Sinfully Sexy (25 page)
Authors: Linda Francis Lee
Tags: #Romance, #Sex in the workplace, #Fiction
him interested?
But more than that, what kind of a man did such a thing at all?
A deep, biting ache swept through her, followed quickly by a strange,
foreign iciness that was oddly comforting. Sterling Prescott might
think he had gotten away with turning her into a game. But he was
wrong. He was about to learn that cutthroat corporate raiders couldn't
act callously and get away with it. At least not with her.
filming the final installment of
The Catch
, Chloe was ready.
She had managed to avoid everyone since she had walked off the set
yesterday. Given the need to prepare for the final show, it hadn't been
too difficult to do. Just one word to Julia explaining that she
had to be left alone to ready the grand finale kept everyone, including
Sterling, at bay.
Today the ballroom set looked the same, only this time the crew had
splurged and filled the space with dozens of yellow roses. The sheer
draperies fluttered in a slight breeze caused not by the open window,
but from a small wind machine just offstage. It was beautiful and
romantic, and Mindy flitted around
the room like a nervous princess in a gossamer gown that looked a lot
like the draperies.
Now, with only minutes before they were scheduled to start taping the
conclusion of
The Catch
,
Chloe's pulse raced. It was time to act. She was nervous, but
determined.
"Trey's here," Julia called out.
"Places, everyone," Pete added.
Chloe stood just off set, and she hated the way her breath caught at
the sight of the man she had come
to trust.
The minute he entered the ballroom, she saw that he looked around. She
understood instinctively that
he was looking for her.
"Trey," Pete said, "we're going to tape you and Mindy first."
Sterling hesitated before answering, but when he couldn't find her
where she stood in the shadows, he turned to the director with his brow
furrowed. "That will be fine."
Mindy was directed to a spot by the fireplace at the far end of the
room. She looked timid but excited.
"Mindy, love," Pete said, "relax. It's just television."
Mindy nearly burst into tears of mounting stress before Julia rushed
forward. "Don't cry. It's almost
over and you look fabulous."
"Really?" the woman asked.
"Absolutely. You are going to wow the audience."
"What about Trey? Do you think he'll choose me?"
"Sweetie," Julia said, "you can't worry about that. You are stunningly
beautiful and you're going to impress all of El Paso. Just think about
that."
Mindy nodded and gathered herself. "I'm ready."
Music would be added in later. For now, Mindy stood there and raised
her chin.
"Quiet on the set," Pete called out, then he motioned for their
bachelor.
The French doors opened, the wind machine turned higher, and the Catch
entered through a flutter of sheer curtains, like a god stepping out of
the clouds. The sight seeped through Chloe, and she hated how
everything had gone so wrong. Was she making a mistake? Her pulse beat
in her ears, and the room felt like it spun around her.
Sterling stopped directly in front of Mindy, one single yellow rose
blooming in a small crystal vase on
the mantel between them. The shot was perfect. The Catch and the yellow
rose of Texas.
"Mindy," he said, his deep voice filling the room, "you have amazed me
during this time we've had to
get to know each other."
Mindy softened at the words, the fear draining just a bit, and it was
clear that she truly had blossomed into a beauty during the last two
weeks. The audience would remember her sweetness. They would remember
how she was kind even when the others were fighting.
"You are generous and funny," he added. "You care about so many things."
She relaxed even more, fear washing away as true hope started to build.
Sterling reached out and took her hand, and her lips parted as she
inhaled deeply. Then he kissed her knuckles like some knight in shining
armor.
But Chloe knew the truth. He wasn't a knight. There was no mistake.
He smiled at Mindy. "The man who wins your heart will be one very lucky
man."
Mindy's breath caught. Chloe watched, mesmerized and aching, just as
the audience would watch
tonight, as understanding started to seep into the woman's blue eyes.
"But I'm not that man," he said gently. "I haven't caught your heart."
"But you haâ"
Sterling pressed his finger to her lips. "No, I haven't," he implored
her.
Chloe knew that he didn't want Mindy to make a fool of herself. Those
signs of true kindness in the
man were hard to ignore. But today they didn't faze her.
"I have enjoyed our time together," he added. "And I know there is a
very lucky man out there just waiting for you to find him."
By now, tears streamed down Mindy's cheeks. She stood there forever, as
if she thought she needed to find a way to change his mind. But finally
she must have realized it wasn't going to happen. She wiped the tears
away, and as the genuinely nice person that she was, she reached up on
tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
"I know who you really love," she said with heartbreaking sweetness.
"And I understand."
This time Sterling was surprised, and his brow furrowed as he watched
her exit the room. Every
breath was held as the door clicked shut.
"Cut!" Pete called out. "That was great! Better than great! It was
outstanding! Melodramatic and sappy.
I love it!"
Voices rose through the room all at once.
"Great job," the director added. "Chloe, where are you? You're next!
Trey, stay there. This time we're going to have the Rose enter the
room. The audience will know that you're already there, and it will
look idiotic if you make the same grand entrance twice." Pete rubbed
his hands together. "This is going to be great!"
Julia squeezed her hand. "Are you okay, sugar?"
She nodded and found a smile for her friend. "I'm fine, really."
"Pete," Chloe called out. "I'm ready."
"Then action!"
Chloe pressed her eyes closed for one last second, then she turned the
knob and entered through the
same door through which Mindy had just fled.
Sterling saw her the minute she entered. She saw the heat that flared
in his eyes. But she just looked at him in return. She noticed the
minute the heat turned to concern.
She walked up to him, stopping in the spot where earlier they had put a
small X made from masking
tape. Even upset and scared and hurting, she was a professional.
"Chloe," Sterling said.
She could feel a wealth of emotion in the single word, but she held
firm against it.
He reached out and took her fingers. She felt the way she trembled, and
knew he felt it, too. He
wrapped her hand in his heat, as if to give her strength.
"We started this journey such a short time ago," he said, looking her
directly in the eye. "And when we first met, I never would have
believed that there was such a thing as love at first sight. But now,
after having met you, I know it's true. It exists. Because I found it
in you."
The words washed over her but she still held firm against them.
"Chloe?"
She blinked.
He looked at her intently. "Chloe?"
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Clearly not knowing what else to do, he reached over and took the rose
from the vase. "Will you
accept this rose?"
She stared at him forever. Her heart seemed to stop in her chest, blood
rushing through her ears, and tears suddenly burned in her eyes.
With effort, she made herself pull her hand away. "No, I'm sorry. I
can't accept the rose. You haven't captured my heart, and it would be
unfair to lead you on any further."
She saw the surprise, then the hurt, in his eyes. She hated it. But he
was the one who had turned her
into a game.
Without another word, she turned and headed back to the door. She felt
the stunned silence in the room, the tension rushing all around them.
She could feel Sterling's eyes boring into her back.
The minute the door shut behind her, Pete called cut.
"What the hell was that about?" the director shouted. "We are on a
short deadline and you're playing games!"
"I'm not playing, Pete. I can't in good conscience accept his rose."
Julia rushed up. Sterling walked off the set and stood there, glowering
and ominous.
Pete dragged his hand through his hair, not once, not twice, but over
and over again until the thick strands stood up like a punk rocker's.
"Why didn't anyone warn me about this? Now what are we going to do? We
can't end the show with our Catch standing there looking like a
discarded dork!"
Sterling Prescott's jaw cemented.
"Pete," Chloe cajoled. "No matter what he is, there's no denying that
he looks like a very strong man. But we have a huge audience of women
who will be thrilled that in the end a Rose stood up and said she
didn't want this man. This really is a great, unique way to finish
The Catch
. Our ratings will be
through the roof. In fact, I'm sure we'll double our revenue because it
will be such a smash hit that viewers will
be begging us to rerun all the episodes. And believe me, we need all
the income we can get."
She sensed both Julia's and Sterling's burning stares, but she plunged
ahead. "Have Trey say something about how finding the right woman is
never easy. Then have him hold the rose as he exits through the French
doors, the curtains fluttering, like he's a god returning to his lair.
It will be perfect. Classic. And like I said, unique."
Pete grumbled. "I guess since it's the final show it could work."
"Of course it will. Now you better get on it if we're going to make our
deadline."
Pete began calling out orders. Sterling barely listened. He watched as
Chloe started to leave. She wanted away from him. He could sense it.
He stood there confused since he didn't have a clue about what had
caused this change. And as much
as he hardly recognized it, what she had done hurt. Not his pride.
Rather something deeper.
Whatever it was, however, didn't matter, he told himself grimly. The
least she could do was explain herself.
He took the steps that separated them and caught her arm. "Do you want
to tell me what that was about?" he asked, his voice tight.
Something flared in her eyes and for half a second it looked like fear.
Then she raised her chin.
"I said what I felt," she explained. "I don't want your rose. I don't
want you."
A welcome coldness came over him. "That wasn't the case four days ago
when weâ"
He cut himself off. He wasn't a man for low blows. But he could tell
she knew what he was talking about. She had all but begged him to make
love to her. Reeled him in. Made him believe that she loved him as much
as he loved her. However, if he thought she was embarrassed, he was
mistaken.
"I might have wanted you," she said. "But that was before I learned how
truly heartless you really are. Though that isn't true." She shook her
head in surprise. "I knew it all along, said as much when you arrived
at the station. But I let you fool me into believing that you weren't a
cutthroat, prehistoric, noncaring warrior who made bets out of people's
lives and emotions."
Her words turned the coldness into a bitter chill. "Bet?"
She pulled her arm away. "Don't play the innocent with me. Your sister
told me all about the bet you made with Ben."
He felt like she had shot him straight between the eyes. "Damn Diana."
But he knew he had no one to blame but himself. He hadn't even thought
to mention that part of the
deal to Chloe. In fact, he hardly remembered it. To him, the bet had
been about the work. But she couldn't possibly know that.
"Chloe, I'm sorry. I admit, I did things badly. This whole thing was a
mistake."
She tried to turn away. But he wasn't about to give up. It was time to
stop mincing words. He would
lay it out straight. No games. "I love you, Chloe."
Her lips parted as she sucked in her breath, the blue of her eyes
darkening. "You're just saying that because you want me to re-tape the
episode so you won't look like a fool."
"I don't give a damn about
The Catch
.
I love you as I have never loved a woman in my life. Any
woman. Ever."
She looked trapped and cornered. The sight made him want to grab her in
his arms and carry her to the nearest bed. He wanted to hold her,
caress her, show her how much he cared for her. But sex wouldn't prove
anything to this woman.
"I know what you're trying to do," she said. "You're on the verge of
being embarrassed on TV, so
you're taking drastic measures to win me back."
He snapped. "I'm not trying to win anything but your heart!" he
bellowed, his voice echoing against the walls and ceiling. Then he
forced himself to be calm. He realized that he had to finally,
completely,
open up to her.
"I wantedâno, wantâyou. I love you. I love that you fight for what you
believe inâfor the people you believe in. You don't put up with crap.
And I love that when you saw me in that damned hotel bathroom, and had
no idea who I was, you wanted me. Me, just me. Not Sterling Prescottâ"
A gasp rustled through the room.
They turned to find the entire crew watching.
"He's Sterling Prescott?"
"The real Sterling Prescott of Prescott Media?"
"I thought he was Trey Tanner."
"Wow," Pete said. "Who knew we were filming a reality soap opera?" He
turned to a stunned Julia.
"Hey, what do you think? Could that work?"
Sterling muttered an oath, grabbed Chloe's hand, and pulled her down
the hall to the kitchen.
"Upset that the cat's out of the bag?" she asked.
He raised a brow. "The smirk is beneath you."
Red seared her cheeks. "You bring out the worst in meâ over and over
again. You're the one who was found out for the liar that you are. Not
me. I don't have to feel embarrassed."
"I don't give a rat's ass if the cat's out of the bag. Hell, I'm glad
it's finally out there. I am Sterling Prescott," he shouted. "And I
love Chloe Sinclair."
"Hush!"
"Why? I'm proud of who I am despite some idiotic actions on my part.
But more than that, I want everyone to know how I feel about you. I
don't give a damn if I look like a fool on TV. As to the bet,
I told Ben the deal was off before I made love to you. I want you. I
love you."
She stood there like she was breakingâand he could tell she still
didn't understand.
He drew a deep breath, and plunged ahead. "I've given up every one of
my hopes and dreams to save Prescott Media."
Her brow furrowed.
"That's right. I didn't have any intention of joining the family
business. When I started college, I was majoring in microbiology. I was
going to do something great for the world. Something that wasn't about
business or making money. But after my grandfather passed away, my
grandmother came to me and explained the way it was. My father wasn't
cut out to run the business, and she couldn't hold it together much
longer."
But more than that, what kind of a man did such a thing at all?
A deep, biting ache swept through her, followed quickly by a strange,
foreign iciness that was oddly comforting. Sterling Prescott might
think he had gotten away with turning her into a game. But he was
wrong. He was about to learn that cutthroat corporate raiders couldn't
act callously and get away with it. At least not with her.
NINETEEN
The next day, thirty minutes before they were scheduled to startfilming the final installment of
The Catch
, Chloe was ready.
She had managed to avoid everyone since she had walked off the set
yesterday. Given the need to prepare for the final show, it hadn't been
too difficult to do. Just one word to Julia explaining that she
had to be left alone to ready the grand finale kept everyone, including
Sterling, at bay.
Today the ballroom set looked the same, only this time the crew had
splurged and filled the space with dozens of yellow roses. The sheer
draperies fluttered in a slight breeze caused not by the open window,
but from a small wind machine just offstage. It was beautiful and
romantic, and Mindy flitted around
the room like a nervous princess in a gossamer gown that looked a lot
like the draperies.
Now, with only minutes before they were scheduled to start taping the
conclusion of
The Catch
,
Chloe's pulse raced. It was time to act. She was nervous, but
determined.
"Trey's here," Julia called out.
"Places, everyone," Pete added.
Chloe stood just off set, and she hated the way her breath caught at
the sight of the man she had come
to trust.
The minute he entered the ballroom, she saw that he looked around. She
understood instinctively that
he was looking for her.
"Trey," Pete said, "we're going to tape you and Mindy first."
Sterling hesitated before answering, but when he couldn't find her
where she stood in the shadows, he turned to the director with his brow
furrowed. "That will be fine."
Mindy was directed to a spot by the fireplace at the far end of the
room. She looked timid but excited.
"Mindy, love," Pete said, "relax. It's just television."
Mindy nearly burst into tears of mounting stress before Julia rushed
forward. "Don't cry. It's almost
over and you look fabulous."
"Really?" the woman asked.
"Absolutely. You are going to wow the audience."
"What about Trey? Do you think he'll choose me?"
"Sweetie," Julia said, "you can't worry about that. You are stunningly
beautiful and you're going to impress all of El Paso. Just think about
that."
Mindy nodded and gathered herself. "I'm ready."
Music would be added in later. For now, Mindy stood there and raised
her chin.
"Quiet on the set," Pete called out, then he motioned for their
bachelor.
The French doors opened, the wind machine turned higher, and the Catch
entered through a flutter of sheer curtains, like a god stepping out of
the clouds. The sight seeped through Chloe, and she hated how
everything had gone so wrong. Was she making a mistake? Her pulse beat
in her ears, and the room felt like it spun around her.
Sterling stopped directly in front of Mindy, one single yellow rose
blooming in a small crystal vase on
the mantel between them. The shot was perfect. The Catch and the yellow
rose of Texas.
"Mindy," he said, his deep voice filling the room, "you have amazed me
during this time we've had to
get to know each other."
Mindy softened at the words, the fear draining just a bit, and it was
clear that she truly had blossomed into a beauty during the last two
weeks. The audience would remember her sweetness. They would remember
how she was kind even when the others were fighting.
"You are generous and funny," he added. "You care about so many things."
She relaxed even more, fear washing away as true hope started to build.
Sterling reached out and took her hand, and her lips parted as she
inhaled deeply. Then he kissed her knuckles like some knight in shining
armor.
But Chloe knew the truth. He wasn't a knight. There was no mistake.
He smiled at Mindy. "The man who wins your heart will be one very lucky
man."
Mindy's breath caught. Chloe watched, mesmerized and aching, just as
the audience would watch
tonight, as understanding started to seep into the woman's blue eyes.
"But I'm not that man," he said gently. "I haven't caught your heart."
"But you haâ"
Sterling pressed his finger to her lips. "No, I haven't," he implored
her.
Chloe knew that he didn't want Mindy to make a fool of herself. Those
signs of true kindness in the
man were hard to ignore. But today they didn't faze her.
"I have enjoyed our time together," he added. "And I know there is a
very lucky man out there just waiting for you to find him."
By now, tears streamed down Mindy's cheeks. She stood there forever, as
if she thought she needed to find a way to change his mind. But finally
she must have realized it wasn't going to happen. She wiped the tears
away, and as the genuinely nice person that she was, she reached up on
tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
"I know who you really love," she said with heartbreaking sweetness.
"And I understand."
This time Sterling was surprised, and his brow furrowed as he watched
her exit the room. Every
breath was held as the door clicked shut.
"Cut!" Pete called out. "That was great! Better than great! It was
outstanding! Melodramatic and sappy.
I love it!"
Voices rose through the room all at once.
"Great job," the director added. "Chloe, where are you? You're next!
Trey, stay there. This time we're going to have the Rose enter the
room. The audience will know that you're already there, and it will
look idiotic if you make the same grand entrance twice." Pete rubbed
his hands together. "This is going to be great!"
Julia squeezed her hand. "Are you okay, sugar?"
She nodded and found a smile for her friend. "I'm fine, really."
"Pete," Chloe called out. "I'm ready."
"Then action!"
Chloe pressed her eyes closed for one last second, then she turned the
knob and entered through the
same door through which Mindy had just fled.
Sterling saw her the minute she entered. She saw the heat that flared
in his eyes. But she just looked at him in return. She noticed the
minute the heat turned to concern.
She walked up to him, stopping in the spot where earlier they had put a
small X made from masking
tape. Even upset and scared and hurting, she was a professional.
"Chloe," Sterling said.
She could feel a wealth of emotion in the single word, but she held
firm against it.
He reached out and took her fingers. She felt the way she trembled, and
knew he felt it, too. He
wrapped her hand in his heat, as if to give her strength.
"We started this journey such a short time ago," he said, looking her
directly in the eye. "And when we first met, I never would have
believed that there was such a thing as love at first sight. But now,
after having met you, I know it's true. It exists. Because I found it
in you."
The words washed over her but she still held firm against them.
"Chloe?"
She blinked.
He looked at her intently. "Chloe?"
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Clearly not knowing what else to do, he reached over and took the rose
from the vase. "Will you
accept this rose?"
She stared at him forever. Her heart seemed to stop in her chest, blood
rushing through her ears, and tears suddenly burned in her eyes.
With effort, she made herself pull her hand away. "No, I'm sorry. I
can't accept the rose. You haven't captured my heart, and it would be
unfair to lead you on any further."
She saw the surprise, then the hurt, in his eyes. She hated it. But he
was the one who had turned her
into a game.
Without another word, she turned and headed back to the door. She felt
the stunned silence in the room, the tension rushing all around them.
She could feel Sterling's eyes boring into her back.
The minute the door shut behind her, Pete called cut.
"What the hell was that about?" the director shouted. "We are on a
short deadline and you're playing games!"
"I'm not playing, Pete. I can't in good conscience accept his rose."
Julia rushed up. Sterling walked off the set and stood there, glowering
and ominous.
Pete dragged his hand through his hair, not once, not twice, but over
and over again until the thick strands stood up like a punk rocker's.
"Why didn't anyone warn me about this? Now what are we going to do? We
can't end the show with our Catch standing there looking like a
discarded dork!"
Sterling Prescott's jaw cemented.
"Pete," Chloe cajoled. "No matter what he is, there's no denying that
he looks like a very strong man. But we have a huge audience of women
who will be thrilled that in the end a Rose stood up and said she
didn't want this man. This really is a great, unique way to finish
The Catch
. Our ratings will be
through the roof. In fact, I'm sure we'll double our revenue because it
will be such a smash hit that viewers will
be begging us to rerun all the episodes. And believe me, we need all
the income we can get."
She sensed both Julia's and Sterling's burning stares, but she plunged
ahead. "Have Trey say something about how finding the right woman is
never easy. Then have him hold the rose as he exits through the French
doors, the curtains fluttering, like he's a god returning to his lair.
It will be perfect. Classic. And like I said, unique."
Pete grumbled. "I guess since it's the final show it could work."
"Of course it will. Now you better get on it if we're going to make our
deadline."
Pete began calling out orders. Sterling barely listened. He watched as
Chloe started to leave. She wanted away from him. He could sense it.
He stood there confused since he didn't have a clue about what had
caused this change. And as much
as he hardly recognized it, what she had done hurt. Not his pride.
Rather something deeper.
Whatever it was, however, didn't matter, he told himself grimly. The
least she could do was explain herself.
He took the steps that separated them and caught her arm. "Do you want
to tell me what that was about?" he asked, his voice tight.
Something flared in her eyes and for half a second it looked like fear.
Then she raised her chin.
"I said what I felt," she explained. "I don't want your rose. I don't
want you."
A welcome coldness came over him. "That wasn't the case four days ago
when weâ"
He cut himself off. He wasn't a man for low blows. But he could tell
she knew what he was talking about. She had all but begged him to make
love to her. Reeled him in. Made him believe that she loved him as much
as he loved her. However, if he thought she was embarrassed, he was
mistaken.
"I might have wanted you," she said. "But that was before I learned how
truly heartless you really are. Though that isn't true." She shook her
head in surprise. "I knew it all along, said as much when you arrived
at the station. But I let you fool me into believing that you weren't a
cutthroat, prehistoric, noncaring warrior who made bets out of people's
lives and emotions."
Her words turned the coldness into a bitter chill. "Bet?"
She pulled her arm away. "Don't play the innocent with me. Your sister
told me all about the bet you made with Ben."
He felt like she had shot him straight between the eyes. "Damn Diana."
But he knew he had no one to blame but himself. He hadn't even thought
to mention that part of the
deal to Chloe. In fact, he hardly remembered it. To him, the bet had
been about the work. But she couldn't possibly know that.
"Chloe, I'm sorry. I admit, I did things badly. This whole thing was a
mistake."
She tried to turn away. But he wasn't about to give up. It was time to
stop mincing words. He would
lay it out straight. No games. "I love you, Chloe."
Her lips parted as she sucked in her breath, the blue of her eyes
darkening. "You're just saying that because you want me to re-tape the
episode so you won't look like a fool."
"I don't give a damn about
The Catch
.
I love you as I have never loved a woman in my life. Any
woman. Ever."
She looked trapped and cornered. The sight made him want to grab her in
his arms and carry her to the nearest bed. He wanted to hold her,
caress her, show her how much he cared for her. But sex wouldn't prove
anything to this woman.
"I know what you're trying to do," she said. "You're on the verge of
being embarrassed on TV, so
you're taking drastic measures to win me back."
He snapped. "I'm not trying to win anything but your heart!" he
bellowed, his voice echoing against the walls and ceiling. Then he
forced himself to be calm. He realized that he had to finally,
completely,
open up to her.
"I wantedâno, wantâyou. I love you. I love that you fight for what you
believe inâfor the people you believe in. You don't put up with crap.
And I love that when you saw me in that damned hotel bathroom, and had
no idea who I was, you wanted me. Me, just me. Not Sterling Prescottâ"
A gasp rustled through the room.
They turned to find the entire crew watching.
"He's Sterling Prescott?"
"The real Sterling Prescott of Prescott Media?"
"I thought he was Trey Tanner."
"Wow," Pete said. "Who knew we were filming a reality soap opera?" He
turned to a stunned Julia.
"Hey, what do you think? Could that work?"
Sterling muttered an oath, grabbed Chloe's hand, and pulled her down
the hall to the kitchen.
"Upset that the cat's out of the bag?" she asked.
He raised a brow. "The smirk is beneath you."
Red seared her cheeks. "You bring out the worst in meâ over and over
again. You're the one who was found out for the liar that you are. Not
me. I don't have to feel embarrassed."
"I don't give a rat's ass if the cat's out of the bag. Hell, I'm glad
it's finally out there. I am Sterling Prescott," he shouted. "And I
love Chloe Sinclair."
"Hush!"
"Why? I'm proud of who I am despite some idiotic actions on my part.
But more than that, I want everyone to know how I feel about you. I
don't give a damn if I look like a fool on TV. As to the bet,
I told Ben the deal was off before I made love to you. I want you. I
love you."
She stood there like she was breakingâand he could tell she still
didn't understand.
He drew a deep breath, and plunged ahead. "I've given up every one of
my hopes and dreams to save Prescott Media."
Her brow furrowed.
"That's right. I didn't have any intention of joining the family
business. When I started college, I was majoring in microbiology. I was
going to do something great for the world. Something that wasn't about
business or making money. But after my grandfather passed away, my
grandmother came to me and explained the way it was. My father wasn't
cut out to run the business, and she couldn't hold it together much
longer."
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