KING: Las Vegas Bad Boys(54)

But The King’s Diamond is bankrupt.

No matter how convincing Landon and I are … there will be no chunk of change to take home.

There is no money, period.

So what the hell am I still doing here?

Landon’s dad, Arthur, seems to have admitted defeat; his head rests in his hands as if he can’t bear to look at us.

Landon doesn’t hide his emotion. He’s livid. He keeps making these incredulous sighs that aren’t helping anything. His mother, Helen, sits wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

Geoffrey and Fiona have their faces pinched, tight and disapproving.

I’m trying not to hyperventilate. I left my daughter—traveled across the world—for a lie. I feel like a fool.

But as my eyes meet Landon’s it’s clear that, besides being angry, he’s also embarrassed. He looks away from me as fast as he can, which is something that has never happened before. Usually it’s impossible to break from his gaze.

“Is everything really gone?” he asks his dad, disbelieving. “Because the house, the property, the staff, everything appears unchanged.”

“The business is a separate entity from the family estate,” Geoffrey explains, not letting Arthur get in a word. “Mum and Dad are well-secured; they’ve worked hard all their life, invested well. Even without the business, they can continue living here using their savings, or downsize and allow more money to be in their will after they’ve passed away. They’ll be fine.”

“Can’t they leverage the castle?” Landon asks.

“They could, but Mum and Dad don’t want to risk the house. It’s the business that’s dying. The business that is dead.”

“Not dead,” Arthur interjects.

“It’s true, Landon. It is nearly dead—we can hang on for a few more months, but we’ve got to prepare for the worst,” Geoffrey says. “Look, I wish the news were better, and I’ve been working my ass off to keep things afloat. Ask Fiona. I work fourteen-hour days so that Dad and Mum can continue living a fantasy. But it’s done. Dad doesn’t want to take the business into a viable model—”

“Correct,” Arthur says. “I don’t want The King’s Diamond to go down in history as being a strip-mall discount jeweler with shady importers selling inferior diamonds. The King’s Diamond represents history, heritage, something treasured. If it can’t be what it has been, I don’t want it at all!”

“I don’t understand,” Landon says. “I was just in the Vegas branch, and the shop looked as it always has. Decadent. Luxurious. When Ace bought Emmy’s ring there a month ago, it was as pristine as it’s ever been. How could everything change in a few days?”

“No, that’s not how it works,” Geoffrey says, shaking his head. “We’ve known the company is spiraling into a deficit, we have just now reached the point of no return. We’ll only now begin consolidating. I realize this is disappointing; we’ve lived our lives assuming one day we would inherit a fortune. But that fortune no longer exists.”

Landon exhales slowly, and he won’t look at me. “I just don’t understand how it could all happen so quickly.”

“It hasn’t been quick,” Fiona scoffs. “You’ve just been absent. For so long. From everything.”

“And apparently Dad brought you here under false pretenses,” Geoffrey says. “But the fact remains, the company is done. And, Landon, you aren’t really a vital member of the conversation as we liquidate. Dad should never have bought you here for this. The truth is, Dad should consider the other options, but he’s stubborn in his refusal.”

“Enough!” Arthur slams his fist on the table. “I’m not taking a company I hold dear and watching as it becomes a joke. I created this company, with values I treasure, and I’d rather lose it than stand by as it becomes a mockery.”

I watch the scene unfold, not knowing what I should do, where I fit into all of this. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t want to be here. This is private information for a family I don’t belong in.

Before I can retreat, however, Arthur looks over at me.

“Claire, I’m sorry the first time you’re here with the family, it’s under such a cloud of disappointment.” Arthur shakes his head. “I know we disagree, Geoffrey, but keeping the moral integrity of the company means more than money.”

Geoffrey sighs loudly; clearly they’ve been discussing this for some time.

“It’s true, Geoffrey; we can’t change what we stand for, just for the sake of money,” Helen says. She sighs and takes my hand. “Never in a million years would I have thought the first time I met Landon’s bride-to-be we would be admitting our family is in ruins. But it’s the truth. The inheritance we wanted to give you kids will no longer be there ... but hopefully our integrity will remain intact.”