Forbidden Disclosure (A Billionaire in Disguise) (8 page)

The hot water felt good, the water pressure was just right, but the sterile penthouse was not. There weren’t any knickknacks, family photographs, nothing homemade, not even one item that held any kind of heart value. The closest thing he had was a grand piano. Not only did he not know how to play it, but no one else had touched it either.

With his plush towel wrapped around his waist, Daniel walked into his room to get changed. He opened up the closet and saw that practically everything he had was tailored specifically for him by designers. There were rows of custom made suits, stark white shirts, expensive ties, and way too many dress shoes. Daniel closed the door and opened up his suitcase. Inside was a clean pair of faded blue jeans and a blue flannel shirt. He smiled and got dressed.

He took the back elevator to the parking garage and got in his Lamborghini. It started on the first try. It didn’t backfire or make any noise, other than the sweet sounds that it should have. He loved the car, but he just couldn’t drive it and feel good. People that he cared about were going without simple, basic things. Over and over again the guilt poured through him.
I didn’t even earn all the luxuries I have. Not one single thing did I work for.

Carl stepped into the study carrying a file that contained information Francesco requested.

“Rosie Lynn Montoose? That’s a mouthful, Carl.”

“Would you like to review the file in private? I’m sure you don’t need me to watch over your shoulder.”

“Carl, thank you. You don’t have to stay. Daniel will be here shortly and I need to speak to him in private. The paperwork for my son to take over the company has been drawn up for almost two years. I would like to present it to Daniel and hope the proposal is well received. I’m not getting any younger. I made sure you’ll keep your job and be well cared for.”

“I thank you, Sir. But if you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do with your free time, Francesco? I worry about you not having things to occupy yourself. Perhaps you can travel.”

“Maybe, but that is something I shared with Lillian, God rest her soul. I miss her every day, Carl. I’ve been alone for over two and a half decades so you think I would have gotten used to it.” Francesco let out a fake laugh, but Carl could see right through it.

“Very well. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

Francesco sat at his desk and opened the file as Carl left the study. The photograph showed an older woman with a friendly, happy face and beautiful blue eyes. He read the sheets of paper and couldn’t find anything to indicate that she would blackmail his son. Maybe she really didn’t know that John Williams was a fabricated name. She had no criminal past, not even a traffic ticket. Francesco did find out a critical piece of information, though. Rosie Lyn
n Montoose was losing her farm.

Chapter 7

Daniel drove through the security gates and up the long driveway of his father’s estate. It was definitely beautiful. Acres of manicured property surrounded the mansion that was way too big for just Daniel and his father. Francesco and Lillian had planned on a large family. She was much younger than Francesco and he’d planned for a wonderful life with her. Those dreams were crushed by her untimely death, but Francesco didn’t have the heart to sell the place because his wife had put so much of her love and personality in each room.

Carl opened the front door and greeted Daniel. “You may wear your other clothes, Daniel. You’ve met the requirement so there’s no need to dress like that anymore.” Carl openly laughed.

“I’m comfortable in these, Carl. My attire doesn’t change or make who I am. Good to see you again.” He shook Carl’s hand and walked away, leaving the man standing there, staring at his blue flannel back.

Daniel knocked on the study door, then entered it after he heard his father’s booming voice.

Francesco hurried to his son and gave him a tight embrace, then kissed his cheek. “Daniel, welcome home!”

“Thank you, Father.”

“You didn’t have to put those clothes back on, Daniel.”

“These clothes are what I feel comfortable in. You should try it sometime.”

Francesco smiled at his son’s suggestion. “I’m glad you learned the lessons in life that will always benefit you. I’m sorry I had to go to such extremes, but I hope you understand why I did what I did. It was very hard for me to send you away, Daniel.”

“Thank you for doing it. I’m not the same man I was when I left. I’m a better one because of you.”

“Daniel, I need to ask you about this woman Rosie.” Francesco couldn’t hide the look of concern on his face. “You were close to her?”

“I love Rosie. She has been sort of a mother to me.”

“You worked on her farm, no?”

“Every day I worked long, hard hours. She isn’t a young woman, and she was working just as long and hard as I was. Then she’d go in the house and prepare these meals that were like heaven. She even has a couple of horses I became close to. They’re magnificent animals.”

“Do you know a lot about this farm?”

“Rosie said her husband bought it some years ago and built a home there. His name was Albert and he died a decade ago, but she kept the farm going. It’s just her and a man named Sam, who works the land. He has a family and lives a few miles away. He comes over and helps her out, but I don’t think they get along as well as what Rosie claims. He’s pretty stern and not very pleasant.”

“How is the farm doing? Is it successful?”

“I think it is. She paid me well, and I was able to save up a decent amount. I kept a thousand dollars when I left in case of an emergency and to buy my plane ticket, but then I left the remaining money with her. I hope it helps her out.”

“You gave her your money?”

“She needed it more than I did. I knew I was coming back here and would have access to everything. That’s what I want to talk with you about, Father.”

“Don’t tell me you wrecked your car…”

“It’s about the car and a few other things. But no, I didn’t wreck it. I don’t want it.”

“Daniel, you don’t have to have another sports car. This one should last you for quite a while.”

“I’m sure it would. I just don’t want it.”

“
You
don’t
want
it?”

“It’s a waste of money, Father. I don’t want that penthouse either. I want both of them sold.”

“What has gotten into you, Daniel?”

“Rosie just about kills herself every single day keeping that farm running. She doesn’t have any other ranch hands to help her other than Sam. Now that I’m gone it could take her quite a while before she finds more help.”

“Daniel, I have to tell you something. I don’t want you to be angry with me.”

“What is it?”

“You know that I love you and I know you got to spend a great deal of time with this woman and grew to trust her while you were in Tennessee. I still had to make sure you were protected. I had Rosie investigated.”

“You
what
?!” Daniel quickly rose to his feet. He was furious.

“On paper only, Daniel. I didn’t find anything that would suggest that Rosie knew who you were and would try to get money.”

“Oh my God! She isn’t even like that
at all
!”

“I realize this, Daniel. She isn’t hiring any more ranch hands. She never intended on it.”

“Wait. What are you talking about?”

“Rosie is losing her farm, Daniel. The three hundred acre farm is being foreclosed. It seems that back taxes, loans, and bad debt sunk her.”

“Wait a minute. Her farm is not three hundred acres. You have the wrong person. I lived on that farm, and I know it isn’t three hundred acres. It’s surrounded by other property. She only owns a hundred, if that, and probably closer to seventy-five, as we only grew hay and some produce that was sold. That's about it.”

“Is this Rosie?” Francesco turned the picture to face Daniel. He saw the concern and sadness in his son’s eyes. He hadn’t seen that since Daniel was a little boy.

Daniel took the file from his father’s hands and sat back down. His hands began to tremble.

“I have to go, Father.”

“Where are you going? We have other matters to discuss.”

“Rosie can’t lose that place. If she does, she’ll lose her horses. They are like children to her. I’m sorry, Father, but I have to get back to Tennessee. I’ll work day in and day out if I have to.”

“Daniel…” Francesco smiled at his son. He had never been so proud of this young man standing in front of him.

“What is it, Father? I have to leave.”

“You’re rich.”

“Please don’t start on me about money. I’m not like I was.”

“I know this, Daniel. It’s evident that you’ve changed. But you’re rich. You’ve blown money left and right and for all the wrong reasons. But you say that this Rosie is important to you?”

“She is
very
important to me. She’s…
family
.”

“Then family should stick together.” Francesco pushed the button on his desk, and Carl entered the study shortly thereafter.

“Yes, Francesco, may I be of assistance?”

“Carl, I need a bag packed as quickly as possible.”

“What climate, Sir?”

“We will also need the jet. We have to get to Tennessee.”

“Very well, Francesco.” Carl turned and quickly left the room.

“
We
?” Daniel didn’t know what to think.

“We’re family, Daniel. Let’s put all of our resources to good work!” Francesco smiled when his son ran to him and threw his arms around his shoulders.

“Thank you, Father. I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you will have to think of something to say, because Rosie doesn’t know who you really are.”

“
Oh God
…”

The flight to Nashville was welcomed. It gave Daniel and his father time to fill in the blanks. Francesco couldn’t believe what a wonderful man Daniel had become and was excited to hand over the business to his son. But now wasn’t the time to approach company business.

Daniel led his father through the airport at a fast pace.

“You are going to have to slow down some, Daniel. I’m not a young man anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Father, I just need to get to the farm.”

“Where are you going? A limo is picking us up. Where is the damn thing?” Francesco was getting angry.

“We don’t have to wait for a limo. There’s no time.”

Daniel walked out to the parking lot, and there stood the old, faithful red pickup. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the key. Daniel opened up the passenger door without a second thought, then turned to see his father’s shocked face.

“What is
this
, Daniel?”

“Our limo. Get in and buckle up, I’m not sure of its safety.” Daniel laughed to himself. Francesco wasn’t laughing one bit, but did as he was told.

“Where are we going, Daniel? We can’t go to the farm, it’s too late. Rosie will surely be sleeping. Let’s just get a room, and we’ll drive out to Montoose Farm first thing in the morning.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Disappointed, Daniel drove around Nashville until he found a nice motel that his father would approve of. For the entire night that Daniel lay on the stiff, bleach-smelling sheets, he wished for his warm, comfortable room by the barn, with the ‘night talk’ from Rosie’s horses.

“Father, wake up, we need to get going.”

“Daniel, what time is it?”

“It’s five in the morning. We can have breakfast and then head over to the farm. If we don’t hurry, Rosie will be difficult to find.”

“Wait a minute, you got up every morning at five?”

“Yes, and it was a great way to start the day. I didn’t feel like I missed a single thing. I don’t want the nightlife anymore, it just isn’t for me.”

Francesco nodded with approval and hugged his son. His pride for Daniel Giordano was beaming through his eyes. He was definitely going to make this family proud.

The old pickup bounced down the rough gravel roads until they approached the sign, “Montoose Farm.” The kitchen light was on, so Daniel climbed out of the truck and headed up to the house.

Before he could knock, he saw the foreclosure notice taped to the middle of the door.
Oh my God, it’s true!
With a shaking hand, Daniel knocked softly, then opened the door. There were no smells of scrambled eggs, bacon, and coffee. There was no Rosie there to greet him.

“Rosie?”

“John?” I’m in the living room, come on in!” She tried to make her voice sound as cheerful as she could.

Daniel let his father inside, then cautiously rounded the corner. What he saw broke his heart.

“Rosie, what is happening?” Daniel went down on his knees in front of her and wrapped her up in his arms. She cried loud, uncontrollable sobs. After a few minutes, Daniel sat back on his heels and held her hands.