LITMIR.BIZ

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Janine whispered under her breath. “I’m sure Zach couldn’t care less how much I weigh.”

      “Nonsense,” Gramps said, gently patting her hand. “I hope you two had the chance to introduce yourselves.”

      “Oh, yes,” Janine returned automatically.

      “Your granddaughter is everything you claimed,” Zachary said, but the inflection in his voice implied something completely different to Janine than it did to her grandfather. She guessed that to Anton, he seemed courteous and complimentary. But he was telling Janine he’d found her to be the spoiled darling he’d long suspected. He didn’t openly dislike her, but he wasn’t too impressed with her, either.

      Unfortunately, that was probably due to more than just the dress and the lightbulb necklace.

      Janine watched for her grandfather’s reaction to Zach’s words and she knew she was right when his gaze warmed and he nodded, obviously pleased by his partner’s assessment. Zachary Thomas was clever, Janine had to grant him that much.

      “How did the meeting with Anderson go?” Zach asked.

      For a moment her grandfather stared at him blankly. “Oh, Anderson…Fine, fine. Everything went just as I’d hoped.” Then he cleared his throat and carefully spread the linen napkin across his lap. “As you both know,” he said, “I’ve been wanting the two of you to meet for some time now. Janine is the joy of my life. She’s kept me young and brought me much happiness over the years. I fear that, without her, I would have turned into a bitter old man.”

      His look was so full of tenderness that Janine had to lower her eyes and swallow back a rush of tears. Gramps had been her salvation, too. He’d taken her in after the sudden deaths of her parents, raised her with a gentle hand and loved her enough to allow her to be herself. It must’ve been difficult for him to have a six-year-old girl unexpectedly thrust into his life, but he’d never complained.

      “My only son died far too young,” Anton said slowly, painfully.

      “I’m sorry,” Zachary murmured.

      The genuine compassion Janine heard in his voice surprised her. And it definitely pleased her. Zach’s respect and affection for her grandfather won her immediate approval—even if the man didn’t seem likely to ever feel anything so positive toward her.

      “For many years I mourned the loss of my son and his wife,” Anton continued, his voice gaining strength. “I’ve worked all my life, built an empire that stretches across these fifty states, and in the process have become a wealthy man.”

      Janine studied her grandfather closely. He was rarely this serious. He wasn’t one to list his accomplishments, and she wondered at his strange mood.

      “When Zach brought his business into the area, I saw in him a rare gift, one that comes along seldom in this life. It’s said that there are men who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. Zachary is a man who makes things happen. In many ways, the two of us are alike. That’s one of the primary reasons I decided to approach him with a proposal to merge our companies.”

      “I’m honored that you should think so, sir.”

      “Sir,” Anton repeated softly and chuckled. He raised his hand, motioning for the waiter. “You haven’t called me that in six months, and there’s no reason to start again now.”

      The waiter returned with a bottle of expensive champagne. Soon glasses were poured and set before them.

      “Now,” Anton continued, “as I said earlier, I have the two people I love most in this world together with me for the first time, and I don’t mind telling you, it feels good.” He raised his glass. “To happiness.”

      “Happiness,” Janine echoed, sipping her champagne.

      Her eyes met Zach’s above the crystal flute and she saw a glint of admiration. If she were dining on it, she’d starve—to quote a favorite expression of her grandfather’s—but it was just enough for her to know that he’d think more kindly of her because of her love for Anton.

      Her grandfather chuckled and whispered something in his native tongue, a German dialect from the old country. Over the years she’d picked up a smattering of the language, but when she’d repeated a few phrases to a college German professor, he’d barely recognized the words. Gramps paused and his smile lingered on Janine, then went to Zach. Whatever Gramps was muttering appeared to please him. His blue eyes fairly twinkled with delight.

      “And now,” he said, setting his glass aside, “I have an important announcement to make.”

      He turned to Janine and his face softened with affection. “I feel as though I’ve been an impossible burden to you, child, what with running this company.” He shook his head. “Never in all my dreams did I expect to accumulate so much in a single lifetime. I’ve stayed in the business far longer than I should. It’s time for me to retire and do a little traveling.”

      “It’s past time,” Janine said. For years, she’d been urging her grandfather to lessen his heavy work schedule. He’d often spoken of revisiting his birthplace and the surrounding countries. He talked at length of cousins and friends he’d left behind in the small German settlement. It was located in what was now part of Russia.

      “This is where Zachary comes into the picture,” Anton explained. “I know myself all too well. Full retirement would be impossible for me. If I stopped working, I’d shrivel up and die. That’s just the way I am,” he said simply.

      Neither Janine nor Zachary disputed his words.

      “I’ll never be able to keep my fingers out of the business, yet I want to enjoy my travels. I couldn’t do that if I was fretting about what was going on at the office.” He paused as if he expected one of them to contradict him. “I believe I’ve come upon a solution. As of this afternoon, Zachary, I’m handing the reins to you. You will assume my position as chairman of the board. I realize this is sooner than we discussed, but the time is right and I hope you’ll agree.”

      “But, Anton—”

      “Gramps—”

      Anton held up his hand. “I’ve thought about this long and hard,” he said confidently. “I find Zach’s honesty unquestionable, his loyalty certain and his intelligence keen. He’s shrewd, perceptive and insightful. I can think of no better man, and there’s no better time.”

      Janine noticed that Zach seemed uncomfortable with the praise. “Thank you,” was all he said.

      “A share of this company will belong to you someday, Janine,” Anton said next. “Do you have any objections to this appointment?”

      She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Of course she approved. What else could she do? “Whatever you decide is fine with me.”

      Anton turned his attention to the other man. “Zachary, do you accept?”

      Although their acquaintance had been brief, Janine knew instinctively that it took a lot to fluster this man. But her grandfather had managed to do so.

      Zachary continued to stare at him as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. But when he spoke, his voice was well modulated, revealing little emotion. “I’m honored.”

      “For the next few months, we’ll be working closely together, much as we have in the past, but with a difference. No longer will I be showing you the ropes. I’ll be handing them to you.”

      The first course of their lunch arrived, and after that, the conversation flowed smoothly. Her grandfather made sure of it. He was jubilant and entertaining, witty and charming. It would have been impossible not to be affected by his good humor.

      When they’d finished the meal, Zachary looked at his watch. “I’m sorry to leave so soon, but I have an appointment.”

      Janine took a last sip of her coffee. “I should be leaving,

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