her."
"The quickest way to end this is to turn it over to the authorities."
"The quickest,
quietest
way to end it is to identify the blackmailer."
He contemplated the fresh enthusiasm and determination in her eyes. apparently now that she had got past the awkward part, namely informing him that he was involved, her goal-oriented nature had reasserted itself. She was ready to move forward on the project
"What do you plan to do with this blackmailer if you do make an identification?" he asked.
"Zara believes it's someone from her past," Olivia said. "She says it has to be someone who once knew her very well. Maybe someone who actually worked with her on those X-rated films. She's convinced it's an old rival who's now down on his or her luck and looking for a way to make some quick cash."
"I see."
"She thinks that once we know the identity of the blackmailer, she can confront the person and warn him or her to leave her alone."
"What makes her think that will work?" Jasper asked.
"She believes that the blackmailer won't want to be exposed as someone who once worked in the porn industry any more than she, herself, does."
"In other words, she thinks she can neutralize the threat by making her own threats."
"Right." Olivia looked pleased by his quick grasp of the concept.
"Hmm."
She pursed her lips. "You don't sound convinced."
"I probably don't sound convinced because I'm not convinced."
"Look, if it's any consolation, I happen to agree with you. I think we should turn the matter over to the authorities. But I promised Aunt Zara that we'd try to identify the blackmailer first and let her decide whether or not to handle it on a personal basis."
Jasper said nothing.
Olivia's brows came together in a tight line above the frames of her designer glasses. "You know as well as I do that Zara's approach to this is no different than the way most businesses handle employees who commit fraud or embezzlement. It's all hushed up."
"This is not quite the same thing."
"Yes, it is," she said urgently. "Companies rarely go to the authorities when they suspect embezzlement because they don't want their clients and customers to find out that their internal security was lousy. They prefer to handle the matter privately. Zara wants to deal with this the same way."
"And you promised her we'd help."
"Yes."
"Tell me something," he said quietly. "Do you always rush to the aid of any member of the Chantry or Glow family who comes to you for help?"
She scowled. "What kind of a question is that?"
He exhaled slowly. "Forget it. You're right. It's a stupid question." One to which he already knew the answer.
My niece is a lot like me
, Rollie Chantry had said at one point during the contract negotiations.
She understands her responsibilities to the family. When I'm gone, she'll watch out for Chantry interests
.
"Jasper, I'm very sorry about what happened this afternoon. I know that it's my fault that you're involved now."
The apology annoyed him. "It was the blackmailer's fault, not yours."
"If my disguise hadn't been so crummy, he or she would never have recognized me and called your office to send you rushing down to the Market."
"That kind of logic makes me hungry. When do we eat?"
She blinked a couple of times at the abrupt change of topic. "What about Zara? We need to make some plans."
"I think better on a full stomach." He got to his feet and started toward the kitchen. "I hope you've got a microwave. We're going to need to reheat dinner. Got any lettuce?"
She glared at him through the opening above the counter. "Lettuce?"
"As long as there's a kitchen available, I might as well make a salad to go with the spinach lasagna I brought." He opened the refrigerator. "Good. You've got some romaine."
"Hang on, that's my kitchen." Olivia bounced to her feet and hurried around the corner to join him. "Give me that lettuce."
"Whatever you say." He handed her the plastic sack full of romaine.
She shot him another scowling glance as
"The quickest way to end this is to turn it over to the authorities."
"The quickest,
quietest
way to end it is to identify the blackmailer."
He contemplated the fresh enthusiasm and determination in her eyes. apparently now that she had got past the awkward part, namely informing him that he was involved, her goal-oriented nature had reasserted itself. She was ready to move forward on the project
"What do you plan to do with this blackmailer if you do make an identification?" he asked.
"Zara believes it's someone from her past," Olivia said. "She says it has to be someone who once knew her very well. Maybe someone who actually worked with her on those X-rated films. She's convinced it's an old rival who's now down on his or her luck and looking for a way to make some quick cash."
"I see."
"She thinks that once we know the identity of the blackmailer, she can confront the person and warn him or her to leave her alone."
"What makes her think that will work?" Jasper asked.
"She believes that the blackmailer won't want to be exposed as someone who once worked in the porn industry any more than she, herself, does."
"In other words, she thinks she can neutralize the threat by making her own threats."
"Right." Olivia looked pleased by his quick grasp of the concept.
"Hmm."
She pursed her lips. "You don't sound convinced."
"I probably don't sound convinced because I'm not convinced."
"Look, if it's any consolation, I happen to agree with you. I think we should turn the matter over to the authorities. But I promised Aunt Zara that we'd try to identify the blackmailer first and let her decide whether or not to handle it on a personal basis."
Jasper said nothing.
Olivia's brows came together in a tight line above the frames of her designer glasses. "You know as well as I do that Zara's approach to this is no different than the way most businesses handle employees who commit fraud or embezzlement. It's all hushed up."
"This is not quite the same thing."
"Yes, it is," she said urgently. "Companies rarely go to the authorities when they suspect embezzlement because they don't want their clients and customers to find out that their internal security was lousy. They prefer to handle the matter privately. Zara wants to deal with this the same way."
"And you promised her we'd help."
"Yes."
"Tell me something," he said quietly. "Do you always rush to the aid of any member of the Chantry or Glow family who comes to you for help?"
She scowled. "What kind of a question is that?"
He exhaled slowly. "Forget it. You're right. It's a stupid question." One to which he already knew the answer.
My niece is a lot like me
, Rollie Chantry had said at one point during the contract negotiations.
She understands her responsibilities to the family. When I'm gone, she'll watch out for Chantry interests
.
"Jasper, I'm very sorry about what happened this afternoon. I know that it's my fault that you're involved now."
The apology annoyed him. "It was the blackmailer's fault, not yours."
"If my disguise hadn't been so crummy, he or she would never have recognized me and called your office to send you rushing down to the Market."
"That kind of logic makes me hungry. When do we eat?"
She blinked a couple of times at the abrupt change of topic. "What about Zara? We need to make some plans."
"I think better on a full stomach." He got to his feet and started toward the kitchen. "I hope you've got a microwave. We're going to need to reheat dinner. Got any lettuce?"
She glared at him through the opening above the counter. "Lettuce?"
"As long as there's a kitchen available, I might as well make a salad to go with the spinach lasagna I brought." He opened the refrigerator. "Good. You've got some romaine."
"Hang on, that's my kitchen." Olivia bounced to her feet and hurried around the corner to join him. "Give me that lettuce."
"Whatever you say." He handed her the plastic sack full of romaine.
She shot him another scowling glance as
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