Nicoleâs hands shook uncontrollably as she tried to fit her key into the ignition. Damn, she dropped it again. She swiped the key ring up off the floor of her classic Benz, and gave up driving as a bad joke. If she couldnât even get the key in the ignition, how on earth did she expect to drive?
She got out of the car, slammed the door hard and swiped her cell phone from her bag. Thank goodness sheâd had the presence of mind to grab the designer leather pouch from the hall table after her grand exit from the family dinner to end all family dinners.
Her high heels clipped a staccato beat as she marched down the well-lit driveway of her family home to the street, calling a taxi service as she went. Fine tremors shook her body as she waited for the car to arrive. The chill air of the autumn night made her glad she hadnât had a chance to change out of her tailored wool suit when sheâd arrived home from work earlier.
Her father had requested that she dress up for dinner in honor of a special announcement heâd planned to make, but by the time sheâd gotten home, there just hadnât been enough time. She hadnât thought her father would mind that sheâd chosen to put in the extra time at the office instead of rushing home to get ready. After all, if anyone should understand her drive to devote her time and energy to Wilson Wines then surely it would be Charles Wilson, founder and CEO. Her father had invested most of his life into the business he had built, and sheâd always intended to follow in his footsteps.
Until tonight.
Another rush of anger infused her. How dare her father belittle her like that, and in front of a virtual stranger, as well? Who cared if that stranger was her long-lost brother, Judd. Two and a half decades after their parentsâ bitter divorce had split their family in half, what right did he have to come back and lay claim to the responsibilities that were supposed to be hers? She clenched her jaw tight and bit back the scream of frustration that threatened to claw its way out of her throat. She couldnât lose it now. Not when she had just discovered that she was the only person she had left to rely on.
Even her best friend, colleague and life-long confidante, Anna, had shown her true colors when sheâd arrived home in New Zealand from Adelaide, Australia, late last week with Judd in tow. Sure, sheâd tried to convince Nicole that sheâd only been following Charlesâs orders to find Judd and bring about a reconciliation, but Nicole knew where Annaâs loyalties lay, and they certainly werenât with her. If they were, Anna wouldnât have kept the truth from her about what Charles planned to use as Juddâs incentive.
A painful twist in her chest reminded her to draw in a breath but despite the fact she obeyed her bodyâs demand to refill her lungs, the pain of betrayal by her best friendâthe woman she loved like a sisterâstill lingered. How could Anna have known what was going to happen and not given her prior warning?
In her bag, her phone began to chirp insistently. Thinking it might be the taxi company calling back to confirm her details, she lifted it to her ear and answered it.
âNicole, where are you? Are you okay?â
Anna. Who else? It certainly wouldnât be her father calling to see if she was all right.
âIâm fine,â Nicole answered, her voice clipped.
âYouâre not fine, youâre upset. I can hear it in your voice. Look, Iâm sorry about tonightââ
âJust tonight, Anna? What about your trip to Adelaide? What about bringing my brother home for the first time in twenty-five years, so he could take everything that was ever mine away from me?â Even Annaâs gasp of pain at Nicoleâs accusations didnât stop Nicoleâs tirade or do anything to lessen the hurt of betrayal that rocketed through her veins right now. âI thought we were friends, sisters by choice, remember?â
âI couldnât tell you what Charles had planned, Nicole. Please believe me. Your dad swore me to secrecy and I owe him so very much. Without his support of me and my mum ⦠you know what he was like ⦠even when she was dyingââ
âHis support, huh?â Nicole shut her eyes tight and squeezed back the fresh round of tears that fought to escape. âWhat about your support of me?â
âYou always have that, Nic, you know that.â
âReally? Then why didnât you give me a heads-up? Why didnât you tell me that he was going to bribe Judd to stay by giving him my home as well as the business?â