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“You are staying the night Jenna, right?” I repeated the question. “There is no need for you to go back to your place tonight, and it will be simpler in the morning if we all head out from
here.”
I had gathered four champagne flutes and a bottle of one of my favorite wines. The NV Cremant was made here in Nova Scotia at the Blomidon Winery. Jenna and I had done a wine tour a couple of years ago, and I fell in love with this wine. I often sent it as a gift to clients, eager to promote the winery to everyone I could.
Bradley took the bottle from me and opened it and poured the wine with practiced ease. Victor picked up two glasses, passing one to Jenna while giving her a brief kiss on the lips. This man didn’t waste any time. He was hell bent on romancing her, and claiming her for his own. Jenna sat there with a slight smile on her lips as she looked at him with undisguised desire.
I took the glass Bradley offered to me, and he, like Victor, decided to claim a kiss from the woman he desired. I was more than happy to return the kiss, all the while eagerly anticipating
bedtime.
We sipped the wine, enjoying the cool crisp dry sparkling wine. It provided a perfect end to the day. Jenna wanted to know how the meeting had gone so between Bradley, Victor and I we gave her a play–by–play of the meetings. Jenna was indignant on my behalf, and equally
concerned by the threats voiced by all three of the vipers.
“How safe are you going to be? I mean, you have to be here to run the company.” Jenna
exclaimed.
“Well, not really, at least not for a while. I appointed Jonathan Proctor as the COO. He knows
the business better than I do since he has been there since Mom started it. I’ll talk to
Jonathan about it, but I think Chloe Evans would excel as the marketing department manager.
Mom had wanted her for that position, but when she died, Alan put Adam in as manager.”
“With Alan, Fiona and Adam gone, ninty–nine percent of the issues are gone. Those three
created nothing but discord, chaos, ad havoc within the company. But you’re right, Jenna. Just
because they are out Fredericks Design, that doesn’t mean I am rid of them. I don’t know how,
what, or why, but I do know that there is more to their behavior than wanting Fredericks
Design Co. Yes, the company is worth a lot, but not one of them know how to run a company. They would drive it into the ground within a year.”
I took another sip of wine and studied the interaction between Victor and Bradley. The way
they exchanged looks when I was telling my thoughts on the actions and behavior of the
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vipers continued to tell me I was on the right track. I smiled to myself. As a child, I had loved the animated series Scooby–Doo. I always likened myself to Velma, the character who was the smart, intuitive, capable one who figured things out and uncovered the bad guys.
The thing is, I know who the bad guys are. Alan and Lydia, Fiona and Adam. What I don’t know is why are they out to get me? What do I have, other than Fredericks Design Co., that is big enough, important enough to want me out of the picture? The only thing I can think of is Graystone International.
The question is, do they know about Graystone International? If so, how do they know? And how do they think they would profit from getting me out of the way? Alan wouldn’t inherit anything even though he is biologically my father. My grandparents will made sure of that. The same applies to Fiona. Adam wouldn’t benefit, even if I had married him. The prenup agreement, the one they thought I hadn’t read, had ensured Adam would inherit absolutely nothing from me, other than the part ownership I would have given him upon marriage.
So that left Lydia. And that snippet of memory of the conversation I had overheard between
my mother and grandmother.
I decided to test my theory about Bradley giving me hints to point me in the direction I need to look in order to find the answers he can’t give me. So watching from beneath my eyelashes I
talked.
“Jenna, the only thing I can think of is that somehow, either Alan, Fiona, Adam, or Lydia know who I really am. Somehow one of them knows my connection to Graystone International. They know I inherited billions, and they want what I have.” Jenna gasped, but Bradley and Victor
were trying to hide their smiles. So, I’m right in my assumptions.
“That is definitely something you should look into, very closely.” Bradley said smoothly. “Who knows, there might be a family connection there somewhere. Other than through your father,
because obviously there is a known family connection with him.”
Bingo! So which one is it.? Probably Lydia. That’s the name I heard from my grandmother. Of course it could just be in conjunction with Alan and Lydia’s affair, but I don’t think that is it.
“Mmmmm. That’s why it makes sense for me to make the move to Toronto. Well, that and more importantly, marrying Bradley.” I gave him a smile that he returned. “And I was thinking, I had booked two, thirty–day cruises that I was going to use to lure Alan and Lydia, and Adam
and Fiona out of the country while I put some plans into place. Now that those plans are no
longer in effect, I thought I could switch the cruises to the same ship at the same time.
Bradley and I could take the trip as a honeymoon trip, and just maybe you two wanted to join
us? It would get me out of the line of fire for a month, and give my investigators time to dig
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deep, and my security could come up with a good action plan.”
Jenna squealed in excitement. “Oh my god, Anna. That would be freaking awesome! I haven’t had a real vacation for so long. That would be a blast!” She looked at Victor who was beaming at the suggestion. “What do you think, Victor. Do you think you could share a suite with me?” She then asked me, “it is a suite, right?”
I giggled at her expression. “Yes, Jenna. It would be a suite. If you’re serious about going, I’ll call the travel agency right now and make the change. We want the one that leaves from San Diego, right?” I asked Bradley, as he was the one that had researched the cruises with me.
“Oh, Red. I think that’s a marvelous idea. Spending a whole month with you. Away from business. Away from stress. Can we get you and Jenna moved to Toronto within two weeks? And yes, the cruise that leaves from San Diego would be fantastic.” He pressed a hot passionate kiss to my lips, apparently very pleased at my suggestion. I returned the kiss with equal passion.
Jenna, clearing her throat, broke us out of our fog. “Oops, sorry. Got carried away for a few minutes.” I snickered as I tried to regain my equalibrium. “So, what do you two say? Shall I call Graystone Travel’s twenty–four hour line and have them make the change?”
“Say yes, please Jenna,” whispered Victor in her ear, then he gently nibbled her ear lobe. “Say
you’ll share a suite with me.”
Jenna shivered. A clear sign his words and actions were getting to her. She was visibly trembling as he was trailing his fingers up and down her bare arm, raising goosebumps.
“Anna, I definitely think you should call right now to see if they can make the change.” Her
eyes were riveted on Victor’s as she spoke to me. “A one bedroom suite should do, I would
think.”
Victor lit up like a christmas tree upon hearing her words. I was a bit shocked at how fast
Jenna was allowing things to move. But hey, she’s a grown woman who knows what she
wants. And it appears she wants Victor as much as he wants her. More power to them.
I made the call and was soon connected to a travel agent. After giving my booking numbers I
explained the changes I wanted to make. Thankfully, my request was able to be
accommodated and within a few minutes I was off the phone. We didn’t have to book plane
tickets since the Graystone International private jet would be at our disposal for the flight to
and from San Diego.
“We are all set. Our trip begins in fourteen days. Your suite adjourns ours, and they will take
the divider out between our balconies so we can have a larger place to lounge. We’ve all got
the deluxe package, so expect to be spoiled!” I excitedly relayed the information.
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“Anna, I will never be able to repay you for this! I don’t know what to say.“Jenna was almost in tears as she realized the expense involved.
I just grinned at her and Victor, who was snuggled up to her, looking at her with a gaze that said he was already in this for keeps. “Don’t even think about that. Consider it an early wedding present for you two.”
Then before she could recover from that comment, I jumped up off the sofa, pulling Bradley with me. “Bed time my love” I slid a sly glance at Jenna and Victor. “You both know where the bedroom is. Make yourselves at home.”
