1
Elle
Josh parks illegally, and we bolt into the offices. Sarah is shaking hands with them, and my heart sinks. Josh is pulling me down the hallway when Asher emerges from the conference room.
“Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.”
Josh bellows down the hallway. “Mom! Did you sign it?”
“Yes, dear. It’s all done.”
Josh lunges at Asher. “You fucker. You son of a thieving asshole fucker.” Will quickly blocks Josh from landing a punch on Asher and pulls him away.
Asher straightens his tie and pocket square, and his voice drips with self-satisfaction. He says, looking right at Josh, “Looks like someone figured out my secret. Here’s what you don’t know, Joshie: I own your ass. Finally, some restitution for my family. You and all the cretins who cast out my family will now be nothing. Your legacy and labels will be systematically destroyed, but if you ever miss it, feel free to look on the bottom shelf where they keep the wine that has spigots.”
Will’s face goes slack, and his eyes look wild. “What is he talking about? Elle?” Asher’s head spins around in my direction, seeing me for the first time. His lips curl into an insidious smile. I begin to unravel all of this. There’s a small crowd gathered, and they all acknowledge me. I’ve been dealing with most of them over the course of the wooing and selling process. I speak distinctly and without emotion.
“We should probably go sit back down without the Vino Groupies. Gentlemen. You’ve done your deed already, but I’m pretty sure you had no knowledge of how much these vineyards meant to the people selling them. Or who this man actually is.”
There’s an impressive and sexy man I’ve never met. In fact, I only know two of the group of people exiting the meeting. A gorgeous, gruff, muscular, towering, tattooed man speaks to me with a lip curl. The tattoos are peeking out of his sleeves and adorning his wrists. His face is chiseled like granite and his grey eyes are cold until he turns to me. They warm instantly as if he can turn on and off his emotions.
He’s formidable and intimidating. But the way he moves is elegant; not what you’d expect from someone who looks like they could be one of Sal’s muscled bodyguards. His voice is strong and commanding. “We wanted grapes and land, and he got us grapes and the land. We’re good.” He winks at me.
Josh screams, “At what cost to the Valley? The five wineries you’re about to dismantle will only influence the rest of the Valley. The Valley will go to shit.”
Sarah steps forward. “Please, Josh. Explain it to us. What have we done?”
Asher is quick to answer, “You, dear Sarah, didn’t stand up for me. But that’s it. You were always kind. It was your father, and you share his blood. And it’s quite evident that it runs through the veins of your thug of a son. But Lucien’s the reason I now get to burn down the fucking Valley that shunned us.”
Josh speaks directly to his parents, “Mom, Dad, allow me to introduce Darren Marcus. I believe you knew his father, Barry.” There are audible gasps that only fuel Asher’s revenge. This is the day he must have dreamed of since he was thirteen years old.
Josh got a text from Sam just as we arrived that it was too late to stop any of their other deals. Josh told him that there was a lot for them all to discuss. Sam’s collecting the rest of The Five to meet up at Creekside Cafe on the far end of Sonoma in Boyes Hot Springs. It’s where the grandparents’ generation used to take their coffee together every Thursday and Monday mornings. Usually of the Irish variety. We’ll fill them in when we get there. But we need more information.
Asher turns to me. “Come, Noelle, we should go.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you until you explain the real conditions of the contract.” I stand rooted.
Josh roars from behind his dad, “And she sure as hell isn’t going anywhere with you.”
“We’ll see,” he says slyly.
I need Josh to be quiet and let me work this problem. Get him to tell me everything. I say as coldly as I can to Sarah, “Please remove your son. Get him out of here.” Josh’s eyes flare at me. Sarah still looks befuddled and betrayed.
She speaks directly to Asher, “Darren, how could you do this to us? We had nothing to do with your father’s crimes or my father’s treatment of him. We always treated you and your mother decently.” Sarah pleads and then does as I asked. “Dear, I’m a bit shaky. Will you help me down the hall?”
Josh growls and wants to go nowhere. Will stays behind with me, his hand on my back. They exit down the hallway before anyone speaks again.
“Bye, Joshie.” Asher needs to stop baiting him. He sits back down smugly, and it’s just Will and me in this legal conference room. He speaks directly to Will. I back away from him to distance myself. If he thinks I’m on Will’s side, he won’t fuck up and reveal too much. He’ll stay guarded. I sit near Asher and on the opposite side of the table from Will.
Will shifts his weight and looks nervous. I hope he trusts me. Asher adjusts his overly creased pants and flicks some lint off his lapel. “We wore that stigma my whole life. My darling Noelle, I’m not sure anyone has shared my plight with you.”
“No. But I’m sorry if there was a stigma.”
“Not after today there won’t be. Lucien and my father were best friends. They were partners in the winery.”
Will steps up. “Barry was never a partner. He worked for Lucien.”
Asher turns to Will and screams, “THEY WERE PARTNERS.”
I nod to Will. I approach Asher to calm him down. “It’s okay. Ignore him. Tell me your story.” Asher fixes his hair and pulls his suit jacket into place again. Then he turns to me and summarizes his family history that I already know. He remarks how he was cast out by Lucien and that he’s the rightful heir to LaChappelle/Whitter. I cringe inside, but I don’t show it. I need him to explain what Will and Sarah actually just signed.
Asher sits and finishes his story. “After my father killed himself, we were still persona non grata everywhere. My mother died picking almonds outside of Sacramento. That was the only job she could get, and it’s all LaChappelle’s fault. I heard rumblings of a group wanting Sonoma grapes, reputation labels, and land. Mostly they wanted land. I heard they were aggressive and had mountains of cash. And I knew that Will and Sarah needed to sell. I needed all of the despicable five on board. They all shunned us.”
Will crosses his arms and I can see him bite his cheek to keep from speaking. Asher sees him and then turns back to me. He continues his delusional story.
“My casual suggestion to David Gelbert at one of your dinners, dear Noelle, got the ball rolling that Vino Groupies might be looking for more wineries. The Gelberts have a small cash flow problem. So, if the offer were sweet enough, the others would fall in line for cheaper distribution and wider audience. They didn’t know that the Vino Groupies don’t give a shit about legacy or quality. The land and juice. That’s where your value lies. Not in your fucking family fairytale histories. No one gives a shit how long a building has stood. LaChappelle/Whittier will be no more in a year.”
Will inquires, “Why in a year?” I offer up something that I’m not sure Will has grasped yet.
“That’s your term limit of custodianship, right?”
“Oh, don’t you worry, you’ll get half your sale check as soon as possible. Sit here, my pet.” I still my nerves and revulsion, and Will looks like he’s going to stab him with a ballpoint pen. I shake my head at Will and move one seat closer next to Asher.
He speaks again. “The turnover of the wineries to Vino Groupies won’t happen until next harvest. They have to get all their ducks in a row for their next phase. So, here’s the clause that I, the custodian of your properties, am invoking, the one that you all overlooked. You must all continue to work the land, under me, for one year. The only thing standing in your way is a downturn of profit. All wineries must remain as profitable as they were in this calendar year.”
Will spits out, “Then we let the grapes rot.”
“Nice thought, but your contract also states that you must continue production in good faith, or you’ll all be subjected to a breach of contract suit and not only lose the money but pay penalties, and we still get the fucking land. I get to watch you all like a hawk over the next year. Dance puppets. Dance. And after that, you can all go to hell for all I care. I own your asses for one year.”
Josh and Sarah hear the end of his little speech. I stand. Asher turns to me and says, “Now, Noelle dear, let us continue our dalliance.”
I can’t move. “I think I’ve been used by you long enough. Go to hell, Asher. Or should I call you Darren now?”
“My real name from your lips is golden. Look, you got a plum contract out of it and a quick roll in the vines with this idiot alpha male.”
Sarah gasps and says, “You’re disgusting.” Sarah is physically restraining Josh. But Josh is letting me handle this piece, and that’s when I know he does trust me completely.
“After what you said to me today, I’m a little curious as to why you think you’re not coming with me?” Asher asks. Josh steps forward, calmly. “Mom, Dad, I’d advise you to cover your ears.” I flash my eyes at Josh. I got this. “Are you referring to my texts from earlier?”
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