"You told him he's lost his mind right?"
"I told him she was screwing his brains out for what's in his wallet, or more accurately, what's in our collective wallets since dad still owns a share in the company."
"Is he getting a lawyer?" I scroll my fingers over the screen of my smartphone. "I can call one right now to handle this."
"He's dead set against it. According to pops, she's the love of his life."
I push my hands against the edge of the table and stand. "Bring that with you. We're going back to the office. It's time we had a discussion with Caterina Omari."
"You're going to cut her a check too, aren't you?" He drops the remainder of the sandwich back on the paper plate. "That's how you're going to make her disappear."
"You can't put a price on love, Caleb." I button my suit jacket. "If she takes the bait, we've saved Roman from that shark. He'll thank us…eventually."
***
"I need you to get Caterina Omari on the phone." I gaze down at Sophia, who is just finishing her own lunch which, judging from the crumbs and crust, was a slice of pizza. "Where did you get that pizza?"
"Why?" She tosses the paper cup filled with soda that was just in her hand in the trashcan. "I'm allowed to eat lunch at my desk, sir, aren't I?"
"It smells delicious." I tilt my head to the left. "You'll order that for us both tomorrow."
A small smile pulls at the corners of her mouth. "I can do that, sir."
"Who died?" Caleb walks back out of my office to stand in the open doorway. He'd walked right past Sophia without a second glance when we stepped off the elevator. Much of that had to do with the fact that he was absorbed in a phone conversation with his wife.
"Someone died?" Sophia's hand jumps to her chest. "Shall I send flowers, sir?"
Caleb knocks on the doorframe. "It looks like someone already did. You're the one who accepts deliveries for Gabe, aren't you?"
"Gabriel." I toss him a look. "What are you talking about?"
"There's a bouquet of dead flowers on your desk. Either someone died or you pissed someone off. Either way, I need to run. Rowan is on her way to my office."
He pats me on the back as he brushes past me on his way back to the elevator.
"There was a delivery, sir." Sophia rises to her feet. "I'm sorry but I didn't realize the flowers were dead. I can remove them right now."
"No." I wave her back down with my hand as I catch sight of the bouquet of stunning black tulips in a large vase on my desk. "Hold my calls. I'll buzz when I wish to speak with Caterina."
"Certainly, sir."
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Isla
"Your mother's attorney called this morning." Mr. Ryan nods to his assistant as he places a cup of coffee in front of him. "Are you sure you don't want something to drink, Isla?"
I don't. I had two cups of coffee this morning with Cassia before we both left for work which is two cups too many for me. I have exactly an hour for this meeting before I have to back from lunch. I want this to be over quickly. "I'm fine, Mr. Ryan."
"Garrett." He smiles softly. "You need to start calling me Garrett."
My gaze drops to the stack of papers he'd placed in front of me when I sat down. "What did her attorney say?"
"I'm obligated to tell you this by law." He leans back in his chair, crossing his legs. "If I wasn't required to do that, I wouldn't bring it up."
I scratch my cheek. "It's another settlement offer, isn't it?"
"It is." He reaches forward to grab the coffee mug. "It's not worth talking about. I see no reason to entertain a