Guarding the Heiress
Page 13
“If he had told me of his love for your mother then there would have been no need for such secretive rendezvous and perhaps he would have been here with her, instead of in some small flat in the unsavory part of a town many miles away.”
Her mother had told her that Edouard feared telling his parents about their relationship. “It wasn’t your fault,” she felt compelled to say.
The pain etched on her face deepened. “Yes, it was. We were so hard on him, expected so very much of him. When he found true love with a woman of so little means he feared we would forbid such a match.”
Eddi’s heart thundered in her ears. She had to know the rest of it. “Would you have forbidden the relationship?”
Her gaze bright with emotion, Solange shook her head sadly. “That is the worst tragedy of all. Your father never knew that his father had chosen likewise.” She drew in a heavy breath. “My family was very poor. We had nothing. But we never told Edouard. Since my parents were long dead when he was born, there was no reason to bring it up. I had no other close family. It simply had no bearing on our lives. Such things were not discussed.” She shook her head slowly from side to side. “Who would have guessed that keeping such a secret would carry such a high price?”
Eddi squeezed her hand. “You can’t be sure his knowing that secret would have made a difference. You didn’t do anything wrong. Some evil man or men did this, not you. Surely you know that?”
She managed a watery smile. “I tell myself that every day.” She took Eddi’s hand in both of hers. “But you are here now. God has not forsaken me altogether. For that, I am very grateful.”
Summoning her courage, Eddi asked, “How did you find me?”
Solange looked distant a moment. “Quite by accident. James was visiting a cousin in Maryland and he saw you.” She shook her head. “He was beside himself until we’d verified who you are.” Her gaze settled heavily onto Eddi’s. “We’re a close group…we’ve all anticipated your arrival.”
Eddi was almost relieved when they moved on to the subject of the D’Martine jewelry business. Her emotions were raw. She wasn’t sure she could get through much more of this intense bonding. She watched her grandmother, a woman at once sophisticated and simple. Though Solange D’Martine bore the classic characteristics of a very sophisticated woman in every respect, personal as well as professional, she remained open and honest, simple in a way that demanded respect.
The bottom line was, Solange D’Martine was a woman without a fancy education, without an idyllic childhood, and still she commanded respect and admiration. She was a woman with an agenda who would not be defeated. The realization galvanized the emotions whirling inside Eddi.
Not for one second did Solange intend to let Eddi go.
THAT EVENING AFTER DINNER Eddi disappeared. She’d insisted she needed to be excused and she never returned. Doug had watched her go into one of the powder rooms on the first floor, but she had, evidently, slipped out when he looked away to respond to something Thurston said. The man had arrived earlier in the day and had stayed for dinner. He was none too happy that Solange still intended to introduce Eddi to the board of directors on Wednesday despite his sudden reservations.
Thurston apparently had his own ideas about how this production should be handled. He was now in no hurry for Eddi to gain any power over the D’Martine fortune. Doug didn’t like his pushiness where the matter was concerned. Solange liked it even less and told him so, at which time he promptly ended the discussion.
Excusing himself, Doug took the stairs two at a time and went in search of Eddi. Since the powder room she’d vacated was near the stairs, he assumed she had gone upstairs. Maybe to call her parents or maybe simply to be alone. Either way, he didn’t want her out of his sight. Things were starting to get tense in the D’Martine household, mainly due to Thurston’s stand on legal issues. He knew from the monitor built into his watch that she was still in the house. The tracking device he’d placed behind her ear sent a clear, steady signal.
When Doug found Eddi’s bedroom door open he went on instant alert. He reached beneath his jacket and withdrew his weapon. The clink of metal against porcelain tugged him toward the room’s en suite bathroom. He moved silently across the carpeted floor until he stood outside the partially open door. Straining to listen, he made out the sound of metal against metal echoing from the room. He gave the door a little push and it swung inward soundlessly. His gaze went immediately to the figure sitting astride the bathtub’s outer ledge.
Eddi.
Exhaling some of his tension, he put his weapon away and rasped his knuckles against the door frame.
Startled by the unexpected intrusion, Eddi twisted around to look at him. She pressed her hand to her chest. “Doggone it, Doug, you scared the life out of me.”
A frown formed between his eyes as he assessed the situation. She had dismantled the tub’s elegant faucet. Parts were scattered across the closed toilet lid and on the floor near her foot. His gaze lingered on the ankle belonging to that foot then slid upward, along the shapely calf and over the knee to the partially exposed thigh. Her position astride the edge of the tub had forced the hem of her skirt high on her thighs, but she didn’t seem to notice or care.
“Sorry,” he offered, his gaze still distracted by the creamy, smooth thigh he had not seen before. “I was worried when you disappeared on me.”
She blew out a heavy breath and turned her attention to the faucet. “I didn’t want to hear any more from that lawyer. I don’t like him. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me.”
Doug moved into the room and propped a hip on the marble vanity counter. “Attorneys are cautious that way,” he suggested, hoping to ease her distress, though he sensed the same feelings in the arrogant man himself.
“I still don’t like him,” she countered petulantly as she picked up a piece of expensive brass and shoved it back into place.
“Where did you get those tools?” He was relatively sure she hadn’t packed any wrenches in her luggage. There hadn’t been room.
“James rounded them up for me,” she said, her attention focused on the task rather than on the conversation.
Doug smiled. Only Eddi, he mused.
“I couldn’t stand that dripping,” she explained. “Don’t rich people know plumbers?”
Doug wasn’t sure if she really expected an answer, but he gave her one anyway. “Since this is a guest room, it’s likely that no one had noticed the problem.”
“Well, her water bill should be a little less next month.” And just like that the luxurious brass faucet was back together and not a leak in sight.
She pushed up from her position, drawing her leg over the tub’s edge. “I’ll have to get these back to James. He’s been really nice to me.” She gathered the tools and then smoothed a hand over her blouse as if suddenly aware that he was staring at her.
He hadn’t meant to stare, but there was just something irresistible about a woman with a wrench in her hand. “I’ll go with you.”
Color tinged her cheeks only making her look more tempting. “Don’t worry,” she said, remorse weighing heavy in her tone. “I’m not going to beg you to kiss me again tonight.”
Doug blocked her path when she would have walked past him. “For the record,” he told her, knowing damn well he should leave it alone, “you wouldn’t have to beg.”
“EVERYTHING IS FALLING into place.”
Joe listened to the voice on the other end of the line. They could have had this discussion in person, after all he was on the island now. But his partner was too cautious for that. He didn’t want to take any chances on some witness coming out of the woodwork and putting two and two together after the fact.
Joe didn’t like being ordered around, but he would do what he had to for now. A knowing grin slid across his lips. He’d have the last laugh anyway.
“I watched them on the cliffs today,” his partner went on with wicked glee. “This unexpected turn is going to facilitate o
ur plan. And this time we’ll be rich.”
Yes sir, Joe agreed silently, they would be rich all right, but only one of them would live to enjoy it.
Chapter Ten
Eddi appeared more comfortable at the D’Martine estate by Wednesday. Doug was relieved to see her relax a little. She’d spoken to her parents in Meadowbrook each morning and each evening, which helped tremendously to ease her anxiety. If Solange D’Martine resented Eddi’s ever-present talk of her parents back home, Solange did a masterful job of concealing her displeasure.
Most of the previous day had been spent going over the history of the jewel trade and the D’Martines’ various interests, international and domestic. Sort of a crash course in the family business. Eddi had no trouble catching on and seemed genuinely interested in the workings of the D’Martine empire. Solange was definitely pleased. Doug learned that it was Solange herself who had designed a great many of the classic pieces in their line. Since her son had possessed the same talent for creative designs, she hoped that trait had been passed on to his daughter. Eddi considered the chances dubious at best since she’d never designed anything that didn’t include plumber’s putty and pipes.
His gaze drifted to her, as was par for the course whenever she was in the same room. The navy slacks and jacket combined with her pleasant and attentive air gave her the appearance of elegance and sophistication matching that of anyone in the room. But he knew that beneath that polished exterior was a regular girl who didn’t need riches to make her a lady.
There had been no more talk of kisses, despite his outright invitation. He could have throttled himself for not thinking before speaking. He’d intended to assuage her conscience for needing a distraction and using him; instead, he’d left an open invitation for more dangling in the air like a carrot on a stick.
Watching her now, seated next to her grandmother on a small sofa in the enormous parlor awaiting the arrival of the final board member, the urge to pursue this physical attraction between them was all but overpowering. But that would be against all the rules. Not to mention that he had not been completely honest with Eddi about who he was. No relationship should start out with any kind of deception hovering over it. Though his reasons for keeping his background secret were well intended, he wasn’t sure Eddi would see it that way.
Doug glanced at his watch—5:20. The remaining guest who had not arrived was beyond fashionably late at this point. The other seven members, as well as the CEO, were already seated around the room, cocktails in hand, brusque business expressions in place. Doug sensed that one or more of those present weren’t happy with what was about to go down.
He stayed on the fringes of the gathering, choosing to stand near a window, one shoulder propped against the ornate frame. Observations were best made from a slight distance, he had learned.
At 5:25, the butler, James Montgomery, showed the tardy board member into the room.
“I apologize for the delay,” the man announced without preamble. “Traffic was stalled on the mainland, which required my taking a later ferry.” He settled into the empty chair next to Thurston. “Shall we get started?”
The butler served the late arrival a drink and offered to refill those of the other guests. Doug didn’t miss the way Montgomery smiled at Eddi as he passed her. The two of them had become good friends rather quickly, it seemed. Most of the staff liked her very much already. Doug surveyed the crowd of ruthless businessmen. In a few moments they would know how the other team felt about Eddi.
When the last introduction was out of the way, Thurston officially started the meeting.
“Ladies.” He nodded to Solange and Eddi, then to the others present. “Gentlemen. This special meeting has been called to make you aware of certain changes prior to public announcement.”
“I don’t like this,” CEO Kirk Wellfounder interjected abruptly. “I believe any sort of official announcement would only undermine our standing in the marketplace.”
Solange sent him an assessing glare. “And how have you come to this conclusion, Kirk?” Her tone was calm and pleasant, but there was no ignoring the ferocity beneath.
Wellfounder stole a glance at Thurston. “Brandon, you and I have discussed this subject at length. With the American designers making a rebound of late, the last thing we need is any sign of weakness.”
Thurston looked a little startled that his disagreeable thoughts had been brought into the discussion. “Well, now, Kirk, let’s not be hasty—”
“How do you propose that the publicity surrounding my granddaughter could be negative?” Solange stiffened her spine in defiance. “I would think that the prospect of new blood would only strengthen our hold on the largest portion of the domestic as well as the international market.”
Eddi’s discomfort level had just blasted to somewhere in the vicinity of the moon. This man, Mr. Wellfounder, didn’t like her…didn’t want her involved.
Maybe he was right….
Mr. Wellfounder looked a little nervous now. He glanced at Mr. Thurston again. “You know the press will have a field day with what happened…to Edouard. Though clearly Miss Harper is a D’Martine,” he offered, allowing his gaze to light on her ever so briefly, “there will be speculation as to why she is being introduced at this time.”
“What are you implying?” her grandmother D’Martine demanded.
After a heavy breath, Mr. Wellfounder said what was on his mind, “At your age, some will perceive this move as an indication that you are no longer able to carry on the family tradition of D’Martine designs.”
Infinite silence fell over the room. Kind of the way it did when Eddi was waiting to see if a newly repaired joint would leak. Nobody moved or spoke, they simply sat there waiting for the next move, hoping the worst wouldn’t happen. Eddi suddenly found herself wondering if the suits all these old guys were wearing were as pricey as they looked. A bubble of hysteria rose in her throat. Okay, she was losing ground here. Though she was pretty sure that the sum total of designer business wear in the room could feed a small country for a year, it wasn’t really relevant at the moment.
Tension coiled so tightly inside her that she could scarcely breathe. Solange D’Martine was getting on up there, that was true, but it didn’t mean she was out of the game. But Eddi didn’t miss Wellfounder’s point. In business, even in a small-town hardware store and plumbing service, public perception was everything.
“Maybe,” she said, shocked that she’d actually spoken out loud. All gazes shifted to her. Well, she’d started it now, she might as well finish. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” She turned to her grandmother. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. If my involvement is going to—”
“Miss Harper,” an elderly gentleman, a Mr. Pogue if she remembered correctly, interrupted, “our only concern is for your safety. If there is any risk involved in making your presence public, then perhaps we should rethink our strategy.”
“That’s why we have Mr. Cooper,” Solange reminded firmly. The room’s attention swung to Doug. “He will ensure that no harm comes to my granddaughter until the media frenzy passes. Further need for personal security will be assessed at that time.”
At that time? Eddi had to get back home soon. She wasn’t about to let that knucklehead Lamar steal all her business.
“Are you really prepared for the past to be publicly resurrected as you know it will be?” the CEO wanted to know. “They will rehash every painful detail. If the perpetrators of Edouard’s murder are still out there, isn’t this like waving a red flag?”
Doug straightened from his relaxed stance and took a few steps in the direction of the group, again garnering everyone’s regard. Eddi couldn’t help a smile. She felt safe as long as he was nearby. And there was that zing of electricity that zipped through her each time she looked at him. He looked right at home with this highbrow crowd. Doug had evidently done his research and she was so thankful for his presence. Victoria Colby had definitely picked the right man for the job.
Pride and admiration welled inside Eddi. Now, there was a hero. The kind she read about in romance novels. The same ones depicted in old black-and-white movies when men were men and women—she chewed her lower lip as she considered the truth of the matter—weren’t plumbers.
“But the media frenzy—”
“Will pass,” Solange cut off the rest of Mr. Wellfounder’s protest. “This, gentlemen,” she said with a sweep of her hand in Eddi’s direction, “is my granddaughter. Heir to the very corporation that employs each and every one of you. She will be treated with the same respect and courtesy that you have shown me during the past quarter century. Are there any other questions?”
Eddi was greatly relieved when all eight members of the board of directors, as well as the CEO, stood, and one at a time offered his hand in agreement of the matter. She supposed actions spoke louder than words since no one bothered to answer her grandmother’s question, but all, including the lawyer Thurston, made a grand show of welcoming her aboard. Eddi wasn’t so sure she wanted to be aboard, but her grandmother had convinced her that it was necessary. This step would not prevent her from returning to her life back home. She would attend the quarterly business meetings and sit in on biannual meetings with the designers. That Eddi could handle. A quick trip to New York twice a year and regular visits to the D’Martine estate were no big deal. She fully intended to visit her newly discovered grandmother every chance she got.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected it to be this simple. Now, once the social courtesies were out of the way, there would be a mound of paperwork for her to sign. Her grandmother had warned her that it would be extensive. Mr. Thurston had been preparing documents for days.