The Courage To Love (Love On The North Shore) (27 page)

“Whereas, you prefer safety and routine?” His words sounded silky and smooth, but she knew he was baiting a trap. “Do you expect to stay locked behind these doors indefinitely?”

Olivia kept her facial expression neutral. “I intend to take some time off until the speculation dies down.”

There were so many unanswered questions that her head began to throb. Why had he let her grow up in the care of a guardian? Now that he died tragically, why would his family seek her out? What did they want from her?

“Where do you intend to go?” His words goaded her.

“I don’t need to answer your questions.” Olivia moved away from him but could feel his eyes on her the entire time.

He was looking at her with an intensity that pierced her skin and caused her blood to heat. Olivia thought Fionn wasn’t a man that one would easily forget. She realized he could be a model with his aristocratic presence, black hair and eyes so dark and intense that Olivia felt overwhelmed.

He held her gaze and stepped closer to her. “We are in the center of an impending storm and you need to seek refuge by reaching out to the family.”

“I read that you and Oliver had a falling out years ago and had become adversaries.” Olivia surprised herself by actually voicing her thoughts aloud.

Olivia saw his heightened tension in the muscle flickering at the base of his jaw but she noticed he merely shrugged, saying  “I would be careful about believing everything you read online. In fact, your father and I were in the process of negotiating the sale of Greyson Lynch. Given the circumstances, the family has asked for my help at this difficult time.”

Olivia guessed he was in his early thirties, and was impressed with how polished and seemingly in control he was. She noted his accent sounded more Irish than American.

“I don’t know why you have come here. I can’t possibly help you with any of this.”

His words were clipped and direct. “As I explained in the messages I left for you, it is expected that you will attend the funeral in London tomorrow.”

Suddenly she felt at a disadvantage. She knew nothing about her father or his family. “I don’t understand how attending the funeral could possibly help the situation. If anything it will cause more speculation.”

Olivia watched in fascination as he ran a hand through his black hair. “You are his daughter whether you had a relationship with him or not, and as such you are named in his trust. You have some responsibility to the family to show up and take part in the grieving process.”

Olivia turned away from him. So that was it. She was named in his trust so they couldn’t ignore her existence. “It would be a mistake.”

His voice softened. “It must have come as a terrible shock, finding out about your father’s death in the news.” He seemed to pause to let the message sink in.

***

Watching her turn back to him, Fionn noticed she seemed to be in a mild shock. Her skin had become even paler and there was the slightest hint of purple in her lips as if her body wasn’t taking in enough oxygen. He admired the stark beauty of her face with the tell-tale pale blond hair that she streaked an unnatural pink. Olivia Grey was the spitting image of her father. Yet her overall presence was at odds with her rebellious hair and reminded him of innocence. She wore a grey fitted sleeveless dress that showed her beautifully sculpted arms and slim body. He felt his body respond to her and ruthlessly suppressed the unwelcome desire.

Anger for Oliver’s obsessive secrets and carelessness sharply pieced his gut until he used his iron control to banish the motorcycle accident from his mind. He had a mission. He needed to convince this emotionally disconnected, innocent girl to attend the funeral. Not for the family. They would have no interest in seeing her. He needed her consent to change the allocation of shares or Grayson Lynch would come crashing down, evaporating all of his hard won plans for acquiring the company he helped to build.

“Even though the media is reporting that Oliver was my father, it doesn’t mean that it is true. He was married at the time and my mother never mentioned him.” Her words bothered him.

Did she really doubt that she was his daughter? Even though her cool image was already seared into his mind, Fionn found it hard to look away. He was both fascinated and repulsed by her. She looked nothing like her mother, but had undoubtedly inherited her attention seeking and opportunistic nature. Why else would she be drawing this out?

Fionn stepped closer to her and noticed that she retreated slightly. “Oliver’s attorney has a copy of your birth certificate along with photographs of your father with you shortly after your birth and correspondence from your mother clearly indicating that you are in fact his daughter. If that is not enough, there are also copies of DNA testing from when you were a baby proving paternity.”

Fionn thought she looked like she might faint and reached out to steady her, and was shocked by the electric current that sparked between them. He preferred tall, dark-haired career women who challenged him intellectually yet expected nothing beyond a temporary relationship. Oliver’s daughter was not his type at all. She seemed ice cold and rigid, and probably believed she was royalty. 

Olivia looked down, “Even if he was my father, he never made any attempt to reach out to me or play even a minor role in my life. My mother provided for me financially.”

Did she not understand who her father was? She had been raised in a strange, sheltered existence but she must understand how wealthy she was about to become.

“Your mother was penniless. The money you thought came from your mother’s estate actually has been coming from Oliver all of these years. The flow of money is well documented.”

Her complete lack of knowledge about her father disturbed him. He needed her to be aware of all of the complexities of wealth and loyalty or the press would manipulate her or his adversaries would seek the upper hand. If that wasn’t enough given the opportunity, her step-mother would demolish her.

Olivia shook her head. “My mother was a famous opera singer and worked all of the time.”

“Even at the height of her career, your mother lived beyond her means.” Fionn didn’t understand why she needed to question everything. Wasn’t it enough to find out she was now an heiress?

Glancing around the showroom, he took in all the working parts. At least she had a recognizable skill and wasn’t just a superficial party girl.

“I cannot possibly attend the funeral.” Olivia said as she held his gaze.

“Who your father was will have an impact on you. As you are aware, someone has leaked your birth certificate to the media so there is no going back. You’ll need protection. Oliver was an immensely powerful and high profile figure.” Fionn contemplated if she would become an adversary or not. If she knew who her father was, she was a formidable actress. But even if she had no idea of his existence before today, she must have an inkling of the tremendous wealth that would now be at her disposal.

“I’m not going,” Olivia said.

He noticed the rigidness of her spine and the intensity in her eyes and decided to change tactics. “We can’t continue to discuss this here. Can you gather what you need and I’ll take you home?”

***

Olivia resisted arguing with him. She found her blue cashmere wrap and protectively covered her body as she picked up her keys, handbag and laptop case from her desk.

“Do you need anything else?” Fionn asked.

She shook her head. Olivia felt her stomach clench. She worried about leaving her shop. Starting her own design label had been liberating but she had been unprepared for the exorbitant costs of a start-up and in recent months had begun to despair of ever being able to turn a profit. The financial side of the business was causing her many sleepless nights. What would happen to her now that her name would forever be linked with her wealthy father? She didn’t want to live in his shadow. She didn’t want his choices to tarnish her reputation.

As soon as they were on the street, Fionn moved closer to her and took her hand, using his height as a shield from the photographers.

“My car is this way.” Olivia allowed Fionn to guide her to a black Land-Rover.

The driver opened the doors for them and she heard Fionn give the driver her address and for a fleeting moment contemplated whether she should trust him. There were several stories in the media indicating he was at odds with her father and the takeover of her father’s company was reported to be hostile. But why would Oliver’s wife ask for Fionn’s help with the funeral and other arrangements if they were at odds?

While Fionn was busy talking on his cell phone, she absorbed small details about him. He dressed in expensive, tailored clothing that fit him to perfection. He looked like an A list celebrity with his polished appearance and impeccable manners. She forced herself to look away and reminded herself not to be impressed by his polished exterior.

Within a short while, the Land-Rover pulled up outside a series of historic Victorian houses on a side street. The driver opened her door and she murmured a polite thank you before joining Fionn on the sidewalk.

“It’s just you and Agnes Callan who live here?”

Olivia could see the unspoken censure in every line of his body. She knew the large house had seen better days. Instead of taking care of it, Agnes spent all of her free time helping Olivia launch her clothing design company.

“Yes, Agnes was thinking of opening a bed and breakfast but it is always just been her and I.” Olivia tried to dispel a feeling of defensiveness.

Fionn dispassionately regarded the house. “Your guardian was asked to provide a home for you, not open a boarding house. Are you aware Agnes was given a considerable monthly stipend for that purpose?”

Olivia stopped walking and looked up at him, keenly aware of the driver waiting in the car and a couple of neighbors walking by with their dog.

She felt her body stiffen but managed to keep her composure. Lowering her voice, she said “I’ll soon be twenty-four and I choose to live here with Agnes. She is the only family I have. Whether you approve of the arrangement or not is irrelevant.”

“It’s not about approval,” he held her gaze and she looked away before he said, “It’s about keeping you safe while the media embarks on a witch hunt.”

Olivia walked up the path and unlocked the door.

Stepping into the foyer, Fionn removed her cashmere wrap. The intimate gesture made her feel suddenly exposed, and a flash of defiance sparked inside of her. Olivia dragged a much needed breath into her tense body. As she stood in the shabby interior of the house, Olivia realized she had miscalculated. Fionn Lynch would not be easy to dismiss. He was looking at her like he wanted to consume her in one fell swoop.

“Could you alert Ms. Callan to our arrival?”

Olivia shook her head. “She is visiting her sister a few hours from here.” Olivia remembered their conversation a short while ago when she had to push Agnes into keeping her plan. She knew Agnes worried about her and wanted to stand guard.

“Why would you choose to live here?”

Olivia stood straighter. “This house has been my home since I was four years old.”

Fionn looked around the interior. “The press will have a field day with photographs of this dilapidated place. God knows what Ms. Callan will choose to say in an interview.”

“Agnes would never say or do anything to hurt me.” She could feel her protective wall pushing out towards him, blocking him.

“Money has a strange way of poisoning any relationship. You would be surprised what she might be willing to disclose for the right incentive,” Fionn said as he held her gaze.

“You’re wrong about Agnes.”

Fionn took a look around the main level while he said, “I don’t wish to offend you, Olivia. Your father’s death came as a shock and the family is endeavoring to cope with the news of your existence.”

Olivia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t understand what you need me to do.”

Fionn held her gaze and said in a clipped tone, “Attend the funeral to show your respect and begin to form some sort of relationship with the family so the speculation lessens.”

“I can’t possibly do that,” she told him carefully.

“As his money allows you to live a comfortable life, you may want to reconsider.” His words were clipped.

Olivia met his gaze and could feel anger radiating off of him.

“I’m not interested in his money.” Olivia told him.

“Everyone has an interest in money; just not everyone cares to admit it. You may find it rather difficult to live and pay rent on the salary you are earning from a nearly bankrupt start-up.” His tone was openly confrontational but Olivia let it wash off her. She was used to having every aspect of her life scrutinized by outsiders.

Olivia didn’t understand his fascination with money. “The funeral is for those who loved him, who shared their life with him. I have no place there.” Didn’t he understand the family wouldn’t want her to intrude at such a difficult time?

Fionn faced her. “You were his daughter.”

After a brief silence, Olivia said, “I need to think. I’ll put on tea if you want to go to the sitting room.”