The Villa

God help us all. You'll keep your fine house, Gina, and your pocket money. But you will not find yourself mistress of the castello. My castello," she added coolly. "Take what you're given, or lose a great deal more."
    "Gina, basta! Enough," Don ordered and had his hand slapped for his trouble.
    "You're an old woman," Gina said between her teeth. "One day you'll be dead and I will not. So we will see." She swept out of the room.
    "Zia Tereza, scusi," Donato began and was cut off by a sharp gesture.
    "Your wife does you no credit, Donato, and your work falls short of my expectations. You have this year to correct those matters. You will remain in your position with Giambelli until the time of the next pruning. Then we will reassess. If I am pleased, you will be promoted, with a salary and the benefits that apply. If I am not, you will remain with the company on paper only. I will not see one of my blood removed, but you will not find your life so easy as you have. Is this understood?"
    His tie was suddenly too tight, and the meal he'd just eaten threatened to revolt in his belly. "I've worked for Giambelli for eighteen years."
    "You worked for twelve. You have put in appearances for the last six, and even those appearances have been inconsistent recently. Do you think I don't know what you do, or where you spend your time? Do you think I'm not aware of what your business is when you take trips to Paris, to Rome, to New York and California at Giambelli expense?"
    She waited for this blow to land, saw the faint sheen of sweat skin his face. And was disappointed in him yet again. "Your wife is foolish, Donato, but I am not. Have a care."
    "He's a good boy," Francesca said quietly.
    "He might have been. Perhaps he'll be a good man yet. Margaret, you'll pardon the family histrionics. We're temperamental."
    "Of course, La Signora ."
    "You will, if you choose to accept, oversee and coordinate the heads of sales of Giambelli-MacMillan, California and Venice. This will require considerable travel and responsibility on your part, with the appropriate salary increase. You'll be needed in Venice in five days to establish your base there and familiarize yourself with the operation. You have until tomorrow to decide if you want to consider this arrangement, and if so we will discuss the details."
    "I don't need time to decide, thank you." Margaret kept her voice brisk and even, and her heart pounded like wild surf. "I'll be happy to discuss the details at your convenience. I'm grateful for the opportunity." She shifted to Eli, nodded. "Grateful to both of you for the opportunity."
    "Well said. Tomorrow then. Paulie, we've already discussed our plans, and I appreciate your input and your discretion. You'll assist in coordinating the operation in the fields, the winery. You know the best men here, and at MacMillan. You'll serve as foreman."
    "I have nothing but respect for Paulie." Ty's voice was calm, even if temper and frustration had twin grips on his throat. "His skills and his instincts. I have nothing but admiration for the operation here at the villa, and the people involved in it. And the same from what I know of Giambelli, Venice. But we have a top-flight operation, and people, at MacMillan. I won't see that operation or those people overshadowed by yours, La Signora. You're proud of what you and yours have accomplished, of the legacy you've inherited and intend to pass on. So am I of mine."
    "Good. So listen. And think." She gestured to Eli.
    "Ty, Tereza and I didn't come to this decision overnight, nor do we do it lightly. We've discussed this for a long time."
    "You're not obliged to bring me into those discussions," Ty began.
    "No." Eli interrupted before the heat he saw building in his grandson's eyes could flash. "We're not. We've worked out, with Helen, how the legalities and formalities should and must be met. We've strategized how to implement this true merger to the benefit of all involved—not just for this season, but for the season a hundred years from now."
    He leaned forward. "Do you think I want any less for MacMillan than you? Any less for you than you want for yourself?"
    "I don't know what you want. I thought I did."
    "Then I'll make it clear, here and now. By doing this, we'll become not only one of the biggest winemakers in the world, but the best in the world. You'll continue to oversee MacMillan."
    "Oversee?"
    "With Paulie as foreman, and you as operator, as vintner. With some addendums."
    "You know