Family Man

him.”
    Katy opened the office door and walked inside. Eden trailed after her. A young woman with an amazingly well-developed chest looked up inquiringly.
    “May I help you?” Then the secretary saw Eden. Bright color flamed in her cheeks. Her eyes started to narrow. “Oh, hello, Miss Gilchrist.”
    “Hello, Cynthia. Please tell you boss that I want to see him.”
    “I'm afraid Mr. Atwood is busy at the moment,” Cynthia said with great satisfaction.
    “I'm sure he's not too busy to see us,” Katy said. She walked straight past Cynthia's desk and opened the door of the inner office. Eden followed.
    Nate was on the phone, one well-shod foot propped on his desk. He reclined in a swivel chair, his attention on the view of Lake Washington outside his window. He glanced around in obvious annoyance as Katy and Eden entered the room. His expression turned cold as he realized who his visitors were, but his voice was laced with warm camaraderie as he concluded his conversation.
    “Look, Mike, I'm going to have to run. Something's come up. I'll catch you later. Think about the deal. It's solid. You'll make a killing.” Nate hung up the phone and leisurely sat forward. “Well, well, well. To what do I owe the honor of this visit, ladies?”
    Katy looked at him and wondered what she had ever seen in him. “I think you know the answer to that, Nate. Your little blackmailing scheme ends now. Today. This minute. Furthermore, you will repay the money you have taken from Eden.”
    Nate studied her for a long, chilling moment. His eyes were filled with scorn. “You always were a little on the naïve side.” Then he turned to Eden. “I warned you not to talk about our arrangement,” he said in a silky voice. “You've made me very angry, Eden. It's going to cost you.”
    Eden did not move. “It has to stop, Nate. I simply can't get any more money for you.”
    “You can get it. And you will. You're a Gilchrist. You owe me. By rights I should have a chunk of the company. Since you managed to keep me from getting my share at the time of the divorce, I'll get it any way I can.”
    Eden shuddered. “You've taken enough. More than enough. I can't give you any more.”
    “You will. One way or another you will. We both know I'll send those clippings about your mother to your grandmother. I've got nothing to lose.”
    Katy took a step forward. “You're wrong,” she said quietly. “You have a great deal to lose. I'm here to warn you that if you don't stop the blackmail right now and repay the money you've wrung out of Eden, you will be very sorry.”
    “No shit.” Nate chuckled. “How are you going to make me sorry, Katy? Go to that old witch, Justine? Not a chance. You know what she'll do to Eden and her family if she finds out about her daughter-in-law's previous career as a dealer in forged art. She'll disown the whole bunch.”
    “That's not true,” Katy said firmly.
    Nate grinned. “Come on. Who are you trying to kid? I was a member of the family for a year. I know what Justine Gilchrist is like. I know exactly what she'll do if she finds out about Maureen. Stay out of this. It's between Eden and me. The Gilchrists owe me, and they're going to pay.”
    Katy steeled herself. She was going to have to make the counterthreat sound good or it would not stand a chance of working. “You may not be aware of it, Nate, but Justine no longer runs Gilchrist, Inc. Her grandson Luke is in charge. If you don't stop the blackmail, I'll go straight to him.”
    Nate's smile never wavered. The look in his ice-blue eyes was derisive. “The Bastard? Don't make me laugh. I know all about Luke Gilchrist. The man has a reputation. He's hard as nails, and he won't give a damn about Eden or her mother. He'll let them all sink. No, you won't run to him.”
    “Don't be too sure of that,” Katy said swiftly.
    “Jesus. How stupid do you think I am?” Nate asked. “I know about Luke Gilchrist, remember? I was family. I know what Justine did to his parents.”
    “That's got nothing to do with this,” Katy said.
    “The hell it doesn't.” Nate leaned back in his chair. He smiled slowly. “I don't deal in restaurants specifically, but I know real estate in general, and I know the major players in the Northwest financial community. Word travels in the investment world, and Gilchrist is well known. He doesn't need Gilchrist, Inc. There's only one reason he'd take it over. He wants revenge for what happened to his parents.”
    Out of