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Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir / Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition: Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir
Yvonne Lindsay
Paula Roe
Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir Paula Roe Jake Vance was dangerous, a charming corporate raider. When he set his sights on Australia’s richest diamond dealers, Holly McLeod was given the job as his assistant. She was shocked when her sexy new boss, the long-lost Blackstone heir, proposed marriage…to her!Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition Yvonne LindsayEver since their one night together, making love to Rachel Kincaid was all Matt Hammond thought about. That and destroying the Blackstone diamond empire. The billionaire always got what he wanted, but now did he want sweet revenge…or sweet Rachel’s love?DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER – a family affair!
Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir by Paula Roe
SYDNEY’S SCENE
Scandals and secrets have racked the Blackstone dynasty for decades, starting with their longtime feud with the Hammonds, and continuing with the oft- times off-colour shenanigans of the Blackstone brood. But nothing the privileged clan has done rivals the latest news from the Australian “royal family.” None other than shark-like corporate raider Jake Vance has been seen taking up space in the company’s Pitt Street offices. What’s a street-smart, self-made billionaire doing among the hallowed halls of old money?
Takeover rumours are not the only ones on the street. Australia’s hottest “bad boy” has been seen over the years with gorgeous models and millionaire heiresses. But now he’s been spotted with his secretary, a small- town innocent named Holly McLeod. Someone ought to tell Ms McLeod – and the Blackstones, for that matter – what many a woman already knows: Jake Vance may kiss like an angel, but getting involved with him is like making a deal with the devil. Then again, no devil has ever looked as good as Jake Vance…
Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition by Yvonne Lindsay
SYDNEY SCENE
To the Blackstones and Hammonds, secrets are a part of life. But none as profound as the one that rocked Australia when the firstborn Blackstone, kidnapped three decades ago and assumed dead, was resurrected and assumed the throne of the Blackstone diamond empire. Rival family leader Matt Hammond was apparently none too pleased at the gala reception, and vowed revenge.
Mysterious stock trading and clandestine deals have led the Pitt Street moguls to declare Blackstone’s ripe for takeover. All eyes are on Matt Hammond. New Zealand paparazzi have caught the Hammond billionaire wheeling and dealing – and romancing none other than his son’s sweet-as-spun-sugar nanny, identified as Rachel Kincaid. Looks like the caregiver is giving Hammond more than some child-rearing advice in the back of that limo!
Despite whatever’s going on in the Hammond household, those in the know are predicting a blowup to the decades-old feud between the Hammonds and the Blackstones. When it does combust, there’s no telling who’ll remain standing as the first family of fine jewels.
Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir
PAULA ROE
Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition
YVONNE LINDSAY
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
BOARDROOMS & A BILLIONAIRE HEIR
by
Paula Roe
PAULA ROE
Despite wanting to be a vet, choreographer, hairdresser, card shark and an interior designer (though not all at once!) Paula ended up as a personal assistant, office manager, aerobics instructor and software trainer for thirteen years (which also funded her extensive travel through the US and Europe). Today she still retains a deep love of filing systems, stationery and travelling, although the latter is only in her dreams these days.
Paula lives near western Sydney’s glorious Blue Mountains with her family, an ancient black cat and a garden full of rainbow lorikeets and magpies. You can visit her at www.paularoe.com.
Dear Reader,
I’m very excited about this, my second book. It germinated back in 2006 while I was still floating on my first sale high. My favourite kiwi, Yvonne Lindsay, e-mailed me to ask if I’d like to join an author-led Down Under continuity. “You can say no if you want to,” she added. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with a bunch of my favourite writers! Since then we’ve burned up the internet waves, with e-mails flying back and forth over the Pacific, brainstorming, plot-storming, character-storming, making sure our themes didn’t clash, ensuring the timelines and backstory meshed. What a job!
I was particularly thrilled everyone loved my idea for the missing heir, and the mystery of the missing Blackstone baby is accompanied by a favourite theme of mine – office romance. There’s something extremely forbidden about the whole scenario, don’t you think? Throw into that the politics, sexual tension and inevitable gossip, and you have the makings of a potential disaster.
Again, I’ve set the story in a place familiar to me, the heart of Sydney’s central business district, where I worked for many years. You may even recognise some places! The one artistic licence I did take was removing the Sydney Hilton on George Street to make way for the Blackstone’s Head Office. Ahh, the things we can do with fiction! If you want to read more about this book and the DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER series, go to www.diamonds-downunder.com. And as always, I’d love to hear from you at www. paularoe.com.
Love, Paula
A big hug and smoochy kiss to the Down Under Desireables for your support, hand-holding and encouragement: Bron, Tessa, Maxine, Yvonne and Jan. To Linley, my personal GMC wizard and finder-of-weak-spots. To MJ, who gave me such insightful suggestions and made my writing that much better. And my deep thanks to Andrew Burden of Canberra’s Aviation Search and Rescue Centre who let me pick his brains about plane crashes and rescues in order to get everything just right.
One
Wealth and power hung in the expansive boardroom, permeating every cherrywood panel, every thread of the tightly woven carpet underfoot.
The huge panoramic windows played right into that powerful aura, offering an unobstructed view of Sydney’s CBD to the right, the curved dome of the historical Queen Victoria Building to the left. Subtle track lights highlighted the boardroom table where one woman and three men were rising to their feet. Jake Vance recognised each in turn: Kimberley Perrini; her husband, Ric, and current CEO of Blackstone Diamonds; Ryan Blackstone, Chief Financial Officer; and Garth Buick, the company secretary.
Jake had stood in the same spot days ago.
At that time, the room had been tense with stunned denial after his little bombshell. Despite that, it was too good a coincidence for Kimberley to pass up; he’d seen the burning curiosity in her shaken expression. Now, judging by the shell-shocked looks, they obviously had their proof.
Finding out your previously dead brother was very much alive was a life-changing event, even if that bit of gossip had been press fodder for months. But when that brother stood to gain a substantial chunk of the Blackstone fortune…
He swallowed bitterly. This wasn’t in his ten-year plan. Making his first million, breaking into the U.S. market, giving back to his mother’s favourite causes, yes. Even, eventually, a wife and kids. But not this. Not becoming Australia’s walking, talking answer to the freakin’ Lindbergh baby.
“James…Jake?” Kimberley Perrini said tentatively, obviously confused about how to proceed. He gave a curt nod and remained silent as she settled for sitting at the table. He noticed her crisp business suit, the efficient pulled-back hair, the air of sophistication and privilege radiating out as if she’d been born into it.
He shoved the uncharacteristic bitterness away and instead focused on his game plan—detecting weakness.
It was awkward, this first face-to-face meeting with his sister. His sister, for God’s sake. He ignored the deeper implication and completed his study. The similarities between Kimberley and Ryan were obvious: dark hair with that widow’s peak, green eyes. But where hers held optimistic caution, Ryan Blackstone’s were full of outright hostility. It was in every smell that infused the ostentatious room, every movement and gesture the man made in his thousand-dollar suit.
Jake glanced over the table to where Garth Buick sat. The two younger men, Ric and Ryan, were on their feet behind him, as if standing gave them a psychological advantage.
Jake had used that tactic many times before.
“We had April Kellerman’s documents analysed, as well as those DNA tests,” Ric Perrini said now, indicating Jake should take a seat.
“And?” Jake sat and Ric and Ryan followed suit.
“It appears that you are James Hammond Blackstone.”
As one, they released a collective breath and the expectant hush in the room fanned out, spreading like a blanketing drift of snow. The air was just as chilly, with most of the freeze coming from the two men who had battled for the CEO’s position after Howard’s death.
Jake steeled his features to betray nothing. Emotion meant vulnerability, which meant your enemies had a weakness they could exploit. Show nothing, reveal nothing.
“So Howard was right all along,” Kimberley finally said.
Ric shrugged. “Looks like it.”
She frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but Ryan interrupted.
“We asked you here to discuss a few things. One, your plans for Blackstone’s.” Ryan’s even tone belied the storm in his eyes. “And we’d like to make an offer for your shares.”
Jake stifled his surprise. Interesting. Business first. “I’m not selling.”
“You haven’t heard our bid.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Listen, Vance. If this is about payback or revenge—”
“Why would it?” Jake raised one eyebrow.
The men glanced at each other, regrouping. Finally Kimberley said slowly, “See it from our side. You and Quinn Everard are close. There’s been a long history of animosity between him and Howard—”
Jake smiled, an action he knew would throw them off balance. “Not my problem. I’m sure you’ve had me researched. So you know I never let personal feelings stand in the way of a business decision.”
“What about Jaxon Financial?” Ric asked.
Jake paused, letting the barb sink in without showing it’d hit a sore spot. “That was over eight years ago. And it wasn’t my company.”
“But you were accused of insider trading,” Ryan probed, his astute eyes unwavering.
Jake eased back in the leather chair and stretched his legs out, a calculated show of nonchalance. “Accused. Not charged.”
“You lost millions. The CEO fired you.”
“And I returned the favour eighteen months later when I bought them out. Look, we can go over my chequered history for hours, but it doesn’t change the facts. The way I see it, you have two choices. Fight me for the claim, which would tie us up in court for years, and see the shares plummet. Or work with me on this. Blackstone’s has a problem. Besides the press leak you’ve failed to plug, the company has been floundering since Howard’s death. Share prices are dropping. The power struggle between you—” he nodded at Ric “—and you,” then Ryan, “is unsettling the board, not to mention your shareholders. They’re getting antsy.”
“How do you know that?” demanded Ryan.
“I make it my business to know.” Before Ryan could interject, Jake held up a hand. “I plan to fix that.”
“Why?” Ryan asked, his eyes narrowed.
“Because I can.”
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant. Like it or not, Howard made me a beneficiary. You’re worried about Blackstone’s collapsing? I can fix it. It isn’t personal. It’s business.”
“So this is all just business to you?” Kimberley asked softly.
“Well, it’s certainly not about family bonding.”
He didn’t miss her brief flash of dismay as her eyes met Ric’s briefly.
“So what’s your plan?” Ric said smoothly.
Jake sized him up. Ric Perrini looked hard, with a reputation to match. He’d been Howard’s surrogate son, the only one deemed worthy to take over Blackstone’s. The man probably felt threatened. Hell, they all did.
Hardly surprising. Jake traded on his unpredictable reputation; it sent fear and respect into the hearts of his adversaries and made them careless.
That’s how he won.
He looked back to Kimberley, who’d been staring at him in silence. When he met her sharp green eyes, she refused to look away.
“You’re the spitting image of Howard,” she said now.
Thrown by such a personal comment, Jake frowned. He wasn’t sure she meant that in a good way, either. Should he thank her? Ignore it? He opted for the simplest approach.
“Blackstone genes.”
Kim hesitated. “You know we all thought Howard was out of his tree about you,” she finally said. “I just can’t believe you’re actually alive.”
He lifted his eyebrows and gave her a small, wry smile. “In the flesh.”
Kim paused, a moment too long.
“You have something to say,” Jake said calmly. “Just go ahead and say it.”
“Don’t you have questions about the family?” she asked curiously. “About Howard? Sonya? Vince?”
“Not particularly. I have a very efficient research department.”
“So where have you been for the last thirty years?” Ryan asked tightly.
“Queensland first. Then when I was about ten, South Australia.”
“And?” Kim prompted. Jake let them dangle for a few seconds before conceding, “I was kidnapped by Howard’s housekeeper and her boyfriend. Two months after the ransom note, around midnight, their car crashed into the Lindon River, five kilometres north of—”
“Newcastle, yes, we’ve read the police report,” Ryan interrupted. “Everyone assumed you’d drowned in the crash and floated out to sea.”
“April Kellerman was driving by when the car crashed. She pulled me free.”
“And kept you.”
The scorn in Ryan’s voice sent a fierce surge of protectiveness straight to Jake’s chest. “Don’t judge what you don’t know,” he warned softly, piercing the younger man with a steely look.
Silence abruptly fell.
“We need to know more if we’re to prepare a press release,” Kim finally said, then paused as a shadow passed over his features. “You don’t trust us.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“That’s a nice attitude to have,” Ryan muttered.
Jake raised one eyebrow. “I’m not the one with the press leak.”
Ryan tensed as Perrini said, “You know the press will fill in the blanks with whatever they can find, true or not.”
“I know.”
