Interview with the Billionaire Read online

  “Of course.”

  “The same holds true of Anne’s kidnapping. You can talk to Bree—that’s her choice—but Nikki and I won’t talk about that time. It was extensively covered, and we both spoke to the press at the time. Cover it in the article if you want, but you get your information from pre-existing materials.”

  “Again, that’s not a problem. Anything else?”

  “You won’t be interviewing the children. I believe Evelyn made that clear when she set up the interview, but if you’re expecting us to loosen that rule over these two days, you should know right now that you were mistaken.”

  “I understand. Of course, Mr. Stone is different situation.”

  “Ash is an adult. If he wants to talk to you, that’s up to him. So,” he continued, “are we clear?”

  “Absolutely. That all sounds very reasonable.” She flashed him a charming smile.

  Damien had to wonder at her easy acquiescence. If she didn’t want to talk about the abuse or the kidnapping, he couldn’t help but wonder what other aspects of his life she intended to dredge up. But, he supposed, he would see soon enough. “All right, then. That’s all I needed to hear.”

  He headed back towards Nikki, noting her baffled expression. He slid in beside her, his arm going around her waist. She leaned closer, whispering, “What was that about?”

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  In front of them, Maggie faced the group . “Okay, everybody, let’s make some pretty pictures. Then I’ll start the interviews with the Steeles right after we get the photographs out of the way.”

  You’re my proof that I must be a good man. How else could I deserve you?

  * * *

  - Entice Me

  Transcript: Steele

  Day 1, Session 1, 11:15 am

  Audio Transcription by All Access Enterprises

  Annotations added by client: Spicer, Magdalena

  Location: Stark Home, Malibu, CA, Pool Deck

  Subject(s): Jackson Steele, Sylvia Brooks Steele

  Interview conducted by Maggie Bridge

  * * *

  Begin Interview

  [They sit close, his arm around her shoulder. Her hand is on his thigh. This is an affectionate couple. Both have been photographed in the press, so no description is necessary. But there is no doubt that Jackson is related to Damien Stark.]

  * * *

  Bridge: Thank you both for doing this. It’s a great opportunity having you here Mr. Steele. I would love to do an extended interview about you and your career, too, if you have the time.

  * * *

  J. Steele: I’m flattered, but I’m afraid we don’t. Besides, it’s Damien who’s turning forty. I’ve already passed that milestone. And please, call me Jackson.

  * * *

  S. Steele: And I’m Sylvia.

  * * *

  Bridge: You’re a Project Manager for Stark Real Estate Development, is that right?

  * * *

  S. Steele: It is. My focus is bringing new projects to fruition. Finding the right location, acquiring the real estate, retaining the right architect for the job, putting together the right team.

  * * *

  Bridge: But before that, you were Damien Stark’s executive assistant?

  * * *

  S. Steele: I was.

  * * *

  Bridge: And what’s he like as a boss?

  * * *

  S. Steele: Couldn’t ask for better. He’s firm, but fair. He’s brilliant, so I learned a lot. He’s demanding, but he doesn’t ask anyone to work harder than he does. And he looks for talent in house. In some companies, I would have worked an exec’s desk for my entire career. At Stark International, I moved up and over.

  * * *

  Bridge: And how well did you know Nikki Stark—well, Nikki Fairchild—when you were working Mr. Stark’s desk?

  * * *

  S. Steele: Not well at all. I was passingly familiar with many of the women he went out with, but it wasn’t my habit to to get to know them.

  * * *

  Bridge: But you got to know Nikki.

  * * *

  S. Steele: Well, she is my sister-in-law.

  * * *

  Bridge: So you two only became close when you married Jackson?

  * * *

  S. Steele: No. I was being flip. We were good friends long before that.

  * * *

  Bridge: And how did that friendship develop?

  * * *

  [Sylvia looks to Jackson as if for guidance. As far as I can tell, he gives none, but she reacts as if she got a response.]

  * * *

  S. Steele: The truth is, the more I saw of her, the more I liked her. Damien is a brilliant man and extremely talented. Nikki is as well. They match each other. Even just seeing their relationship from my desk, I could tell that that they complement each other. A mutually beneficial relationship.

  * * *

  [Jackson takes Sylvia’s hand at this point and squeezes it.]

  * * *

  S. Steele: To be perfectly honest, I made a point of getting to know her better after the business with the painting went public. She wasn’t used to being the Celebrity of the Month, but she handled it well. And honestly, I think Damien got off cheap.

  * * *

  Bridge: You have no problems with the fact that he paid her a million dollars as a sitting fee for a nude portrait.

  * * *

  S. Steele: None at all. And I hope you don’t either. It’s a fabulous painting.

  * * *

  Bridge: It is. And for what it’s worth, I intend to tell her so.

  * * *

  S. Steele: Oh. Well, I’m glad to hear it.

  * * *

  Bridge: You were caught up in a similarly visible scandal when Jackson was arrested for—

  * * *

  J. Steele: No.

  * * *

  Bridge: I’m sorry.

  * * *

  J. Steele: You’ve crossed the border. Move back into Damienland. The press has covered that murder more than enough, and neither Syl nor I have a comment for you.

  * * *

  [I glance to Sylvia at this point and she nods.]

  * * *

  Bridge: I apologize. I tend to do very conversational interviews. You never know where they’ll lead.

  * * *

  J. Steele: Not a problem. Just back up and take a different road.

  * * *

  Bridge: The first project you two worked on together was The Resort at Cortez, correct?

  * * *

  J. Steele: Yes. Sylvia brought me on.

  * * *

  S. Steele: It was my first job as a project manager. I was still on Damien’s desk, but he knew that I wanted to move into real estate. We lost the original architect and the project was in danger. I—well, I recruited Jackson.

  * * *

  Bridge: I can see why. Jackson was certainly on the rise. A bona fide starchitect.

  * * *

  S. Steele: That’s right. His career was exploding. Which made him a huge asset if we could land him.

  * * *

  Bridge: I assume you were eager to sign on. That must have been a plum project—working with your brother. Two men at the top of their game.

  * * *

  [For a moment, I think he’s going to laugh. Instead, he shifts in the chair, kicking his feet out and looking completely relaxed.]

  * * *

  J. Steele: Back then I wanted nothing to do with the project. Not with Sylvia. Not with Damien. And that’s another road we don’t need to go down. Suffice it to say I got over it. My brother’s a talented man. That’s why I have a permanent West Coast office in Stark Tower now.

  * * *

  Bridge: You said “not with Sylvia.” Had you two met before?

  * * *

  J. Steele: We’re not shifting to an interview about us. Suffice it to say we met in Atlanta a few years before work on The Resort at Cortez.

  * * *

  Bridge: How did—

  * * *

  [Jackson holds up a finger, then waves it.]

  * * *

  Bridge: From what I understand, The Resort at Cortez was a huge success.

  * * *

  J. Steele: It was. And we have Syl to thank for that. She was tireless.

  * * *

  S. Steele: I think we have the entire team to thank. We’re expanding, too. I think that might be a scoop for you, actually. If so, you’re welcome.

  * * *

  Bridge: Expanding?

  * * *

  S. Steele: Several acres of the island were left undeveloped. We’re putting in a section of private residences — single family homes and one high-end condo tower. Plus, we’re expanding the resort. I’m very excited about the potential.

  * * *

  Bridge: And how involved is Damien?

  * * *

  S. Steele: As much as he needs to be. And if Jackson and I do our jobs right, that isn’t much.

  * * *

  Bridge: Do you find it difficult working for your brother-in-law?

  * * *

  S. Steele. Not at all. In some ways it’s easier than before. Damien’s a very private person. I caught peeks behind the mask as his Exec Assistant—it’s inevitable—but now I know him so much better. It’s given me more insight into him, and I respect him even more. Which is saying a lot, because I already respected the hell out of him.

  * * *

  Bridge: What about you, Jackson? You made your own name, but until recently, I think it’s fair to say that your brother is more well known. His tennis career and then all the ventures that make up Stark International.

  * * *

  J. Steele: You’ll get no argument from me. I have a niche. Damien has t
he world.

  * * *

  Bridge: And is that a problem?

  * * *

  J. Steele: Not anymore.

  * * *

  Bridge: But…?

  * * *

  J. Steele: For years, I thought Damien was an ass.

  * * *

  Bridge: You didn’t know he was your brother until you were an adult.

  * * *

  J. Steele: No. He didn’t know about me. I knew about him. I’d just never met him until I was an adult. But Damien didn’t have a clue. I saw him as my spoiled baby brother. I don’t feel that way anymore for a lot of reasons, none of which I’ll get into here. I will say that I blamed him for keeping my father from me. Since I imagine that Jeremiah Stark will come up in your interview with Damien, let me just say that had I seen my father with clearer eyes back then, I would have been thanking my brother for saving me from that son-of-a-bitch.

  * * *

  [He checks his watch]

  * * *

  J. Steele: We need to wrap this up and get the kids back to our place. Any more burning questions?

  * * *

  Bridge: Well, the S&S Sports Center. What was it like working with your brother?

  * * *

  J. Steele: This is hardly the first time, and we work well together. The center was a passion project for both of us, and I’m proud of my design. But the place itself was Damien’s idea, and it was a good one.

  * * *

  Bridge: Thank you. I appreciate your time. Both of you. Anything you’d like to add?

  * * *

  J. Steele: Just that Damien’s faced a lot of shit in his life. I have, too, but I think it’s safe to say that his truckload is bigger than mine. But despite all of that, he’s one of the best people I know. And considering I used to think he was Satan incarnate, that’s saying one hell of a lot.

  * * *

  Interview End

  Damien’s Journal

  A brother

  I have a brother, and as far as I can tell he hates me.

  * * *

  I have said over and over that I am only recording events now. There is no time for long journal entries.

  * * *

  And yet I feel this deserves one.

  * * *

  Even so, this is the most I can do right now. I don’t know how to process this information. I don’t now how to flip my world into this new reality.

  * * *

  I will come through it fine—of that much I am certain.

  * * *

  But the truth is that I’m only certain because of Nikki.

  * * *

  She has changed everything for me.

  * * *

  Whatever I accomplish from now forward—whatever I overcome—it is because I have found her.

  * * *

  She is nothing short of a gift from the universe, and the miracle is that to her I am the same.

  * * *

  So I will move forward in this new reality where I have an older brother. A man who, as far as I can tell, hates me.

  * * *

  Considering the the landscape of so much of my life, I suppose that state of affairs was inevitable.

  * * *

  But just in case the universe is listening, here’s my request: Stop fucking with me.

  * * *

  That is all.

  Chapter 6: The Spotlight

  “Would it be possible to conduct this interview upstairs?” Maggie asked. He was doing his damnedest to think of her as Maggie, the vetted reporter. Not Lena, the woman who’d harassed him. And not Magdalena, who was apparently trying some of the same tricks on Ash.

  It wasn’t easy.

  “Upstairs is fine,” Nikki said, filling the gap left by his silence. She eyed him curiously, obviously wondering if the response was okay, particularly after their earlier conversation with Evelyn when Jackson and Syl were being interviewed.

  “Yes,” he said now. Of course that’s fine.”

  Maggie flashed a winning smile. “To be honest, I’m anxious to see the painting.”

  “Admire it all you like, but that’s also an off-limits topic. I think we’ve seen enough press about how that painting came to be to last a lifetime.”

  “I’m sure you have. But if it’s okay with you,” she said to Nikki, “I’d like to talk about the experience of being the model. I’m not interested in the million dollars. I’m interested in what it was like to stand for a Blaine original.”

  Nikki glanced up at him, clearly undisturbed by the topic. He’d rather leave it off the table, but as far as he was concerned, it was Nikki, not him, who had the final say about what she did or did not discuss about those sessions.

  “Sure,” Nikki said, obviously understanding the nature of his silence. “But just know that I’ll cut you off if it starts to feel dicey.”

  “Of course,” Maggie said, with another bright smile. “And I hope you both know that holds true for anything said in this interview.”

  “That’s my practice in any interview,” Damien said, and his time Maggie’s smile wasn’t quite as chirpy.