Page 54 of Claimed Gem
Ries frowned at Chris, who simply shrugged and explained, “You told me it was my job to keep her safe at all times. I’m just doing my due diligence.”
“I actually prefer it that way,” Piotr interjected. “I have assured him that while the women may think they are alone, they will in fact be completely surrounded by my security team. It is a private beach with a high fence separating it from the rest of the world, but we take no chances. Stephanie will be perfectly fine.”
“Go have fun. Don’t forget your sunscreen,” Ries told her, giving her a little push toward the house. It was such a relief to be able to let her go – knowing she would be secure and well-guarded.
Once she was gone, Piotr and Nicolai began to talk security with Chris interjecting wherever he could. Ries didn’t have much to offer, but he listened intently and asked questions where appropriate.
They talked for almost two hours before finalizing a plan to keep everyone and the ships safe. More men would be needed, and Nicolai authorized Piotr to find them as Chris didn’t know many people on the mainland. Since Carlos had been one of Chris’s hires, he was reluctant to bring any more people he didn’t personally know into the fold.
Ries was in agreement with that, although he made sure Chris knew there was no blame to be had over Carlos’s defection. Carlos was simply a greedy man, and it had ended up costing him his life.
Over the next several days, more plans were put in place. Ries noticed that Stephanie and Nicolai seemed to be going out of their way to bring Damon’s attention to Ries’ contributions.
At first, it was comical to see his oldest brother squirm when Stephanie pressed for some sort of verbal recognition of Ries’ accomplishments. But as one day turned into three, Ries was now coming to realize that he should have been the one demanding that Damon treat him with respect and as an equal.
He understood that Damon might be finding it hard to reconcile the new Ries with the old, immature one who did nothing but party and create international headlines in the social sections.
But Ries was looking at the future now, and that meant he was ready to take up his responsibilities and stand up for himself.
The fact that Nicolai and Stephanie felt they needed to come to his rescue was mildly annoying – but understandable, in the face of his own failure to speak up. Finally, on the third day, he’d had enough.
“Damon, don’t you agree that it was very forward thinking of Ries to have the security system back in Cyprus upgraded before you and Nicolai return home?” Stephanie asked as they were seated at the luncheon table.
“I wasn’t aware the security system needed upgrading,” Damon replied dismissively.
“Oh, it did. Piotr and Chris spent many hours going over the system and making adjustments to it. Ries made sure it was scheduled to be completed before any of you set foot on the property again.”
Damon looked at Ries and then begrudgingly nodded. “Fine, it was a good idea. Thank you for thinking of it.”
That was an alien feeling. Damon, praising him. Thanking him for something. Ever since their parents passed away, leaving Ries the youngest child, he’d felt like he was merely underfoot.
Stephanie looked pleased with herself and while Ries liked her championing him in such a fashion, he knew he needed to stop her before she went too far.
“Stephanie, I’m sure Damon realizes all that I do for the family business. I appreciate that you want to hear him say so, but as we all know, Damon isn’t a very communicative sort.”
“Well, he should be,” she told him.
Damon grinned grudgingly at her and then nodded, “I will try to do better.”
Ries smiled, “That is all anyone can ask for.”
Later that evening, Ries made sure to thank Stephanie for her support, but encouraged her to leave Damon to him from now on. He and his oldest brother needed to come to an understanding that the past was simply that: the past.
“I just hate seeing him treat you like you aren’t capable of handling things,” she told him as they lay in bed.
“Damon has been handling things for a very long time. In the beginning, he was doing it by himself and as Nicolai matured, he relinquished some of the reins to him. By the time I got oldenough to start handling parts of the business, he and Nicolai seemed to have it all under control. The few times I tried to help, Damon could only criticize my efforts, so I just quit trying.
“In his defense, he’s been watching me not try for a while now. After being criticized a few times, I simply stopped trying. It might take him some time to realize I’m trying to change.” Ries smiled at Stephanie, “And that I have some very effective help doing that.”
“You have changed,” Stephanie told him softly. She rolled over and propped her chin up on his chest.
“You aren’t the drunken playboy I first met. You’ve stepped up and taken charge of some pretty serious situations. Damon needs to give you the benefit of the doubt and stop looking for things to criticize.”
“I agree with you, but it’s in his nature. You cannot expect a leopard to change its spots. At least not quickly.”
“Well, I certainly hope he enjoys being alone. I can’t imagine any woman ever wanting to be around someone so serious all the time. Does he ever laugh?”
Ries pressed her head to his chest, “Sometimes, although I can’t remember when the last time was. I doubt he can either. Enough about my brother. You wore me out earlier and we both need our sleep.”