Most people, my children and family included, would use the name to their advantage. Like you, I prefer to earn respect and friendship on my own merits.”
She gave him a firm nod. “I’ll see you tonight at seven. Decadence at the Merrick International building,” she repeated to help her remember.
“Can I drop you somewhere?”
“I’ll be fine, but thank you.”
She waited while George drove away before heading for the street and hailing a cab. Soaking wet and cold, she didn’t have time to go to the Four Seasons and change. Already fifteen minutes late for her meeting, she didn’t care. George Knight was still alive.
Chapter Seven
* * *
CAMERON SAT IN his office looking out the window at the night sky and the ocean beyond. The ship from the night before had disappeared. He felt as lonely and desolate as the ocean looked without the ship.
He had to meet Shelly and Emma downstairs for dinner again. Emma never said much about Shelly on the car ride home last night and it worried Cameron. She usually talked about the people she met.
He needed to put a stop to this fiasco, and soon.
With one last look toward the sea, he rose from his desk. Still no ship. He didn’t understand why he longed to see the boat on the horizon, to know it was out there waiting for him.
MARTI WAS RUNNING late. Her uncle had indeed been long-winded and prepared to do battle over her grandmother’s estate. To his frustration and increasing anger, Marti sat through the meeting quietly refusing to rise to the bait and argue with him. Her grandmother’s will was straightforward and spelled out her wishes in her usual meticulous manner.
Uncle Anthony was given the large estate property in Marin and a cash settlement. He would continue at the company per her grandfather’s previous wishes. Marti received the sailboat and a cash settlement. Of course, there were stocks and bonds and trusts to be split between them and all kinds of other small treasures.
The icing on the cake went to Marti. To her uncle’s angry protests, Marti received all of her grandmother’s paintings. She and the lawyers would manage the pieces displayed around the world in museums and galleries, but she would also receive the entire private collection. Hundreds of paintings were stored in a special climate-controlled warehouse. Marti would be in charge of her grandmother’s legacy.
She grabbed a dress from her suitcase. Not entirely wrinkled, made of a good fabric, with a little steam it would look great. She turned on the shower in the elegant bathroom and hung the dress so it would catch the steam.
No time for her to actually take a shower. Her hair hung limp past her shoulders after her stint standing in the storm talking to George. She thought about the man and smiled. She’d missed having an elder for company.
She used the dryer to fluff her hair. She pulled the sides away from her face, clipped them, and let the rest fall down her back. She’d been at sea for a year and her hair had grown out considerably. She took a critical look at herself in the mirror. Her hair, usually a rich brown, now showed streaks of gold from the sun. The color made her tanned skin and soft green eyes glow with warmth. Five feet seven and lean, maybe a little too thin. Climbing rigging and working on the boat had made her strong. Not to mention her long swims in the ocean waves. She had a nice figure. Round in all the right places, though no one would call her voluptuous—more softly feminine.
She brushed on a soft pink blush and checked her makeup one final time. Subtle, natural. Not bad.
She took one last glance. “That’s as good as it gets,” she said to her image in the mirror.
She took the royal blue wrap-dress down from the wall hook, shook it out, and put it on. She slid her feet into the black sling-back pumps, grabbed her purse, and ran out the door to catch a cab.
If she were lucky, she’d only be a few minutes late.
DINNER STARTED OUT well enough. Shelly was attentive and interested in Emma and her day at school. Shelly and Emma went over the menu and all of Emma’s favorites. In the end, Shelly agreed to let Emma order for her. Shelly seemed pleased by the selection and gushed over Emma’s choice.
Maybe Cameron had judged the situation too harshly last night. Maybe Shelly and Emma needed