The Exiled Jeweler: a contemporary romance novel (The Rosa Legacy Book 2) (7 page)

Chapter 4

Arriving back at her grandfather’s house at nearly eleven, Emilia decided to look for a condo. Her grandfather’s housekeeper was waiting up for her and offered her a late snack. Politely declining, Emilia said goodnight and headed to the guest house. Her mind was reeling from her encounter with Alex. She could feel his hands on her body and he reaction to him. Stripping off her clothing, she took a hot shower.

Why did he want her to tell her family that he was the man in the photographs? Why not just keep it secret? What good would come of telling everyone? She thought about his desire to expose the truth. He was right but it didn’t make telling her family any easier.

Why had he framed the three photographs of them together at the party? What could he possibly gain from showing her the images? Had he hoped to seduce her? She was exhausted from considering all of the possible reasons.

She reminded herself to stay focus on saving Berceto. Over the next several days, Emilia went to the company each day and tried to figure out how to undo the damage. Part of the difficulty was nothing was familiar about the company that she grew up visiting and spending time in. She knew her parents had changed the physical location of the company, but the more questions she asked, the more she realized that the essential business model had been abandoned as well. The sales staff had their territories cut in half and some of the more experienced employees had found other, more lucrative employment.

Emilia had been having breakfast with her grandfather each day, but instead of giving her advice, he had been asking her questions and listening to her concerns. He expected her to figure out a path forward on her own.

Five days after her dinner with Alex, Emilia was still trying to figure out why he had framed the photographs of them. Was it possible that he has attracted to her? She told herself that it must have something to do with acquiring Berceto.

Getting dressed for the day, she sent a brief text to Liv letting her know that she would pick her up at her hotel by nine o’clock. Emilia had begged Liv to come to California and help with the upcoming trade show. The annual show was a critical piece in helping the company right itself.

Walking out onto the terrace, she spotted her grandfather having coffee. The California sun warmed the air and created a golden haze over the day.

She kissed her grandfather goodbye and wished him a good day, he said, “You look beautiful, Emilia.”

She stood before him in a new wrap-around silk dress that made her look polished and fashionable. She had gone shopping the night before and purchased a few work dresses that hopefully would elevate her standing within the company. She knew the shorts and T-shirts she preferred to wear in Florida wouldn’t portray the right image to the large staff at Berceto. And as her father and uncle dressed in suits and ties each day, she wanted to match their professional attire.

Walking out the door, she realized that her grandfather was secretly praying that she would be successful in her bid to run the company.

Making her way through L.A. traffic, she pulled up to the four-star hotel where Liv was waiting for her. Her friend climbed into the silver Mercedes, saying, “This is a completely different life for you. How are you holding up?”

Emilia maneuvered the vehicle back into traffic on the busy side street. “I’m not sure. Everything is moving at such a hectic pace. I’ve been working on a launch concept, but Berceto has changed so much since I left, it is barely recognizable.”

Liv had traveled a couple times a year to help with the annual trade shows and exhibits, but Emilia had remained in the studio instead of accompanying her. Her parents had insisted that it was more important for her to produce the high-end designs than get involved with the day-to-day running of the business.

Liv smiled at her. “Things have a way of working out.”

“I’ve reviewed the balance sheets. The company is in dire straits and my father and uncle want to sell fifty percent of the shares to Alexander Armati.”

Her assistant drew in a surprised breath. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m not going to let it happen.”

“From everything you have told me about Alex Armati, he is hugely successful in anything he sets his sights on. Maybe he could help Berceto?” Liv said as she rummaged in her bag for sunglasses.

Emilia resisted telling Liv about her dinner with Alex. It was too raw and upsetting. Apparently she had learned very little from the past, she had been more than willing to kiss him.

She kept her eyes on the road. “I need your help to turn things around. There are very few people that I can count on.”

Thinking about the problems facing the company sparked energy into her. She was not going to let the company fail.

“Are you sure that this is what you want? You were very happy when you were designing and if you start managing Berceto then you will not have the freedom to create new pieces.”

She heard the concern in her friend’s voice. Liv had a point. She would have to pull back from designing. And she may not have the experience or knowledge to know how to move the company away from bankruptcy.

“If I don’t do something, Berceto will be sold and I’ll be working for Alexander Armati.”

“Wouldn’t your family own a large percentage? Maybe it would be more of a partnership.”

She had no illusions that it would be a partnership. Alex would take over.

“The alternative is to launch my own design business, but that would mean giving up the Berceto legacy. I’m sure Alex Armati will make me sign a non-compete for a period of time. Maybe five years. If I don’t agree to his terms my parents and uncle will lose everything.”

Her only option was to find a way out of the cash issues that Berceto had and try and save the company.

“You are enormously talented. I’m sure Alexander Armati will want to keep you motivated and happy.”

He wanted something from her, but it didn’t have anything to do with happiness. He wanted to win and she wasn’t going to let him. He had already unwittingly orchestrated her exile, but she was stronger and wiser now. This time she would prevail. She would make any sacrifice necessary to see Berceto remain a family jewelry business for future generations.

“Liv, I have no intention of working for Alex Armati.”

The remaining time in the car was spent going over the plans for the new launch. Emilia and Liv went through the security checkpoints in the parking lot and then again in the main foyer of Berceto.

Liv headed to the marketing area while Emilia put her bag in the temporary office that had been set up for her and then went in search of her father.

Walking up to the conference room, she could see her father through the large, plate glass window. Refreshments had been placed on the large oval table and her uncle walked in behind her, closing the door.

Her uncle greeted her, “Lia, I hope you had a good meeting with Alexander Armati.”

Her father gave her a kiss on the cheek and offered her coffee.

She politely declined and had a seat at the table.

Her uncle began the meeting. “There is much to discuss. We won’t be able to make payroll next week if we don’t get an influx of cash.”

Her father looked worried. “Things have changed. It isn’t easy to be in business these days. Berceto is facing hard times and after looking at all the possibilities, the offer from Alexander is a good one.”

Emilia met both of their glances and said, “He would take controlling interest in Berceto. The family business would be lost forever.”

“You have seen the accounts; there is nothing that can be done,” her uncle said sharply.

Emilia stood up and began pacing as she said, “The company can be scaled back until business increases, and I have plans to launch a new designer series of jewelry that should create excitement.”

Her uncle shook his head saying, “It’s too late. I would rather sell now then fold in a few months.”

“I’ll not agree to work for Alex Armati.”

Her father said, “If you take the custom design business away from Berceto, then Alex will refuse to fund the company. As you know, it is the only stable cash flow that exists at the moment. The rest of the business is in shambles with exceedingly high accounts receivable, wages the company can’t afford, and dismal production sales. Our vendors are even beginning to cut our available credit.”

“Your father is right. We need to be practical. Selling now is better than being left with nothing in a few months.”

“We should continue to fight. We can’t just give up.”

Her father stood up. “You can’t do this to us. We have spent our entire life working in this business and to watch it slide into bankruptcy would be devastating. It’s not worth the risk.”

“We can turn Berceto around without Alex Armati. I understand the design and production difficulties. I’ve been able to produce sought-after commissions and I’ll continue to do that.”

“It’s too much work for one person.”

She refused to back down. If she gave in, Berceto would be lost. Leaving the company for four years had been too long. She had sacrificed enough when she relocated to Florida. She refused to let Alex have the company. He was the last person she wanted in charge.

Her uncle said, “You won’t be taken seriously. After your nude pictures appeared in the tabloids, you will be dismissed as a wild child willing to do anything for publicity.”

“You are being unfair. The pictures were taken at a private residence and should have never been sold to the media. It was an invasion of privacy. I shouldn’t have let you convince me to leave L.A.”

Her uncle said, “There was no other way. It hurt the image of Berceto as a family-owned business with traditional values.”

Emilia faced her uncle. “I don’t agree. The media went too far and we should have fought back.”

Her father interrupted them. “It’s too late. What is done is done.”

Emilia stopped pacing. “I’m not going to live in fear of a few nude photographs.”

Her uncle stood and said unkindly, “You should. If you don’t remember your mistakes then you are doomed to make them again.”

“No, I’ll never allow myself to be taken advantage of like that again.” For a moment she contemplated telling them that is was Alex in the photographs with her but decided not to. It could create a situation where they would think Alex could rectify the situation by purchasing the company.

“Please be reasonable.” She felt her heart breaking. Her father never asked her for anything, but she couldn’t allow the sale of Berceto without a fight.

“There is love and respect here for
Nonno
. The employees will respond better to a family member taking over than to a coldhearted businessman concerned only about the bottom line.”

Her uncle twisted a pen in his hand. “If you don’t agree to sell, then we will wash our hands of the business and it will be on your conscience. You will have to live with your
Nonno’s
disappointment when you fail.”

“As the company needs to cut wages, it would be better if you took an early retirement.” Emilia watched her uncle closely. She knew his heart wasn’t in the business and he had never liked working with his hands. It must have been complicated being brought into a family business that didn’t appeal to him on a deep level.

“I’ll leave today. Peter?”

Her father said to his brother, “I haven’t been taking a salary for a year or more. And I intend to stay on for a few months to help Lia.”

Her uncle picked up his notebook and left the room, closing the door on the way out.

“Don’t be so hard on him. He has had a tough time working in a company that he never understood.”

“He could have made other choices.”

Leah cared for her uncle but by walking out, he made the situation quite a bit easier. Now she wouldn’t have to contend with his resistance.

“It’s not always that easy.”

For the rest of the day, Emilia and her father strategized about the upcoming launch.

Emilia spent the next week helping the recently hired marketing team put together a redesign of their layout for the trade show. After a few phone calls, Emilia was able to convince someone at the head office for the trade show that her company should be given a much more prominent location based on their secret launch.

Her father interrupted her in the conference room, “Yes, but it will cost more and put Berceto in the spotlight. I don’t think you are ready for the attention. And you have promised a new line without having it ready.”

She met his worried gaze. “We are trying to make bold changes to turn around sales. The way to do that is to take risks. I know it will be difficult to have the launch ready but I think it is the right move.” Doubts lingered in the back of her mind, but she pushed them away. If she was going to make a difference, she needed to be fearless and not worry so much about what others thought.

It was late in the day and most of the employees had gone home. Her father had popped his head in earlier and told her he was going to play golf with a few friends.

Returning to her small office, she opened her laptop and caught up on email. She had left a message earlier in the day for her cousin, Isabel Neri, asking her to film the launch. It had worried her that Isabel seemed caught up with creating a life with her fiancé and may not be able to come to California.

She smiled as she read a forwarded email from Isabel with her flight details.

Now she needed to convince her other cousin, Lauren, to help with the public relations aspects. She often designed custom pieces of jewelry for charity events. Maybe she needed to showcase that? She purposely put aside her reluctance and sent an email to her cousin.

Leaving her office at close to six o’clock, she noticed Alex walking into reception holding a bouquet of pink roses wrapped in brown florist paper.

Her heart skipped a beat as she slowed her pace. He impressed her each time she caught sight of him. His model-like appearance along with his athletic build and confidence made others notice him. He smiled broadly and she attempted to stop her body from responding to him. She needed to resist his charm. He wanted her company and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. There were many struggling businesses; why did he want Berceto?