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She burst with pride every time she told someone her son was the president and then shriveled in shame when she had to say, no, she hadn’t been to the White House. Not yet, anyway. As if she’d ever be invited there. Her bitch of a daughter-in-law wouldn’t let her anywhere near Nick or the White House, especially now that she’d orchestrated Nicoletta’s public downfall.
She must be very pleased with herself.
How could her gorgeous prince of a son have shackled himself to such a horrible woman? Nicoletta would never understand what he saw in a loudmouth cop with the class of a mule. If she could work her way back into her son’s life, maybe she could help him see reason when it came to his wife.
Then she recalled what Collins had said about the path to Nick running throughher. The thought of making nice with the woman who’d ruined her life made Nicoletta sick. She was seething at the thought of having to deal with that woman when she heard the door open in the foyer.
Though her impulse was to greet him after a long day on her own, she held her ground and let him come to her. A man didn’t stay interested in a woman who made it too easy for him.
“Hi there,” he said when he found her in the spacious living room.
“Hi. How was your day?”
“Productive. Yours?”
“Long and quiet.”
“Well, I come with good news.”
“What’s that?”
“I had a long talk with the district attorney, and he’s agreed to drop the prostitution charges as long as you sign a settlement agreement that ensures you’re out of the escort business.”
“What about my customers?”
“He didn’t ask for that info.”
“Were you surprised?”
“Stunned, frankly, but I think it might have something to do with the media onslaught since he charged the president’s mother. It’s been way more than he bargained for. I’m getting a similar vibe from the U.S. Attorney on the racketeering and money laundering charges. He said if you pay your back taxes and permanently shutter the business, he’d consider dropping the charges as well. There’ll be fines, probation and community service required in both cases, but I negotiated for expungement after three years, provided you aren’t arrested again.”
“Your day was productive indeed.”
“Best-case scenario all around.” He gave her a side-eyed glance. “You’ll have to tap into those offshore accounts to pay the taxes. That’ll be a hefty tab.”
Nicoletta hated to hear that. Those accounts held her nest egg, her backup plan. She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Is that a deal breaker?” Collins asked.
“I’m not sure which is worse. Being broke or being in prison.”
“I think you know which would be worse.”
“Do I? I’ve been struggling my whole life. For the first time, I have financial security.”
“Which means nothing if you’re locked up in a cell.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. Being locked in that cell had been an all-time low for her. “I suppose you’re right.” If she played her cards right, she could retain enough to live frugally for the rest of her life. There were other accounts no one seemed to be aware of. Hopefully, she could keep them off the radar.
“What’re you thinking?” he asked.
“That I should thank you for negotiating a way out of this for me.”
“You’re welcome. If you’re willing to agree to both deals, my daughter Jaclyn, who works with me, will help us draft a statement to announce the resolution of your cases.”
“Is that necessary?”
“It is if you want to get the media off your back so you can go home. They’re still camped out at your condo complex.”
