King:Las Vegas Bad Boys(27)

My eyes narrow in on him. I can't think of the last time Geoffrey was anything but short and sharp.







"Sure," I say, walking toward him tentatively. "So, do you know what  this meeting is really about?" I take the glass from his hand.

He snorts. "Yeah, I know what the meeting is bloody about. Don't know why he asked you to come here and discuss it, though."

The last thing I need is for my brother to tell me I'm not good enough.  That he already has the company in the bag. At least let me fight for  it.

"I'm so tired of this bullshit," I tell him. "When will you stop holding  my past against me? I've grown up, and have just as good a chance as  you to be Dad's successor. I'm his son, too, you know."

"Successor?" Geoffrey looks perplexed. "Look, I don't know what you're  smoking these days – goodness knows I tried to find out when you arrived.  But you are totally off your rocker with this one."

"Was that the same time you looked for shit on Claire? Enough, Geoffrey.  Just let us be. I don't know why you're so intrigued by my personal  affairs, but it's pretty fucked-up to pull Claire into this, too."

Mum walks back in, and Claire and Fiona shoot us furtive looks. "We're  going to the den now," Fiona says. "Will you boys be joining us?"

I add another inch of Scotch to my glass and follow Geoffrey out of the dining room.

We file into the den and find Dad sitting at his large oak desk, glasses  on. To my surprise, papers are everywhere. Dad has always been fairly  organized, and I suppose I thought things might be tidy and in order  before he passed the business on.

"So, everyone is here, and the dreaded conversation can be had at last,"  Dad says. "Sit, sit," he directs. We find seats in the leather chairs  of his massive study, and I pull Claire's hand into mine.

"Why did you tell Landon you were choosing a successor?" Geoffrey starts  before Dad can say anything. "Why do you insist on creating more  drama?"

"Don't talk to Dad like that," I say, surprised by my brother's tone.

"Oh, God, Landon, you have no bloody clue." Geoffrey leans back, eyes closed.

"I wanted both my sons here, is that so terrible? And that was the only  way I could tempt Landon. It worked, didn't it?" Dad asks Geoffrey. "I  wanted him to be here, considering...."

"Considering what?" I ask. Claire's hand tightens around mine; she's  begging me to keep my cool. "You are being such a prick, Geoffrey."

"No, he isn't," Dad says. "Not entirely."

Claire's eyes meet mine, and we're both obviously confused. Fiona is  looking at her hands and Mum is, too, not wanting to look anyone in the  eyes.

Shit, everyone knows something Claire and I don't.

"What is it, then?" I ask, my voice rising. "You two," I say, pointing  to Dad and Geoffrey, "are bickering incessantly about the business. Dad,  you've brought me here under apparent false pretenses. Mum just wants  everyone happy, and somehow Fiona finally got an engagement ring, after  asking for five bloody years."

"Just stop fighting," Mum cries.

I shake my head, furious. "It would be easy to stop if Geoffrey didn't  do things like hire an investigator to look into my business the moment I  arrived."

"Well, I wouldn't do it if I trusted you. God, Landon, for ten years  you've been a flake, and we can't have that sort of drama around when  the shit hits the fan. I needed to be sure there wasn't something bigger  brewing with you. The press is going to be all over us as soon as the  truth of the situation is revealed. The last thing we need is some lewd  story of you in the center of it."

"What shit?" I ask, incredulous at the code he is speaking in. "What fan? What bloody situation?"

The room goes quiet, and a silent conversation takes place between Mum and Dad and Geoffrey and Fiona.

Finally, Dad speaks.

"I know Geoffrey and I fight ... but the truth is, Geoffrey has been our  saving grace the past two years. And things have been tricky."

"Tricky?" Geoffrey guffaws. "Is that what it's called? Dad, you live in a  fantasy land. You and Mum are going to be sorely disappointed, when  you've traded everything we have right now for a flat in a dodgy part of  town. You'll wish you'd gone with my plan, when everything else is  gone."

"Gone?" Claire asks. "What will be gone?"

Fiona looks up at her, her face sour and clearly upset. "Geoffrey is trying to keep The King's Diamond from going bankrupt."

"Bankrupt?" My voice betrays my absolute shock. "The company is going bankrupt?"







"It already is," Dad says.





Chapter Twenty-One





Claire



I'm not money hungry. I mean, yes I'm here at the castle because of the  potential paycheck  …  but my entire life doesn't typically revolve around  cash flow.

But for this family, money defines them.

I could earn a lot more money if I worked different hours of the day,  but being home with Sophia has always meant more than a bigger paycheck.

Except for when Landon offered me this proposition. Because getting paid  two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be his fake fiancée was a  chance at a jackpot. It would be like winning the lottery. It would  change everything. So, yes  …  in this singular instance money means more  than being home.

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."