Chapter 2

two

DANIEL

I threw my pen onto my desk. "What's wrong with him? Anyone would think I was asking for a million dollars."

My brother, Owen, grinned at me. "This must be the first time someone doesn't want anything to do with you."

"He doesn't have a choice. One of the conditions of entering the jewelry competition was to make yourself available for promotional opportunities. So far, the only communication Wilson Enterprises has had with B.J. Davis are four-sentence emails telling us he's unavailable."

"At least they were polite."

My sharp glance wiped the smile off Owen's face.

"It sounds like he doesn't want to be found."

"Six years at Yale, and that's the best you can do?"

Owen crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I majored in behavioral psychology and, right now, your behavior's more interesting than Mr. Davis's."

"That's because we don't know much about him." In normal circumstances, I would have left my staff to pursue B.J. Davis. But nothing about the jeweler made sense. Most up-and-coming jewelers would give their right arm to be promoted by my company. As CEO of one of the most influential online shopping networks, I knew the difference my endorsement could make to a person's career.

To make matters worse, Mr. Davis wasn't only ignoring my emails. He was now blocking all communication from my company.

Owen opened the folder I'd given him. "Where's Sunrise Bay?"

"Colorado. At the southern end of Willow Lake."

As my brother read the brief information we had about B.J. Davis, I clicked on a document on my computer. A series of photographs showing a gold heirloom necklace and matching earrings filled the screen. The deep rubies embedded in the design drew my eyes straight to the heart of the pendant. It was elegant, sophisticated, and would be an extremely desirable set for my clientele.

Owen rubbed his jaw. "Is it really that bad if he doesn't want to be part of your publicity machine? You could still run the story about the winner of the award. Your PR department could use the information in his application to make the story more?—"

"Compelling?"

"I was going to say interesting, but that's up to you. Besides, you've got more important things to worry about."

I stood and looked through the forty-second story window of my Manhattan office. From here the never-ending line of taxis looked like yellow bumblebees, moving in a coordinated pattern toward their queen. Or in this case, the Grand Central Terminal.

"You can't ignore what's happening," Owen said in the same annoying tone he used when he knew he was right. "Granddad gave you five years to prove you were capable of running the company. It's time to step up to the plate and show the board of directors who's boss."

"It's not a baseball game."

"Then prove it. Do something crazy. Blow their minds with an idea or product that sends shock waves through their stuffy heads."

I placed the palm of one hand on the glass. "I've spent more time in this office than I have in my home. I've created a company out of nothing and increased our turnover to more than fifty million dollars a year. If that's not enough proof that I'm the right person to lead the company, then I don't know what is."

"I told you this would happen."

Sometimes, my brother was so predictable. "Since when does common sense mean I've burned myself out? I've proved my value to the company ten times over. If the board can't see that, then they shouldn't be involved in Wilson Enterprises."

Owen stood beside me. "This company wouldn't exist without your drive and determination. Granddad knows that. He also knows that no matter what, the money he invested into the company will be returned to him tenfold."

"Then why is he insisting on a five-year review? If I could, I'd buy back his shares. But I've made the company too successful to be able to afford them."

"Here's a radical idea. Why don't you go to Sunrise Bay and track down B.J. Davis? While you're there, you can have the vacation you keep canceling."

I frowned. "I can't leave. If the board senses a weakness anywhere in the company they'll blow it out of proportion and use it against me."

Owen leaned against the window frame. "Then let me be your eyes and ears. I can be your proxy vote. If anything happens, I'll call you immediately."

"No." I wasn't leaving my business in my brother's hands. Owen had a lot of good qualities, but dealing with a volatile board of directors wasn't one of them.

"Running this company will kill you if you don't get away."

"You're exaggerating."

Owen's eyes narrowed. "You're thirty-eight years old. You haven't had a vacation since you started the company. You sabotage any relationship you're in by working sixteen-hour days and your blood pressure's through the roof. Do you want me to keep going?"

"I work long hours because I enjoy my job."

"You need to learn how to enjoy life. At the rate you're going, you'll be dead by the time you're fifty."

I didn't say anything to my brother. Instead, I reached for B.J. Davis's file. If he was half the jeweler I suspected he was, he could be my secret weapon. Winning the prestigious Wilson Award would only be the beginning of our association, especially if his work shook the board of directors out of their old-fashioned views.

I looked at the photo of Mr. Davis and frowned. The grainy black-and-white image looked as though it had been taken at night. The only distinguishing feature in the entire shot was his mop of blond hair. From his minimal biography, I knew he was thirty years old, but the quality of his work hinted at someone who was much older.

Before I could change my mind, I picked up the phone and called my secretary. "Charlotte? Book the next available flight to Boulder, Colorado. I'm going to a town called Sunrise Bay."

When she asked how long I'd be gone, I hesitated. If I could have said one weekend, I would have. But with my brother standing a few feet away, I wouldn't get away with anything less than a week.

Owen grabbed the phone. "He'll be gone for two weeks, Charlotte. And find somewhere for Daniel to rent. The closer to the lake, the better."

Charlotte said something and Owen smiled. "Exactly. Good luck."

I took the phone from my brother. "What was all that about?"

Owen pulled on his jacket. "Your secretary and I are on the same page when it comes to Sunrise Bay."

"Where are you going?"

"The same place you should be. Home."

I checked my watch. "It's barely seven o'clock."

"No kidding." Owen took my jacket out of the closet. "Most people finished work two hours ago. Come on. I'll buy takeout for dinner and help you pack."

"I'm only going to Sunrise Bay for a few days."

Owen's chin rose. "Two weeks but who's counting. And you can't wear your over-priced designer suits. You're taking jeans and T-shirts."

I glared at my brother. "I'm supposed to impress B.J. Davis. I can't do that if I look like a tourist."

Owen snorted. "He wants nothing to do with you. If you walk into his studio looking like a big city executive, he'll be even less likely to talk to you."

"I don't do jeans and T-shirts."

Owen shook his head. "I don't know who I'm more worried about—you or the mysterious B.J. Davis."

"You worry too much. If I can't convince him to come to New York City, I'll talk to the people who know him. There must be something that'll make him more inclined to appear in front of the media."

Owen shook his head. "You've been living here for too long. Sunrise Bay might be better for you than you think."

I doubted it. I had a job to do and nothing barring a category four hurricane would stop me.