt me and protect me. And rather than welcome me, she’s an ice-cold bitch. Blame her for the chaos that’s about to rain down on you. Don’t blame me. I’m the victim here. I lived in fourteen foster homes with creeps and abusers. People who only cared about a check they got for giving me a soiled bed.”

  At that, I turn and walk out to wait by the elevator. I want to cry but I don’t, pinching my hand to distract me.

  Trey stays behind a few more minutes and then meets me at the elevator. “Are you okay?” I nod and step into the waiting elevator. When the doors close, the dam releases and tears fall from my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know until earlier this week that your father was the CEO of the company I’m buying. I knew it would get out in the tabloids, and I met with her to warn her the press would find out. Her lawyer spoke with her and Paul, and they agreed to tell the kids. Paul wanted to meet you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner, but I was afraid you’d refuse to go. The first time we talked, you shared that you wanted to meet the people who shared some of your genetic makeup, and I wanted to provide that.”

  I hug him tightly, still crying. “Thank you.”

  Dinner atop the Space Needle in the Sky City Restaurant is romantic yet also very touristy, and I love every minute of it. I won’t let myself cry anymore. The look Catherine had when I mentioned the fourteen foster homes was a real surprise for her. I still don’t understand why she’s angry at me.

  Trying to shake it off, I take in the splendor of the Puget Sound from the Space Needle’s world-famous restaurant located five hundred feet above the ground. “Thank you for inviting me to Seattle. This is the first time I’ve been here. What a beautiful city. I don’t want to rehash our afternoon. I hear Trey’s cell phone ping repeatedly this evening, but he ignores it, so he can focus on me. “It’s incredibly green compared to San Francisco. I can see why they call San Francisco a concrete jungle.”

  “They say it always rains here, but I haven’t seen a drop.”

  The waiter hears Trey’s comment and says, “It rains for nine months of the year here, which makes it gray and wet. But the other three months are spectacular, just like now.”

  Dinner is good, but I love the company better. Trey shares, “Tomorrow night, I’ll be introducing you as my girlfriend. I’ve given the benefit your name. Normally I’d only list you as a guest, but I want you to be a part of my life for a very long time and not be a ‘guest.’ Because of that, the press will have your name, and you’ll be in the tabloids for a while. I know we didn’t discuss this upfron
t, but I wanted to control the story instead of them finding out who you were by digging through your trash. They’re going to investigate you, and because you’ve done a few newspaper articles, they’ll dig that up and ask you about it. It’s a great story, and they’ll run with it. Our life is going to be hectic for a few weeks, but I promise when something else happens, they’ll move on. But I warn you, they’re like roaches. Every time you feel you’ve killed them all, you’ll realize there are five more hiding in the wall.”

  Giggling, I shake my head and exclaim, “That is gross.”

  “They’re gross.” He reaches for my hand across the table and gives me an assuring squeeze. Taking in the lights of The Sound, we watch the ferries shuttle people from Seattle to the various little islands.

  Squeezing my hand tightly, I bring it to my mouth and softly kiss it. “What are you doing next weekend?”

  “Well, I think I’ll be able to come back to San Francisco on Friday. Do you want to go up to Stinson?”

  “I’d like that. I’d also like you to meet Jim and Carol.”

  “I’d love to.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Trey

  My week dealing with Cedar Pine Cypress Technologies is busy as we work through our agreement. As predicted, Sara is the bell of the tabloid media. They find the articles written in the Law Journal, and that blows up everywhere, so she goes into hiding in Stinson herself. It makes me smile to know we have a great place to hide out, at least until they figure it out.

  Before I leave Seattle, Paul pulls me aside. “Catherine had a very difficult childhood. I know she made some very big mistakes with Sara, but she didn’t do it out of malice. She feared how her lie would affect all of us. Please believe me, had I known about Sara, she would’ve been pulled from foster care and immediately come to live with us.”

  “She needs to hear that from you. Maybe not today, but one day.”

  He nods. “You can tell her that we’re very proud of her. Her brothers and sisters would like to come down to San Francisco and spend some time with her. When she’s ready. They’re angry, but not with her. They feel like they’ve missed out on a big sister.”