Worth Everything (2 page)

“Mere acquaintances.” He’d gone to college with Alex on a scholarship he’d earned every dime of, whereas Alex had been handed his education on a platinum-trimmed, solid gold plate. “I haven’t seen him in years.”

She lifted one dark, elegant brow. “You’re lying.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know you’re lying.” She crossed her arms in front of her, the action accentuating her already plump breasts. “You were photographed with Alex and his wife recently at some sort of charity event. I saw it in the
Post.
”

Damn.
He frowned. She was right. They’d been closer in college. Real life had taken up their time and Alex was a family man, spending most of his free time with his wife and children. “My apologies, I forgot.”

An almost feral smile curled her lips. “How easily you forget. Perhaps I’m making the wrong choice in you, Mr. Westmore.”

“Gavin.”

“Gavin.” She nodded toward him. “Do you or do you not know Alexander Worth?”

“I do. Yes, we went to college together. Yes, I see him socially on the rare occasion, but we don’t normally move in the same social circles, I promise you.” He was on the fringe, considered working class amongst New York’s wealthiest.

“That doesn’t matter. It means that you can get me in.” Her lips thinned. “He won’t see me.”

“Have you tried Hunter or Rhett?” He referred to Alex’s younger brothers.

“None of them will see me. I approached Rhett at a party right after the will reading and we spoke once more after when he cancelled the meeting we were supposed to have, but that was weeks ago. With every inquiry I make, I’m directed to their lawyers.”

“You don’t have a lawyer representing you in this matter?” He found that hard to believe.

“Oh, I did but he couldn’t get me what I want, so I fired him.” Her gaze fixed on him. “Only you can help me.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He smoothed his fingers along the length of his tie, trying to calm his agitated nerves. The woman made him uneasy, in a sexual way more than anything, which he found strange. Unnerving.

Slightly exhilarating, if he was being truthful.

“It’s true. Everyone involved wants to handle this properly. No discussions, no emotions, just appearances in the courtroom and nothing else. I can’t stand that.” Leaning forward, she gripped the edge of his sleek desk, her short, unpolished fingernails a surprise. “I need to talk to those three men who are my new brothers. I need to explain to them how I’m suffering.”

“And how exactly are you suffering? Where are your other brothers? The Renaldis?”

She slapped the edge of the desk so loudly the sound nearly made him jump in his chair. “My brothers’ hands are tied. My—father’s will does not allow them to assist me in any sort of legal matter. I am completely on my own.”

“Where is your mother?” He’d heard the story of poor devastated Claudia Renaldi, holed up in the Renaldi family compound on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Was she still there? Hiding from the shame and embarrassment of her long-ago torrid affair while her daughter suffered the repercussions?

Considering the circumstances, his opinion of Claudia Renaldi wasn’t the best.

“She’s out of the country.” Stasia waved a negligent hand. “She cannot help me. She is too consumed with grief and guilt to be of any use.”

“Are you sure she cannot help you?” Her mother could at least bear some of the embarrassment and scandal.

“I think I would know my mother better than you,
Gavin.
”

He refrained from making a rude remark. Not that he believed she was a potential client anymore. “So what exactly do you want from me?” She certainly wasn’t here for his legal services.

“I want you to help me meet the Worths. Face to face, so we can speak without lawyers breathing down our necks.” She smiled prettily. “With the exception of you, of course.”

“I won’t do it.” He stood and started for the door, wanting her out of his office immediately. What she asked for made him uncomfortable—and it was downright unethical. She wanted him to use his connection to the Worth family so she could somehow convince them she deserved a piece of the Worth empire?

He didn’t think so.

Unfortunately, she didn’t follow him to the door, merely remained in her seat, though at least she’d turned to watch him. “I will pay you whatever is necessary.”

Now he was truly insulted. “Absolutely not.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re a lawyer. Why the sudden need to find your high and mighty ethical standards now?” She stood, her movements slow, downright sultry as she approached. “This has nothing to do with Worth’s financial holdings. I want to know who my family is. I want to talk to them, express my feelings in regards to all of this so they won’t think I’m only after the money.”

Gavin didn’t believe a word she said. Money made the world go ’round. And the more money a person made, the worse it became. This woman was no exception. She was upset because she’d lost her place in one family fortune and was being shut out from another. “I’m sure you do, but I don’t think I can be the one who can help you. I’m sorry.”

She stared at him, didn’t utter a word. As if she could reach into the very depths of his soul and see it—and him—perfectly. A rather unsettling sensation, considering he had a few secrets.

Like how he still felt like a fraud. Even after all these years.

“Such a shame,” she finally said, her voice husky, and dare he think it, sexy. “I thought you were a man who valued family. You aren’t married?”

He bristled like a dodgy old man. “My personal life is none of your business.”

“Which means you aren’t. You probably don’t have a girlfriend either.” She laughed but it rang false. “Short of getting on my knees and begging, I don’t know how else to plead my case.”

The image her words conjured was disturbingly arousing. The lushly beautiful Anastasia Renaldi on her knees, in the most prime location possible, begging him for…whatever he wanted.

He broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.

“Begging won’t be necessary,” he said rather abruptly, pissed at himself for even thinking of this woman pleading with him in that soft, slightly accented voice, her lush mouth poised and ready, hovering just above his…

“What a shame.” Her smile was one of a temptress. He knew in an instant she was trouble for both his mind and his libido. “Well, I thank you for your time.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any assistance.” The lie fell easily from his lips. Taking her on as a client would’ve been a disaster. He wasn’t one of those lawyers who had secret relationships with their clients, and he’d heard of plenty of them. He’d always taken the high road, done the right thing, had prided himself on his reputation and how he appeared to both his peers and to his clients.

Working with Stasia Renaldi would’ve been detrimental to his reputation. He knew this without a doubt.

“It was a pleasure meeting you.” She put extra emphasis on the word pleasure. Either she was trying to flirt with him or it came naturally.

“You as well, Miss Renaldi.” He held the office door open for her and she paused, her gaze meeting his, her lips slightly pursed as she contemplated him.

“Perhaps we’ll run into each other in the future.”

Probably not, but he wasn’t about to argue with her. “Perhaps we will.”

“I look forward to seeing you again.” With a flashing smile, she strode away, his gaze falling to her gently swaying hips, the subtle shift of her backside as she headed toward the elevator on the opposite side of the room.

“What did she want?” His assistant’s snide voice broke through his lusty thoughts, and he glared at her, astounded at her impertinence.

“None of your damn business,” he growled before he went into his office, slamming the door behind him.

He’d call HR and have her terminated by the end of the day. And then immediately go in search of a male assistant.

Women. They would be the death of him.

Stasia fled the building as fast as she could, her nerves shattered from her encounter with Gavin Westmore.

He’d disapproved from the moment he set eyes on her. The disdainful expression on his too-handsome face, and the glasses he wore, couldn’t hide the lethal coldness glittering in his green eyes. And the sneer in his voice, the finality of his immediate rejection…all of it hurt.

And made her angry.

Determination filling her, she hurried down the sidewalk, not bothering to flag down a taxi. She needed to let off some steam, ponder what her next move needed to be.

Pompous ass wouldn’t get her a quick meeting with the Worths. Oh, she’d met them before, but under totally different circumstances. Various fashion industry get-togethers throughout the years, where a person said a quick hi over cocktails and appetizers. She’d confronted Rhett Worth a few weeks ago at the Worth perfume launch, but his sweet girlfriend had sent her packing.

Lawyers loved money. They lived for it. She’d been perfectly willing to supply that asshole whatever outrageous fees he might’ve charged her and he still turned her down.

It made no sense. Her reaction to him made no sense either. She’d never been turned by a pretty face before. Her three brothers were all darkly handsome men. Working in the fashion industry, everyone was beautiful. So why such an immediate attraction to a man who looked at her as if she were a disgusting bug he’d just squashed under his shoe?

She stopped in front of a store window, stared at the display of lovely jewelry laid out. It was simply designed. Delicate hammered gold shapes dangling from thin chains, whimsical curlicues and basic circles, the kind of jewelry she’d loved to design for Renaldi Accessories. She’d finally been ready to make the next step, to become a full-fledged designer for the family company, when her father died.

And now she couldn’t work for them, couldn’t be a part of the company she so passionately threw herself into from the time she was thirteen, a silly little teenaged girl working at her family’s company. Her father had indulged her completely, loving how she flourished.

He’d taken it all away from her with a few rudely chosen words in his will. No longer with them so she couldn’t yell at him, curse him. Tell him what a cruel, terrible man he was, for taking away her birthright.

But it was a birthright that hadn’t belonged to her in the first place. She wasn’t a Renaldi. She was a Worth. Ostracized by both families, she didn’t belong anywhere.

Fighting the tears that threatened to spill, she blinked hard, turned away from the window to stare at the busy street before her. Crowds of impatient New Yorkers pushed past her, jostling her as they walked by and she fought through the crowd, stopping on the edge of the dirty sidewalk so she could wave down a cab. She hated New York, much preferred the peacefulness of Italy, specifically the Renaldi family compound where she had spent much of her childhood.

She’d been sheltered, the youngest of her mother’s children and the only girl. Protected by her bossy big brothers, coddled by the man who raised her, instilled with the belief she could do anything, be whatever she wanted to be.

And now she stood alone, feeling isolated, while her true family was in Italy. Her brothers wanted to help, were doing their best, but they were stuck. Besides, they had their own lives to live. All three of them were busy running Renaldi Accessories. Matteo was married and had a child, Vincenzo was newly married as well and Rafe was consumed with his work. They had limited time to help their baby sister, and their father had ensured they would lose everything if they defied his wishes.

Her mother was holed up in the very place Claudia loved the most, refusing telephone calls, refusing to speak to anyone, even Stasia. That was the most frustrating part of it all, how selfish her mother was behaving.

What about her? What was she going to do with her life? No one would talk to her, though the industry was all abuzz talking
about
her. Waiting to see what move she might make next, they all expected her to go after the Worths and demand her rightful piece of the Worth family fortune.

No one realized she could care less about the money. She was looking for more information about the long-deceased Michael Worth, information about these three men who were her half-brothers. She was looking for a connection to something, to someone. Anyone.

She was looking for a family to cling to. And so far, she had nothing.

No one.

Chapter Three

The cocktail party was large, making it easier for Stasia to slip inside unnoticed. The restaurant was one of those typical chic Manhattan hotspots, with the latest in trendy food and expensive cocktails. Where everyone wanted to be spotted and the paparazzi lingered outside, hoping to get a shot of a famous celebrity.

She wasn’t a celebrity, but her story was well known enough to have hit all the major magazines, including a two-page spread in
People.
Not that the paparazzi necessarily cared about her. Thankfully, it was cold outside, easy for her to wrap a black cashmere scarf over her hair and keep her head averted as she walked by the front of the building toward the entrance.