Page 21 of A Real Good Bad Thing

I frowned. I’d never known him to be terribly interested in charity, plus, he was obviously still working. “But you run the nightclub. It’s doing well, I hear.”

“You should see it. Dance a little, feel the Sapphire energy. It’s wonderful. Come by tonight. Amelia Stone is in town. I’ll make sure you’re on the VIP list. I won’t be there, but my manager, Nigel, will. If you need anything, he’s the man with the snake tattoo on his left arm.”

“Sounds like he’d be hard to miss, then. And I’m glad the club is doing well.” That wasn’t entirely true, but tomato, to-mah-toe. “It’s a dream nightclub,” Eli said. “Plus, it feeds my charity work. I donate all my profits.”

I wasn’t sure if I believed him on the give-it-all-away front, but I gave athat’s nicesmile anyway.

After the waiter brought water and a mimosa for Eli, which I presumed was his standard drink every time he came here, we ordered our meals. Once the server left, Eli gestured to me with pride in his eyes. “Tell me everything. How is your company? What happened to that jerk who tried to sabotage your tour business? I wish you’d have let me help you with that fiasco.”

I gaped at him incredulously. “You didn’t offer,” I pointed out. I wouldn’t let him play revisionist historian. We had only spoken a few times since the divorce.

“You didn’t ask,” he said.

Touché.

“Well, anyway, Mom helped me out, and I’ve been rebuilding.”

“Good. I’m thrilled.” He took a drink of his mimosa, then leaned back in his chair and glanced briefly at the crowds click-clacking by, streaming in and out of banks. We briefly made small talk, then he asked, “But do you need anything now? My bank is right over there.”

I shook my head. “Thank you. I’m good.” It was the perfect opening. This was going to be awkward, but I didn’t let the chance slip by. “So, speaking of my mom…there’s something I wanted to bring up. A request.”

“Of course.” He sounded so genuine. “What is it?”

“It’s about the money Mom invested in your business to get you started. I think you should pay her back.” When he didn’t react, I went on with the argument I’d practiced. “You would never have funded the company without her, and that business made you rich. It’s only fair to return the seed money, especially now that you’ve retired from the business.”

But his response was a dismissive laugh. “That’s silly, dear. She has her jewelry sales.”

Seriously? That was his answer? I shoved aside the curl of annoyance in my gut and tried again. “Eli, when you needed her, she helped you in a big way, and she’s trying to rebuild her business after the divorce. Don’t you think it would be the right thing to do?”

“She doesn’t needmymoney if she’s busy selling jewelry again. She’s always been so talented with her little artsy tinkering.”

“Tinkering is the reason for everything you have today. And you made sure she gotnothingin the divorce.”

Eli was one hundred percent a rat bastard to me just then, but if I didn’t get a hold of my anger, I’d show my hand and sink my recon mission before it started.

Breathe.

Eli waved a hand, erasing all I said. “That’s crazy. It was a completely fair settlement. But let’s not talk of such unpleasant matters. Look, our brunch is here,” he said, his eyes lighting up as the server set our plates on the table.

We thanked him, and when the man left, Eli gestured to my dish. “I know you must have missed this food.”

He was ready to move to other topics but I wasn’t. As he dug into his eggs Benedict, I tried again. “Eli, why can’t you at least return the money she gave you to start the business?”

“Sweetheart,” he admonished.

“Or maybe that money is someplace else?” I suggested pointedly.

“Ruby. Let’s have a nice meal together.” He pointed to my plate. “Eat your brunch. And let’s talk about your plans for the week. I want you to meet Willow.”

“Your new girlfriend?” I asked as I picked up my fork.

“Fiancée. And she’s amazing,” he said as he finished chewing. He reached into his pocket, fishing for something. “Speaking of…Willow and I wanted to give this to you. She can’t wait to meet you.”

He set a small black box on the table then gently nudged it across the white linen tablecloth. Was he really giving me a fancy gift when he wouldn’t repay my mother? It sure seemed that way. But vitriol wouldn’t help my cause, so I hid my anger and put on a smile. I clicked open the box and gasped. My god, it was gorgeous. Glittering on a white silk bed was a stunning diamond.

“I didn’t have it set or placed on a chain. I thought if you like it, we can have it added to your treasure chest necklace,” he said, tipping his chin to my regular necklace, the one Mom gave me years ago. It represented my childhood dreams, but also my present—the way the sea was a treasure. I touched it impulsively, perhaps even protectively. The necklace was a special thing.

But this diamond? It was special in its value, to be sure. This diamond had to be worth five figures, and I was going to keep this gem safe and sound—and use it to help my mom. “Thank you,” I said.

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