triumvirate. It started the domino effect. Olivia fell under Luc’s spell. As for Piper…
Piper was a fool who would never, ever throw herself at a man again.
“I have a business proposition for you. It’s big.”
“How big?”
“Want to fly to Sydney, Tokyo and Rio with me to find out? Depending on the outcome, we’ll incorporate and offer shares on the stock market. Are you interested?”
A long silence ensued. “How soon do you want to get together to talk?”
“Tonight if you’re free. First off we need to come up with the best savvy corporate attorney we can find.”
“Agreed. But what about Europe?”
Her body stiffened. “Forget it. I’m never stepping foot on that continent again.”
“You don’t mean that, Piper. Your sisters live there.”
“Then they’ll have to come to me if they want to see me.”
“What am I missing here? I thought garnering new markets was the reason you were in Spain last week.”
“I thought so too until I found out it was a setup. I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“If you want me for a business partner, I’m afraid you’re going to have to. How were you set up, and more importantly, why?”
Still bristling with rage Piper said, “The Varano cousins used their powerful influence and money to pay Signore Tozetti to be our European distributor.
“It was a clever move on Luc’s part. He lured Olivia back to Europe through a lucrative business offer so he could win her forgiveness for his utter cruelty to her. His cunning plan worked so well, they are now on their honeymoon!
“But I don’t want any part of the money our calendars might make over there. We didn’t win that contract from Signore Tozetti on the merits of our talents alone.”
Piper would divide any profits made in Europe between her sisters. She didn’t plan on keeping a penny of the money Nic had anything to do with!
“I can’t say I blame you for that,” Don murmured.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I understand a lot more than you think. You’re the artist after all. A brilliant one I might add.”
“Thanks, Don.”
“It’s true. One day you’re going to be famous, Piper.”
That’s what Olivia had said before they’d both found out they’d been set up.
Mother and Daddy would be so proud to know your drawings are going to be famous all over Europe, Piper.
We don’t know that yet, so let’s not count our chickens.
Signore Tozetti wouldn’t have paid us an advance to come to Spain if he didn’t believe he was going to make a bundle off you pretty soon. When he sees what you’ve done in just three days, he’ll be sending you everywhere; France— Switzerland—
Her hand tightened on the phone receiver. “You don’t become famous with a bunch of calendars.”
“Your calendars have only been a stepping stone. It’s time to branch out.”
He was starting to sound like Dr. Arnavitz. “In what way?”
“Commercial advertising over television and the Internet is hot. Think global and the sky’s the limit. Megacorporations spanning several continents pay seven and eight digit figures to the artist who can come up with the right worldwide image.”
She blinked. “How long have you been thinking this big for me?”
“Ever since I started printing the calendars for Duchesse Designs. You’ve got that touch of genius, Piper. Maybe with my help we can ignite it.”
“I like the way you think. Can you come over at seven?”
“I’ll be there with some ideas that have been percolating for a long time.”
“Did you ever tell Greer about this?”
“What do you think?”
“You’re right. That was sort of a dumb question.”
No one ever told Greer anything except Max. He’d managed to kiss her senseless on the Piccione, have her arrested and put in an Italian jail for the night, after which he’d propositioned her. It was the perfect path to her heart, and she’d ended up throwing herself at him.
Luc had operated a little differently. After breaking Olivia’s heart because of a tragic misunderstanding, he’d gotten her back to Europe on false pretenses. Then he’d locked her inside a robot-limo he’d designed and named Cog. It had so many clever inventions to break down her defenses, Olivia had practically crumbled on the spot forgiving him.
It was sickening.
Piper was happy for the four of them. She really was, but she didn’t want to think about her brothers-in-law, or she would start thinking about Nic, and that kind of thinking was disastrous.
January 26
Marbella, Spain
“Señor Pastrana?”
“Sí, Filomena?”
Nic was on the verge of leaving his office at the Banco De Iberia. Since he’d restructured its branch network, the bank had enjoyed another successful financial quarter that exceeded his expectations, but he took no joy in it.
“A gentleman is on the phone for you from Christie’s auction house in New York.” At the mere mention of New York, Nic’s pulse rate suddenly tripled. “Shall I put him through, or do you want me to take a message?”
“I’ll speak to him now.”
“Very good, Señor.”
While he waited, he closed the file on the bank’s foreign gold reserves he’d been examining and turned off the computer.
“Señor Pastrana?” an American sounding voice came over the speakerphone.
“This is he. Go ahead.”
“John Vashom here from the fine jewels department at Christie’s. Since you first alerted us, we’ve been watching for any jewelry from the Marie-Louise collection stolen from the Varano family palace in Colorno, Italy.
“This morning a jeweled comb showed up for auction by an anonymous seller. I went to our jewel loss register database and pulled out the pictures you supplied us. The piece in question appears to be a perfect match. How would you like me to proceed?”
An adrenaline rush drove Nic to his feet.
