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He pushed back his chair and left her stunned into silence. He caught the server on the way out and handed over cash. Then Vin returned to work at the mansion.
* * *
Jewel was in the San Francisco office the next morning when the very unexpected happened. The very horrific.
“Rose-Marie Angelini is on the line for you,” Cameron announced.
Jewel’s heart nearly stopped.
What the hell did Rogen’s mother want with her?
Like you don’t know.
She stared at the phone. For how long she had no idea.
Cameron actually came into the office. “You gonna pick up?”
“I … don’t know.”
“She’s waiting. And you are not a rude person, Jewel.”
She swallowed hard. “No, I am not. But this is … complicated.”
“Would you like me to tell her you went to a meeting?”
“No. I’ve been spineless enough lately.” She still kicked herself for not being able to get out of her car at Bristol’s. So she snatched the receiver and infused a shitload of confidence she didn’t really feel at the moment into her voice. “Mrs. Angelini. What a pleasant surprise.”
“I’m in the city,” Rose-Marie said. “I wondered if you would meet me for lunch.”
Jewel sucked in a breath. How much more awkward could this get? She’d already had to explain the threesome to her parents. Now to Rogen’s mother?
Damn it.
Why hadn’t she taken Cameron up on her offer to say she was in a meeting?
Because that wouldn’t make this confrontation go away.
So Jewel bucked up. “Tell me when and where.”
“Bayview in the Financial District. Not far from your office. It’s by the Hyatt.”
“I’ve been there many times. Excellent location.”
“One o’clock?”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Thank you.” Rose-Marie disconnected the call.
Jewel replaced the receiver in its cradle and tried to focus on work for the next couple of hours. But her mind whirled. She debated whether she should phone Rogen and fill him in. But decided she might as well find out what his mother wanted, what she had to say, before making anyone panic. Other than herself, that was.
Lunch rolled around a little too quickly. Jewel arrived at Bayview precisely at one; Rose-Marie was already seated.
Had Rogen’s mother arrived early so that she had time to settle herself, relax, think through this face-to-face meeting?
A tactic Jewel realized she should have employed. Might have helped her to get a grip on her cyclonic thoughts and emotions.
She followed the maître d’ through the lively restaurant. It was an elegant, upscale dining room with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge from the top of the high-rise building. It happened to be a sunny day and the rays sparkled on the capped waves.
