“You can order Mr. Hope to remain here.”
“But regardless of what I tell him, he doesn’t have to stay here.” He paused. “Unless you. . .unless you force him to. So what does it matter what I do or don’t do?”
“The point is, Mr. Temple, I want you to order him to remain here. Once you do that I will take care of the rest, and you may leave. I will fly you back on my jet, and I will send to you the name of the person I want to become the next CEO of Sybaritic. Thenourbusiness is concluded.Thatis my decision. You have no need to wait any longer for it.”
Temple looked relieved but also wary. “So let me get this straight. All I have to do is order him to stay and then you will make him do so? And then I’m free to go on with my life?”
“After the new CEO of my choosing is appointed, yes.”
Temple took a few moments to think all of this through. However, he could think of no downside for him. “I’ll order him to stay with you right away.”
She gazed at him disdainfully. “I knew that you would. But there is one more thing that I require of you.”
He looked at her anxiously. “What?”
“You never found Walter Nash.”
“Look, I tried—”
“You clearly did not try hard enough. That is your assignment, if you truly want your freedom. And I will be checking.” She waved her hand in dismissal.
Temple immediately left. Out of her sight he had the broadest smile on his face.
I can string her along on Nash. So I am fucking free at last.
He never gave a thought to the fate of Dillon Hope.
Yet he was the son of a narcissist, and the apple had apparently fallen right next to that warped tree.
CHAPTER
28
THE NEXT MORNING MASUYO EMERGEDfrom her room to find an attendant waiting.
“Do you require anything, ma’am?” said the woman respectfully.
Masuyo glanced over her and said bluntly, “My daughter. Her I require. Tell her to come to me. I will be in the dining room where I will take my breakfast. Now.”
The woman took out a phone, texted a message, and hurried off as Masuyo made her way slowly to the dining room. She was dressed all in silk, which felt cool and soft against her skin. She admired the costly furnishings and artwork and sculptures that were arrayed around the penthouse. Each servant and bodyguard she passed bowed solemnly to her.
My daughter has done well, because I trained her correctly. This is how it should be.
Masuyo entered the dining room, where her place setting was being laid out and her tea poured by another attendant.
“Excuse me,” said Masuyo imperiously. “You will set my place at theheadof the table.”
The attendant froze, but only for a moment. Then she quickly rearranged the setting so that Masuyo would be at the demanded spot.
The chair was then held out for her. She sat down and the napkin was placed in her lap. She lifted the cup of tea to her nose, took a sniff, and nodded her approval. Masuyo then gave her meal order. The attendant scurried off.
Masuyo drank her tea, set the cup down, and pressed the napkin against her lips. Each of her movements was slow and deliberate because she wanted to relish each moment.
Masuyo looked up when her daughter entered, dressed all in black.
“Good morning, Mama,” she said. “Did you sleep well?”
“Much better than I have slept for years, my child. Please, sit with me.”