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Cheryl.
    “Did Lauren mention if she had someone with her?”
    “No dear, why?”
    “A friend might do her some good,” he lied to his wife. His only concern—his business. Everyone respected him as a well-known shrewd businessman. That’s how he stayed on top. The love he showed publicly for his wife and daughter was only an act for appearance’s sake. Marion wished him a good day. He waved and left without another word. She portrayed an excellent corporate wife and did her job well. He knew all Marion expected in return was a never-ending spending account.
    Charles made a call once he reached his New York office. He needed to know what went wrong. There is too much at stake to risk his business or his name. He wouldn’t be caught up in this mess if his daughter had listened to him in the beginning and married into old-money. She brought John Reynolds into their lives and without his blessing. Charles had done a thorough check on John and his business associates. He learned of the business association with Nick Mendez. This discovery changed Charles’s mind about John. Perhaps John could be the son Charles always wanted. Then Charles began to warm up to the idea of accepting John into the family and mold him into the business. Charles set his plan in motion and pressed for an elaborate wedding. He knew Marion would convince their daughter that he would come around; at least for appearance’s sake. John and Lauren were married within six months.
    Charles’s plan ran smoothly. He befriended John and publicly accepted him into the family. He included John in business discussions and gatherings, the legal ones at first. Days after the wedding Charles received a call from Nick Mendez. Nick informed Charles that John had confronted Nick to end their business association because he got married and he wasn’t going to screw up his dream of a family he never had. Charles calmly told Nick not to worry. After the honeymoon, Charles offered John a partnership offer he couldn’t refuse. Charles believed his plan would work. After all, John had already been in business with Nick. He figured John was worried about Charles discovering the connection to Nick, but would assure him that the connection with the Mendez family was good for business. Charles convinced John he could have Lauren, the family he never had, and much more than he could ever desire.
    The plan had backfired. After the honeymoon, Charles offered John a partnership in the family business. John had been thrilled and he accepted immediately. The two had formed a bond like father and son. Charles respected John’s ideas and complimented his business mind. The problem appeared when Charles held a private meeting with Nick Mendez and invited John. He only announced shock when he learned of the connection between Charles and Nick. Adamant that he wanted to run his business legally, he warned Charles he would tell Lauren, and then stormed out of the meeting. Shortly after that meeting, John went to the warehouse to meet the new owner and sign the papers. The explosion happened before the ink dried. Nobody threatened Charles Vanderholm. Nobody walked away from business with the Mendez family. Nick had taken care of the problem within an hour of John’s outburst. The only concern shared between Nick and Charles if John had told his wife. Charles figured Nick wanted all loose ends tied; he knew he could not save his daughter.
    John had been an orphan but Charles still checked out all foster families he had lived with. John had kept in touch with no one, not even foster parents. It appeared he had no friends in college. John had been a loner his whole life. The only connections he’d made were through his business. The few women he dated never spoke with him again. John’s record came up clear. John’s only connection that could ruin Charles’s business was Lauren.
    Charles brushed his hand over his face, frustrated to think he had missed a piece of information about