Chapter 39
JULIUS
Ilove this shit. Not lunch. I’m not bothered about where I eat as long as I do.
The company is good, and I’m including Morgan in that.
She will be a worthy adversary to practice my skill of intimidation on, and I am upbeat as we step into the car waiting to take us to lunch in the city.
As always, we don’t travel without our usual convoy, and as Mom sits opposite us in the car, I note the happiness in her smile.
“Tell me about Sister Agatha, Rose.”
Rose smiles. “She was more like a mother to us. The fact I didn’t know mine made it special.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother. It must be hard to live with.”
“You can’t mourn somebody you never met, just the memories that have been denied you.”
I am angry on her behalf and reach for her hand because a second’s pain in Rose is a lifetime in me for what she went through, and that surprises me.
I want only happiness for her, and yet how will that happen?
She is married to me, the fucking antichrist, not the decent man she craved when she closed the convent door.
“Sister Agatha is incredibly kind and always has been. Not in the usual way, just a comforting presence who was wise and taught us to consider our problems rather than be demonized by them.”
“How did she do that?”
Mom is fascinated, and I kind of get why because I have never met a woman like Rose in my life, and I’m guessing that is the same for Mom.
“She taught us to think rationally. For example, is it really so bad to be annoyed at someone and hold anger? It’s normal to feel anxious or to dread something you have no control over.
Does it matter if you missed out on something or somebody upset you with their words?
None of it really matters because it passes as quickly as it came.
To forgive is to move on without the weight dragging behind you.
Accept that not everything goes your way in life and be grateful for the one you have.
Strive to be better, but not at the cost of your inner peace.
Protect that, and nothing can hurt you. It was a valuable lesson to learn. ”
Mom nods, with an interesting expression in her eyes. It’s almost one of amusement, and I wonder what she is thinking.
My phone vibrates, distracting me from their conversation, and I note the text from Eddie.
She’s here alone.
We are two minutes away, and I prepare myself for battle. One I am so ready for, relishing the thought of in fact because going up against the woman who made Rose’s childhood a misery, will be an extremely good use of my day.
We walk into the restaurant like an approaching army.
Cool, detached, emotionless and powerful.
The Ravera family has always stood tall in the faces of their adversaries, and I do not dismiss the one we are about to face in the slightest. Mom is right.
Women like Morgan are not to be underestimated, and as we approach, she stands, her gaze lingering on Rose with quiet confidence.
Mom approaches, her hand outstretched.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Morgan, if I may call you by your Christian name.”
Morgan nods, her smile painted on because there is no warmth in her expression.
“Of course. I am pleased to meet you, Sophia, if I may also have the privilege of addressing you that way.”
“Of course.”
Morgan turns to Rose, and her derision is obvious as she glances at the rings on her wedding finger.
“I see you have been busy since you absconded from Canton House.”
Rose stiffens and merely nods, not giving Morgan the satisfaction of any greeting or words at all.
Morgan sweeps her gaze in my direction, and her lip curls. “I wasn’t aware you were invited, Julius.”
I shrug, fixing her with my darkest gaze. “Unlike my mother and my wife, I prefer it if you would address me as Mr. Ravera because we are not friends and never will be.”
If anything, a satisfied smirk fleets across her expression, and she nods almost respectfully. “Of course. You may offer me the same courtesy and address me as Miss. Sorcusi.”
“I will not address you at all. I am a silent observer here to support my wife and mother.”
I hold out Rose’s chair and, leaning down, whisper in her ear, “You can do this, baby. I’ve got you.”
She says nothing but reaches for my hand over her shoulder and squeezes it, causing Morgan to narrow her eyes.
I turn my attention to my mother and offer her the same courtesy.
I am making a statement to the women here by placing Rose before all of them because that is her standing now.
She is the most important woman in my life, and my mom wouldn’t have it any other way.
As Morgan settles into the seat opposite Rose, I’m glad that the table is round because I am flanked on both sides by my family, all facing the woman none of us is happy to spend time with.
The waiter arrives, and we take time to order, and only when he walks away does Morgan turn to Rose.
“I wanted to speak to you about your inheritance.”
We say nothing, offer no reaction and merely stare at the woman with no interest.
I note her expression is one of smugness and wonder what she is keeping up her sleeve.
“I’m afraid to inform you that when your father died, he had left a new will naming me as the sole beneficiary, so your prank in marrying this man has only served to chain you to a bastard for the rest of your life.”
If anything, I’m impressed that she doesn’t hold back, and Rose stiffens beside me and then leans forward, her posture one of defiance, causing a brief smile to light my mom’s lips.
“I imagine you have solid proof of that.”
Morgan nods. “I took the liberty of bringing you a copy so you can read it for yourself.”
She reaches into her oversized bag and pulls out a leather-bound folder, pushing it across the table toward Rose.
Rather than open it, Rose slides it across to me and says unemotionally, “Julius, would you please be so kind as to read this.”
“Of course.”
I settle back and proceed to devour the document as Morgan says smugly, “You will note the dates and the signature. Your father made the changes after he decided you were all too na?ve to trust with his dynasty. He realized that it would require a strong woman at the helm, and it was his saddest realization that his daughters were weak, foolish and spoiled. They would never be up to the job, and as we all know, the Diamond Dynasty was his one true love, and I, as it happens, came a very close second.”
Mom speaks up.
“We only have your word on that, Morgan, and forgive me for not holding that credible.”
Morgan’s glare could cut one of the diamonds she deals in, as Mom shakes her head. “If that is the case, why arrange this lunch? Why request my attendance when this is something you could have entrusted to your lawyers?”
“Because Rose is family, Sophia and you, above everyone, should understand the importance of that.”
“Yes, family. I understand everything it involves, and I know it doesn’t mean making my kids’ lives a misery. Treating them like servants and arranging a dismal, painful life for them at your command. I know a lot about family and as it turns out, I don’t believe you have one.”
Morgan’s eyes flash, but the waiter returns with our drinks, and as soon as he leaves, Morgan hisses, “You’re right, Sophia. I don’t have a family, which is why I am going to such lengths to cut ties with my husband’s.”
She fixes Rose with a sneer.
“So, as you can see, there is no reason for us to meet again, and if you ever see your sisters again, you can tell them the same. There is no fortune, no diamonds, except for the sum of one dollar in a checking account in each of your names.”
Her triumphant glare could shatter the windows of this establishment, and as she stands, I say evenly, “I would remain seated if I were you, Morgan.”
“I don’t follow your orders, Julius.” My name is said with spite, and I raise my eyes, directing my anger into my frown, and she drops into her seat slightly more nervous than before.
“This document is fake, and I can prove it.”
I relish the alarm in her expression before she shuts it down and attempts to brush my comment aside.
“You are lying, and I have every confidence you will lose if you challenge me on this.”
I close the folder and lean back, nonchalance my weapon, stripping away her triumph through fear.
“You see, Morgan, a magician doesn’t reveal his secrets and operates under smoke and mirrors.”
“What are you talking about?”
She rolls her eyes, and I lean forward, relishing the unease in her expression as she shifts on her seat.
“Enrico Zaferelli didn’t become the richest man in the world by playing the fool, Miss Sorcusi. If he signed this document—and I have my doubts on that—he also made a countermove, one you cannot challenge.”
“What move? You’re insane?”
I note her position shift as I shrug, my evil grin enough to cause her to question her own name right now.
“Now why would I tell you that when it’s way more fun to watch you chase the end of the rainbow, Miss Sorcusi, so–”
I reach for Rose’s hand. “As you are so rich now, I’m sure you won’t mind picking up the check.
Enjoy your good fortune while it lasts because you are about to learn that actions have consequences and the three sisters have grown up and the odds of three against one are way more favorable.
Enjoy the rest of your meal and don’t look back when you leave town shortly afterwards. ”
We say nothing and leave her open-mouthed to watch us, and only when we are in the car, does my mom ask, “What were you talking about, Julius? What other move?”
I laugh out loud and pull Rose beside me, the leather document folder resting innocently on my lap.
“Sometimes, Mom, when you play chess you take a step sideways to unsettle your opponent. You do the opposite of what they expect to raise doubts.”
“So, there is no other move?”
Mom sounds disappointed, and Rose interrupts, “There is something we should investigate.”
“What?”
We turn to her with interest, and she shrugs. “It may be nothing, but just before he died, our father called us into his den. Morgan was out on one of her endless shopping trips so it was just the four of us, and we didn’t think much of it at the time, but he was different somehow.”
“In what way?” I ask, intrigued with what she may reveal, and as she glances at me, her face is alight with excitement.
“He gave us three matching keys on a gold chain. They had our names inscribed along with our dates of birth. We believed it was a gift, but his words are haunting me now.”
“What words?”
Mom catches my attention with a hopeful smile, and my heart pounds with possibility as Rose’s eyes shine.
“He said that if anything happened to him, we were to guard the keys with our lives. To tell nobody of their existence and to wait for his instructions.”
“His instructions? I wonder what he meant by that?”
Rose nods. “We thought he meant personally, but what if it’s not? A letter perhaps, something in his will, a clue of sorts.”
“Do you think the three keys will unlock the secret?”
Mom is almost hyperventilating with excitement, and I say with a guarded tone. “Where are the keys now?”
“Sister Agatha has them. We weren’t allowed valuables at the convent, and when we arrived, she took all of our belongings and told us she would keep them safe.”
“Then we must return to Switzerland and retrieve them.”
Mom nods. “Perhaps we should wait until your sisters are safe.”
Rose’s face falls because we still don’t have confirmation of that, so I slip my arm around her shoulders and pull her to my side.
“I agree. We don’t want to alert Morgan and lead a trail back to the convent.
In the meantime, I will run a check on this document and discover whether the signature was forged.
Put the word out and upturn a few rocks, and let the vermin howl.
And if there is even a sniff of this being fake, I will make it my personal mission to remove that woman from your lives, forever. ”