Chapter Twenty-Two

THE next day dawned sunny and bright, with a hint of spring on the breeze. Too early for the grapes in the nearby vineyards to bloom. Adam nursed a cup of coffee as he read the newspaper. A few more months and he’d be able to sit in the gazebo in the mornings.

He’d decided that he would live in Napa. He’d keep the apartment to use after late nights at the office, but he’d move whatever belongings he had back home. This was home, after all. It had just taken him five years to figure that out.

He brushed a finger over the smooth surface of the ring Jonah had given him. He knew he should take it off, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Not yet.

Time to call Jonah. Jackson. Whoever he is. He’d been running through scenarios of what he would say.

He pulled his cell phone out of his briefcase and powered it on. He’d learned his first year running Prestco that he didn’t need to be reachable at all hours of the day. He had employees who were entirely capable of handling emergencies.

He listened to the first message: Sammy at the office letting him know that everything was under control and that he should take a few days before coming in. As if he could stay away after being gone a week! He was already itching to leave. If the traffic wasn’t so bad this time of day—

“Adam, this is Jonah. Jackson. Jackie Roth. I hope you know I never meant for things to end up like this. I… I’d really like to talk to you.”

His heart skipped several beats. Jonah had called the night before? Why? Because he wanted to gloat?

Maybe he wants to apologize for not saying good-bye.

Hardly. From everything he’d heard about Jackson Roth, it was more likely he’d realized the angle he’d stumbled onto. How better to get your feet wet again than to seal a deal?

Maybe he’s still Jonah on the inside.

He would never know the truth if he didn’t reach out to Jonah and give him a chance to explain.

“Thank you for calling Entech,” the operator said. “How may I direct your call?”

“Jackson Roth, please,” Adam said.

“I’ll put you through to his office, sir.”

A moment later: “Mr. Roth’s office. This is Barbara. How may I help you?”

“This is Adam Preston. I’m returning Mr. Roth’s call.”

“Just a moment, please,” the woman said.

One minute turned into two, then three, and as Céline Dion sang “My Heart Will Go On,” Adam glanced at the phone and realized he’d been waiting nearly ten minutes.

“Mr. Preston?” Barbara said after another minute passed. “I’m so sorry for the delay. Mr. Roth isn’t taking any calls at the moment. May I let him know you called?”

Adam hung up after giving her his number. Which Jonah—not Jonah, Jackson—already had.

He probably had a meeting he couldn’t miss. It made no sense that he’d leave Adam a message to call back and then avoid his call. Adam shrugged off these thoughts and finished the dregs of his coffee, then folded up the paper and shoved it in his briefcase.

“Off to the office?” his mother asked when he dropped his cup in the dishwasher.

“I really need to get a few things done. I won’t be late,” he said as he gave her a peck on the cheek. “Promise.”

“Good. Because I’m making seafood lasagna tonight.”

“I’m going to need to start working out every day,” he told her.

“There are no calories in food your mother makes.”

“I wish.” He grabbed his keys off the front table and waved. “See you later, Mom.”

“ROGER?” Adam leaned back in his chair. He’d been expecting his brother’s call, but he hadn’t been looking forward to it. They hadn’t spoken since Roger had announced that he was in favor of the Entech buyout.

“Back from vacation and back in the office, I gather.”

Adam’s gut clenched at Roger’s tone. They’d been close before their father’s death. But after….

“I hope you’re doing well.” The words felt as awkward and stiff as they sounded.

“I’m fine.”

“So what can I do for you, Roger?” Adam asked. Outside the window, a seagull flew toward the bay. The water beckoned, but Adam knew it would be weeks before he’d have time to indulge in time off.

“I was wondering if you’d had any time to think about the sale,” Roger said.

Adam repressed a melancholy laugh. It wouldn’t do to piss Roger off. No doubt he’d get angry anyhow. “I have. And I haven’t changed my mind. I think it’s a bad idea, especially when we’ve been doing so well.”

“That’s the perfect time to sell. If we wait, who knows what could happen.”

“I agree that there’s some risk—”

“You can start another company, Addy. But if Prestco goes out of business, what’s left for the rest of us? What will Mom do?”

“I’ve been careful,” Adam explained. “The company’s on solid footing financially, with enough reserves to keep us going even if the economy tanks again.”

“So you say.”

“You can read the financials yourself if you’d like.”

“I’ve been talking to Mom,” Roger said. The abrupt change of subject was not entirely unexpected. His concerns clearly had nothing to do with the financial health of the company.

There’s something else going on.

“Oh. What does she say?” Adam doubted she’d been anything but noncommittal with Roger.

“Only that she’s considering the deal.”

Roger was probably spinning the conversation to rattle Adam, but Adam was still surprised to hear this. “She is?”

“She understands what’s at stake.”

That Adam didn’t doubt. His mother was a former CPA and had done the company’s books until his father died. “I’m sure she does.” Adam glanced at the clock. “Look, Roger, I really need to go. I’ve got a meeting starting in about a minute. Can I call you back?”

“No need. I’m sure we’ll talk again.”

“Anytime. And if you have any questions—”

The sound of the call disconnecting interrupted Adam’s words. He sighed and massaged the back of his neck.

“That bad, huh?” Karen peered in through the door to his office.

“I hate this,” he admitted.

“Families don’t always get along,” she pointed out as she sat in the chair facing his desk. “Roger’s financial situation isn’t the best.”

“If he’d ask me for money, I wouldn’t mind.”

She shook her head. “He’s too proud for that. Don’t tell me you’d be okay about asking for money.”

“No. I wouldn’t be.” Their father had taught them all to be independent, and for that Adam was grateful.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said. “Maybe he’ll open up to me.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Any luck getting ahold of your man?” she asked with a barely repressed grin.

“He isn’t my man,” Adam said pointedly. “And no. I left a message but nothing yet. I’ll try him again.”

She shrugged and got to her feet.

“That was our meeting?”

“I can be brief,” she teased, then waved and walked out of the office.

He chuckled, then picked up the phone.