“But you founded the company, they can’t fire you!”
Red smiled sadly, took a sip of water and appeared thoughtful again. “Yet another mistake I made was that I only technically own forty-nine percent of the company. I needed to raise capital a few years back and so I gave a controlling interest away, knowing that it would take a very extreme circumstance for me to actually be forced out of my own company. But that day is here,” he said. “Too many mistakes, a bad economy, and a very powerful man intent on ruining me. That’s what it’s taken for me to lose everything I worked so hard to build.”
Nicole stood up. “We’ll build another company. You’re Red Jameson, you’re a genius.”
“Some genius,” he laughed. “Others might call me a one-hit wonder after this debacle.”
“Nonsense,” Nicole said. “I know what you’re capable of.”
“Apparently so does Kane Wright.”
***
After a long, grueling day trying to find solutions to a problem that seemed unsolvable, Nicole and Red finally returned back to their hotel at seven o’clock that evening.
Red was exhausted, more tired than she’d ever seen him. He went and took a long steam in the sauna and Nicole tried to relax and watch some TV. Most of the channels were in German, but she was able to find an older American film, Pretty Woman.
Nicole loved that movie, and she found it ironic that of all the movies that could have been on TV right now, Pretty Woman was the one she’d found at this precise moment.
And then she thought of Red’s mother, who’d basically accused her of being no different than a prostitute. Erica Jameson would have found it more than interesting that one of Nicole’s favorite movies was about a young, beautiful prostitute who falls in love with her rich client.
But for Nicole it was all about the love story, love triumphing over everything. No matter how different two people were, she thought, if they loved one another than they could find a way to be together.
Red had left his phone on the nightstand next to the bed. It started to ring during the scene where Julia Roberts was being treated shabbily at the posh store on Rodeo Drive (which just happened to be one of Nicole’s favorite scenes).
She glanced at Red’s cell and saw the number was unknown. For some reason, Nicole had a strange gut feeling that this call was important. “Red!” she called, grabbing the cell phone and getting off the bed. “Red, someone’s calling!” she cried out, but there was no reply from the bathroom.
Instinctively, she answered his phone before they could disconnect. “Hello?”
The voice on the other end was deep, pleasant, and decidedly not American, although the accent was impossible to pin down. “I must have the wrong number,” he said.
“Are you looking for Mister Jameson?” she asked, her voice betraying her nervousness at having answered the phone without Red’s permission.
“Are you his assistant?” the man asked.
“I’m—I’m a colleague,” she stuttered.
“Oh,” the voice chuckled with good-natured humor. “A colleague. Yes, of course. I imagine you’re a rather beautiful young colleague, as well. Would your name happen to be Nicole Masters?”
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. How did this person know her name? She didn’t answer at first. And then, collecting herself, said, “May I tell Mister Jameson who’s calling?”
“Yes, but first I’d like a chance to speak with you, Nicole.”
She didn’t know what to do. If she denied her own name, she’d be lying for no reason. But she also didn’t feel comfortable with this strange man knowing who she was, when she didn’t know who he was. “I think I should just get Red—Mister Jameson, I mean—on the line.”
“Oh, that’s really too bad. You have a lovely voice.”
“Thanks. And who should I say is on the line?” she asked yet again.
He chuckled. “An old friend.”
Something in his voice made her nervous. And she didn’t know how she knew this, but Nicole suddenly had a strong gut feeling that this stranger was the very man they’d been talking about all day long. She’d never heard of him before today, but Nicole sensed that this was none other than Kane Wright.
“I’m not sure that Red wants to speak with you right now, Mr. Wright.”
Suddenly it was his turn to pause. After a long moment, he laughed as if delighted. “Aren’t you the smart little detective? No wonder Red fancies you. Beauty and brains, the full package.”
“I’ll let him know you called.”
“No,” he said, and the charm melted away from his voice. “Tell him that I’ve made dinner arrangements for the three of us tonight at the most exclusive restaurant in all of Berlin.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes,” Kane replied. “Reinstoff, at nine-thirty sharp. Please don’t keep me waiting, Nicole. My patience only extends so far.”