Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“I need a reason to come and visit you?”
“No, of course not. I guess it’s been a few weeks, and I wondered what the special occasion was.”
David chuckled. “You always did have a way of making me feel guilty. There’s no special occasion. In all honesty, I had some spare time to come and see you. It has been crazy busy at work, and you know with all the takeover stuff, I’ve needed to be at the top of my game. You heard what happened to Uncle Ed?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I did, but I thought you said he was in control of everything that was going to turn the company around.” Several years ago, David had told her absolutely everything, but unfortunately, she didn’t have a knack for speaking business, so most of what he did have to say went completely over her head.
Her brother sighed. “Yeah, Dad and I thought he was going to be as well, but it turns out he was dragging the company down. When Luca fired him, Dad and I told him everything Uncle Ed was doing for the company, and the vital role he played.”
“Luca didn’t listen?” Tillie asked.
David took a deep breath. “Luca showed us exactly what Uncle Ed was doing. First of all, he didn’t have any solid ideas. What he had were half-cocked thoughts based on other companies’ successes. Think of it like cheap-ass knockoffs, if that makes sense.” He ran fingers through his hair. “No one would pay for technology that was cheap and didn’t even work. Most of the time, he fired the men who couldn’t get it to work, and then we discovered he was channeling the funds into his own personal bank accounts. Uncle Ed was stealing from us, and that is why we’ve been struggling with the company for years, but we could never figure it out. Uncle Ed hid it from us, but with the takeover and Luca being so thorough, he was able to spot it, and now we’re here today.”
“Wow,” Tillie said. She was in complete and total shock. Even though she hadn’t been part of the business or had anything to do with it, she had known when Uncle Ed arrived, everyone had been excited. “So, did all the problems come from Uncle Ed?”
“Not just him. He was the main catalyst set to ruin us all, and I think he knew it as well. With Luca around, though, I don’t see that happening. The man is a machine. I mean, it’s like he is gifted with sight or something. He always seems to know what’s coming next. It is amazing to watch.”
Tillie smiled. She was pleased her brother was happy.
“So, are you going to tell me how married life is treating you?” he asked.
“It’s … fine.”
David frowned. “Just fine?”
“Tell me what you’ve been up to,” she said, hoping to change the subject.
He shook his head. “Nah, let’s talk about fine. I know this marriage was unexpected, and to be honest, came as quite the shock, but you seemed happy on your wedding day.”
“I was … I mean, come on, who wouldn’t be excited on their wedding day? It was a beautiful day.”
“You were marrying a stranger, Tillie. Don’t try to pretend it was anything but.”
She opened her mouth about to protest but then closed it and pressed her lips together.
“Come on, talk to me. I don’t imagine married life has been easy.”
Tillie glanced around the sitting room. Luca had a wonderful home. “There’s nothing wrong with being married.”
David rolled his eyes. “Why do I feel there’s a but coming?”
“There isn’t, Luca has been … fine.”
David sat back and crossed his arms.
Tillie suddenly gasped and then was pleased for a distraction. “Shoot, how rude can I be? I didn’t even offer you a drink. Let me rectify that.” She got to her feet and was pleased for the escape. She had no idea what she was going to say. This was insane.
Actually, it wasn’t, because the truth was, she didn’t know how best to describe her and Luca’s relationship. They weren’t tense or uncomfortable. They were just existing in the same house. She didn’t share his bed. They didn’t spend a lot of time together. They were strangers who were married, and had sex once. That was all.
Then of course, there was the other day when he asked her to dance for him, and they shared a moment—a rather confusing moment for her, but still just a small moment.
David didn’t let her have a few minutes of peace. “Has he done something wrong?” David asked, following her into the kitchen.
“No, of course not. Luca has been perfectly fine.”
She grabbed the kettle and filled it with water.
“Damn it, Tillie, I’m going out of my mind here wondering what the fuck this man has done to my sister?”