Control Me(23)

“I understand, Max. Anyone can be blind-sighted by Jada’s beauty, and not only is she beautiful but she has a good heart. Of course, you have my permission. You Brunetti boys are like sons to me, anyway. It’s a dream come true that you and Jada will be getting married.”

Yeah, I had him reeled. Hook, line and sinker.

“Go on, though. I can tell you have more to say to me, Max, and I’m sensing the next part is not so good. Give it to me straight.” He sat down and prepared himself for the worst.

“I’m going to be frank with you, Michael. The other day in your office when I was going over all the financial papers and backlogs, I discovered something, something that can have a huge impact on the future of the winery. The shares you have given Jada and Milan are not safe. They are too easily accessible, and my worry is that Tate Turner will get his hands on them.”

Michael paled. “You are kidding me, right?”

“I wish I was, Michael. The way those shares are set up is not good; in fact, it looks like they were set up that way so someone could easily take them over. I know you had bad business dealings with Turner, but did he have anything to do with setting up those shares for Jada and Milan?”

He blinked, undoubtedly shocked at what I’d suggested.

“For the love of God, if I ever see that bastard again, I’ll kill him with my own bare hands. It was Turner who recommended the lawyer who put the documents together. Shit, Max, what do we do?” he asked desperately.

“Well, there is no quick fix here, Michael; however, I do have a solution. The only thing is that it is a solution that you may not like or one that you may have a severe aversion to.” I treaded carefully, knowing full well he was going to hate my idea.

“Hit me with it, Max. I am open to anything at this stage.”

“You need to sign over the shares to me, so they are in my name. I will not double cross you, Michael. Jada will be my wife soon; the shares will still be in the family. That’s what you want, isn’t it, for the Sinclair Winery to still be in the family? If you do this, Turner will never be able to get his filthy hands on them. I’ll have my lawyer write up a tight contract. It will cost a shitload of money to break the current contract that those shares are tied up in, but that is a small price to pay considering what you can lose.”

Nothing but stunned silence filled the room.

“Did you hear what I just said, Michael?’ I probed.

He focused his eyes on me, almost pleading with me.

“I know I can trust you, Max. I can’t believe it has come to this. I suppose I should just count myself lucky that you will be a part of my family. If there is anyone with enough power and influence to save my business, it’s you.”

He grabbed my hands and said, “Please don’t make me regret this, Max. I’m entrusting you with my empire and my daughter.”

I gripped his hands back firmly and patted him reassuringly on the back. “It’s the only way, Michael, the only way.”

“Max,” he called out to me just as we were about to leave the office. “Just one more thing before we go back out there. I know you want Jada to move into the penthouse with you at the resort, but if you would just let me have one week with her at our family home, I’d be more than grateful for that. She’s only been back a few days, and I want to spend more time with her.”

No fucking way! Now that I’ve got her, I don’t think I’d survive a week without her. My patience was wearing thin. I’d been the ‘nice guy’ all afternoon. I’d already met my father in this office, and now I’m back in here with Sinclair; no wonder I was losing my patience. Maybe I was thinking with my dick, but I had to put my foot down.

“No.” I stared him down and justified my statement. “We have been keeping this relationship a secret for far too long, Michael. I don’t want to spend another day apart from Jada unless I really have to. But I’m not that much of an asshole; Jada can come back home tonight and get her belongings. I’ll give you one night, but that’s it, no longer than that.”

I could tell Michael was stunned, thinking I’d give in to his ultimatum. He tried not to show it and answered me reluctantly, “Fine, Max, I understand. After what you are doing for me and the winery, I just can’t argue with you. One night will have to do then.”

The deal was sealed, but at a price.

Damn it.

I wouldn’t get to fuck Jada tonight after all.

***

JADA

As we all gathered around the dining room, ready to have dessert and coffee, my father made an announcement that came as a shock to me.

Max looked somewhat subdued in the background.