“As much as work allows, which isn’t that much. But I need to talk to her face-to-face this time.”
“Because of the company.”
“A bit, but mainly because of the CEO.”
She searched for any signs of worry, but he seemed utterly relaxed, his shoulders and arms loose. “Have fun.”
“I will. Don’t work, even though I know you’re going to ignore that the second I walk out the door.”
“Then why say it?”
“Hope springs eternal.”
After breakfast, she loaded everything in the dishwasher and watched him go out in a casual shirt and jeans. Whatever problem The Lloyds Development had couldn’t be something as simple as the CEO disappearing. If it were, he wouldn’t have felt the need to inform his mother.
She tossed herself on the couch, her tablet clutched in her hand. Google yielded very little. She should’ve known better. There were layers of truths when it came to wealthy families.
There was the public layer, the one that petty gossipmongers, magazines and blogs reported on. What little truth remained was usually buried under a heaping pile of crap, and sorting truth and crap could be difficult if you didn’t know the players involved.
Then there was the acquaintance layer. A few more truths, seen through a strong lens of personal taste. If the person retelling the story liked the people involved, the tale would be warm, gentle, almost Disney fairytale-like. If not, all bets were off and the gossip would resemble the nastiest of Grimm’s fairytales.
The friends and family layer had the most truths, but truths that had marinated for decades in strong bias. Years and years of being so close together tended to create unshakable impressions, loves and resentments.
Kerri shied away from the final layer whenever possible. The acquaintance layer was close enough and provided plenty of information. She considered some options as her tablet’s screen shut off. Natalie might know more, but she was on her honeymoon. And sick too—though Kerri had her doubts.
But Justin… He was plugged in. There was no rumor that he didn’t hear about first. And she’d promised to call.
They exchanged a few pleasantries. Justin was alone at home, working on some documents that apparently could wait. “What’s up?” he asked. “Another eventful day yesterday?”
“You could say that. I got a job.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Working for the enemy.”
“Kerri, no! The IRS?”
She chuckled. “I said the enemy, not the devil.”
“Well then. It can’t be that bad.”
He had no idea she was with TLD. What would he say if she told him?
Without pressing for details—he knew better—he brought her up to speed on the family and what everyone had been up to, starting with siblings and cousins. She listened patiently. He’d only get around to talking about people he knew once he was done with the obligatory Sterling news first.
Finally, he nudged her about seeing Barron. “There’s gotta be a reason why he wants to see you. Who knows? Maybe he’s about to leave you everything.”
Yeah, right. “And get back under the thumb of le roi soleil?” She used their secret codename for Barron. It fit well. Barron was easily as autocratic and almost as powerful as Louis XIV, and just as long-lived too. The joke in the family was that he would outlive all his great nephews. “The last time he wanted somebody this bad, the guy ended up ruined. Ruined, with a capital R.”
“Come on. You don’t really think he’s out to get you, right?” Justin said.
“Hey, just because you’re the Heir Apparent—”
“Holy shit, Kerri. That’s low,” he muttered. He hated the nickname.
“Sorry,” she said, slightly contrite. “But look, if you keep talking about Barron I’m going to change my number and lose yours.”
“Fine. I won’t mention him. But you’re being too harsh.”