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“So we’re traveling together,” Vin said. “That doesn’t mean anything other than we have business to conduct. Anyone, including Scarlet, can attest to that.”
“And she has. But apparently Holly’s enjoying spinning yarns.”
Not that they were yarns, tall tales, whatever. Because what Holly hinted at—or blatantly declared—was, in fact, truth. Clearly a jealous rant. But truth nonetheless.
“So let her talk,” Rogen added in his calm, steady voice. “I will concede it’s not likely anyone would fully buy the three of us conducting business together. Me being an Angelini. Jewel being a Catalano. Vin holding loyalty to my father. But so what?”
Jewel grimaced. “You’re missing the entire point of a smear campaign. Holly spreading rumors about us can wreak havoc on our personal reputations, our family names, and even our new venture, Rogen.”
“California’s a progressive state, sweetheart,” he contended.
“Sure,” Jewel agreed. “Alternative lifestyles are more readily accepted here. But that mostly pertains to same-sex relationships and marriages. Not a ménage à trois.”
“She’s got you on that one,” Vin said. Then told them, “I’ll speak with Holly.”
“All well and good,” Jewel added. “And appreciated. However, she’s already turned into the town crier.” She shook her head. “If my parents hear about this…” She glanced at Rogen. “If your parents hear of this…”
“Play it cool for now,” Vin recommended. “We don’t have anything to defend, because we were, in fact, on a business trip.”
“Sure,” Jewel cautiously said, “but if we play that card, then you have to fess up to Gian that you provided legal counsel on mine and Rogen’s joint venture.”
His jaw set. Jewel could see he stewed over the reality of the situation. Yet he didn’t give in to contemplation—and the challenge of his loyalty. Instead, he said, “Let me deal with that. Don’t worry about me.”
Jewel gnawed her lip a moment, then told him, “But I do worry about you. So you have to validate that we’re all in this together.” Her gaze shifted to Rogen. “Right?”
“I’m not trying to hide anything,” Rogen insisted. “We’re in possession of the scotch. Even if my father has heard about the three of us traveling together, even if he’s already ascertained that I don’t intend to let him screw you out of the deal … He doesn’t currently have the winning hand. We do. Because we have the bargaining chip.”
“Which he could effectively decide isn’t worth the hassle,” Jewel pointed out. “Or the land. So that would put us at an impasse. Kill our dreams. Leave us with the rumors.”
Neither man appeared willing to confirm or deny her summation.
Because it was deeply rooted in fact.
NINETEEN
W
ith the information from Jewel about Holly’s squawking, Rogen knew his best offensive move was to seek out his father as soon as the plane landed and he returned to the estate. It wouldn’t be a smooth interaction by any stretch of the imagination, and he’d asked Vin to go directly to his own office, in hopes of leaving him out of this.
Vin didn’t take the bait.
“I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t on the trip,” Vin said. “That I don’t know what you and Jewel are up to.”
“You haven’t done more than help to get signatures on contracts you didn’t even draw up. So, technically, you were just along for the ride.”
They stalked through the enormous foyer, then toward the back of the mansion where Gian’s study was located.
“I admire what the two of you are trying to do,” Vin told Rogen. “I’m not particularly pleased your father wants to double-cross Jewel. Nor am I currently willing to throw away my career with Angelini, Inc. However—”
“Wait.” Rogen drew up short, his arm shooting out and his palm flattening solidly against Vin’s chest, stopping him dead in his tracks. “Currently?”
Vin sighed. “I’m not of the never say never mind-set. Do I owe your parents for taking me in so I didn’t have to move to Chicago and live with my aunt and uncle and finish high school there? Yes. Gian and Rose-Marie willingly became my legal guardians after my parents died. I was able to stay in River Cross. But I’m not in agreement with Gian reneging on a deal he made with Jewel, especially after I’ve seen her jump through hoops and stress out over bartering her way to that scotch. For your father.”
“Yeah,” Rogen said. He removed his hand from Vin’s chest and rubbed the back of his neck where tension built. “I know she went through a lot of trouble to hold up her end of the transaction. Bay and Scarlet did, too. Because my dad told Jewel he’d follow through on the deal. When he never had any intention of doing so.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
They continued on their way. Rogen rapped his knuckles on the frame of the opened double doors and asked his father, “Got a few minutes?”
