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breath in a sigh. All right, fine. Ask your questions.
Gabe reached for Catherine s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. You skimmed money out
of the Elegant Events accounts. He didn t phrase it as a question.
Yes, I did. Dina leaned back in her chair and took a sip of coffee. I m sorry, Catherine, but
you made it quite easy. I highly recommend you take a few accounting courses so no one else
takes advantage of you in the future.
Catherine lifted an eyebrow and to Gabe s disbelief, he caught a hint of amusement at his
mother s outrageous suggestion. Though what she could find amusing about any of this he had
no idea. Why, thank you for your advice, Dina. I ll get right on that, she murmured.
Gabe stepped in again. You used the Chinsky method, I assume.
Oh, yes. Stanley was an excellent teacher. I just followed his example and did to Catherine
precisely what he d done to me. She shrugged. And then I waited.
This time, he reached for his mother s hand. Are you hurting for money? Has something
happened that you ve been afraid to tell me? Whatever it is, I ll do everything in my power to
help. You know that, don t you?
Tears welled up in Dina s eyes. Oh, Gabriel. You have no idea how much your saying that
means to me. You ve always done your best to look out for me. She gave him a misty smile.
But it s not about the money, dear.
Then, what? Catherine asked. She caught her lip between her teeth. Is this because I left
Gabe? Is this some sort of payback?
Dina inhaled sharply. You think I did this out of revenge? Oh, no, sweetheart. Never that. I love
you as though you were my own daughter. How could you doubt that? Her gaze, bird bright,
shifted from Gabe to Catherine. No, I did it to help the two of you.
To help us, Catherine repeated, confusion overriding every other emotion. How does driving
our business into bankruptcy help?
Think about it. What did you do once you realized we were having financial difficulties?
I tried to drum up more business. I economized. I worked to reduce overhead and increase
She broke off and closed her eyes. Of course. I went to Gabe.
There you go. Dina patted her hand. I knew you d get there eventually. Just as I knew that if
our finances became serious enough and you couldn t see any other option available to you,
you d eventually go and ask Gabriel for help. I have to tell you, I was quite impressed by your
determination not to give in. I almost had to scrap the entire plan.
But I caved before you had to.
She beamed. Exactly.
Are you telling me, Gabe gritted out, that you set up this entire scam, put Catherine through
hell and back, as a matchmaking scheme?
Dina tilted her head to one side in a mannerism identical to Gabe s. I d say that pretty much
covers it, yes. And it worked, didn t it? You two are back together and looking happier than ever.
If I hadn t stepped in, you d still be apart and miserable. She tapped her index finger against the
tabletop. And before you lose that infamous Piretti temper of yours, let me tell you that I d have
done almost anything, risked just about any consequence in order to give you the opportunity to
work out your differences. You taught me that, Gabriel, when you abducted me. You didn t care
what ultimately happened to you as a result of your actions, so long as we patched up our
relationship.
Gabe wrestled his temper under control, with only limited success. I believe the expression
is& hoisted by my own petard. And didn t that just bite? Another thought occurred to him.
And are you also behind the sabotage of her reputation?
Dina s mug hit the table with a crack. Absolutely not. How can you think I d do such a thing?
Oh, hell, Mom. I don t know. Maybe because you stole from her?
She sniffed. That s different. The money didn t actually go anywhere. It s safe and sound.
Catherine s name is even on the account where I have the funds stashed. So, technically, it
probably isn t embezzlement.
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