Ian released his grip on Jason, circling him in a calm, calculating manner, as though he were his prey. “You may want to reserve judgment on that, mate, until you’ve heard all the details. You’re quite right that your days at the Silicon Valley hotel are over. Apparently you’ve been up to your old ways again. Clearly, you don’t follow orders well and require much stricter supervision.”

Jason regarded him scornfully. “Orders? I should be the one giving orders, not having to take them. As Charlotte’s husband I ought to have equal authority as you and your brothers.”

Ian shook his head in disbelief. “My God, your stupidity is only exceeded by your arrogance. And your ego. You’re not family, despite your legal ties to my poor clueless cousin. But Uncle Richard tolerates you because Charlotte is still determined to have you. And speaking of my uncle, Charlotte will be overjoyed to learn she’ll be seeing a great deal more of him in the very near future. As will you.”

“What do you mean?” Jason’s tone was guarded.

Ian shrugged. “That’s where you’re being transferred, back to corporate headquarters in London. Oh, I know what you’re thinking - back to the big city, the head office, finally getting what you deserve. And you’re quite right on all three parts, especially the latter. You see, you’ll be working alongside your father-in-law. Very closely, I might add.”

Jason frowned. “How exactly do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ll be Richard’s fucking shadow,” replied Ian harshly. “Your office will be right across from his, where he or his staff can see exactly what you’re doing all day, every day. You’ll be accompanying him to every meeting, every appointment, every luncheon. You won’t have any free time of your own, every minute of your day accounted for. If you need to go take a piss in the loo you’ll have to clear it with him first.”

As the realization of what this new situation would be like began to dawn on Jason, his features took on a panicked expression. “You can’t do that. Come on, Ian, be a sport. You know the old bastard can barely tolerate me. He’s going to make my life a living hell.”

Ian smiled with great satisfaction. “Exactly, Jason. That’s why this solution is so much more satisfying than simply shattering your jaw. Your pain will go on for a long time. And don’t be hoping Uncle Richard will be retiring any time soon. He may be sixty-five but he’s fit and sharp and will probably go on working for at least another decade.”

Jason visibly paled, his eyes narrowing. “He can’t control me round the clock.”

“Ah, but then you haven’t heard all the good news, have you?” Ian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms leisurely, as though he were discussing the latest soccer scores. “Well, you know how expensive housing is in London, even more so than in San Francisco. And since Uncle Richard and Aunt Helen want only the best for Charlotte and your children, they’re insisting that all of you move in with them. After all, they’ve got that huge old place out in Surrey and it’s been a bit lonesome with just the two of them. So Aunt Helen is at present having the entire west wing readied for your arrival, and she’s probably the happiest woman in all of England right now.”

Jason looked as though someone had punched him in the gut – hard - and stared at Ian in horror. “You wouldn’t. I won’t stand for it, do you hear me?”

Ian chuckled. “Well, considering that even as we speak Richard is calling Charlotte to tell her all the good news, I’d say you have no choice in the matter at all. Done deal and all that. Oh, and Uncle Richard also said to tell you that you’ll be commuting with him to and from the office every day. Plenty of room in the Bentley for one more.”

Jason was seething. “This is an insult. I don’t need a fucking keeper. And you know what Richard is like.”

“I do, yes. Especially when it comes to making Charlotte happy. There’s really nothing he won’t do for his daughter or grandchildren. And that includes keeping you on a very short leash.” Ian grasped Jason’s face between his fingers, squeezing tight enough to cause pain. “You sure as hell will have a great deal of trouble whoring around as you’ve been used to doing all these years. Maybe you’ll finally learn to appreciate the very posh life you’ve been lucky enough to have.”

Jason snorted. “I think I’d prefer the broken bones to everything you’ve just described.”

“Tough. The choice isn’t yours to make. Uncle Richard has finally realized what a liability you are to this company, to this family, and he’s prepared to do whatever is necessary to keep you in line.” Ian released his grip on Jason’s cheeks, shoving him away. “Now, I’ve got a meeting to get back to. Don’t bother returning yourself. In fact, perhaps you and Charlotte ought to catch an earlier flight home, given that you’ll have a great deal of packing to do. Now get the hell out of my sight before I change my mind about breaking your jaw.”

Jason had his hand on the door handle but couldn’t resist taking one final parting shot. “Aren’t you going to go check on your slut? After all, she looked awfully delicious in that bikini. I never knew you favored blondes, Ian, especially ones with nice big -”

But before the rest of his obscene words could leave his mouth, Jason was gasping for breath, bent over at the waist and unable to make a sound after Ian had given him a hard, vicious kick to the groin.

Ian opened the door and shoved him out into the hallway, a look of pure loathing on his face. “See if you can make it back to your room without vomiting, hmm? I understand they had all the carpets cleaned recently.”

Ian slammed the door shut, forcing himself to take several deep breaths. He glanced quickly at his watch, realizing he’d need to make this next part quick so he could return to the meeting. At the wet bar he grabbed one of the plastic ice bucket liners and filled it with ice.

He found Tessa pacing anxiously to and fro on the stretch of sand not far from their patio. She was still wearing the sheer swimsuit cover up over her bikini, her beach tote all but forgotten on the sand. When she saw him approach, she ran towards him a bit clumsily, her bare feet sinking into the loose sand.

“What happened?” she asked worriedly. “Are you all right? He didn’t try -”

Ian chuckled, pulling her close against him. “Darling, I’ll try very hard not to be insulted that you thought for one moment that little shit could possibly hurt me. The real question is - are you all right?”