Chapter 3 #2
“But you probably haven’t heard how he started the foundation.
It’s an incredible story,” Troy went on, as though he was proud to know Gideon, proud of his accomplishments.
“When he was in the Middle East, several of his comrades were killed in a terrible incident. One of them was a woman named Carmen Sanchez, but before she was killed, she gave him a small painting. Gideon literally carried it around with him for ten years. It was only after he met Rosie and she helped him research the painting that he discovered it was by a famous Mexican artist named Miguel Fernando Correa. Apparently a lost painting by this seventeenth-century artist, it went for sixty million dollars at auction.” He leaned close, as if he were telling a great secret.
“My oldest brother Dane bought it.” Standing back to look at their astonished expressions, he said almost with glee, “Gideon started his foundation with that seed money, and now he’s helped hundreds of people. ”
Her mother’s awe seemed to grow. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. What a selfless thing to do.”
And Michaela thought that perhaps Troy had at least one selfless bone in his body, if he gave talks to inspire young people.
As they moved through the room, Troy’s hand was constantly at either Michaela’s elbow or her mother’s. There were so many introductions and so many names that Michaela, who was usually very good at remembering people and names, couldn’t take them all in.
Troy called over an extremely good-looking man, who, she’d guess, was in his mid-to-late fifties, based on the way his thick, dark blond hair had grown white at the temples. He was tall and trim, his tuxedo fitting to perfection. She would even go so far as to call the man a silver fox.
Troy stuck out his hand. “Walter, so good to see you. It’s been a while.”
The man grinned broadly as they shook hands, dimples appearing on either side of his mouth. “Good to see you too.” Then he turned those dimples on the two ladies. “And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” he asked smoothly.
But he wasn’t looking at Michaela. His eyes were all for her mother.
“Walter Braedon, this is Michaela Killian,” Troy said, his hand on Michaela’s elbow, “and her mother, Flo.”
Walter shook Michaela’s hand with a firm grip, but for Flo, instead of a mere handshake, he took her hand in both of his. “I’m so glad to meet you both.”
But the words seemed to be more for her mother.
Troy went on, “Walter owns the Regent Hotel chain.”
Walter added, “I hope to see the two of you at one of my hotels someday.”
A sparkle lit Flo’s green eyes. “Now that we’ve met you, we’ll keep your wonderful hotels in mind for all our travels.”
Michaela stared at her, wide-eyed. All their travels? Michaela was too busy to travel. And why was her mother blushing like a schoolgirl?
“Hopefully,” Walter said, “we have a hotel in one of your favorite destinations. What would those be?”
Flo actually stammered. “Well, we…we…” She let out a sigh if she’d been holding her breath. “We have so many favorites.” Then, smiling up at the handsome older man, she said, “Where are your favorite places?”
His dimples flashed again. They were rather endearing. “I’m partial to Costa Rica. It’s a perfect winter getaway when it’s raining and cold here in the Bay Area.”
Maybe it was presumptuous, but Michaela checked out his left hand. No wedding ring. She glanced up to see Troy noticing where her gaze had strayed. For some odd reason, her stomach turned over. His eyes flicked from Walter to Flo and back again. Then he grinned at Michaela.
After a few minutes of chitchat, in which her mother’s voice grew breathy, Walter said, “I’m so sorry to have to leave you.
I can see my son over there, signaling me.
” He gave what was the closest to an eye roll she’d ever seen from a man his age.
Michaela had the feeling that when he smiled, the dimples appeared just for her mother.
Then he added, “Noble is always on a timetable. I told him he needs to relax sometimes. But he’s always on the go.
” He once again took her mother’s hand between his.
“It was such a delight meeting you, Flo.” Then he dipped his head slightly at Michaela.
“And you too, my dear. I hope to see you both again soon.” Finally, he nodded at Troy.
“It was great to catch up with you again, Troy.”
Not that he’d caught up with Troy at all. He’d been all eyes for Flo.
Troy didn’t mention that. “You too, Walter. How about I call you on Monday about a new venture I’ve got going?”
Walter nodded. “I can’t wait to hear.” Then he bowed slightly to Flo.
Still blushing, her gaze on his retreating back, Flo said, “What a nice man.”
Did Michaela see stars in her mother’s eyes? The mother who had refused all of Michaela’s attempts to matchmake for her?
She’d have to tackle her when they got home.
But she didn’t have another moment to think about it before a handsome dark-haired man approached, a blond woman who was probably his wife holding his hand.
Troy slapped hands with the man in a semi-handshake, hugged the lovely blonde, and quickly made the introductions.
“Matt Tremont and his wife, Ari.” Then he touched Michaela’s arm as if that were the only way to introduce her, his warm touch sending a shiver through her regardless of how much she didn’t want to react. “Michaela Killian and her mother, Flo.”
They exchanged pleasantries and more idle chitchat, in which they learned that Ari was Gideon Jones’s younger sister, who had been in foster care. And Matt Tremont was another of the famous Mavericks.
They were San Francisco Bay Area icons. Tall, good-looking men who all ran billion-dollar empires. No matchmaking opportunities there, though. Over the last few years, they’d found their true loves all on their own.
Michaela was as happy for them as she could be. And Ari Tremont was a new mother, having had a baby almost a year ago.
Ari patted Troy’s arm. “Matt wasn’t going to bring this up because it’s a social gathering rather than business.” Her smile for her husband was adoring. “But he’s dying to tell you about the prototype. He couldn’t stop talking about it all the way here.”
Matt grinned almost guiltily. “I was going to tell you about it tomorrow. But I got a look at it before we left. You’re going to be amazed.”
Troy clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s awesome. I mentioned to Walter Braedon that I had a new venture going and I’d call him on Monday. I’m sure he’ll be interested in the new machine for the gyms in all his hotels.”
“Excellent,” Matt said. “But tell him we want to keep things on the down-low while all the bugs are worked out. And you haven’t even seen it yet.” He raised his hands in the air in a what-gives gesture.
“I’ll be by to see it on Monday, don’t worry. Then I’ll talk to Walter.”
Troy wasn’t just a pretty face. He wasn’t just an Olympic diver. He was also a savvy businessman.
Flo asked the question Michaela had been about to ask herself. “How interesting. We’d love to hear about this prototype.” She winked. “Unless it’s completely under wraps.”
“Don’t tell a reporter about it,” Matt said with a grin.
Troy explained, “Matt owns Trebotics, a robotics company here in Silicon Valley. He and his engineers have been working on a prototype for a new exercise machine for my product line.”
Matt rushed on excitedly, “It’ll do everything.
Rowing, treadmill, stair climbing, spinning.
” His eyes were bright with enthusiasm, his words almost tripping over each other.
“It’s a joint venture Troy and I have been working on for months now.
It’s revolutionary. No one will have anything like it. ”
Troy laughed. “Until they try to copy it once it’s out.”
“We’ve got the patent,” Matt declared. “But don’t they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?”
Troy squeezed his shoulder. “Nothing will come close to what you’ve created.”
Matt’s smile reached ear to ear. “Thanks, man. This has been a joint effort between our two companies.”
Ari stroked her husband’s cheek. “It’s going to be huge.”
“Congratulations to both of you.” Michaela zipped her lips. “We won’t tell a soul.”
Flo copied her lip-zip, then glanced furtively around them. “I hope there are no reporters picking up on what we said.”
Matt laughed. “I’ve been keeping my eye out. Thankfully, they’re all clustered around Gareth and his paintings.”
True enough. Michaela saw the flock of journalists surrounding Gareth, who looked like he wanted to run. But Clay, Saskia, and Adrian were there too. After this showing, the man was going to shine.
But in her mind, Troy shone too. There was so much more to him than she’d ever imagined. Olympic gold medals, revolutionary exercise equipment, inspiring young people with his story.
How much more could there be to admire about this man?
Still, he was a billionaire. And their real worlds were miles apart.