The center itself was within two weeks of opening its doors for the first time. The fact she had a hand in building it made her smile, she was so glad she could be a part of helping others.
They had their first fundraiser for it a week from now. Damon’s sister was helping to plan it and inviting all the donors from her charity as well. She was also in the middle of negotiation with Garrett about the businesses she co-owned with her brothers and the Kingsley companies all of which turned out to be much more than she’d imagined, to begin with. After his in depth research, Garrett had uncovered that the reason Kingsley’s company wasn’t producing a profit was because he’d had someone on the inside who was embezzling the funds.
After his investigation was through, they had actually managed to catch the man, and to their disbelief the money was sitting i his account. It was one of those surreal moments where a criminal was incredibly stupid. Which put an obscene amount of money back into the company and her accounts. Now that the company was flush again it once again became a viable enterprise which made the remaining employees relieved. Now she had to decide what to do with the company. She could sell it, or she could keep it and hire someone to run it for her. As for her mother’s business interest they were all investments which were paying off in major ways.
She supposed her mother had used her brain for something other than getting in trouble as she had been a savvy person when it came to investments. Her mother’s investments that she’d made in the last two years of her life had amounted to nearly two billion a year in revenue. Which meant they grew and so did her and her brothers bank accounts. Garrett suggested she leave those investments alone for the foreseeable future. His suggestion for Kingsley she’d receive the next day over lunch.
Her morning routine was the same as always, when she finally made it out to the barn, she was amazed to see how much the foals had grown in such a short time. They were absolutely beautiful big boys who were thankfully healthy. Their mother had bounced back from their birth and was now her happy frisky self. Cody was steadily training the foals as they grew, they were learning rapidly.
When she finally made it into the office, she had several messages she had to return phone calls on, and Kimberly was out of the office working to get the fundraiser for the center ready. Melanie on the other hand was there with Angel’s coffee in hand and gave her an update on how the ranch was doing, and the various calls she’d fielded. Melanie kept a backup copy of all the appointments that her brothers set and stayed on top of any medical needs for the animals.
Angel left the office at eleven heading to Angelo’s to meet with Garrett, when she arrived, Marcello the host smiled brightly and kissed both of her cheeks before asking if she was meeting her family Angel replied “No, I am meeting a business associate today, Marcello.” He nodded and responded, “Very good, I will let Angelo know you are here.” All the attention didn’t go unnoticed by the other patrons who were all staring. When Marcello led Garrett over some five minutes later, she thanked him. Within seconds their wait staff was there asking Garrett what he would like to drink, after he responded, Gino turned to Angel and asked, “Your usual Miss. Angel?” she smiled brightly and responded “Yes, please. And could you let Angelo know I am here he’ll know what to send.” Gino nodded regally and turned away.
She noted Garrett’s odd look and she replied, “My grandfather owns the restaurant.” He gave her an ‘AH’ look and she asked, “So what is the consensus about the Kingsley company?” Garrett responded evenly “I actually invited someone else to dine with us for that reason.” At her arched brow, he nodded to where Marcello was leading another man toward their table. Two minutes later Marcello had added another place setting and Gino was back for his drink order.
At her arched brow Garrett laughed and said, “What you don’t trust me Angel?” Angel quirked her brow and asked, “Am I supposed too?” at his widened eyes she said simply “I don’t have to trust you to know you’ll get the job done my father told me you would. Just as whatever recommendation you make for Kingsley International will be good decision because my father vouched for you. If there are two things, I know about you Garrett, you’re a horrible flirt, and a good businessman. So, stop baiting me and tell me what you suggest.” Garrett smiled and said, “You truly do intrigue me Angel.” She shrugged nonchalantly and responded, “You and half the male population of Houston, but that’s not why we’re here.” Which got a choked laugh from the other man and Garrett said, “You see Ethan; this is why I like her.”
Angel turned toward the new man and asked, “Ethan who?” Ethan smiled, he couldn’t help it, Garrett was right this girl, little more than a child herself was intriguing.
She was a puzzle begging to be solved. He responded “Ethan Shaughnessy” when there was no recognition in her eyes, he turned to Garrett who continued to smile, and said “Ethan, is rather notorious, he graces the tabloids almost as much as you do Angel. Except his is for vastly different reasons. Ethan is one of the most eligible bachelors in this city and commonly thought of as a playboy.” Angel didn’t bat an eyelash as she asked, “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?” at their odd looks she continued “I don’t care about his personal life, can he get the job done?” Both men’s eyes widened, and Garrett responded, “He’s one of the best CEO’s I’ve ever seen.” Angel turned to Ethan and responded, “That’s all I need to know, keep your romantic activities outside the company and do your job and we’re golden.”
Ethan stared at her stunned, most women would be angry on the behalf of their whole gender when his dating habits were mentioned but she really wasn’t fazed. Throughout the lunch they discussed everything and reached a deal they could both live with and he was going to meet her attorney later to sign the contracts.
When she left, he turned to Garrett and asked, “She wasn’t even remotely bothered by anything you said.” Garrett nodded sadly and said “Angel’s had a hard life she doesn’t date so don’t even let it cross your mind. I’ve seen a flock of men fall at her feet in the Maldives and she brushed them all off. Eventually she’ll move on but it’s way too soon for her to trust any man other than her family.” It was a shame really Ethan thought because she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, the smartest too.
When she made it home, she headed inside to change so she could go for a ride with her brothers. They were going to take a ride across the property to the Kingsley place where her father was living now. They were having dinner with him that day when they arrived, they handed off their horses to James her father’s stable manager.
When they made it around back it was a sight to behold the pool had a waterfall that fed into it, it was a truly, beautiful sight thou she’d seen it before it still took her breath. Her father himself was at the grill while he chatted to none other than Garrett, Ethan and Damon.
When Damon saw her, he swung her up in his arms for a hug and kissed her cheek and asked, “So it’s you I have to thank for my sister hounding me to come home right away.” Angel laughed whole heartedly and said, “I plead the fifth.” It was Jackson who said, “The center’s having its grand opening in two weeks, the fundraiser is next week.” Damon looked stunned and asked “Seriously?” at their nods he looked at Angel and said “We’ve got to catch up girl. Just what have I been missing?” Kaleb grabbed his arm and said, “Let me fill you in.” And off they went with Kaleb talking animatedly.
Her father kissed her forehead and asked, “You know Garrett, but do you know Ethan?” Angel replied, “He’s the guy Garrett brought to lunch today; he’s going to run Kingsley International.”
The look her father threw Ethan was priceless; Angel shook her head and said, “No worries dad, I’m immune to his kind.” Garrett asked, “Don’t you mean all kind?” Angel laughed and said “Touché.”
Hunter said “Oh, I talked to Dean today, he said to tell you that he saw some vehicles on the Newton place, by the time he made it over there to check it out they were gone. But said he and Henry would keep a closer eye on it.”
Angel sighed heavily and said “I’ve got to figure out what to do with the place. I definitely don’t need another ranch I already have two. I mean it’d come in handy if the boys ever wanted their own places, but they’ve already told me they’ll build at Wild Creek, when the time comes. And you are close being as you’re here, I could always split the land and give half to Henry and Half to Dean, but that would still leave the house. And honestly the place is a gem as far as ranches go. I think what I’ll do is hire an estate manager of sorts so they can keep the place up and ready in case I decide to keep it.” Hunter suggested “If you just want to sell it, I can buy it” Angel broke in and said “No, I don’t need more money. Jesus I’ve been practically giving away what I’ve got.”
Which Garrett laughed at and then said “I hear tell that two brothers who own a stockyard are half-way in love with you now. Did you really show up and buy one of their workers a ranch, and then buy him a hundred head of cattle for the ranch?” Angel sighed and replied, “It’s more complicated than that, but technically I also gave them a million dollars.” Ethan who had just taken a swig of his beer began to choke and cough. He asked, “You gave someone a million dollars?” Angel looked around at them as if they were aliens and said, “Technically if you want to get specific about it, it totaled out at about four million all together.” Ethan swore loudly and looked at Hunter and said, “Jesus your daughter will be broke before the end of the year.” This time it was Garrett who laughed and said “Not in this lifetime will she ever be broke. I don’t care how much she gives way.” At which Angel just shrugged.
Jackson came over and said, “Angel I was thinking before we start our actual classes at the University next month, if maybe after the grand opening, we could take another vacation?” Angel glanced at her father who shrugged, and asked “What did you have in mind?” Jackson cast a look over his shoulder to make sure Kaleb was away from them and said, “I was thinking Paris; I know Kaleb would love to see all the art.” Angel smiled warmly and said, “I’ll arrange it.” She paused then said, “You want to go there because your father’s work is still in the gallery in Paris, don’t you?” at his sheepish look Angel placed her hand on his cheek and lifted his head and said “Never be a ashamed for wanting to know where you came from Jackson. Wanting to know where I came from is what got me here. It’s what brought me to you and Kaleb. Whatever you need, either one of you, know I’ll always be there.” Jackson nodded his head and blinked rapidly as if clearing his eyes, when he walked away Hunter embraced his daughter and asked “Have I told you how proud I am of you?” Angel shook her head but smiled up at him and said “No, but it shows.” Hunter sighed and said, “You’re the best thing I ever did kid.” Angel laughed and said “And had no idea you were doing it. Just goes to show dad, put as little thought into it as possible and you’ll get great things.” At which point she stuck her tongue out at him.
Damon who had heard rolled laughing, he asked “She still giving you a hard time huh?” Hunter smiled and replied “Always.” Garrett turned to Hunter and said, “Angel seems pretty comfortable with Damon.” Hunter replied evenly “That’s because Damon has been around since a couple weeks after she arrived. That and she’s adopted him as family.” Garrett said “Ah, so it’s not…” it was Damon who broke in on that saying “No... It’s not. That kid has been through the ringer. She deserves time to figure out what she wants out of life before a bunch of jerks decide she has money they want. Angel has a slew of protectors, not just her bodyguards I’m talking every man whose life she has touched since she has been here, She’s special.” Hunter nodded, the subject was changed, and everyone enjoyed their dinner.