Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

Brandon

Four months later

“Brandon!”

I glance up from the piano and find Julia standing in the doorway of my office, a broad smile on her face. “Who knew you could play like that.”

“Thanks to my mom.”

“Speaking of which, she’s been trying to get hold of you. Please call her back so that I can get some work done.” She closes the door behind her with a soft click.

I’ve been putting it off. Today is the day the lawyers deliver their closing speeches at the insider trading trial, and although I’m pretty certain of the outcome, there’s always that tiny chance that the jury will be swayed in the opposite direction.

When Carlos Russo’s corpse was discovered in a second container in the American Falls reservoir, Ron confessed to everything. He blamed himself. It turned out that Carlos Russo loaned Ron the money to start his company all those years ago—Sam wasn’t messing around when he said that he’d set himself up a veritable Santa Claus figure in American Falls.

Carlos Russo was so generous to his friends and peers that he never claimed, or wanted, repayment for his loans. He was content to watch them grow and to know that he’d played a small part in their success. He had everything he wanted: a family he adored; respect; homes in Rome, New York City, and Idaho.

But his sons and nephews didn’t share this sentiment. They had big plans, and the old man was holding them back. They started calling in these loans—plus years’ worth of interest—and when Carlos called them out on it, told them that it wasn’t the way the Russos operated, they took matters into their own hands.

Ron, too embarrassed to confide in his friend Harry that he couldn’t afford to repay the loan he should’ve settled fifty years earlier, instead, came to me. He hoped that I would finance the repayment, keep his business afloat, and no one would be any the wiser. But he hadn’t counted on me handling the arrangement my way.

When my father eventually found out, he decided to play the younger generation of Russo men at their own game and teach his eldest son an important lesson on chivalry and loyalty at the same time. But it massively backfired when the Russos crossed the line and endangered the lives of Rose and Jennifer.

“Brandon, where have you been? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for almost an hour.”

“Sorry, Mom. I was playing piano.”

I can almost hear the smile on the other end of the phone. “I’m so glad those piano lessons are finally paying off. How is Rose?”

“She’s fine, Mom. You should give her a call.”

“I will. I wanted to speak to you first.”

“Go on.” Despite the sense of peace that I always get from playing the piano, my heart starts picking up pace.

“Your father was found not guilty. The jury believed Ron’s confession to using Wren and supplying insider trading information to the Russo family. He convinced them that Harry had no idea what was going on.”

I inhale deeply. “What about Luca Russo and his brothers?”

“The police have lost track of them since they arrived in Venice. But let’s not worry about them, Brandon. Your father and I… We can start afresh now without this case hanging over our heads. We’ve already instructed renovators to begin work on the house in American Falls.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her that it will be a while before Rose and I will feel comfortable with visiting the property. I don’t want to burst her bubble. Relief is oozing from her otherwise controlled voice.

“I’m glad, Mom. For both of you.”

“Will you still go ahead with the takeover of Ron’s company? Sumaira will need all the help she can get while Ron serves his time.”

“How long did he get?”

“Five years, but his lawyer said he’ll be released in two with good behavior.”

“I promised Sumaira that I would do all I can to help her, Mom.”

A year ago—six months ago even—I would’ve deemed Carlos Russo a fool for refusing repayment of the money he loaned his friends and acquaintances. But now, I’m beginning to understand his contentment. I have everything I could possibly want, and more, and as Rose keeps pointing out, I’m mellowing a little.

Well, what she actually says is that I’m becoming less a programmed robot and more human, but I’m sticking with mellowing.

“Thank you, Brandon, it means a lot to us.” She hesitates—there’s more. “I know what you did, and I just want to say that I forgive you.”

“What I did?”

I don’t know why I never gave my mother more credit for understanding the running of the company before. I always assumed that she simply enjoyed the financial rewards and the social status that it afforded her, because that’s what she wanted me to believe. But it seems she played a far bigger role in my father’s success than anyone ever realized. Until now.

“I know where the insider trading allegations against your father came from, Brandon.”

There’s no hint of accusation in her voice, and I’m a boy again, swelling with love for my mother when she tells my father that she was the one who broke the ugly vase that was a family heirloom.

“Harry would’ve done exactly the same at your age,” she continues. “You learned from the best, Brandon, just don’t be too hard on him, please. And besides, your father stepping back from the business for good means that I get my husband all to myself for the first time ever.”

“You’ll soon get bored with him getting under your feet.”

“That’s what gardens are for.” She ends the call.

I’m still smiling when I hear Rose talking to Julia outside the office.

Rose convinced me to reinstate Julia as my assistant.

When I told her what had happened, she tracked Julia down—she never explained how, but I’m guessing she had some help from Jennifer along the way—and listened to her side of the story. It turned out that Wren’s now-ex-husband had left her with a lot of debt which he’d promised to clear if she provided him with some incriminating photos of me. And Julia had no idea until after they were published.

“Brandon, you forgot your lunch.” Rose bursts into my office holding a plastic container.

I stand and cross the room, pulling her into an embrace. She tips her head back, her hair spilling over my arms, and I kiss her on the lips, long and slow.

“If I remember correctly, I was a little distracted this morning.”

“That’s because you have zero willpower.” She pulls away and hands over my lunch of spinach and ricotta stuffed tortellini that she made the night before.

I set it down on my desk and lower my head to kiss her growing belly. “How’s my girl?”

“I’m fine. I feel like I could run a marathon now that I’m in the second trimester.”

“I was talking to my baby girl.” I straighten and kiss the tip of Rose’s nose.

Her smile still sets me on fire every day, and I can’t imagine my life without them. It’s as if the day the doctor delivered the news that we were going to be parents in Power County Hospital, American Falls, someone pressed the reset button on my life, and it started over. Even my memories prior to that announcement have faded, like old sepia photos that are still there, but have dulled with time, replaced by newer, more vibrant recollections.

“She’s fine too.” She takes my hand and places it on her abdomen, watching me expectantly. “Did you feel that?”

My eyes widen. “Did she just kick me?”

“Uh-huh.”

I crouch in front of Rose and press my lips to her swelling womb. “I love you, baby girl.”

“I have to go, Brandon.” Rose waits for me to stand and wraps her arms around my neck. “Don’t forget we’re going to the opening of Jennifer’s gallery tonight.”

“How could I forget?”

“Six p.m. Don’t be late.”

“I won’t…” She chews her bottom lip like she knows something is going on but hasn’t quite figured out what it is. “I have a little surprise for you before you go.”

Her entire face lights up and fans something inside me that I can’t act upon in the office. “A surprise?”

“Uh-huh.” I cross the room, open the door, and give Julia the nod. She follows me back inside holding a brown cocker spaniel puppy in her arms, complete with a pink bow around her neck.

I’ve never seen Rose’s eyes grow so huge. “Is she for me?” she squeals, taking the puppy from Julia’s arms. The puppy licks her face, and for the next few minutes, I don’t even exist, as puppy and human get acquainted with kisses and hugs.

“Oh, Brandon, thank you! She’s beautiful. Can I take her home?”

“I’ll get the car brought around to the entrance.”

“We’ll have to think of a name for you,” she murmurs against the puppy’s face as she heads to the door. “Something pretty, like Velvet or Satin or Diamond. What do you think, huh?”

I wink at Julia and clear my throat. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

She hesitates, her fingers already on the door handle, and turns around to face me, smiling. “Sorry. I love you.”

“I love you too, Rose.” I sit back down at my desk, open my lunch, and inhale the aroma of homemade cooking.

Everything I could ever want…

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