Journey To Fortune

“Why did you reprimand her, and even give her a ride home?” Falco asked.

Rylan gripped the steering wheel and took off onto the highway to head home to their beachfront estate.

“I guess because I was compelled to. She looked incredible today, and I think she needs looking after.”

Falco was quiet.

“We’ve all been looking at the pictures you sent, except for Mercury. He looked twice and headed into his office.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, or what I’m feeling, but I know I’m concerned for her well-being. If she is working for Mulgoff again, I want to know when and where.”

“We can find that out in a snap,” Falco stated.

“We?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll be home in ten minutes.”

“Out,” Falco said and disconnected the call.

Rylan had an uneasy feeling in his gut, but he knew if he asked questions, or he pushed for information on her, that it was going to lead to other things. Things and decisions he and his brothers avoided for years. Maybe it was best to forget about Rose. She wasn’t their responsibility, and she made it clear that her life, her business, wasn’t his concern either. So why did that piss him off and make him even more curious about her? Maybe she was after a guy with money? Maybe he got in the way of her landing the Egyptian? Maybe he should just mind his own business and stay out of hers like she told him?

Screw that!

Chapter 5

“I did not receive a personal invite to your event Friday evening, and I’m a bit insulted, Mulgoff, considering the money I spent.”

Mulgoff leaned back in the chair and looked at Corpias, his guard and assistant. Taavi Waldemar was on speaker phone, and he wasn’t surprised by the phone call from his Egyptian friend.

“Taavi, how are you, my friend?”

“Insulted.”

“Ahhh, no need to be insulted. I hadn’t had your name on the list for multiple reasons.”

“Such as?” Taavi asked.

“One, you spent an exorbitant amount of money with me just the other day. Two, LaTargere is not exactly your type of venue and crowd. You do know that I do business with people across the world?”

“Exactly. Am I not allowed to mingle and see what unique treasure you will be showing off that evening?”

“I want my models to feel comfortable and not on edge with concern.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Taavi, I sell jewelry, not women. I understand that her beauty is super appealing to most men, but she is not an item to buy. I found it quite upsetting that you tried to manipulate her into your limo for dinner and security needed to intervene.”

“I did no such thing. I merely sent Hagan to ask her if she would like to join me for dinner, thinking the young beauty was starving from all her hard work.”

Mulgoff chuckled.

“I take care of my models and that one in particular I plan on keeping very happy so she will stick around.”

“She is incredible in so many ways, Mulgoff. Are you certain she won’t be part of the annual event in December?”

“You know the holiday spectacular is a private event to never be discussed with anyone.”

“I’m aware and I am only discussing it with you. So you’ll know that I would be interested if she were part of the package. You always come up with some incredible pieces and cater to the needs of all your friends. So you know, my bid will be quite extreme. If she does wind up as part of the package, I would be willing to pay anything, and I mean anything.”

Mulgoff looked at Corpias, his guard, and gave him a smirk and raised one of his eyebrows at him. Corpias knew that Mulgoff did the annual event to make money and to please the clients who spent millions with him all year long.

“I will keep that in mind, but as of now she is one of my main models.”

“Wonderful, and my invitation?” Taavi pushed.

“Your name will be on the list with security.”

“Thank you, and I look forward to seeing her on Friday. You too, of course.”

He ended the call and looked at Corpias.

“That is your third call today about Rose. Seems she made quite the impression.”

“She made that impression on me, too. You were at the party at Hiatte’s. You saw what I saw. Her snagging some food, and even placing some in a napkin, and you went by her place. She’s struggling to make ends meet and trying to get her artwork out there to get discovered.”