Chapter 24 Daphne
DAPHNE
It had been a month since Cru returned to California after being in Australia for less than twenty-four hours.
In that time, the only progress I’d made with the board was finding an addendum to Cullen House’s original articles of corporation stating that the entire board must vote on the removal or replacement of the chairman.
Five minutes after reading it, then confirming there was no addendum to the addendum negating it, I rang Martin Barrett and Hewitt Ridge, asking them to become “unavailable” for a vote.
Both men agreed to my request. At the very least, it would buy me more time to figure out a way to get rid of Dorian.
Also in the time since Cru left, my father had exceeded his doctor’s expectations on his recovery. He could get around on his feet, albeit with either a cane or, if he was fatigued, a walker. And he no longer had signs of facial paralysis.
He’d returned home but hadn’t yet gone into the office, and neither my mum nor I thought it was a good idea for him to do so.
He still had rehab three times a week, but instead of him traveling to the office, he’d arranged for the therapists to come to the house.
While his speech wasn’t one hundred percent, he was perfectly capable of arguing with me, which he did on a daily basis.
Every morning over coffee, the first thing he’d say after “good morning” was that it was time for me to return to California. I’d respond that I’d leave when and if I wanted to, but for now, I planned to remain in Perth until he was able to return to his position as CEO.
By the end of breakfast, he would’ve said I had neither the experience nor the education to run “his” business, after which I’d remind him he’d only gotten a bachelor’s degree, whereas I had a master’s.
That he also felt the need to remind me that my passion was for making wine, not selling it, only worsened the ache in my chest.
All the while, my mum would shake her head and laugh at the two of us.
I never returned to my childhood bedroom after Cru left. Instead, I stayed in the other of the two guesthouses. I couldn’t bear to set foot in the one he and I had briefly shared.
I was desperate to know how the harvest was going at Los Cab, but I’d not contact anyone and ask. I hadn’t heard a single word from Cru since the day he left and didn’t want it to get back to him that I’d been in contact with his family or employees.
If anyone, including my father, had asked if I was enjoying my life, which mainly revolved around Cullen House, I would’ve had to lie or admit I hated nearly every minute of it.
Some might say that, in itself, would be reason enough to return to the States, but until I fulfilled the promise I’d made to myself to stick it out until the turmoil with the board was over and Steve Dorian was booted out on his ear, I was staying put.
“Daphne? May I interrupt you?” my mother asked when she found me sitting in the sunroom reading something on my laptop.
“Of course. What is it, Mum?”
“You have a visitor. That’s to say, we have visitors. Many, in fact.”
I rested against the cushion of my chair and studied her. “What do you mean?”
“Well, to begin, Beau Barrett is on his way here to see you.”
My heart sank. For the briefest of moments, I hoped she’d say Cru had returned. “And the others?”
“It seems the entirety of Los Caballeros has arrived in Perth.”
I was even more confused. My brow furrowed, and I shook my head. “I’m not following.”
“I’ll explain,” said Beau. He leaned in and kissed my mother’s cheek. “Good to see you, Beatrice,” he said.
The two embraced, then my mum left the room.
“This is some greeting,” he said when I remained seated with my arms folded.
“I’m mad at you.”
He knelt down and nudged me. “That’s nothing new.”
“Why are you here, Beau?”
“Press and I flew the Viejos here.”
I rubbed my temples with my index fingers. “I feel a migraine coming on. Wait, it’s already here.” I nudged him back.
“It’s time you learned about what, or who, Los Caballeros is outside of the estate and winery.”
I set my laptop aside and stood. “I’m not interested.”
“Hmm. Well, then, I suppose you’ll have to leave.”
“Argh.” I clenched my fists at my sides. “If anyone is vacating the premises, it’s you.”
“Eventually, I will, but not until I tell you everything I came to say.”
“This is a nightmare. There’s no other explanation.”
Beau stood. “All I’m asking you to do is listen.”
“Go on.”
“Have a seat.”
I thought to remind him that he’d just said all I had to do was listen, which didn’t require I be seated, but figured that would just prolong whatever was happening.
When I sat in a chair by the window, he pulled one of the others beside it and sat next to me.
I covered my face with my hands, wishing I could stop myself from asking, but I had to. “Beau, before you get started, is Cru here?”
“Sorry, Daph. He’s not.”
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “Let’s get on with it. The sooner you’re finished, the sooner you can be on your way.”
“You’re not very nice.”
“I learned it from you,” I snapped.
He raised a brow and nodded. “That’s probably true.”
“How’s it going?” my mum asked from behind us.
“I haven’t gotten started yet,” Beau told her.
“I see. Well, I’ve brought water, lemonade, wine, and bourbon. Let me know if there’s anything you’d fancy instead.”
“Thank you,” said Beau.
It wasn’t fair of me to take my frustration with him out on my mother. “Yes, thanks, Mum,” I said over my shoulder, wondering why she felt it necessary to include bourbon at this hour.
“I told you that Press and I flew the Viejos here,” Beau began.
I nodded.
“Do you know who I was referring to?”
I spoke fluent Spanish, so I knew what the word meant. “Old people?”
He chuckled. “They might take exception to the translation, but they chose the name; I didn’t.”
“Get. On. With. It.”
“Okay, okay.”
I listened as Beau spun a tale about a secret society that had been founded centuries ago in Spain. They called themselves Los Caballeros, and at one time, they’d been more marauders than what they were now.
“I wouldn’t say the present-day organization is akin to Robin Hood. However, we are best described as good-guy vigilantes.”
“We?”
Beau nodded. “I’m a member, as is Press. So are Brix, Ridge, Zin, Bones, Snapper, Kick, and Cru. And, as of last month, Bit.”
“And the Viejos?”
“Your father is one, as is mine.”
I shook my head. “You’re saying my father has been a member of a secret society that neither my mum nor I knew anything about?”
“Your mother knew.”
“Why does she, and I don’t?”
“Because it’s a secret only shared with the love of a caballero’s life.”
“Won’t you lose your membership card for telling me?”
He smiled. “Nah. I’ve got Cru’s proxy.”
To my chagrin, my eyes filled with tears. “This isn’t funny, Beau. In fact, you’re cruel.” I stood and walked toward the door.
“Don’t leave, Daphne. The last thing I meant to do was hurt you.”
“I’d hate to see what you’d do if you did. Use a knife maybe?”
He chuckled—again.
“There’s nothing about this that’s laughable.”
“You’re right. It’s just that Cru said the same thing.”
“Beau! Why are you doing this?”
He got up, walked over, and pulled me into his arms. “Because I love him and I love you and this impasse must end.”
“What does any of this have to do with your vigilante group?”
He led me over to the sofa rather than the chairs where we’d been seated a minute ago and pulled me down beside him.
“The answer is two-fold but designed to accomplish the same thing.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Beau held up his hand.
“If you stop interrupting me, I’ll tell you.”
I shut it and nodded.
“The men in the other room—some you know quite well and others I think you’ve met at least once in your life—are here to help your father in a continuation of what you started.
Brilliant, by the way, that you asked Hewitt and my father to make themselves unavailable to vote your father off the board.
It bought valuable time. As far as what I mean to accomplish, my ultimate goal is to convince you to return to California. ”
“I can’t.”
“What if Steve Dorian was completely out of the picture, as were the board members who’ve sided with him? Then would you go?”
“It’s too late. Cru walked out, and I haven’t heard a word from him since he left.”
“Count yourself lucky. No one I know wants to talk to him.”
“Don’t, Beau. I love him.”
“Yes, Daphne, I know you do. And he loves you. The two of you belong together.”
“You asked if I’d go if Steve Dorian was out of the picture. How do you intend to make that happen?”
“Not me, the Viejos.”
I rolled my eyes. “How was it I was with you for so long? You are one of the most maddening people I’ve ever known.”
Beau took my hand in his. “We kept each other company while I was waiting for Sam and you were waiting for Cru.”
I wriggled from his grasp. “Back to the Viejos.”
“I’ll let them tell you. But after they do, if things are the way I said, will you fly home with Press and me?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“There she is,” said Martin when we walked out of the sunroom to where they were gathered. He looked at Beau. “Did you tell her?”
He nodded. “She knows, but since she speaks fluent Spanish, she keeps referring to you as the old guys instead of the Viejos.”
“I do not.” I punched his arm and looked around the room at those gathered, happy to see Tryst was here, along with Hewitt Ridge and George Norman.
I recognized many of the others, but since, as Beau had said, I’d met some only once in my life, I couldn’t recall all their names.
There was one other, closer to my age, who looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him. My mind was already reeling.
“Did Beau tell you what we learned about Steve Dorian?” Hewitt asked.
“I thought I’d let you tell her.”
“Good. Well, as it turns out, the Dorians are related to the family who owns another of Australia’s wine conglomerates—the Palmer Group.”