Forbidden Disclosure (A Billionaire in Disguise) Page 7

  “NO! It has nothing to do with the penthouse and the damn cars!”

  Francesco was speechless. He had never heard his son raise his voice to him.

  “I’m sorry, Father. You can find me a farm in New York, I don’t care. But I need to be near some resources.”

  “Daniel, what’s going on?”

  “Dad, I need to find someone.”

  Francesco could hear the pain in his son’s voice. “Daniel, are you in some kind of trouble? How much money do you need this time?” Francesco was feeling nothing but disappointment. “You still haven’t learned anything, have you?”

  “Do we have to do this right now?” Daniel’s voice was beginning to rise again.

  “Yes, Daniel. Answer my question.”

  “I learned that money can’t buy happiness. What I thought was happiness was fake! I don’t want a new woman every night, Father. I want one woman, and she’s gone! I have to find her!”

  “You’re in love with this woman or did you give her a child?”

  “Please, don’t ask me that.”

  “Are you in love with her, Daniel?” Francesco bowed his head, praying that it could finally be true.

  “I don’t even know what love for a woman is! I’m ashamed of that, but if you must know the guts of it all, I never even took her to bed! She is making me crazy! I can’t stop thinking about her and now she’s gone!”

  Francesco listened to his son’s voice crack more. “Come home, Daniel. You must be able to get to the airport and take a regular plane to New York. If you can’t, I’m afraid you’ll have to stay and earn the money.”

  “I have to tie some things up over here at the farm. This lady named Rosie is a sweetheart, and I can’t hurt her. She took me in and gave me work, even cooks for me, and I won’t leave until I know she’s going to be okay.”

  “You mean to tell me you aren’t just going to leave loose ends and go running out the door?”

  “No, those days are done.”

  Francesco hung up the phone, sat down, and hit the buzzer on his desk. Carl walked into the study shortly afterward.

  “Yes, Francesco, can I get you anything?”

  “I want you to find out what you can about this Rosie Daniel is working for. I want to know why she’s so important to my son. Maybe she knows who he really is and is using him.”

  “I’ll get right on it, Francesco. Is Daniel coming home?”

  “I hope so, I miss him.”

  Chapter 6

  Daniel went outside and hoped he’d spot Rosie. The arguing he soon heard made him run to the side of the house. Sam was yelling, and Rosie was speaking in a firm voice that Daniel had never heard her use before.

  “What’s going on?” Daniel interrupted as his protective instincts kicked in. He stepped between the two and faced Sam.

  “Nothing, John. We just agree to disagree sometimes.” Rosie stepped in front of Daniel and smiled at him as Sam kicked the dirt and walked off.

  “Why was Sam yelling at you?” Daniel didn’t like the looks of any of it. He never heard anything but peace on this quiet farm.

  “He’s just crotchety, John. Sometimes he forgets that he doesn’t own things and that he can’t push me around. It’s okay though, we’re the best of friends and we’d never bring harm to one another.” Rosie gave Daniel a hug and stared at him inquisitively. She knew there were things on his mind. She stared at his face for a minute, and finally he took a deep breath and sighed.

  “What is it, John? What has you so out of sorts?”

  “Rosie, can we sit down and talk?”

  “Of course we can, sweetie. I was just getting ready to make a nice cup of coffee if you’d care to join me.” Rosie hooked her arm in Daniel’s as he produced a forced smile. They walked inside the house, and Rosie stayed hopeful that John had come to talk about his troubles. She hated to see him down like he’d been.

  “Rosie,” began Daniel when they were both seated. “Do you have someone who can take my place here at the farm?”

  “Are you leaving? Is something wrong, John?” Rosie’s face got both worried and sad.

  “I’m afraid it’s time for me to go back to New York, Rosie. But I want you to know that you did more for me than you’ll ever know. I’m not going to leave you hanging. I refuse to go until I know you’re going to be okay.”

  “John, that’s awfully sweet of you, but I can get another ranch hand. I just need to put the advertisement back up.” Rosie tried to smile so she wouldn’t cry. She had gotten so close to Daniel.

  “I’ll stick around until you find another worker. You can’t be working as hard as you do.” Daniel had been concerned about the amount of work this older woman was doing for months. It just wasn’t right. He reached out and gently held her hand.

  “Nonsense, John. I thank you for your concern, but I’ve been doing this all my life. This farm belonged to my late husband. I played here when I was a little girl, worked the land when I got older, and eventually ended up marrying Albert Montoose, my childhood friend. When the land went up for sale, he bought it, and Albert and his father built this house.” Rosie paused as she thought about how her life could have been so very different. She never wanted to run a farm, but her husband had been adamant about it. It was the role she married into, not one that she chose. Rosie looked at John’s face and saw his worry. “I’m sure your mother and father will be happy their son is coming home!”

  “Rosie, my father will be happy to see me. My mother died giving birth to me, and I’m their only child.”

  Rosie looked at him with such compassion, then stood up to give him a close hug. “I always wanted children, but Albert wasn’t able to provide those. But I have my four-legged children!” Rosie laughed at her reference to the horses.

  Daniel wasn’t laughing. “Rosie, I’m going to give you ways you can contact me. If you ever need anything, let me know and I’ll be on the first plane. I plan on coming back to visit you real soon. I promise you that.”

  “Oh, sweetie, you’re young, and you shouldn’t be worrying yourself about a stubborn old woman. Now you just go pack your things when you’re ready to head on out, and I’ll check on flights to New York for you.”

  “Thanks, Rosie. How about I stay just until you find someone--”

  “John, if you don’t go I’m going to fire you!” Rosie laughed and pecked him on the cheek, then turned to take the cups to the sink.

  “I’ll come and say goodbye before I take off, Rosie.”

  She could only nod in response while she got busy washing the empty cups. She didn’t trust her voice. When she heard the door close, she sobbed.

  Daniel went in his room and checked on his phone for flight times and ticket costs. He was pleased at how much he’d collected underneath the mattress. If he hurried, he could be at the airport to catch a flight that would depart in a few hours.

  Daniel kept a thousand dollars just in case something happened and he ended up stranded. He walked up to the house and saw Rosie, busy typing at the old computer.

  “You don’t have to look, Rosie. I found a flight that leaves here in a few hours. I just came to tell you goodbye and to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. It’s been a true pleasure working for you. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I got to know you. You’re incredible.” Daniel wrapped his arms around Rosie and held her close. He kissed her cheek and promised to see her soon, while he slipped the remainder of all his money in her sweater pocket.

  “You behave yourself out there, John. Remember that you’ll always have a place here when you need one, with plenty of love to go around.” Rosie started to tear up.

  “Okay none of that or you’ll have me staying here forever! And I love you too, Rosie. Take care and I’ll see you again soon. Please believe that, okay?” Daniel stepped away and smiled at her.

  “You got a deal, John. If you ever need me, you call.”

  Daniel made a quick call to his father to let him know he was on his way home,
then got in his pickup and headed to the airport. He looked down at his feet and noticed he’d forgotten to put his work boots on and give Rosie back her husband’s cowboy boots. I’ll mail them to her. I’m not going back in that house just to say goodbye to her again. Daniel felt such pain in leaving this woman, and he had the feeling that even if she needed help from him, she wouldn’t ask. She’s the most selfless person I’ve ever met.

  Daniel was midflight before it dawned on him that he didn’t even know Katherine’s last name. He never bothered to ask. He didn’t know the last names of hardly any women he was with. He didn’t care. Now he did.

  The flight in coach went a lot smoother. He sat by quiet people, and the seat directly in front of him was empty. He was grateful for the extra leg room. After the plane landed, he worried about where the keys to the red pickup truck would be. He certainly didn’t want to pay for a cab, or even worse, call his father and tell him he needed a ride home.

  “Daniel!”

  Daniel turned his head and saw Carl yelling out the back window of the limo.

  “Carl, I was just wondering where the red pickup keys were.”

  “You were really going to drive that thing back home?” Carl laughed at the thought. When he saw how serious Daniel was, he stopped.

  “Carl, if you’re going to make jokes, I’ll just pay for a cab.”

  “No, Daniel. Forgive me, please.”

  The ride back to the penthouse was quiet. Daniel tried to close his eyes and rest, not interested in looking at the dirty environment, the people hurrying, and the tall buildings. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for more conversations with Carl. He didn’t dislike the man, as he’d known him his entire life, but he didn’t feel up to fielding questions.

  “Here is your wallet, money, and cards, Daniel. In the wallet is the key to your penthouse. Call if you find yourself in need of my assistance. Goodnight.”

  Saying goodnight and thank you, Daniel got out of the limo and motioned for the guards to let him into the secured parking structure so he could quietly take the back elevators up to the penthouse. The guards paused, but only briefly. They didn't dare question Mr. Daniel Giordano. There sat his white Lamborghini. He stopped by the car and looked over its shine, its sleekness, and the waste of money. The cost of this one car would provide for Rosie for quite some time. Hell, it would even pay for most of Katherine’s education and a decent car. Tomorrow, I’ll sell it.

  He listened to the bland elevator music on the way up to the twenty-fourth floor. Unlocking the door, his first smell was leather. Expensive leather. The fresh air he was exposed to was long gone. He looked out the windows and saw the Empire State Building. I’ve been there only once. Why was this view so important to me? I’d trade this for the view of the rolling meadow any day. The view of Katherine’s face. He walked further around the penthouse that his father had paid tens of millions for. It had been a surprise for Daniel’s birthday. Why do I need five bedrooms or five and a half baths? Why did I think I needed any of this? What I need is gone…

  Daniel sat down on the soft white leather sectional and got his phone out. He looked up the phone number for The Corral. Dialing, he hoped that Andy didn’t pick up the phone. The last thing he needed was for him to worry that he wanted to bring harm to Katherine. I already have.

  “Hello?”

  Daniel was relieved to hear the boisterous voice coming from the background.

  “Stop answering the damn phone like that! This is a business I’m trying to run. What’s the matter with you?”

  “Alright already! Thank you for calling The Corral. Can I help you?”

  “I wanted to send a note of thanks to the owner. I know his first name is Andy but I’m not sure of his last name. Can you tell me so I can address this envelope?”

  “Sure, his name’s Andy O’Brian.”

  “I understand Katherine moved. I have a few things to send to her that she let me borrow. Do you happen to know where she went?”

  “Nope. No one knows. Said she’ll let us know when she found a place to settle down.”

  Daniel thanked the girl and hung up. He immediately fired up the computer. Then he sat there, not even knowing what state she went to. Did she go back to Michigan? Searching for Katherine O’Brian, the correct Katherine O’Brian, his Katherine O’Brian, was going to be a nightmare. He was definitely going to need some help.

  His phone rang and Daniel saw that it was his father.

  “Daniel, could you come by the house? I miss you, and Elda is cooking up some lobsters!”

  Lobsters. Ask her if she has any biscuits and gravy.

  “I can stop by, Father, but I’m not really hungry. I do want to speak to you about a couple of matters if you have time.”

  “Of course I have time, Daniel. I can’t wait to see you!”

  Even though he was exhausted, the excitement he heard in his father’s voice made him feel good. For way too long he’d been a disappointment to the man who’d given him everything. He’s just one more person I took advantage of to meet my selfish needs.

  The hot water felt good, the water pressure was just right, but the sterile penthouse was not. There weren’t any knickknacks, family photographs, nothing homemade, not even one item that held any kind of heart value. The closest thing he had was a grand piano. Not only did he not know how to play it, but no one else had touched it either.

  With his plush towel wrapped around his waist, Daniel walked into his room to get changed. He opened up the closet and saw that practically everything he had was tailored specifically for him by designers. There were rows of custom made suits, stark white shirts, expensive ties, and way too many dress shoes. Daniel closed the door and opened up his suitcase. Inside was a clean pair of faded blue jeans and a blue flannel shirt. He smiled and got dressed.

  He took the back elevator to the parking garage and got in his Lamborghini. It started on the first try. It didn’t backfire or make any noise, other than the sweet sounds that it should have. He loved the car, but he just couldn’t drive it and feel good. People that he cared about were going without simple, basic things. Over and over again the guilt poured through him. I didn’t even earn all the luxuries I have. Not one single thing did I work for.

  Carl stepped into the study carrying a file that contained information Francesco requested.

  “Rosie Lynn Montoose? That’s a mouthful, Carl.”

  “Would you like to review the file in private? I’m sure you don’t need me to watch over your shoulder.”

  “Carl, thank you. You don’t have to stay. Daniel will be here shortly and I need to speak to him in private. The paperwork for my son to take over the company has been drawn up for almost two years. I would like to present it to Daniel and hope the proposal is well received. I’m not getting any younger. I made sure you’ll keep your job and be well cared for.”

  “I thank you, Sir. But if you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do with your free time, Francesco? I worry about you not having things to occupy yourself. Perhaps you can travel.”

  “Maybe, but that is something I shared with Lillian, God rest her soul. I miss her every day, Carl. I’ve been alone for over two and a half decades so you think I would have gotten used to it.” Francesco let out a fake laugh, but Carl could see right through it.

  “Very well. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

  Francesco sat at his desk and opened the file as Carl left the study. The photograph showed an older woman with a friendly, happy face and beautiful blue eyes. He read the sheets of paper and couldn’t find anything to indicate that she would blackmail his son. Maybe she really didn’t know that John Williams was a fabricated name. She had no criminal past, not even a traffic ticket. Francesco did find out a critical piece of information, though. Rosie Lynn Montoose was losing her farm.

  Chapter 7

  Daniel drove through the security gates and up the long driveway of his father’s estate. It was definitely beautiful.
Acres of manicured property surrounded the mansion that was way too big for just Daniel and his father. Francesco and Lillian had planned on a large family. She was much younger than Francesco and he’d planned for a wonderful life with her. Those dreams were crushed by her untimely death, but Francesco didn’t have the heart to sell the place because his wife had put so much of her love and personality in each room.

  Carl opened the front door and greeted Daniel. “You may wear your other clothes, Daniel. You’ve met the requirement so there’s no need to dress like that anymore.” Carl openly laughed.