Chapter 10 Eberly
EBERLY
Rather than go in with me when I spoke to the bank manager, Trevino waited in the lobby, and I appreciated it. As he’d said, my family’s finances weren’t his business. If I had questions once the meeting was over, he offered his support.
My father would’ve insisted on handling it himself, which now caused concern. I couldn’t say what Tiernan might’ve done, but no doubt, he’d make my problems his business whether I asked him to or not.
The banker’s solution for halting foreclosure on the house was to bring the loan current. All it required was that I come up with two million dollars to do so.
“My understanding is the house was paid off years ago,” I said.
“It was, but you and your father used it as collateral for a rather large loan, which he defaulted on.”
“He may have, but I did no such thing,” I informed him. “My name is also on the deed.”
“Your signature is on the loan documents.”
My eyes scrunched when he turned the papers around so I could see it. “This says it was notarized.”
“Bank policy requires for it to be.”
I picked the paper up to take a closer look. “Wouldn’t a notary be required to sign as well?” I asked, pointing to the stamp.
He held out his hand, and I returned the document. “This is odd. That page appears to be missing. I can check the record book, but based on this date, it could’ve been one of two people, neither of whom still work for the bank.”
“Were they fired for committing fraud?”
His expression darkened. “I’m confident every procedure was executed as required, Miss Warwick.”
“And yet the notary’s signature is missing.”
“The page is missing, but your signature is not.”
I took another look at it. It was close but not exact. “What type of identification would this have required?”
“We require it to be government issued.”
Which meant, if the notary had, in fact, checked it, my father had either sneaked my driver’s license from my wallet or used my passport. The latter would’ve been easier, given I kept it in the family safe. Still, shouldn’t I have been required to be present?
“I need some time to think this over.”
“If the demand isn’t settled by the close of business, foreclosure will commence,” he responded. “We’ve extended the grace period to bring the account current several times.”
I had the letter I’d found on my father’s desk with me and retrieved it from the envelope. It did say that it was the final notice. “I’ll contact you within a couple of hours,” I said, standing. “May I have a copy of the loan documents, please?”
“Of course. It will take a few minutes.”
“I’m not leaving without it.”
When he escorted me out of his office, I joined Trevino in the waiting area. Rather than ask about the meeting, he took my hand in his and pulled me down to sit in the chair next to him.
“I’m waiting for copies of some of the documents. Then, if you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss my options with you.”
Everything inside me felt like it was melting when he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. “Happy to, little dove.” His phone vibrated, and he swiped the screen, looked at it for a second, then stuck it in his pocket.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I need to make a call, though.”
“Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”
He studied me, stood, and went outside. I was so grateful for Trevino’s support, and I certainly liked being with him, but how in the world had I gotten here? I leaned against the chair and folded my arms.
It was on a lark that I’d responded to a job posting for an event planner—something I had no experience doing outside of the things we’d hosted at our family’s winery. That was in the middle of July, and three days later, Trevino had hired me to work for him at Los Caballeros.
Eight days ago, I was supposed to marry another man.
Less than two days ago, I bid on a date with a different guy—one I would’ve paid twenty-five thousand dollars for if Trevino hadn’t covered it for me.
And a few short hours ago, I’d had the most incredible orgasm of my life brought on by a man who wanted me to call him sir and threatened to punish me if I said anything negative about myself.
Somehow, I doubted that would be the only thing I’d face “consequences” for doing.
I also found out my father had sold our family business, which I was the majority owner of. That meant he’d probably forged my signature in the same way he had on the house loan that was currently in default.
Not to mention that he hadn’t returned home after leaving yesterday afternoon while in the midst of what sounded like a heated argument.
And despite all the times I’d called and the number of messages I’d left, he still hadn’t responded.
Where in the hell had he gone? Not just last night, but also after the Winemakers’ Ball?
The logical explanation was he was seeing another woman and he was with her.
But then, why would he have brought Nancy as his date?
On top of everything going on with my dad, my former fiancé had showed up at my house late at night, repeatedly calling from the gate phone. I assumed he wanted me to let him in, but why?
I suppose it spoke volumes about the kind of life I’d led so far that it was the one time I’d felt truly afraid.
“Miss Warwick?”
“Yes,” I responded, looking up at the woman who held an envelope. “Is that for me?”
“Mr. Deavers asked me to remind you that he needs a response from you before the end of the day,” she said when she handed it to me.
My brow furrowed and I chuckled.
“Did I say something funny?” she asked.
“I’m not likely to forget that you’re threatening to take away my home.”
“Well, not me personally.”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
She raised her chin. “Priscilla.”
There was no telling what I might have said to her had Trevino not walked in before I could respond.
“Ready?” I stood and asked.
“Hi, err…Trev,” the woman said in a way that sounded far too familiar.
“Priscilla,” he responded.
I looked between the two of them.
“I didn’t know you were in town. It’s really good to see you.” When she dropped her gaze to the floor and her cheeks flushed, I spun on my heel and stalked out.
“Hey! Eberly!” Trevino shouted a few seconds later, but I kept walking.
I clutched the envelope she’d given me to my chest and shook my head. “Do not cry. Do not fucking cry,” I repeated under my breath. “And do not run.”
“Eberly!” I heard him call out again, but this time, he sounded as though he was getting closer, not that I’d turn around and look. Seconds later, his arm snaked around my waist. “Stop, dammit.”
“Don’t!” I snapped, trying to pry his hand loose.
“We aren’t doing this here or now,” he said, turning me in his arms.
“I don’t want to do it at all.”
“She isn’t anything to me.”
“But she used to be, and don’t even think about lying to me.”
He shook his head. “Stop this, Eberly.”
“You know what? The last eight days have been the worst of my life since my mom died. I have a lot of shit to deal with, and as that condescending twit reminded me, I have a few hours left to make sure I don’t lose my home.”
“You said you wanted to talk to me about options.”
“I changed my mind.”
He leaned closer. “Why?”
“Hi, err…Trev. She was about to call you sir, wasn’t she?”
He gripped my neck with one hand and tightened his other arm around my waist, bringing my body up against his. “We aren’t having this conversation.”
“You’re right. I don’t have time to lose my mind right now, so if you’ll please let me go, I’d appreciate it.”
“No. Not when you’re this upset.”
“I’m not asking, Trev.”
He sighed and looked up at the sky. “There are things I need to tell you. Would you please just come with me?”
“I have zero interest in hearing about Priscilla or any other woman—”
When he silenced me with a kiss, I didn’t bother struggling or trying to move my mouth away; I clung to him as tears streamed down my cheeks.
“It’s all too much,” I whispered when he released my lips but brought my head to his chest and stroked my hair.
“I know it is.”
“I’m sorry.”
Trevino kissed the side of my face. “Let’s go.
” Instead of walking in the direction of the bank, Trevino took my hand and led me across the street to the town park.
Thankfully, it was mostly empty at this time of day.
My head was so full of noise that there wasn’t room for more.
“Tell me what you found out,” he said after leading me to a bench, where we both sat.
“My signature was forged on the loan that’s currently in default. In order to avoid foreclosure, I have to come up with two million dollars. I’m not even sure the house is worth that much.”
“It is. The next question is, do you have access to that amount of money?” he asked.
“Not by the end of the day.”
“May I?” he asked, motioning to the envelope. I removed the documents and handed them to him.
“The last page, where the notary would’ve signed, is missing.”
He raised a brow, then continued skimming the pages. “Other than the page you referenced, the rest appears to be in order.”
“That isn’t my signature.”
“Earlier, I said there are things I need to tell you.” He returned the documents to me, and I put them in the envelope.
I looked off in the distance, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Go ahead.”
“When I stepped outside at the bank, it was to return Decker Ashford’s call.
I asked him to look into several things, including your former fiancé, along with the woman who was your father’s date Saturday night.
The other thing I asked him to do was see what he could find out about your father’s sale of the winery to the consortium.
And finally, what information there was about the public offering.
He doesn’t have an update on much of that yet, but he was able to piece together a chain of events leading to your father’s current financial issues. ”
I turned to face him. “How bad is it?”
“Curious as much as concerning.”
“In what way?”
“According to Ashford, it appears your parents went through a great deal of money in the time leading up to your mother’s death.”
“Neither of them ever discussed finances with me, outside of my trust, and that was set up when I was a baby.”
“In his defense, I’m sure your mom’s illness took a big toll on him. Then, the following year, the wine industry took a significant hit due to the global pandemic.”
“I remember.”
“As of eight months ago, his reserves, including investment accounts, were depleted.”
I knew the time was significant, but how? “Wait. Is that when he arranged for Eberly Winery to merge with the Wine Consortium?”
“That’s right,” Trevino confirmed.
“Where did all the money go, though?”
“Decker’s still working on tracing it.”
“I don’t suppose he has any idea where my dad is.”
Trevino shook his head. “Also, I made arrangements for additional security, including surveillance to monitor the entirety of the estate in the event he reappears.”
My eyes opened wide. “When did you do that?”
“Earlier today.”
When I put my head in my hands, Trevino wrapped his arms around me.
“I wish I could rewind the clock.”
“How far?” he asked.
“I’d say eight days ago, or nine, but it sounds like five years would be better. Not that I’d have any idea how to change the outcome.” I put my hand on his arm. “Earlier, when I said the last few days have been the worst of my life, I didn’t mean things with you.”
He kissed my forehead. “I know.”
“I’m grateful for your help. I don’t know what I’d do without it.” I sighed. “You’re different than I thought you were.”
Trevino raised a brow and smirked.
“I’m not talking about that. We didn’t talk very much. Or you didn’t. I’ve always been a chatterbox.”
“Eberly, we need to talk about Priscilla.”
I shook my head. “We don’t.”
“The time we spent together was brief as well as insignificant.”
“She might not agree with the last part,” I said under my breath.
“We weren’t compatible, and it ended soon after it began.”
I put my hand on my stomach. “Please don’t tell me more.”
“I won’t about her, but I will about you.”
I cringed. “You do remember I said that everything happening in my life is too much right now?”
“You also said I don’t talk much.”
“An understatement,” I muttered.
“Typically, I don’t bother to unless it’s necessary. What I’m about to say is.”
“Can we please not do this now?” I pleaded.
“I like you, Eberly. I have since the day I met you.”
“Yeah? And when was that?”
He cocked his head. “Your interview.”
“We met before, more than once, not that you noticed.”
“Did we talk?”
I smirked. “I probably did. You definitely didn’t.”
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
“Seriously?” My mouth gaped.
He moved his hand to my neck. “We met, or got to know each other, when we were supposed to.”
“Fate, huh?”
“You don’t believe in it?”
“I didn’t. I’m starting to now, though.” I sighed a second time. “While I’d like to forget about everything happening in my life outside of being with you, I can’t. I have until the end of the day to decide what to do about the house.”
“I need to return another call.”
“Should I leave?”
He smirked again. “I dare you to try.” Without taking his arm from around me, Trevino pulled out his cell phone and brought it to his opposite ear.