Chapter 18 Daphne
DAPHNE
“Mum, you should take a break, go home, and get some sleep.”
“I can’t leave him. What if he wakes up?”
My father had been in a medically induced coma for the two days following his surgery. I hadn’t heard any of the doctors say they intended to bring him out of it.
“I’ll check with the nurse.”
I left the room, but instead of approaching the workstation, I walked over to the window. July was the coldest month of the year in Perth. Highs rarely climbed above eighteen degrees Celsius.
The vineyards here were in full dormancy, not that either my parents or I would be working in them if they weren’t. Of the two hundred thousand hectares of grapes planted in Australia, my family owned more than half. Only a quarter of those were in Perth.
Two days ago, when my mother gave me an envelope containing my father’s power of attorney, I discovered that, in the event of his incapacitation, I was expected to step in as interim CEO.
At first, I was furious he’d never discussed it with me. On the other hand, I was their only child. What had I thought would happen?
I desperately wanted to talk to Cru. More, I wanted to beg him to come be with me.
I couldn’t, though. Like me, he had responsibilities in California and people relying on him.
While he wasn’t an only child, there was no one else in their family who could take his place other than Brix, who was building a life in Mexico.
After the years Brix had sacrificed for the Avila family and for Los Caballeros, I knew Cru would never ask him to do more, and rightly so.
I checked the time. Two in the afternoon here meant it was nine at night in California. Deciding it wasn’t too late to call, I rang Cru.
“Hi,” I said when he picked up.
“Daph, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
His simple words, combined with my exhaustion, brought me to immediate tears. “I’m sorry,” I said, wishing I could get a handle on my emotions.
“Don’t be. I’m your person, Daph. You can cry with me just as much as you can laugh.”
“I love you so much,” I said, wiping the dampness on my face with the back of my hand.
“You sound tired.”
“I’m so far beyond it. I’m practically delirious. My mum is worse, though. She’s refusing to leave Dad’s side.”
“How is he?”
I explained about the coma and also that the doctors believed his prognosis was positive. At best, though, they predicted he’d have several months of rehab to complete after he was stabilized. At worst, he may have suffered irreversible brain damage.
The other thing I told him about was the power of attorney.
“Is there anyone on the board of directors you trust who can help you?” he asked.
“It’s been so long since I’ve had anything to do with the business.
I’m not sure I know many of them. I don’t even know if Hewitt and Martin are still involved.
” Hewitt Ridge had been my father’s best friend since they were in college together.
Martin was Beau and Press’ father and also a close friend of my dad’s.
Even if they were still on the board, they were based in the States, so I doubted there was much they could do to help here.
“Have you spoken with either of them?” Cru asked.
“I haven’t, but I should,” I admitted.
“I can contact them on your behalf if you’d like?”
“Would you?”
“Of course, Daph. And just so you know, I alerted Beau and Tryst already.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. After our exchange in Las Vegas, I dreaded calling Beau.
I was sure he’d be sympathetic and kind, but truthfully, I was still miffed at him over the way he’d treated me, particularly after his mother passed.
I’d been close to her for most of my life, and her death hit me hard.
That Beau didn’t have the decency to acknowledge how I might be feeling hurt more than I cared to admit.
I sighed, and tears flooded my eyes again. “I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, Daphne, and I love you.”
Our call ended with me promising to get in contact with him tomorrow unless there was news about my dad before that. We also agreed that our next call should be via video so we could see each other. The anticipation that we would gave me great comfort.
“Daphne?” I heard my mum call my name.
“I’m here,” I said, walking toward her. “Is everything okay?”
“The doctors are on their way to speak with us.”
I tucked my mobile away and followed her into my father’s room.
Thankfully, they encouraged us to go home, saying my father was stable but they wouldn’t consider bringing him out of the coma until tomorrow or the following day.
After getting my mum settled, I lay on the bed in what had been my childhood room and stared up at the ceiling. I prayed hard that when my father came to, his condition was better rather than worse. Regardless, I doubted I’d be able to return to California anytime soon.
I stared down at the engagement ring Cru had given me, pushing away thoughts that it would be impossible for us to consider marrying now. We’d figure it out, somehow, wouldn’t we?
I covered my eyes with my arm and groaned.
How, though? At least until my father came out of the coma, I’d have no idea how long I might have to remain in Perth, and for the next three months, at least, it would be impossible for Cru to get away.
I rolled to my side, pulled out my mobile, and studied the photo I’d taken without him realizing I had.
Everything about him was conveyed in the image.
He was a beautiful man, with striking looks, a hard, muscular body, and a soul like none I’d ever known.
Deep in my heart, I knew he loved me and always would, but would it be right to ask him to wait for me when it could be months, maybe even years, before I could return to Los Caballeros?
He’d certainly have to hire a second-label winemaker right away. Maybe he already had.
I traced his face with my fingertip, wishing so much he was here with me now.
When my mobile rang with a call from him, I nearly fell off the bed.
“Could you feel me thinking about you?” I asked, staring into the face I already missed more than I dreamed possible.
“Hello, Daphne. As good as it was to hear your voice earlier, seeing you now is so much better.”
“I was just looking at a photo of you,” I confessed.
“Where are you?”
“Home, err, at my parents’ house.”
“What’s behind you?”
“Hot-air balloons,” I said, laughing. “I was obsessed with them as a child, so my mum had a mural painted of them.” I moved so he could see it better.
“It looks like they’re floating over a vineyard,” he said.
“Good eye from thousands of miles away,” I joked. “Speaking of the vines, how goes it at Los Cab?”
“Terrible.”
I cocked my head but smiled. “Truly?”
“No. Everyone is stepping up, especially Bit.”
“I’m so glad.”
“He asked me to tell you that he’s only keeping your place warm and to hurry home so he can get back to doing what he really loves.”
“What’s he doing now?”
“He’s taken over your duties temporarily.”
“Oh. Um. Wow.”
“Daphne, you did hear me say it was temporary, didn’t you?”
As ridiculous as it was, that I’d already been replaced felt like a knife to my heart.
Yes, I’d heard it wasn’t permanent, but what if it became that way?
Every dream I’d had for my life came true only to be ripped away from me.
I didn’t blame my father or my mum. It wasn’t their fault my dad had a health crisis.
It also wasn’t Cru’s fault that he couldn’t drop everything and come with me.
“Daphne?”
I looked at the screen, realizing every emotion I’d been feeling was likely playing out in my expressions. “I’m sorry. I just…” I wiped my tears.
“I love you so much,” he said, putting his hand on the screen. I did the same, wishing so much I could feel his warmth through it. “I’m going to do everything I can to get there as soon as possible.”
“It’s too much to ask at this time of year.”
“The alternative is for the crack in my heart to turn into a break, and soon, there will be nothing left of me.”
“Cru…”
“That’s how much I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hated that my words sounded flat in response to his beautiful confession of his feelings. “Talk tomorrow?”
“Of course. Sleep, my beauty. If you need me, I’m a call away.”
When I woke the following morning, I immediately checked my phone for news of my dad. There were three missed calls from an Australian number I didn’t recognize. When I called, the man who answered introduced himself as Steve Dorian, the chairman of the board at Cullen House.
His tone was cold, and that he hadn’t first asked about my dad didn’t sit well with me. “What can I do for you, Mr. Dorian?”
“The board has requested we meet with you as soon as possible.”
“Regarding?” I asked.
“We have many matters to discuss.”
“Would one of them be an inquiry about my father’s health or perhaps how my mother is managing?”
He cleared his throat. “Of course.”
“But as an afterthought.”
“Ms. Cullen, you are in no position to—”
“I’ll be in touch, Steve. In the meantime, do not contact me directly again.”
“But—”
I ended the call and checked the time. It was four in the afternoon in California, so I rang Martin Barrett.
“Daphne, how is your father?” he said after picking up.
“We’re not yet sure.” I explained about the coma and my dad’s current prognosis.
“If there’s anything at all I can do, please reach out.”
“I actually have a question for you unrelated to my dad. At least directly.”
“What is it?”
“How well do you know Steve Dorian?”
“Slimy bastard,” Martin muttered under his breath.
“He called a few minutes ago, saying he was the Cullen House’s chairman of board. He requested a meeting with me.”
“This isn’t good,” Martin muttered.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“He requested my resignation as well as Hewitt’s.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“What the fuck, Martin?” I screeched, then lowered my voice. “Wait. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“Don’t apologize, Daphne. I’ve spoken to Hewitt, and we both believe he’s attempting to take control of Cullen House.”
“And force my father out when he’s lying in a hospital bed in a coma?”
“I believe that is the case, yes. He’s identified a vulnerability and intends to exploit it.”
“My God, my father might die.” I looked up and saw my mother standing right outside my door. “I’ve got to go, Martin.”
“I’ll be in touch, Daphne. Hewitt and I both have friends who are still on the board. I’ll see if I can find out how much support Dorian has been able to finagle.”
I dropped my mobile on the bed, took my mother’s hand, and led her into the room.
“Who were you talking to?” she asked when we sat beside each other on the edge of the bed.
“Martin Barrett. Mum, how much do you know about Steve Dorian?”
“He’s trying to steal your father’s company.”
“Does Dad know that?”
She nodded. “I think it’s what led to his stroke.”
“I’m sorry to ask this of you, but can you please tell me everything you know about it? About him?”