So you wanted to know what Senior wanted. Well, read and find out.

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Chapter 81.

It didn't take long for me to find out what Daddy Dearest wanted. He came straight to the point. "What did you tell my daughter to poison her mind against me?"

"Jess? I didn't have to do a thing. You did it all yourself."

"I meant Nina. She went to Princeton to convince Jess to return to Dorsey where she belongs, but now, I understand, Nina has decided to stay there, too."

I smirked. "The same motivation goes for Nina as for Jess. They're both tired of having you pull their strings, of being obliged to cater to a man who doesn't appreciate what he has in them."

"Why, you interfering fool!" The vehemence was loud and clear across the wire. "Before you came to my town, they were both quite content with their lives."

"Were they?" I knew that wasn't the case. It hadn't taken much for them to want to leave. I couldn't give away their plans, but I felt the urge to put this blustering tyrant in his place. "When was the last time you took a good look at your daughters? They're both adults, with minds of their own, intelligent and skillful, and I won't be surprised to find that they'll be very successful without their father holding them back."

"I never held them back! You think you know them so well. I was the one who watched them grow up. Nina can't manage her way out of a paper bag, and Jess buries her head in numbers and statistics so that she doesn't have to think about anything else or have any other life."

"When did you talk to them last? Really talked to them?"

"Are you saying they've changed?" Giordano laughed, but it was a mirthless sound. "It'll never happen. My daughters are intelligent, I'll grant you that. Petey may be too, when it comes to it. But none of them have any drive, there isn't a fire in their bellies."

"And there is in yours?" I was beginning to understand the man better than I had before and wanted to keep him talking.

"I had to make my own way when I came to this country. I had no help from my family so I swore I'd help my children as much as I could. And this is how they treat me in return? Moving away, cutting me off. Why they won't even speak to me."

"Aren't you the one who cut them off? At least from their trust funds. You had no right to do that, you know."

"I had every right." He was so adamant. "And who told you about that?"

He couldn't see my shrug. "It's public knowledge."

"Jess told you, I suppose. I knew you'd poisoned her mind against me, but I didn't realize how close you'd become."

So he didn't know she was living with me. Why was I not surprised? "That just speaks to how little you know what's happening in your daughter's life. Did it ever occur to you to call her? To come to Princeton yourself and see how she's living here?"

"That's what you think! I don't have to be there to imagine how they're struggling." He sounded pleased that they might be having a hard time.

"Jess isn't struggling, believe me." I had to ask, "Why did you send Nina to talk to her?"

"Huh? I sent her to talk sense into her, not to join her, and then Nina, too, betrayed me."

"She's seen what you never will, that Jess can make it on her own, and so can Nina."

"Oh, don't be surprised when they both fail, and then come running back to me."

"And don't be surprised when they beat you at your own game." He didn't know what was in store for him. As many misgivings as I had about how involved they should become with their uncle, that was the best chance they had for succeeding and showing their father they didn't need him.

"This conversation is over, Doctor. Goodbye."

"Buona fortuna," I said. He was going to need it.

By the time Jess returned from looking at her sister's business plan I was more eager than ever to help them make this work. Everything their father said to me irritated the heck out of me, but especially his lack of faith in their abilities.

"You look so serious. Is something wrong?" She pulled up a chair to sit across the desk from me.

"Had an interesting talk with your father."

She frowned. Obviously it wasn't what she expected. "You called him?"

I shook my head. "I'm still not sure why, but he called me. It was the strangest conversation I've had in a long time."

"Dare I ask?"

I sighed and compressed my lips. "He hasn't a clue. Not about any of you. I hope you and Nina can pull this off because he needs a wake-up call."

"I think we'll succeed." She grinned. "Nina has more of a head on her shoulders than even I thought. Her plan is sound, very cost-effective. She's not trying to start too big, but she's not tentative either. I'm feeling very good about our chances."

"And Uncle Johnny? Where does he fit in?"

"He's just one of the people we'll have to deal with. If there are any problems with any of the restaurants, we won't have relied too heavily on it and we'll have others to fall back on."

"Sounds like you've thought this through." I was glad that they weren't depending only on their uncle. It was a smart move. I'd come to expect that of Jess, but my estimation of Nina was growing, too. "Has your sister talked to any of the other restaurant owners yet?"

"She's setting up appointments now. Oh, Greg, I'm getting so excited about this!" She didn't have to tell me, I could see it in her eyes and smile.

"Guess this will be keeping the two of you busy for the next few days."

She stood and walked around the desk to me. Putting her arms around my neck, she kissed my forehead and then my lips. "I'll make sure you're not neglected." She always knew just the right thing to say.

"You'd better." I tried to sound stern, but I was smiling.

"And maybe you can help."

"Moi?" Much as I was willing, I didn't know what I could do to help the cause.

"You know the restaurants in the area better than we do. Maybe you can make some suggestions." Her hands rested on my shoulders.

I nodded, my smile widening into a full-blown grin. "Especially if we can get a few good dinners out of this. Sure, I'd be happy to suggest some. You should check with Wilson, too."

"You're being very helpful already." She stroked my cheek.

"Blame it on my irritation with your father."

"Yeah. I can believe that."

"Why don't we start checking out some place this evening?" I suggested.

She nodded. "I'll ask Nina which ones she's most interested in. Why don't we invite her to join us? I know you're reluctant to spend so much time with her, but remember, this is her business we're trying to get off the ground."

"Maybe we'll bring Wilson along, too."

Jess' eyebrows shot up. "Like a double date?"

I shrugged. "Why not? Although we don't have to tell them that."

She smirked and shook her head. "There you go, playing with people's heads again." She pecked at my cheek. "And you're just so good at it!" She started for the door. "I'll let you know what she says."

I nodded and then watched her go. Soon after, I saw Wilson go by and enter his office. I went out to my balcony and hefted myself over the dividing wall, knocking on his door before opening it. He was alone, as I thought he'd be.

"Busy tonight?"

"Why, did Jess leave you already?"

"Oh ye of little faith. Of course not! Just thought you might want to have dinner with the Giordano sisters."

"Nina's going to be there too?" His face brightened at the prospect.

"Yeah." I decided not to clue him in on what Jess and Nina were up to so I could watch the expressions on his face as they talked about it over dinner. "Jess is going to let me know where, but prepare yourself for an unforgettable night."

"Knowing you, I don't know whether that's a threat or a promise."

I just grinned at him and left.