Anger that was unjustified. Anger that actually shamed him. Blaming a dead woman would solve nothing.
Outwardly he shrugged. “So I’m a Leo instead of a Virgo.”
Ryan’s snort of dark amusement echoed in the quiet room, one that twitched Jake’s mouth in all-too-brief humour.
Then Garth rose and withdrew a piece of paper from a folder. “As Howard’s first born, you are now the recipient of a considerable amount of wealth.” The man handed the paper to Jake. “You know about the third of Howard’s shares—fifty-one percent divided equally between you, Ric and Ryan. You also own Howard’s Vaucluse mansion, Miramare, although Sonya Hammond was given the right to reside there for the rest of her life. The remainder of Howard’s assets—personal investments, artworks, cash—are now divided between yourself and Ryan.”
Jake studied the details in silence, pausing only to chance a glance at Kimberley. Even Howard’s rumored lover, Marise Davenport-Hammond, had come away with a seven-figure sum, yet for his eldest daughter, the wife of his surrogate son Ric Perrini, nothing. Worse, he’d publicly and privately humiliated her with the gifting of his Bondi beach house to Ryan, a house where her mother had drowned.
He had to hand it to Kimberley—she met his scrutiny head on, the cool green gaze a study in calm.
Garth continued. “There’s also an article that stipulates three Blackstones must sit on the board—at the moment it’s Kimberley, Ryan and Vincent Blackstone, Howard’s brother.”
“I’m not after a board position.”
“We’re not giving you one. Yet,” Ric said, matching his cool reply. “But Vince has his own life and is making noises about retiring.” He studied Jake’s face. “And it all depends on what you decide.”
“It’s too early to make a decision.”
“So just how are you planning to help the company?” Ryan asked tightly.
Jake gave him the once-over, only mildly surprised when the younger man, just like his sister, refused to break eye contact.
These Blackstones were tough.
“First, I need to get up to speed with all aspects of Blackstone Diamonds, starting with the financials and corporate structure. Then, I’ll hold a meeting with the board and shareholders to reassure them of my commitment.”
“Are you planning to commit?” Ric asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “Or are you going to break up the company after the shares stabilise?”
“How can I? I don’t have a controlling interest.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
Jake studied Ric Perrini with renewed respect. If it came down to a vote, Matt Hammond held ten percent of the shares and had already pledged his support in Jake’s favour. But that was purely because the man hated the Blackstones.
Jake didn’t know these people. But he’d been in similar situations, ones that involved family, tradition and high emotion. You had to tread lightly. Be diplomatic. Get them onside with a small truth, at least.
“For now, I’m committed.”
“That’s not good enough,” Garth snapped. “Howard built Blackstone’s up from nothing. He wasn’t a saint but he loved this company. He put his life into it, making it a successful, international brand name. His wish was to see that continue—with his family at the helm.” The older man thumped the table with a clenched fist for emphasis. “After all these years, he never stopped believing you were alive somewhere. Even refused to put up a gravestone in your name. That’s how damned stubborn and committed he was. And look—he was right. Don’t you think you owe his memory—your family—more than a ‘for now’?”
The impassioned speech made as much impact on Jake’s composure as a feather on steel. He’d heard it all before, seen enough pleading, threatening and bargaining to not let it matter.
He held Buick in a cool stare until the older man let out a disgusted snort and settled back in his chair.
“A DNA test doesn’t make a bunch of strangers suddenly family,” Jake said calmly, ignoring the way Kim’s face paled. “I don’t like this any more than you do. Make no mistake—this isn’t about some newly discovered paternal ties to Howard Blackstone. I don’t want or need the complication.”
“So why are you doing it?” Ryan asked.
Jake smiled thinly. “To make money.”
“You’re a billionaire. How much more do you need?” Kim asked, her eyes astute.
Way too personal. Jake crossed his arms and met her gaze head-on. “Take my offer or not. You’re quite welcome to maintain the status quo and let that press leak go unfound, watch the stock plummet, the shareholders pull out…”
“Or take our chances with you,” Ric finished.
“Yep.”
He rose to give them their thinking time and strode over to the cabinet to pour a glass of water. Unmindful of the hushed discussion at the other end of the room, he sipped slowly as he gazed upon the magnificent view of Sydney stretched in front of him, fixing on the familiar blue neon of his AdVance Corp across the bay, a physical manifestation of eight years’ hard work.
He’d expected softer edges after Ryan’s recent marriage, but the man’s glare indicated a strong will. And, if the reports were true, an even stronger desire to prove himself in the face of Howard Blackstone’s obvious preference for Ric Perrini. Just the sort of family infighting that jeopardised smart business decisions—which would, ironically, make his decision to keep them at arm’s length that much easier.
For a week he’d immersed himself in this family—their history, their investments, even the salaciously unreliable gossip. He might be related to them on paper, but loyalty had to be earned. There were only four people in the world he trusted: His secretary. His chief of security. Quinn, who had voiced multiple warnings to watch his back. And his mother.
He didn’t miss the irony. For someone with deep trust issues, he’d placed it with a woman who’d been living a lie.
“OK,” Ric said at length. “Under one condition.”
Jake turned his back to the window, placing his glass on the cabinet. “Which is?”
“No official announcements until we’re good and ready.”
Jake quirked an eyebrow. “And your reasoning is…?”
“You. The speculation alone will be enough to drop stock prices.”
He smiled humourlessly. “And it conveniently stops anything from leaking out…unless one of you is the source.”
Ryan visibly bristled, but Kim put a hand on his arm. “Your identity stays with us until we all agree on where and when to announce it,” she said smoothly. “Not even the assistant we’ve assigned to you knows.”
Great. A company mouthpiece to spout the latest platitudes about Blackstone’s.
“Have you informed your solicitors and the private investigator?” Jake asked.
“We’ve called the P.I. off,” Ric said.
Jake nodded. “So let’s see what I can dig up on this leak before we start making anything official. A week, maybe two, should do it.”
“Once people start seeing you here, it’ll be hard to avoid speculation,” Kimberley said.
“Which is why we’ve given you an office on the executive floor. Limited access. High security,” Ric added.
“I don’t need an office. But I will