Family Man

salvaging Gilchrist, Inc. only under certain conditions.”
    Katy's stomach clenched, but she managed to keep her smile pinned firmly in place. “What conditions?”
    Justine shifted slightly in her chair. “Luke says he does not wish to be reinstated in my will. Nor does he want control of Gilchrist on a permanent basis. He says, however, he will attempt to pull us out of our immediate problems for a fee.”
    “A fee?” Katy was stunned. She glared at Luke. “Money? You mean you're going to treat your family just as you would any other client?”
    “Not quite,” Luke said softly. “My fee in this case will be considerably higher than it would be for an average client.”
    “How much higher?” Katy demanded.
    “If I succeed, I want the Pacific Rim restaurant.”
    Katy blinked, confused. “What on earth are you talking about?”
    Luke shrugged. “You heard me.”
    Realization dawned. Katy's mouth fell open. “You want the Pacific Rim as your fee ?”
    “Yes.”
    Katy threw Justine a horrified glance. She was certain she was missing something in the equation. But Justine just smiled wearily.
    “I'm afraid he means it,” Justine said quietly.
    “But that's outrageous.” Katy's gaze swung back to Luke. “That's the most successful restaurant in the entire group. The jewel in the crown. The flagship of the line. It made more money last year than Gilchrist's Grill and Gilchrist's of Bellevue combined.”
    “I'm aware of that.” Luke's smile was ice cold.
    “Well, you can't have it,” Katy said stoutly.
    Justine held up a hand. “That's enough, Katy. I have already agreed to Luke's price.”
    “Justine, you can't just turn that restaurant over to him. It's not right.”
    “I had intended to turn over the entire group to him,” Justine reminded her, “together with Gilchrist Gourmet.”
    “Yes, but that was when you thought he would join the company on a permanent basis and assume his full responsibilities to the family.” Katy waved a hand toward Luke in disgust. “He's obviously only going to act as a paid consultant. Gilchrist, Inc. will be nothing more than a client as far as he's concerned. He just said so, for heaven's sake.”
    “I will take what I can get,” Justine said bluntly.
    Katy crossed the room in three quick strides and crouched beside Justine's chair. She took the old woman's elegant, long-fingered hand in hers and squeezed fiercely. The three-carat solitaire diamond in Justine's ring bit into Katy's palm. “I won't let you grovel and plead with him, Justine. I will not let you humble yourself like this. He has no right to set such outrageous terms.”
    Luke smiled dangerously. “Better save the noble outrage, Katy. You've only heard my first condition. There's another.”
    Katy scowled furiously at him. “What's your second condition?”
    “I want you as my personal assistant. You'll work for me instead of Justine.”
    Katy recoiled in shock. “Out of the question.”
    Luke shrugged. “I'm going to need someone who can provide continuity and act as a liaison with both management and the family. You're perfect for the job.”
    “How do you know?” Katy retorted.
    “Justine assures me you know almost as much about the inner workings of Gilchrist, Inc. as she does. She also says you have an intuitive understanding of most of the people who work at the management level. On top of that, you're practically a member of the family. I'm going to need that kind of inside knowledge.”
    Katy staggered to her feet, dazed. In her mind's eye she saw all her private plans going up in smoke once more. She had been so close, she thought. Almost free. She swallowed, trying to find her voice. “Justine, are you just going to hand me over to him like this?”
    Justine's brows rose. “It's not an unreasonable request, my dear. But the choice is yours. I won't insist.”
    “Think about it,” Luke advised, his gaze amused. “Take your time. I have some details to discuss with Justine. I'll stop by your office in an hour or so and get your decision then.”
    Katy eyed him warily. She knew Justine was agreeing to Luke's conditions because she hoped that once on board at Gilchrist, Inc. he could be persuaded to stay. It was a possibility, Katy conceded. A remote one, but still a possibility. After all, he was here at last, which was a major step forward.
    Katy thought quickly. Persuading Luke to stay and take on the job of saving Gilchrist, Inc. was her best hope of early