The Secret Diamond Sisters (6 page)

Courtney wrapped her arms around her stomach, unable to meet
his eyes. She knew she should thank him, but this huge gift made her feel as if
all the money she’d worked for around the clock over the years meant nothing
now. All that time she’d slaved away mixing coffee drinks for minimum wage felt
demeaned knowing that Adrian could have just handed her an unlimited credit
card. A lump formed in her throat at the thought that it had all been for
nothing, and she swallowed it away. That work
wasn’t
for nothing. She’d earned that money through her own means to help out her
family. She would always be proud of that.

“So I can get a designer tote bag for school?” Savannah asked.
Courtney wanted to tell her not to take Adrian’s generosity for granted, but she
was glad the attention had shifted from her. “And designer sunglasses, and
clothes and shoes?”

He smiled at her enthusiasm. “I know someone who will be more
than happy to shop with you for whatever’s going to be popular next season,” he
said, a knowing glint in his eyes. “But aside from that, we have a lot to
discuss. I was sorry to hear about your mother.” He paused and glanced out the
window, his thoughts seeming far away, as if he were remembering a time long
past. Then he refocused and returned his gaze to Courtney and her sisters. “I
didn’t know just how rough this past year has been on the three of you until
your grandmother informed me. I’m sorry you had to go through what you did.”

“Why did you wait until now to do something?” Peyton crossed
her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

“I knew things were bad, but I wasn’t made aware of the extent
of it until your grandmother called me,” he said. “After the divorce your mother
forbade her to contact me, but I suppose that, given the circumstances, she
decided to take charge. She always was a spirited one. I suppose that’s where
you get it from.”

“I don’t mean months ago.” Peyton ignored his semicompliment.
“I mean for our whole lives. We didn’t know if you were alive until now! And now
we find out that you’re....” She paused, as if searching for the right words to
describe him. “Well, that you’re
you.
”

“Mom always said you were bad news.... She let us think you
were a homeless drug dealer or something,” Savannah added. “Why would she want
to keep us away from all of this?” She motioned around the condo to show what
she meant.

“Your mother never approved of the three of you growing up in
this environment,” Adrian said thoughtfully. “And I didn’t disagree with her.
The Las Vegas Strip is not the...safest place to raise children.”

“Couldn’t you have moved?” Courtney finally found her voice.
“So you could be near us?”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s best for my business if I live
here.”

“And your business is more important than your daughters,”
Peyton said.

“Some parts of my business are dangerous no matter where I
live, especially for those close to me,” he said with what Courtney could have
sworn was resentment. “But we’re already ten minutes late for our dinner
reservation, so I’ll go more into detail about that once we’re seated. You three
have arrived on a very important day. Not only is tonight the Fourth of July
party at Myst, but today I had a meeting with a colleague regarding a proposal
for a beneficial partnership.” He paused to look them over again. “You’re all
ready to leave?”

Courtney nodded along with her sisters and tried to smile.
Didn’t Adrian care about sitting down with them privately so they could get to
know each other? To explain why he’d ignored their existence for their entire
lives? Instead, they were going straight out to dinner. Yes, he’d said he would
explain more to them once they got to the restaurant, but Courtney hadn’t
expected that discussion to take place somewhere so public. The thought of being
on display like that took away any semblance of an appetite she’d had until
now.

But maybe she was thinking about it wrong. Maybe he thought
taking them out to dinner would be considerate. Which, she supposed, it was.

“Good,” he said. “We have a private room, so we’ll be able to
talk without other people listening. I also have two people who I want you to
meet. They’ve been looking forward to this, so I would appreciate it if you were
on your best behavior.”

They hadn’t been here a day yet and he was already going to
introduce them to people? Courtney felt nauseated at the prospect. What if she
said something wrong and made a fool of herself?

“I know you might feel out of your element,” he said, “but
please roll with it, and remember that I’ll answer any questions later.”

He looked at the three of them again and walked to the doors,
leaving them no choice but to follow his lead.

chapter 7:

None of them spoke as Adrian led the way down the hall.

Peyton hadn’t expected him to bombard them with bear hugs, but she wasn’t prepared for him to be so formal. He was treating them like they were a business deal instead of his own daughters. He’d even
laughed
about her throwing the credit card in the trash. What was up with that?

After a silent, uncomfortable elevator ride, Adrian escorted them through the casino to a balconied area with two escalators curving around to the floor below. Peyton felt like she’d been dropped into an alternate universe. Huge chandeliers hung from a high circular ceiling—she guessed there were ten of them in all. They were different shapes and colors, most of them red, orange and yellow. It was like being in a cavern, with chandeliers instead of stalactites. But despite it being beautiful, Peyton made sure to look bored and uninterested. The last thing she wanted was for Adrian to think she was happy to be here.

At the bottom of the escalator, Adrian walked through an archway with the words
Five Diamond Steakhouse
in cursive on the top. Peyton had never been to a restaurant this fancy. White cloths covered the tables, and silk drapes fell over parts of the burgundy walls. Bronze chandeliers that looked like hanging lamps dropped down from the ceiling, their golden glow bringing the restaurant to life. Not that it needed it. Every table was occupied with people engaged in lively conversation.

The host spotted Adrian and hurried to the four of them. “Good evening, Mr. Diamond,” he said, bowing his head like Adrian was a king. “Your table is ready.”

Most of the people dining looked up at Adrian as he walked by, whispering and pointing as he passed. How many of them knew he was the owner of the hotel? Even if they didn’t, Adrian had an air about him that announced he was someone important. He greeted people as they passed, shaking hands, smiling and joking like he was best friends with everyone. Peyton could see why people liked him. Why couldn’t he act this friendly around his own daughters?

She supposed it made sense, though—dealing with teenagers wasn’t part of his job description, but making hotel guests happy was.

His “regular table” was in the back of the restaurant in the private room he’d mentioned, and the two people he’d warned them about were already seated. One of them was a guy who appeared to be around Peyton’s age, and while he wasn’t as obviously good-looking as Damien, he was attractive. His face was round, and his green eyes had a faraway look, like he was trying to distance himself from the world. He was underdressed in a T-shirt and a black hoodie, but his mom must not have cared enough to tell him to change.

At least Peyton was 99 percent sure that the woman sitting next to him was his mom. She had a young-looking face, with the same high cheekbones as the boy. She’d pulled her hair back in a bun, and the strand of large pearls around her neck gave her a regal appearance. Adrian smiled when he saw her, his eyes becoming soft and loving.

Who was this woman, and why was Adrian looking at her like she was more valuable than any diamond in the world?

“Girls,” Adrian said, “this is my fiancée, Rebecca Carmel, and her son, Brett. They’ll be joining us for dinner this evening.”

Fiancée? Peyton looked at the woman in disbelief.

Rebecca softly cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. She straightened her silverware, and Adrian rested a hand on her shoulder. Peyton couldn’t blame her for being nervous. This was an awkward situation, and Rebecca was now front and center.

“You have a
fiancée?
” Peyton finally said to Adrian, not caring that the doors to their private room were still open. “And you didn’t think it was important to tell us this first?”

“I didn’t want you to have any preconceived ideas about Rebecca before meeting her,” Adrian said calmly. He motioned to the doors, and the host closed them as he left their room. “Plus, I thought this conversation might be easier for the three of you with a mother figure around.”

“We already have a mother.” Peyton crossed her arms, standing her ground. “We don’t need another one.”

“Maybe we should do this another time....” Rebecca reached for her handbag, and she looked so uncomfortable that Peyton felt a little guilty for being outwardly mean to her.

“No.” Adrian put his hand on top of hers and slid into the seat at the head of the table, looking at her in what seemed like desperation. “It will be best for all of us if you stay.”

Peyton couldn’t believe it. Adrian seemed calm and collected, like he could handle anything. But could he actually be so nervous to be around them that he needed Rebecca there for emotional support?

Her stomach rumbled; the restaurant smelled like fresh bread and perfectly cooked steak, and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She took the seat next to Brett, which was as far away from Adrian as possible.

She placed her napkin on her lap and looked at her silverware in confusion. Why did she need two forks and two knives? And why was the spoon so small and above the plate?

“Start at the outside and work in,” Brett whispered to her. “And don’t touch the spoon until dessert.”

“Thanks.” Apparently she’d looked as confused as she’d felt.

Adrian ordered a bottle of champagne after they went through the introductions. No one mentioned that they were underage, and the waiter didn’t care. Brett didn’t seem fazed, either. Peyton accepted a glass—she was nothing like her mom and could handle her alcohol just fine—and Savannah got one, too. Courtney gave Savannah a warning look and said she was fine with water.

Peyton wondered if Courtney would ever let loose and have fun. They weren’t at home anymore—they were as far from it as possible. Not geographically, obviously, but Vegas couldn’t have been more different from Fairfield if it tried. Peyton wasn’t going to let Vegas change
her,
since she was fine just as she was, but it might not hurt Courtney to live a little.

“I hear you three will be attending Goodman in the fall,” Rebecca said, playing with her pearl necklace as she waited for an answer.

A pit of dread formed in Peyton’s stomach. She recognized the name of the school Damien had mentioned, but she wouldn’t be in Vegas long enough for school to start. Their mom had to get better before September.

If it ended up taking longer and she and her sisters had to do a few weeks at Goodman, no one had told them yet. Anyway, what was the big deal about the school? It wasn’t like they had an option where they would go. How different could this Goodman place be from Fairfield High?

“Yes,” Adrian said. “After I informed the headmaster that I would make a generous contribution toward the new sports center, I mentioned my three daughters were moving to town and hadn’t picked a school yet. Coincidentally, Goodman had three spots waiting to be filled.”

“How wonderful.” Rebecca beamed. Peyton wasn’t sure if she was fake or trying really hard to get them to like her. Judging by how nervous she seemed, she suspected it was the latter. “It’s the best school in the state. Brett goes there. He’ll be a junior in the fall, so he’ll be in Courtney’s year. He can introduce you to the other students this summer so you’ll know people once school begins.”

“Because you know how much I hang out with the prep school crew,” Brett said. Rebecca gave him a look that said,
Stop being so insolent,
but Brett just smiled and took a sip of water.

“Back up a second,” Peyton said. “Isn’t it too early to worry about school?”

“I know no one wants to think about going back to school when it’s only the beginning of July, but this was late notice,” Adrian said. “Their deadline for applications is January. Luckily for the three of you, they were able to make an exception.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Peyton clenched her fists, angry at how he played head games with his words. “If Mom’s better in a few weeks, by September we’ll be back home and at Fairfield High. We shouldn’t think about school here until we know when she’ll be out of that place.”

“Oh.” Rebecca’s face crumpled, and she looked at Adrian in question. “They don’t know yet?”

“Know what?” Courtney asked softly.

“I would have said something earlier, but my meeting ran late and we had to hurry to dinner,” Adrian said. “Plus, I thought your grandmother would have told you herself before you left....”

“Well, apparently she didn’t.” Peyton couldn’t take this anymore. “So spit it out.”

Adrian took a sip of water and cleared his throat. “Your mother is in an extremely difficult, stressful point in her life,” he said, looking seriously at each of them. “Once she’s released from inpatient treatment, she’ll have many struggles ahead while getting her life back on track. I’ve purchased your grandmother a larger house—she wasn’t happy about it, but she eventually accepted—and your mom will move in with her once she’s released. This way she’ll have your grandmother’s support while recovering. So until the end of the next school year, the three of you will be living here, with me.”

Peyton slammed her hands down on the table. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said. “This is going to be my senior year. It’s the last year I’ll have with my friends before we graduate. And now you’re saying I’ll have to spend it
here,
with total strangers? No way is that happening.” She checked to see if her sisters were just as pissed. Courtney’s face had gone white—she seemed shocked, not angry—and Savannah had the nerve to look excited. What the hell was wrong with them? Didn’t they also want to go home?

“You’ll be staying here for the next year.” Adrian didn’t flinch. “It’s in your mother’s best interest. I understand you’re missing home, but I hope you want to do whatever you can to help her recover. She needs to focus on herself in the upcoming months, and that’s going to be easiest for her if she doesn’t have to worry about taking care of anyone else.”

Peyton pressed her lips together, her breaths coming fast. Way for him to make them feel like an unwanted burden.

“But won’t Mom want us around?” Savannah asked with tears in her eyes. Peyton didn’t want to see her cry, but at least this was better than her being excited about staying in Vegas.

“Once she begins outpatient treatment, you’ll be able to visit her,” Adrian said. Then he got very still, as if what he was about to say was hard for him. “But, while I know this might be difficult for you to believe right now, you’re here because I want you to be here, too.”

Peyton leaned back and crossed her arms. No way would she believe that crap.

At the same time, she wanted her mom to get better, and she refused to do anything that might send her spiraling. If staying in Vegas for the year was what it took, she would tough it out and get through it. But she wouldn’t make it easy for Adrian. He hadn’t wanted them in his life until now, and she wasn’t about to smile and forgive him.

“Fine,” she said. “But Goodman isn’t a
private
school, is it?”

“Of course it is,” Adrian said. “Where else would you go?”

“Public school.” Peyton said the obvious response. “Like we always have.”

“The Goodman School is the best in the state,” Adrian said, like that should be reason enough.

“It might be,” Peyton replied. “But we don’t need a fancy private school. We’ve been in public school our whole lives, and it’s never been a problem.” No one said anything, so she looked at her sisters for backup. “Right?” she said, expecting support. She wouldn’t fit in with the people who went to private school, and she didn’t want to. They were probably a bunch of stuck-up snobs.

“I don’t know, Peyton,” Courtney said carefully. “It will look better on college applications if we go to a school like Goodman.”

“They have a one-hundred percent college acceptance rate,” Rebecca said proudly. “Last year a fourth of the graduating class went to an Ivy League or similar level school.”

“I’m not going to college.” Peyton smirked. “So there goes that one hundred percent.”

Worry flitted across Rebecca’s face, but Adrian didn’t look concerned. “We’ll see.” He sounded so superior, as if he knew something Peyton didn’t. It made her want to hit something.

Instead she looked at Courtney, betrayed by her sister’s reaction. “You never mentioned wanting to go to private school before,” she said.

Courtney looked down at the tablecloth. “That’s because it was never an option.”

Peyton looked at Savannah for support, but her normally talkative sister didn’t say a word. Was she the only one who hated the idea of going to school with overprivileged snobs who would have nothing in common with her?

“I’m not going to Goodman.” Peyton stood her ground. “I’ll go to the local public school instead.”

“How about we compromise?” Adrian said. “You’ll start at Goodman in the fall. If after three months it’s as awful as you imagine, we can discuss other options.”

Peyton thought about it. “One month,” she countered.

“Two months and you have a deal,” Adrian said, with a hint of a smile.

“Fine.” Peyton nodded. “Two months.” She was going to hate it no matter what, but at least being there for two months was better than the entire year.