Page 30 of Empire of Seduction

Michael’s eyebrows dipped low. “Okay . . . is he a chef?”

“Yes, mostly.”

He dropped his head onto the bar. “Oh, my God.”

Madonna, such dramatics. “Michael, I’ve eaten my brother’s food for years. He knows how to cook—and he knows how to lead. What he doesn’t like is the dicing and chopping as an entry chef. It will all work out, te lo prometto.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“No, you don’t. So if it goes badly, you can blame me.”

“Sure, sure. And you’ll be cool with that, I bet.”

Fair. I gave him a grim smile. “If the guests complain, we’ll buy their silence. You might not have the money, but I sure as fuck do. I won’t let anyone leave disappointed. Okay?”

Have a plan. Then have a backup plan.It was how I lived my life.

I finished my cappuccino and set the cup on the bar. “This is a team, Michael, and I am the head of the team. I deal with the problems, capisce? For youandfor Maggie, even when you don’t like it.”

He held up his palms in surrender, like he’d decided not to fight me anymore. At least one Fiorentino sibling was reasonable.

Michael said, “Speaking of my sister, let me break the news to her about the guest cottage. I’ll go out later and tell her.”

“No need. The news has been broken.”

“Oh, shit. When was this?”

“About two hours ago.”

“Bro, she hates me,” he grumbled, staring down at the bar. “Wouldn’t even look at me last night and left early.”

I thought of my own sister and our fights over the years. She could hold a grudge, but she always forgave. Sometimes it took a little longer, but Paloma loved us as much as we loved her. “Family is a bond that cannot be broken,” I said. “And she will forgive you when we turn this into the most prestigious winery on the east coast.”

Michael peered up at me. “Doubtful. She’s pretty stubborn.”

“We will see. What time is the employee meeting today? I’m anxious to introduce myself.”

“Two o’clock. I sent an email late last night, though I’m not sure Maggie saw it.”

“She didn’t,” I confirmed.

“Goddamn it.” He gave a dry, mirthless laugh. “I just can’t stop fucking up, can I?”

Reaching over, I clasped his shoulder and shook him gently. “Don’t worry, Michael. This fuck up will be the best thing that has ever happened to your family.”

Maggie

I hid in the back.

Look, I wasn’t proud of it, but I didn’t want anyone to see me. I couldn’t stand up front with Vito and Michael and announce the change in ownership like it was a wonderful opportunity. It wasn’t, and everyone would be able to read the truth on my face. Some of us weren’t cruel robots without any feelings. Like Vito.

So I let them handle the meeting and, judging by the general reaction, our employees believed the lies coming out of Vito’s mouth. How he respected what we did here, but improvements could always be made. How he would invest a large sum in the operations to produce the best wines on the East Coast. Blah, blah, blah . . .

I pretty much tuned out after that.

When it was done, Adam, a friend and one of our bartenders, wandered over to me. “You okay? You look like you’re about to do bodily harm to someone.”

Yes, my brother. “I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

---