Page 26 of How To Tempt The Off-Limits Billionaire

“Digby and Radd aren’t inheriting a cent from that trust so why are they talking to the lawyer?” Susan demanded in a sharp voice.

Right, well, Susan was well-informed and wasn’t a fool. It took all of Ro’s acting skills to shrug her shoulders and look puzzled. “I have no idea and it’s not a subject I have discussed with him. I know how to mind my own business.”

Her pointed comment didn’t resonate with Susan, but Keane dropped his eyes and looked away. It was obvious he hadn’t inherited his mom’s rhinoceros-thick hide.

“The trust’s lawyers were looking for someone to oversee the cleanup of St. Urban so that the owner could sell, if he wanted to—”

“How do you know the owner is a he?”

Lord give me strength.

Ro lifted her hands. “I don’t—”

“Mother!”

Susan ignored Keane and gestured for Ro to continue. Yes, Your Majesty.

“The lawyer offered me the job, I accepted and Muzi offered me a place to stay,” Ro said, thinking that she needed to end this conversation and get them out of Muzi’s house. “The lease, if there is one, would be between Muzi and the trust.”

“Muzi is the CEO of an enormous wine empire, he doesn’t accompany girls to farms,” Susan sneered. “I don’t believe you, tell me the truth.”

Keane slapped his knees and stood up. He gripped his mother’s arm to get her to stand up. Susan slapped his hand away and oh so deliberately leaned back in her chair, her posture telling them both that she had no intention of going anywhere.

Marvelous.

“Why don’t I believe anything you are telling me?” Susan demanded. When Ro didn’t answer her, she stood up. She placed her fists on her skinny hips and her surgically enhanced chest rose and fell with obvious indignation. “I demand to know what Muzi is up to, what you are doing at St. Urban and why you are staying in Muzi’s house.”

Right, she was done with white lies, she needed one with pink and purple stripes and golden dots. There was only one other explanation she could give—one Susan would believe.

“Not that it is any of your business, but Muzi and I are having an affair. We have been since we met.”

Keane’s expression hinted at amusement, but Susan looked at her, mouth agape. She opened her mouth to speak, shut it again and shook her head. “Nope, not buying it.”

“Right, we’re done,” Keane said, his face hard. “Mother, you’ve embarrassed yourself, and me, enough for one day. I’m leaving and if you are not in the car in five minutes, you’ll have a long walk back to the city.”

Susan obviously saw something in Keane’s expression that convinced her he was being heart-attack serious. She glared at him but picked her bag off the coffee table and pulled it over her bony shoulder. She tossed her head and sent Ro another glare. “Tell Muzi that this isn’t over, that I will find out what he’s up to.”

“Tell him yourself,” Ro coldly suggested.

Susan released an annoyed huff, whipped around and strode into the house and out of sight.

Keane rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about this, she can be a bit irrational about Muzi.”

He looked embarrassed, Ro thought, but also sad. Taking a chance, she tossed out a question, wondering if he would answer it. “Muzi and Susan obviously have a tense relationship—”

“That’s a massive understatement.”

“So what’s your excuse for treating him like crap?” Ro demanded.

Remorse and humiliation flashed through his eyes, across his face, before Keane’s expression settled into impassivity. “I’m sorry we intruded.”

Ro shook her head as he walked away and a few minutes later, she heard a powerful car start up and drive away.

Well, that was fun, she thought, dropping to sit on the edge of the chair. Seeing her phone on the coffee table, she picked it up and wondered how to tell Muzi that their relationship had shifted.

Had a very unexpected visit from Susan and Keane Matthews-Reed. The story is that I am at St. Urban, employed by the trust’s lawyers, to fix up the place to get it ready to sell.

She sent the message and stared down at the screen, thinking how to frame her next piece of news.Just keep it simple, stupid.

---