The Ex-Wife's Revenge

Chapter Five

The Country Club smelled like leather and wheatgrass. It was money, older men, and more pretense than needed. Catalina had spent the last four days researching the place since they landed in New York. It had been a male-only club until 1960, when the banned women fought for their entry.

Why anyone would willingly want to play golf was beyond her. But today was about the grey-haired shareholder in her path.

Gerald Whitmore sat at his table overlooking the course, silver-handled clubs poking out of the bag next to him. With a strong chin and eyes that studied her as she came closer to him, the man looked nothing like his seventy-two years.

‘‘Ms Giordano.’’ His warm hand took hers in a firm shake. ‘‘You came.’’

‘‘Well, I was never one to blow off an important appointment.’’ She sat across from him and checked her watch. ‘‘And, I am here with 10 minutes left to spare.’’

Gerald's eyes crinkled at the corners. Beautiful and Punctual. A woman after my old heart’’

Catalina smiled, waving away the tray of juices.

‘‘So, let’s get to why I wanted us to meet,’’ she said.

‘‘You want my eight percent stake in DeLuca Holdings.’’ Gerald stirred his coffee.

‘‘Not at a loss. This meeting is for us to reach an amicable deal.’’

‘‘For a woman once married to Marcus DeLuca, you are rather blunt, Catalina.’’ He took a sip. ‘‘If this were Marcus, he would start by buttering me up, asking about my late wife, grandkids, things he must have googled before coming. Pfft, pretentious cur.’’

Catalina's lips twitched in a smirk. This might go better than she expected.

‘‘I am here on a mission to save the Whitmore legacy, not to flatter you,’’ she said. ‘‘You built half the real estate in this city. The Whitmore name is something Marcus will run into the ground if he is allowed to continue.’’

Gerald set his cup down. ‘‘What makes you think I care? I'm seventy-two. I play golf. My grandchildren are set for life.’’

‘‘The Whitmore Center on Fifth Avenue. The Whitmore Medical Complex. Whitmore Plaza downtown.’’ Catalina leaned forward slightly. ‘‘Your name is on buildings that will outlast both of us, even your grandchildren. Do you want your grandchildren to grow up believing their family name is tainted? Hiding in shame from society? Just for Marcus…’’

She smiled as the fire blazed in his eyes and continued. ‘‘Marcus is hemorrhaging money in deals the company can do without, and losing out on important opportunities. The financials from the last quarter were a disaster; continuing like this might mean bankruptcy.’’ She kept her voice low. ‘‘The board is getting nervous. Shareholders are asking questions; you have questions. So, what will it be? Will you keep hoping for Marcus to have a change of heart, or join me and craft a stronger legacy?’’

Gerald's fingers drummed the tablecloth, and he looked up at her. He really looked like he was seeing past the timid woman always hanging on her husband’s arm to see something he respected.

‘‘I'll sell you my shares. Sixteen million. Market rate.’’

‘‘Done. My team will reach out to finalize every-,’’

‘‘I have one condition.’’

Catalina’s heart hammered against her ribcage. There it was. Nothing came free.

‘‘The buildings I developed with Marcus,’’ Gerald said. ‘‘My family name stays on them. Permanently. In writing.’’

Catalina nodded. ‘‘I'll have my attorney draft the agreement. The Whitmore legacy remains intact.’’

‘‘You'll maintain them properly. No cutting corners on maintenance. No cheap renovations that ruin the design.’’

‘‘You have my word.’’

Gerald extended his hand across the table. ‘‘Then we have a deal, Ms Giordano. I'll have my attorneys contact yours by the end of business today. The transfer should be complete within two weeks.’’

She shook it. ‘‘Thank you.’’

‘‘Don't thank me yet. You've got ninety-two percent left to acquire. The others might need buttering up.’’

‘‘It’s a good thing I have a smooth tongue.’’

Gerald laughed, ‘‘Then, I look forward to your victory.’’

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catalina just sat down in her office when her phone lit up.

Julian Rinaldi.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she shook it off and picked up the device. ‘‘Hello.”

“Catalina.” Julian’s voice purred; her name sounded sensual and dirty when he said it. “Hope I have not caught you at a bad time?”

She glanced at the time. It was 2am in Hong Kong.

“Isn’t it late for you?”

“My body never adjusts on trips like these. Should I call later?”

“No, this is fine.”

Her laptop dinged-a video call request. Catalina hesitated, then clicked accept.

Julian appeared, sleeves rolled, hair a bit unruly. Tokyo glittered behind him, gorgeous and disorienting. Suddenly, she was very aware of how tired he looked.

“You look exhausted,” she blurted before she could reel it in.

“So do you.”

She snorted. ‘‘Fair point.’’

“Let’s talk AI integration timelines,” Julian started, his voice firm, but his eyes never stopped flicking over her, like he was searching for a code in her face. ‘‘It would help to understand more of your plans for the community.’’

Catalina smiled. This was the business partner she had to secure. They talked sensors, energy efficiency, automation, and the nuts and bolts of the deal. It almost felt like he was testing her, and she must have passed his test because he smiled.

“You actually get this stuff,” he said.

“I’m an architect who wants to build a smart community. Learning about the technology for the design is the least I can do.”

“Most people would just outsource this bit.”

“Well, most people don’t have a fifty-billion-dollar partnership behind them.

The tension flowed out of his shoulders, and he leaned forward. “Speaking of partnership, I heard you acquired the Whitmore shares,” Julian said.

Her brows raised in question. ‘‘You heard from who? That happened less than two hours ago.’’

‘‘I am a man of means, Catalina.’’ He smirked.

Catalina leaned away from the screen. “Am I right to assume you are having me watched, Mr Rinaldi?”

“It’s my job to know what’s happening. Especially with my partners.”

“Do you watch all your business partners like this?”

He didn’t blink. “Just the important ones. So just you.”

Her throat tightened, and her hands curled into fists. “If you are trying to control and intimidate me, it won’t work. You gave me ninety days to deliver, and I will.’’

The words hit harder than she wanted them to.

“You are offended,” He replied in a low tone. ‘‘I am sorry my actions have offended you. I just need to be sure you are safe without me. The detail is just for protection, they don’t eavesdrop.’’

“Call them off.” She retorted.

“It’s late, Catalina.” He said, his voice a little thin. ‘‘You should go home.’’

‘‘Julian, I am not joking. Call off the people you have tailing me.’’

“Get some rest, Cara. Tomorrow is another day to fight.”

The screen went blank, and Catalina huffed. Just what she needed, another control freak.

Her phone buzzed.

Julian: “The security detail will be gone tomorrow. Don’t worry your head too much.”

She typed: “Go to sleep.”

He answered instantly: “Only if you let this go.”

She put the phone face down, pulse humming as a smile spread across her lips.

The control freak seemed to care for her.