Journey to Fortune(15)

"Stealing her designs? Tia is a designer? Of what?"

Jett smiled.

"Everything you're looking for in a home decorator, bud. She designs  furniture and produces a catalog for Malone's," Chiara told them.

"Wow. I like that company. It's not high end, but it's nice. I think  Dante just sent me the catalog for September this morning," Hudson said,  and then stopped and looked at them. "That fucker knew. Unbelievable."

"Well, don't get upset with him. He has a plan for the two of you to meet Tia, so you don't spook her," Jett said.

"Spook her?"

"Yep, he thinks she's perfect for the two of you. So call him," Jett stated and then stood up.

"Holy crap. But what about all this other stuff?" Jagger asked them.

"We could find out everything if you need. I mean her bank account, her  social security number, any arrests, as well as ex-boyfriends if you  want. We can even find out why she left home and why she keeps sending  money to people who don't call her except once a month around the time  the money gets sent to Missouri," Cash added as he stood up as well.

Jagger understood it. They didn't want to pry too much.

"Hey, we appreciate that. We asked for you guys to help us find her and you did. We'll take the next steps now," Jagger said.

"Call Dante. His plan sounds so good," Chiara said as they kissed her good-bye and then shook their friends' hands good-bye.

"We will. Thanks."

As everyone left, Hudson walked back toward the living room. Jagger was staring at her picture.

"She's so beautiful, Hudson. But my gut is clenched with concern. I  think there's more to this break-in and this whole sending money to her  parents."

"Well, I sure as shit would hope you weren't blind to that. I feel it, too. She needs us and we need her. Call Dante."

"Okay. I will, and you check out this catalog. I bet we can get her to  accompany us to the country home and start remodeling there. Three weeks  in our arms should do the trick," Jagger said, passing the magazine to  Hudson.         

     



 

Hudson chuckled. "That might work out just fine." He leaned back with the catalog in hand.

Jagger hoped that this was the beginning of getting their woman back  into their arms where she belonged and where they needed her to be.







There was a knock at her office door and Alexa came in.

"Hey, Dante Perrone is on line one. He's asking to speak with you."

"Me? I just saw him yesterday."

"I know," Alexa said then raised her eyebrows up and down.

Tia Rose answered the phone wondering what the man wanted. It was funny,  but since she returned from Paris, she had gotten so many compliments  about her style, her hair, and her body. It was still the same  size-twelve body, but she learned how to accentuate the better parts and  draw focus to her eyes and face with the right application of makeup.  She felt really good about herself, but now she was nervous as she spoke  with Dante. They exchanged pleasantries and he asked about France. He  named some places he loved to dine out at and she wasn't impressed in  the least. She could care less about his money, and mostly about him  continuing to use Malone's for all his high-end store decorating.

"So, I have a proposition for you. Well, actually, I would like for you to accompany me to dinner this evening."

She gulped. Dante Perrone was asking her out?

"Um, I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Nonsense. You are a very attractive woman. I need you tonight. You see,  I have a friend who is in need of a personal designer. He hasn't had  much success with the local area stores or abroad. Anyway, I told him  all about you, and I was wondering if you could assist him. Perhaps give  him some ideas this weekend at his estate?"

"I'm not too sure if I'm interested. I never really did that before. I  have a lot to do with cleaning up the apartment after the break-in."

"Oh, yes, that's right. What a terrible way to return home after such a  worthwhile trip to Paris. Well, I think you'll change your mind the  moment you meet the potential client. I planned a meeting at LaFonte's  tonight. My treat, of course. Can you be there by seven?"

She didn't want to, but she felt that if she didn't, she could upset Dante, and he was a good client of Malone's.

"Okay. I'll meet you there."

She continued to chat for a few more seconds and then he ended the call.  Now she would have to find something to wear. Perhaps one of the casual  yet stylish designer black dinner dresses she found in a boutique near  Versailles?

She went back to work, and began to wonder if perhaps this could lead to  other opportunities, and some extra income. If she was going to  continue to care for her unappreciative family, she needed more money.

She pondered over her own thought. Why do I continue to let my parents control me like this? They don't love me. They never did.

What she really needed was a therapist. They'd have a field day with  her. She just couldn't let go. She couldn't cut ties, no matter how bad  her mother and father treated her, because they were her parents. It  wasn't right. She wanted to please them, but maybe she never would be  able to, no matter what their demands.

Even asking her to die would be unlikely to please them. That would make  them have to work for a living, instead of live off her hard-earned  money. With aggravating thoughts, Tia Rose headed back to work on her  computer.





Chapter 8




"She's late. She's not coming, Hudson. She figured it out," Jagger  stated as he and his brother stood by the side of the building. They  were watching the front entrance to the restaurant, waiting to arrive  for the dinner meeting that Dante arranged.

"She'll be here. She always works late at Malone's. She had to go home,  change, and then take local transportation to get back across town to  here," Hudson replied.

"Yeah, well, as soon as she's our woman, she's moving in with us. I  don't want her living in that neighborhood. There's no security there.  No wonder her apartment was broken into."

Hudson looked back at his brother.

"Jagger, you can't be so pushy. Not right off the bat, anyway. You'll  scare Tia Rose. Promise me that you won't go all cave man on her."         

     



 

Jagger looked away. He was biting the inside of his cheeks. He couldn't  believe he was standing outside of a fucking restaurant like some damn  stalker waiting for their lover to arrive. This was fucking ridiculous.  When he wanted something, he went after it and took it. No bullshit. He  felt as if he were walking on eggshells and any wrong move could send  Tia Rose out of their lives. Again. He couldn't let that happen.

Hudson bumped his shoulder.

"Fine. I promise. But not for the entire night. I'm a no-bullshit guy.  You fucking know that. If there needs to be a calm, rational one, then  you be that person. I don't have the patience." He glanced at his watch  for the tenth time in the last thirty minutes. "Where the fuck is she?"







Tia Rose was still shaking. She almost cancelled this dinner date, but  her gut told her not to. She wasn't going to live in fear. When she  arrived at her apartment, she felt uneasy. Like someone had been in  there again. The detectives working the break-in at her place as well as  the investigation and pursuit of her brother Sean said that her  feelings were normal. Violated? She sure as shit felt violated. It took  her hours to fall asleep and she was debating about taking some sleeping  pills but worried that if someone broke in, they could rob her, rape  her, and possibly kill her while she was dead to the world.

As she had entered her apartment tonight, she had a strong sense of  creepiness. Something was bugging her out. Even tonight as she left her  apartment, and traveled across town to meet Dante, she felt as if  someone was watching her. She kept glancing over her shoulder. Living in  New York over the last five years taught her to be aware of her  surroundings and to walk with purpose and direction even if she were  lost. She supposed it was like this in all big cities, but she  especially felt vulnerable. There was no one to walk with. No one to  make her feel safe. She was all alone, and that was what her future  held. Sometimes she debated about returning to Missouri, because even  painful attention was better than no attention at all.

Felling sorry for herself, she exited the commuter bus, two blocks from  the restaurant. She cringed just thinking about the trip back to her  apartment late tonight. Why did I agree to this?

Because you always do as you're asked. Dante is a nice person, and he  could be hooking me up with some serious side money. Money I'll need to  keep supporting my screwed-up parents.

She took a deep breath and straightened out her skirt before she entered  the restaurant. The host immediately smiled at her upon her arrival, as  he looked her over. "Good evening, miss. Table for one?" he asked.

"No, I'm meeting someone. Mr. Perrone."

His smile faded only momentarily. She wondered if perhaps he knew Dante  and didn't care for him. She felt like confronting the man, feeling some  loyalty toward Dante, and how nice he had always been to her over the  past year.