A Private Affair - A.C. Arthur Page 0,22

But when he looked up to see his uncle walking into his office unannounced, he hoped there was some business issue the man needed to discuss that would help Chaz focus on other things.

His uncle began as soon as he sat down. “I heard Ron sent his little girl to Milan to snatch Perry off the market.”

Well, this wasn’t going to go the way Chaz thought it might.

Tobias King was a big man, six feet three-and-a-half inches—two inches taller than Chaz—two hundred and eighty-something pounds. Chaz was only partially guessing. He’d gone to Tobias’s last doctor’s appointment to make sure his uncle’s blood pressure was in check. High blood pressure was a silent killer and with the stress of the company and seven ex-wives, Tobias was always borderline and terribly neglectful when it came to his health.

Now that Chaz was in New York for a while, he would make sure his uncle took better care of himself, even if it meant treating Tobias like he was a child.

“It’s not a big deal,” Chaz replied. “You’ve got a good design team and they’re coming up with fresh and innovative ideas. This men’s collection is going to speak directly to professional millennials and they’re gonna love it.”

Chaz was certain of that fact because he’d spent hundreds of hours researching this demographic and studying the look, price and packaging of their clothes. He’d kept a few employees that were in the branding department when he came, but he’d hired half a dozen more to create a team that would produce quickly and efficiently.

“But she’s a slick one, that Riley. Polished and primped all the time and smart as a whip. I’ve heard her talk at conventions and the rare times she speaks to the press. She’s got her father’s attitude but her mother’s look. A dangerous combination.”

Tobias was going bald but wasn’t quite ready to shave his head, so he kept the remaining hair cut very low. He’d even taken to wearing fitted hats and had designed a collection of them with matching casual jackets. His low-cut beard was white, giving him a distinguished older-gentleman appeal, while his steely deep brown eyes remained as astute as they’d been when he was in his twenties.

“She’s not that bad.” The moment he said those words, Chaz regretted them.

Not actually regret—that was a word Chaz didn’t allow himself to associate with. He believed everything happened for a reason and that when things didn’t go the way he planned, he just had to reconcile himself with that reason. Still, those weren’t the words he’d meant to say and now he’d have to deal with the backlash, which he had no doubt was coming swiftly.

“How do you know how bad she is? Did you run into her while you were in Milan? I hoped you wouldn’t when I found out she was down there.”

“I’ve known Riley for a few years now, Unc.” Chaz had always called him “Unc” instead of Uncle Tobias. It was shorter, and to the nine-year-old who had been grieving his parents when he first came to New York, the less he had to say, the better.

“Yeah, well, this was the first time she’s been direct competition to you.”

Chaz shrugged. “I didn’t go to Milan just to meet up with Perry. And we actually did get a chance to talk. He was meeting with RGF this week but that doesn’t mean he’s officially working for them.”

“Oh, he is. Look at this.” Tobias slammed the fashion magazine onto Chaz’s desk.

It was open to an article naming Perry this year’s hottest and most desired designer. And first on the list of fashion houses Perry wanted to work for was RGF.

“We’re fine. PR’s getting the buzz out about the lines we’re pushing this season and the sales projections are seventy-six percent higher than this time last year.”

Tobias grabbed the brim of his red hat and pulled it off. “It’s gotta work. We’ve gotta get back on top.”

“We will. Don’t worry,” Chaz told him.

Tobias shook his head and walked toward the door. When he turned back, he extended his arm and was waving his hat at Chaz as he talked. “Keep an eye on her. She’s planning something big.”

Chaz didn’t hesitate. “You didn’t bring me here to watch what anybody else is doing. King Designs is in a class by itself and I’m going to make sure nobody forgets that.”

Tobias drew his lips into a tight line and gave a curt nod before leaving Chaz alone. Twenty minutes later