One of the bankers checked his notes. ‘In regards to the owner ship of Pajaro, the daughters are the rightful heirs should Cordelia de Santoval be unable to resume her duties at Pajaro. Leon de Santoval is still missing according to this information. Is that correct?’
As the sisters looked to Spencer for his answer, the boardroom door opened. Carlotta looked to see who had entered but the room was too full of people for her to get a clear view. She hadn’t expected such a crowd but thankfully she and her sisters had managed to cope with the intense pressure.
Spencer nodded. ‘Yes, the daughters are running the company in place of Birdie while she recovers. They have the fifty-one per cent share, while Leon de Santoval has forty-nine. Information has come to hand of Leon’s location and I am planning to fly to visit him this week to get his percentage signed over. Then Carlotta, Violetta and Graciela will have full ownership,’ he said more confidently than he felt.
‘I wouldn’t waste your time,’ said a voice from the back of the room.
Everyone turned around to see who was speaking. Carlotta nearly passed out. John Berconi was standing next to Matthew, her father’s lover’s son. She looked at her sisters. Violetta’s mouth had dropped open and Grace was as white as the shirt she was wearing.
‘And you are?’ asked Spencer.
‘John Berconi of Berconi Luxe. As of yesterday evening, the forty-nine per cent of Pajaro was sold to me by Matthew Sanger.’
Matthew stepped forward.
‘And how does Matthew Sanger have this forty-nine per cent of Pajaro in his name?’
Matthew looked at the sisters and smiled, clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight. ‘My father gave them to me.’
Around the room started a murmur that grew into a dull roar. Nicholas Canturi banged his hands on the table.
‘Your father? Why did he have them?’
‘My real father. Leon de Santoval.’ He looked pleased with himself and smiled at Grace. ‘Hello, sis, pleased to see me?’ he asked.
The room broke into chaos. Violetta and Carlotta clutched each other’s hands. Turning to clasp Grace’s hand, they saw she was stumbling from the room.
Violetta and Carlotta followed her, with Chris rushing behind them.
They piled into Chris’s office and Grace collapsed on the sofa.
‘I feel sick,’ she muttered.
‘What the fuck is going on?’ asked Violetta.
Carlotta was pacing the carpet, wringing her hands. ‘It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault,’ she said.
Chris stood helplessly, holding a glass of water for Grace who now had her head between her legs.
Grace looked up at Violetta. ‘I think I’m going to throw up,’ she said.
Chris rushed to get his waste paper bin. Violetta and Carlotta looked at each other. Surely this was an extreme reaction, thought Violetta. The news was shocking and Grace has always been sensitive but still, it seemed strange to both sisters.
There was a knock at the door of the office. Chris went outside for a moment then came back in. ‘We have to go and talk to Berconi,’ he said to Spencer.
‘I’m coming,’ said Carlotta.
‘Me too,’ said Violetta.
They both looked at Grace. They couldn’t leave her by herself. She was retching into the wastepaper basket.
‘I’m sorry,’ they heard Grace say.
Carlotta rushed over. ‘Why are you sorry? I’m sorry I ever slept with the man. Now he knows about Mom and how bad things are here. It’s my fault,’ she cried, tears streaming down her face.
Violetta and Grace were shocked. Carlotta and Berconi?
‘I’m sorry.’ Carlotta rubbed Violetta’s hands.
