Page 71 of Secrets & Desires
Livia was silent for a time. “But to frame Tynan? Do that to his supposed best friend? Did Sandor know he wasGabriella’sson?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“What if he found out? Got angry? Sandor does a good job of appearing friendly and warm, but there’s something else there. An anger. What if it wasn’t Florian who killed Gabriella? What if Sandor, on finding out the truth about his parentage, got angry and went to confront her? He takes a gun, and when she tries to deny him, he kills her. Tynan and Teague were collateraldamage.”
Livia looked sick, but Charvi nodded. “It could have easily happenedthatway.”
“And Ariel…what if Amber and Sandor had planned the prank together, then Sandor went way, way off script. Got off on killing women. He couldhavebeen…”
“Livia, darling, let’s work one problem at a time. But I think you should stay well away from this if your theory iscorrect.”
“I have to talk to Nox,” Livia said, “but Sandor is his business partner as well as his best friend, and I know that they’re having enough trouble. Someone’s been buying up all theshares.”
“Sandor, perhaps? Trying tooustNox?”
Livia shook her head. “He mentioned someone called RoderickLeFevre.”
“Rod?” Charvi looked surprised. “I’m surprised. It doesn’t seem like his m.o. The Rod I know is a straightshooter.”
“If you know him, could you get me in toseehim?”
“I’m sure that can bearranged.”
An hour later,Livia was waiting nervously in the reception of Roderick LeFevre’s company. His opulent offices and sleek staff made Nox’s building look shabby and old-fashioned. Why on Earth would Roderick be interestedinit?
“Ms. Chatelaine?” A tall, blonde, classically handsome man smiled at her. “Rod LeFevre. Please, we’ll meet in myoffice.”
Liv followed him. “So, you’re the lady who’s won Nox’sheart?”
She smiled hesitantly at him. “I am. And you’re the man who’s been buying all the shares in hiscompany.”
Rod laughed. “I am. I like you already, straight to the point.” In his office, he invited her to sit. Livia studied him. He was a little older than Nox, mid-forties, short hair, dark green eyes. His face could go from friendly to dangerous in a moment, she guessed, but he exuded warmth and honesty. She drew in a deepbreath.
“You seem like you like honesty, so here goes. Was it your idea to buy all the shares you could in RenCar, or did Sandor Carpentier come to you and ask you todoit?”
Rod’s eyebrows shot up. “My, my. Okay, well, Ms.Chatelaine—”
“Livia.”
“Livia. I could, of course, tell you to mind your ownbusiness.”
“You could, and I would respect that.” Livia met his gazesteadily.
Rod smiled. “Yes, Idolike you. Well, to answer your question, yes, he did. He told me he wanted to buy the company from underneath Nox, that he thought Nox’s heart wasn’t in it anymore and he wanted to give him the push to try something new. Sandor told me if I bought the shares, he would pay me doubleforthem.”
Livia scoffed. “And you believe him about him wanting tohelpNox?”
“Of course not, but that’s none of my concern. I’m a businessman, Livia, and what Sandor was suggesting would have made me in the region of seven hundred milliondollars.”
Livia whistled and shook her head. “You people deal in figures I can’t evencomprehend.”
“What is it you do,Livia?”
She lifted her chin proudly. “I’m a grad student and until recently, awaitress.”
Rod smiled. “Both admirable vocations. I had heard you were one of the finest students ever to study at theuniversity.”
Livia looked surprised and Rod laughed. “I do my research too, Livia. And because I am who I am, if women were my type, I’d be fighting Nox Renaud for a woman like you.” He grinned. “Thankfully for all of us, my husband wouldobject.”
