“Not you too, please, Tina.”
“Come on, girl… this is going to be really big.”
“That doesn't matter to me.”
“Then what does? Don't you want to find out the reason why he's been hiding here, pretending to be what he's not.
“He must have had good reasons to, and I really have no interest in finding out why.”
“Are you kidding me? Aren't you even the least bit curious now?
“No, and no.”
“Level with me here girl, what's going on? There's something you're not saying.” Tina sighed.
“Kendra… you’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
Kendra didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. The silence said it all.
Chapter Fourteen
Antonio
I stepped out of the office building, exhausted from a long day of trying to do damage control. The rumors that had begun two months ago had suddenly resurfaced, and this time they were more persistent than before.
My father was not making things any easier. I couldn’t understand why he’d refused to take legal action against my mother for what she was doing. The rest of the world wasn’t aware of the source of the rumors, but we were.
What I was still in the dark about, however, was why he continued to protect her, and what exactly she had on the winery.
As I made my way to my car, a swarm of journalists descended upon me, their cameras and microphones at the ready.
“Mr. Michaelson! Can you confirm your mother’s involvement in the winery’s finances?” a reporter shouted.
I halted, scanning the sea of faces for a friendly one. None existed.
“I’ve already issued a statement,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. “My mother’s return has nothing to do with the winery’s business. She’s only back for personal reasons.”
“But what about the rumors of incriminating evidence?” another journalist pressed. “Do you know who’s behind the leaks?”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not aware of any credible evidence. We’re cooperating fully with any investigations,” I said, taking a deep breath before the lie. “And no, we do not know who is spreading rumors about any evidence.”
A microphone was thrust into my face. “Is it true that the winery has been hiding financial irregularities? That your family’s empire is on the brink of collapse?”
I struggled to keep my composure. “Those allegations are baseless. We’ve always conducted business with integrity. You should watch where you get your information. Where did that even come from?”
Another reporter from a local newspaper pushed forward. “Mr. Michaelson, sources close to the winery suggest a deep-seated family feud. Care to comment?”
I shot her a stern glance. “That’s personal and irrelevant.”
The questions continued, each one more pointed than the last. I felt trapped.
“If you won’t comment on the rumors, then what about your relationships? Is the heir of Bellavista Winery looking to start a family? Or are the rumors about your sexual preferences true?” Anne, one of the journalists from ABS who had done a project with the winery about a year ago, fired.
My gaze narrowed. “My personal life is off-limits.”
The reporters continued to shout questions, their voices growing louder and more aggressive. I stood firm, my responses measured, but my mind raced.
Just as I thought I’d escape, a young journalist fired off another question. “Mr. Antonio, do you think your family’s legacy can withstand the upcoming revelations?”
