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“All of our properties have smart security, the buildings are mostly maintained and guarded by technology and small drones, and the surveillance takes place in control rooms off-site. But trust me, if there was an issue there are special measures in place. We have trackers and secure places to go, and there are also a few panic rooms at my parents’ properties. Most of what we have is insurance-related measures, but my father is sensible enough to understand nothing is ever one-hundred-percent. We may have money, which gives us power in industry, but my father is also very well respected.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Still… we’ve never spoken about any of this and there’s a shit ton of crazy people in this world—”
“True, but my father’s ethos has always erred on the side of people who are inherently good. We could live our lives steeped in paranoia and live in a wealthy state of anxiety, or we can choose not to flaunt what we have and try to live relatively normal lives.”
“But I’ve seen how power works, James, those at the top are ruthless. No one should underestimate how far someone will go—”
“This is true, but my dad has somehow remained somewhat neutral in the world of politics, we only buy broken companies when there is no other option to salvage them with finance, and for every business enemy in my father’s network he has a hundred loyal friends. My dad has so many pay-it-forward projects that his competitors know it’s better to be positively associated with him than not.”
“Still,” I insisted again.
“Tricia, we do what we’re paid to do, which is keep good quality homes over peoples’ heads, manage their wealth to the best of our ability, or ensure if something goes wrong we can help people rebuild their lives. My family has done it for over a century without mishap,” he shot back. “Anyway, enough about that heavy stuff, where do you want to eat dinner?”
“You mean you didn’t arrange that already?” I asked, allowing him to change the subject when I remembered Erin and Ryder and the pilot had probably heard every word.
“No, I know the changing minds of women too well …” He cringed, snickered, and then shrugged at his remark. “I’m old … and good-looking, you’d expect me to know what women are like, right?” I heard Ryder snicker which confirmed my previous thought.
“Erin, Mexican, Italian, Chinese?” I asked.
“My dad used to call me burrito because I always stole bites of his when I was a kid. I love spicy food. Can I call Mexican if no one else minds?”
My heart stopped for a beat when she disclosed another small revelation about her past life, because burritos were one of my favorite dishes as well.
“Mexican it is,” James piped up, pulled out his cell, and began texting someone. I guessed he was making our reservation.
An hour and fifty minutes, flying over some spectacular views of rural countryside, gave James and me time to get better acquainted with Ryder. By the time we landed, we’d found out he’d been signed to a very elite modelling agency for most of the previous four years.
Unlike my first thought about the catwalk, Ryder was a product model. His shoots centered around modelling alongside large luxury lifestyle items such as fast expensive cars, exclusive high-end yachts, elite club memberships, private jets, and luxury holidays.
When I told him it had all sounded very exciting, I had liked the way he’d humbly shrugged my comment off by telling us the majority of his time on a shoot was spent waiting for the photographer or filming crew to capture the perfect light.
We landed on a private helipad situated below a regal-looking, large brick property. I’d assumed it was a luxury lodge or a retreat of some kind. Off to the left of it stood a six-car garage, with what looked like an apartment above it. Parked in front of it there were a couple of soft-top Jeeps, some huge bulky motorcycles, a few Jet Skis, and a small boat lined up, side by side.
“Where are we? What’s this place called?”
“Lake Willoughby. This place was my grandparents holiday hideaway and where I spent some of my best summers as a child.” I glanced toward Erin, who stood in awe staring at the fabulous house.
“I thought this was a hotel,” Erin told him. “This is really your family’s place?” Her eyes were childlike and as big as saucers, and I wondered how many times she had looked in the same excited way growing up.
“Okay, this has my dad beat hands down,” Ryder said in mock defeat and snickered. “Can’t compete with old money like this,” he remarked. “Makes my shit-colored car look gaudy,” Ryder commented good-naturedly.
“It is gaudy,” James replied, chuckling. “But I’d still let you take me for a spin… in the dark of course,” he added and grinned. “Come on, it’s after 5:00 o’clock somewhere, we could all do with a drink.”
Chapter Eighteen
“I’m going to tell Erin about the letters and photographs,” I told James, as I unpacked the weekend case and draped my outfits across the large sofa in the bedroom we’d been shown to.
The closet looked intimidating with all the hanging space, sliding cabinets and drawers, so I’d decided not to use it. “I’ve been considering telling her ever since I found out about them. She has a right to know her mom sent those to my … her grandma … maybe even to me, and my mom had kept them from me.”
Immediately James crossed the room and held me by my shoulders. Looking down at me, he rubbed my upper arms, soothing me. His gorgeous blue eyes filled with concern. “Don’t you think that may upset her … to know her grandma always knew about her and took no active interest.”
I sighed heavily. “I know, but I’m tired of deceit, secrets, and lies in this family. If it were me, I’d want to know.”
“But you weren’t the one who was adopted, Tricia.” I stared, shocked by his put down, and felt as if he had slapped me. Seeing he’d hurt me, James pulled me into his chest. “I’m just trying to see this from both sides, baby. The last thing I want is something to ruin the beautiful relationship I see growing between you both.” I nodded that I understood, but his reasoning hadn’t changed my mind.
“I hear you, James. I’ll be as tactful as I can, but I think it’s time the whole truth was put on the table.”
“Then I’m here to support you in whatever you decide.”
