Taming Graeme (Taming the Billionaire) (52 page)

 
Five minutes later his mobile rang agai
n
.

 
“Graeme, you and ‘Livi disappeared.  Was she alright?”

 
“Hello, Michael. Yes, fine, just tired. I didn’t see the need to stick around and perhaps have Francine create a scene.”

 
“Wise of you. Francine, Natalie and Glen put on quite a show. He took both of them home with him, later. Mentioned he was staying in a suite at the Four Seasons and they both stuck like glue…”

 
“He called a couple of hours ago. He’s taking Francine to Paris for the weekend. That’ll cost him a few thousand quid at the boutiques. And I just hung up from her. She wanted to know how rich he is.”

 
“The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh, Graeme?”

 
“Yes.”

 
“I gave Linda her engagement ring last night when we finally got home. I think we’ll marry as soon as she’s pregnant. We started working on that last night. Threw her pills away.”

 
Graeme laughed. “Our children will grow up together, Michael. I like that.”

 
“Me too, friend.”

  Olivia was a bundle of nerves by seven o’cloc
k
. They were seating at the window table in the wonderful restaurant Graeme had chosen for dinner.

 
Graeme’s daughters made no secret of the fact that they were examining her closely.

 
“Beautiful dress, Olivia. Is it Atelier Versace?” asked Louisa, who regarded herself as a fashionista.

 
“Yes, yes, it is as a matter of fact.”

 
“Exquisite necklace, Olivia. Who designed it?” asked Julia, who regarded herself as very artistic.

 
“Oh, a wonderful London jeweller, Ragnar. Do you know his work? I believe he does mainly bespoke pieces.”

 
“No, no, I’ve never come across from him before. Did Daddy commission it for you?”

 
“Yes, I did, Julia. It suits her, doesn’t it?”

 
“It’s wonderful, Daddy. I love how the yellow diamonds match her earrings. You could get him to design something for me for my birthday, if you like.”

 
“Decent haircut, Olivia. Who does your hair?” This from Louisa.

 
“Raoul at Magnific Salon and Spa.”

 
“Oh, I’d love to go to him, but William goes bonkers at the cost,” said Louisa enviously.

 
“Oh. I didn’t think him that expensive,” murmured Olivia, eyes lowered. She had no idea of the cost, the bill had gone straight to Graeme.

 
“See, William, he’s not that expensive,” said Louisa to her husband.

 
“Perhaps you can go there, then,” mumbled William, “but I still can’t justify Six hundred pounds for a haircut!”

 
Julia’s boyfriend, Nick, an Art Gallery manager in Oxford, spoke up. “Well, if the haircut cost that, what did the necklace cost? It must have been thousands.”

 
Olivia just smiled at him coolly. She wondered if he might be going out with Julia because he knew her father was extremely wealthy.

 
Perhaps she was wrong, though. Perhaps the man was nervous, because of the wealth, and defensive because he was like her, a member of the great unwashed. She looked at Nick again, and saw the bleakness in his eyes. Yes, that was it. He realized the chasm between himself and Julia.

 
When he looked at Julia, when he looked at Julia you could see that money didn’t enter into it. The man loved Graeme’s daughter. Ragnar’s creation was just another unwanted reminder of Graeme’s obscene wealth.

 
Conversation lagged.

 
Graeme smiled to himself. He knew just how to diffuse the situation. “Guess who came to town yesterday, girls?”

 
“Who?”

 
“Two people, actually. Two of your least favourite people. First, our cousin Glen Palmer.”

 
“Oh, how is he?” asked Julia, the icicles dripping from her voice. “Handsome as ever? Chasing all the women as usual? As much the male chauvinist as he ever was?”

 
“All three,” said her father. “And the second person was Francine.”

 
“Francine?” Louisa’s voice was almost a shriek.

 
“Oh.”  Julia’s voice was harsh.

 
The girls did not like that at all.

 
“Yes,” continued Graeme blandly. “We were at a function last evening, Glen, Olivia and I, and Francine appeared. Olivia met her. Olivia didn’t care for her, did you, pet?”

 
Olivia shook her head.

 
“In fact,” Graeme continued, his eyes twinkling, “Olivia thought she was avaricious and still after me. My ‘Livi thought the only reason Francine was in London was to look her over and try and regain my favour. You didn’t like that, did you, kitten?”

 
Olivia shook her head.

 
“A woman of discernment,” smiled Julia. “I hate the bitch myself.”

 
“No need to be rude, Julia,” smiled Graeme genially.

 
“She is a bitch, Daddy,” said Louisa. “Just a gold digging bitch. She was very rude to us every time you weren’t around. Was she rude to you, Olivia? She must have been jealous of you. You’re much more attractive than she is. She’s flashy where you’re classy, Olivia, which suits Daddy much better.

 
“Olivia only saw the truth, Daddy. Francine came to London to get her claws back into you.”

 
“Well, I’m afraid that once she saw Olivia’s ring, Francine went quite pale. If looks could have killed, poor ‘Livi would be a corpse now.”

 
“Ring?” asked Julia.

“Show the girls your engagement ring, darling,” smiled Graeme. “I chose it to match her hair... yellow diamonds...isn’t it beautiful?”

“Beautiful, Daddy, and congratulations, but what did you do with Francine? I mean, I don’t think she’ll give up that easily.”

 
Graeme allowed himself a small sigh of relief. The hatred of Francine far eclipsed the announcement of an engagement. Besides, the girls obviously liked and approved of kitten.

 
“I just foisted her off on Glen. Er, she may have the mistaken impression he’s as rich as me. I think they deserve each other, don’t you?”

  His daughters
laughed.

 
“I’m afraid I don’t care much for Glen myself, Julia,” smiled Olivia quietly. “I didn’t like the way he looked at me.”

 
“I didn’t like the way he looked at you either, ‘Livi darling,” said Graeme. “I mean, he knew you are mine, and yet he still seemed to mentally undress you.”

 
“Poor Olivia!” said Julia. “That’s what Glen does to every woman he lays eyes on. Do you mind if we call you ‘Livi, like Daddy does?”

 
“I would be happy if you called me, ‘Livi.”

  William
thinking this was another drain on his father-in-law’s finances.

  Six hundred pound haircuts! Expensive necklaces! An engagement ring to knock your eye out!

 
William couldn’t quite get his head around how very wealthy Graeme was. He realized he was rich, but…William didn’t like to acknowledge, even to himself, that other families were richer than his own. And he didn’t like the fact that Graeme’s great-something grandmother was Queen Mary’s sister. His own family was far more distantly related to the Royals.

 
“What do you do with yourself all day, ‘Livi?” he asked, his tone quite derisory.

 
“I’m in the Currency Trading Department at the Bank, William. That’s how Graeme and I met, at the Bank when he returned to London.” Olivia’s tone was mildly friendly.

Graeme frowned. Once again, his son-in-law had put his chocolate covered foot in his mouth. He’d better set the young idiot straight.

“She’s brilliant actually, William. I sent her over to Belfast when we took over the Merchant’s Bank last month and she uncovered a serious case of fraud. ‘Livi saved the family millions, maybe tens of millions if the fraud had continued. And she got the Bank back into Compliance.”

 
Julia had no idea what that meant, but obviously her father was proud of Olivia. Julia beamed.

 
“A woman who saves you money instead of finding ways to spend it? And she works for her own living instead of sponging off an allowance from you? 

 
“Daddy, the girl is a gem. No wonder you’ve put that ring on her finger! When’s the wedding? Soon I hope. I don’t want Francine interfering with your happiness.”

 
“Two weeks today, at my townhouse. Half past seven. You’ll have the invitations early next week. But please keep it a secret. We don’t want the press involved. I’m flying Mrs. Green over from Belfast to prepare the dinner after. You love her cooking, don’t you, girls?”

 
“Oh we certainly do,” agreed Louisa.

 
“Yes, so ‘Livi and I hope that you will all be there?”

 
“Oh, yes, we’ll be there to celebrate with you, Daddy,”

 
“Good. Oh, ‘Livi thought it would be nice, since you’re going to have a baby, Louisa, if we gave you a new house with a nursery floor. I know you like living just outside the City because of needing stables and paddocks for your horses, so have a look around will you and find something suitable that you like.”

 
Olivia smothered a smile. This was news to her.

 
“How much can we spend, Graeme?” asked William, relieved. Louisa had been after him for a bigger house, but he didn’t see how they could afford it. He was not badly paid, but still, Louisa’s taste was expensive and his grandmother, who controlled his family’s purse, had flatly refused to give him the difference between what he thought he could get for the present house and the asking price for the house Louisa had her eye on. Grandmother had snorted, and told him to ask Graeme for the money.

 
“What do you think you need to spend, Louisa? You did mention the other Sunday you’d been looking…”

 
“Well, Daddy and ‘Livi, I did see a divine house on ten acres near a charming village, that William flatly told me we couldn’t afford. I think it was Fifteen million. William said that even if we got ten for our present house, we couldn’t afford the mortgage.”

 
“Does it need much work, Louisa?” asked Olivia, interested.

 
“It needs some redecoration, and a new bathroom or two. I might like to have the kitchen done up, but it does have a nursery floor. The stables and paddocks are in first rate condition, and there’s accommodation for two grooms. You know I need that, Daddy if I want to ride competitively after the baby’s born. I would love to make the England National Team. I was so close when I found out I’m pregnant...

 
“I wish Auntie Betty wasn’t in the family home, Daddy. I mean,
you
own it. It’s very kind of you to let her live there, but I could use it now.”

 
“Oh, Louisa, love, it’s too far for William to commute. Is this house you’ve seen vacant?”

 
“It is, and the owners are eager to sell. They’ve divorced.”

 
“So if ‘Livi and I bought it for you and threw in a million for the renovations and redecoration, that would be a good baby present?”

 
“Wonderful, Daddy, just wonderful!”

 
“Would you want Frank to be your designer?”

Louisa and Julia both rolled their eyes.

  “Daddy!” exclaimed Julia.   “You know Frank is colour blind and has no taste.”

  Olivia
laughed. “We’re lucky I mentioned to Graeme that I admire Llewellyn Lawrence Jones and we engaged him to do our new house before Graeme told Amanda he’s moving. She wanted him to have Frank. Now you’ve told me about his lack of talent, Julia, I’m so glad I made that casual remark.”

“Oh, you’re moving? Can I have your townhouse?” asked Julia immediately.

  “Aren’t you staying in Oxford, jewel?” asked Graeme, smiling.

 
“I thought I might come to London and teach at University there,” she told him.

 
Nick looked up sharply. This was news to him. He didn’t want Julia moving away from him.

 
Unlike William, Nick had a very good understanding how wealthy Graeme was. That was enough of a barrier to their happiness, let alone the distance between London and Oxford.

 
“Well, you know I don’t ever let go of prime real estate, Julia. I’ve actually told Michael he can have a lease. He’s getting married himself to ‘Livi’s best friend. Tell you what, daughter…find yourself a nice place in the same price range as Louisa’s new house, and I’ll buy it for you as a reward for going to Yale and getting your Doctorate. I didn’t give you much at the time, did I? You should be able to get a lovely flat with a terrace and a view for fifteen. That would suit you better than a house, darling.”