Ruby's Secret

CHAPTER 8

Roman Vasquez's POV

The next morning after I arrived in New York I received an extraordinary summon for a private meeting with the legendary Daniel St. Clair in his Hamptons estate the very same day, if possible. I hadn't met the big man in person before but I knew that he was ruthless when it came to business. Some said that his heart was as hard as the diamonds he sold.

What could a formidable businessman like him want from me? I thought silently. Suddenly, my brain snapped at the possible answer. Was it possible that Daniel St. Clair knew I was married to one of his granddaughters?

There's nothing else to do but answer his call for a private meeting. If he was, indeed, knew something about my marriage with Red and he didn't want it? Could I lay out the law with a man like him?

After long hours of driving from the city, I arrived at the huge Hampton estate owned by Daniel St. Clair called The Jewel. The three-story castle-like house was magnificent in every direction. It stood proudly at the center of the estate with several courtyards, tennis courts, swimming pools, English gardens, and ponds. It was the kind of residence that would fit for the king of diamonds.

I parked my Ferrari in the main courtyard and rang the doorbell of the main door. A uniformed maid curtsied and without question invited me inside the house.

Inside the splendid manor was more impressive. With high ceilings, marble floors, and priceless paintings, amid a huge receiving area with a huge portrait of a beautiful woman—probably in her younger years proudly hanging above the fireplace.

The maid led me to the grand staircase going to the second floor and escorted me to the rows of hallway after hallway. I should remember every corner we entered or I'll find myself missing in this huge fortress.

Finally, after endless turns and walked the maid stopped in front of the door at the far end of the hallway we last entered. "Mr. St. Clair is inside."

I nodded my thanks and tapped lightly at the door. I mentally prepared myself for this encounter with the American billionaire.

"Come in." A commanding voice said inside the room.

I let myself enter the room. I was amazed when I saw the huge two-story library with shelves filled with first-class collection books. The silverheaded man sat behind the study table with cold emerald eyes that matched my wife's eyes—who, at the moment, was busy studying me closely. He was no doubt the grandfather of my wife.

The room could make one feel intimidated. And apparently, Daniel St. Clair thought of using his library to frighten me. Not that I was the type of man who could be easily scared by the grandeur of his library.

"Sit down, young man." Red's grandfather said authoritatively. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't pinpoint at the moment.

I obeyed him without question like a man meeting American royalty, taking one of the leather chairs in front of him and making myself comfortable even though that's the last thing I felt right now.

"Whiskey?" Daniel St. Clair asked, pouring his finest whiskey on the two glasses on the tray. It seems that he planned this well. A clever man, at his age he still knew what was going on with the lives of his granddaughter.

"No. Thank you." I shook my head when Daniel handed me the other glass. I should keep his wits with me when dealing with my wife's family. I knew this meeting would not go as smoothly as I wanted.

"One glass will not hurt you, lad." He insisted on giving me the glass of whiskey. I took it reluctantly but didn't drink the content.

"I want to be clear-headed when I deal with you, sir."