Harmony in Silence

By KT Grant

American billionaire Omar Segal has a life of luxury, power and prestige. Even though he may act the well-travelled playboy tycoon who loves fine wine and women, he prefers a quiet night at home adding to his collection of quirky themed socks or expensive outlandish suits and ties. But then an incredible opportunity arises where he can finally get his revenge against the man who stole the most important thing from him twenty years ago. He’ll reunite with the only women he has ever loved- Wilhelmina Kiraly, the first-born daughter of the richest winemaker in Hungary, and Omar’s sworn enemy.

Finally free of her domineering father after his well-deserved death, Willa Kiraly is now ready to embrace her new freedom and resurrect a career in music she had to sacrifice. She always blamed him for the destruction of her concert pianist mother, his former mistress he targeted for ownership when she was just a teenager. A product of her parents’ unstable and violent relationship, Willa has always felt she was never deserving of the Kiraly name and fortune. Laszlo Kiraly forced her to reject her love of classical music because of a dark secret he held over her head for so long. But when her past in the form of Omar reenters her life, all her doubts and fears threaten to rise up again and devastate her.

Omar wants to make every desire and dream of Willa’s a reality. He’ll take her on a magical journey across Vienna, Austria, seducing her senses with decadent chocolate and the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, her favorite composer. But how can she accept Omar when she suffers in silence about the truth surrounding her birth that led to her mother’s suicide and almost caused Willa to do the same in turn?

• Language: English
• Publisher: KT Grant
• Release date: Jun 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463668665

KT Grant

KT Grant is a self-proclaimed eccentric redhead who not only loves to read a wide variety of romances, but also loves writing it. KT has a bad coffee and LEGO set addiction, and doesn’t shy away from voicing her opinion A proud native of New Jersey, KT is multi-published and writes Gay, Lesbian and Straight romance.KT loves to hear from readers. You can drop KT an email at [e-mail].

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Harmony in Silence Copyright 2018 by KT Grant

Cover art Copyright 2018 by Insatiable Fantasy Designs

Smashwords Edition

The reproduction or utilization of this book in any form by mechanical or other means is forbidden by law. Copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and may result in fines of up to $250,000 or imprisonment.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Harmony in Silence

American billionaire Omar Segal has a life of luxury, power and prestige. Even though he may act the well-travelled playboy tycoon who loves fine wine and women, he prefers a quiet night at home adding to his collection of quirky themed socks or expensive outlandish suits and ties. But then an incredible opportunity arises where he can finally get his revenge against the man who stole the most important thing from him twenty years ago. He’ll reunite with the only women he has ever loved- Wilhelmina Kiraly, the first-born daughter of the richest winemaker in Hungary, and Omar’s sworn enemy.

Finally free of her domineering father after his well-deserved death, Willa Kiraly is now ready to embrace her new freedom and resurrect a career in music she had to sacrifice. She always blamed him for the destruction of her concert pianist mother, his former mistress he targeted for ownership when she was just a teenager. A product of her parents’ unstable and violent relationship, Willa has always felt she was never deserving of the Kiraly name and fortune. Laszlo Kiraly forced her to reject her love of classical music because of a dark secret he held over her head for so long. But when her past in the form of Omar reenters her life, all her doubts and fears threaten to rise up again and devastate her.

Omar wants to make every desire and dream of Willa’s a reality. He’ll take her on a magical journey across Vienna, Austria, seducing her senses with decadent chocolate and the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, her favorite composer. But how can she accept Omar when she suffers in silence about the truth surrounding her birth that led to her mother’s suicide and almost caused Willa to do the same in turn?

Imagination creates reality.- Richard Wagner

Acknowledgements

To the countries of Austria, Hungary and Prague for their lessons on art, music, food and culture. This book wouldn’t be possible if not for their warm welcome.

Harmony in Silence

By

KT Grant

CHAPTER ONE

The orange-and-white cat nipping Willa’s ankle startled her. Wags, her calico, rubbed her all the time, as proven by the amount of cat hair on her clothes. She bent down and picked up her beloved kitty, whispering thank you to her dear friend for spilling the five-hundred-dollar bottle of German Riesling wine in her living room. She’d gladly sacrifice her now ruined Anatolian rug to evade the attempted seduction by Guido, her father’s—scratch that, her stepmother’s assistant now. He stopped being Father’s assistant of twenty years one year ago today when Father died from a massive heart attack a week after his seventieth birthday.

Wilhelmina, what’s taking you so long? Did you put your bad cat in some cage or lock it in the pantry? Guido called from the living room. His anger was justified since his expensive alcohol currently made a puddle on her coffee table and rug.

Coming! She wanted to laugh for some reason. Perhaps it was his shocked expression after Wags hopped on the table and swiped the bottle with her paw, knocking it to its side.

Wags butted Willa’s chin with her nose. An apology? Or perhaps her way of acknowledging what she did wrong but her owner wouldn’t punish her because it allowed Willa to bolt.

The thought of drinking the beverage made her gag anyway. She hated wine, ironic since her family was the most well-known vintner in all of Hungary.

Ready to face the music, or rather the angry male who had come to her apartment uninvited, she took a roll of paper towels, a dishtowel, and the bottle of detergent and exited the kitchen. Reserved, she entered her living room where Guido stood in the same spot she had left him minutes ago, looking down at the spilled wine. He hadn’t made any move to clean it up or help her in any way. But he always went out of his way to assist her stepmother, Grete, or her younger half-siblings Emil and Eliska, the twins who now ran the Kiraly Winery. They paid his salary and rewarded him handsomely for his loyalty.

She set the bottle upright, something he could have done, and knelt down, spraying the spot with cleaner. She had been meaning to replace the rug, so it was a perfect excuse to do so, although she wouldn’t tell Guido, who probably wouldn’t care either way.

You may need more towels to dry the wine. He peered over her shoulder, his wool trousers rising up to show black socks that had slipped down, displaying his hairy ankles.

She covered the damp spot with the dishtowel and dried the mess on her coffee table instead. She concentrated on cleaning the wood. Not that he wasn’t interesting to look at. Eleven years her senior, he always dressed in an impeccable suit. A white dress shirt set off his olive skin, green eyes, and hair still pitch-black, even at his advanced age of fifty-two.

I’ll take care of the rug later. After you leave. She tapped her front teeth with the tip of her tongue to keep from blurting anything he might take offense to. He would hurry to report back to Grete or Emil and Eliska, and they would be disappointed in her. She had tried so hard to keep her faults in check since Father brought her back to Hungary two decades ago, to not only protect, but to control her. After all, he no longer had the power over her mother who had preferred death to life.

She sat on the couch, wishing Guido would leave so she could resume drinking her chamomile tea and listening to Mozart while she jotted down her sonata. Unfortunately, he caught her in her nightclothes, with her hair loose. The approval in his eyes when she answered the door made her almost shut it on him. His spark of lust caused her stomach to churn, but also her nipples to stiffen, which wasn’t arousal but an inappropriate reaction whenever she was anxious.

She crossed her arms over her chest instead of grabbing something to cover up.

He tapped his fingers on his waist, his nails well-manicured. I wanted to stop by before dinner to see how you’re doing. You didn’t visit the vineyard today for the anniversary of Laszlo’s death. Surprising her, he knelt on one knee. You should have been with the family today. We visited your father’s grave and had a glass of Muscat, his favorite wine, in his honor.

You’re not part of the family, so why would you go? Her mouth remained open as she realized her cruel words.

Guido dipped his head forward.

"Ah, Guido, mi dispiace, she replied in Italian, the language of his homeland. I apologize for my heartless insult and the way I’m acting, especially after you were so kind to bring this expensive wine."

He settled back on the couch and stared at the two half-filled glasses. Laszlo was like a father to me. I started working for him a few months after my own papa passed away. He may not be the father of my blood, but he’s the father of my heart. He tapped his chest with his fist.

She cleared her throat to keep from laughing at his dramatic action. If she had a better friendship with him, she would have given him a hug. But, other than with her immediate family, she wasn’t big on physical gestures of affection, especially with a man who wanted to get her naked.

I wanted to mourn Father’s death in my own way. She had listened to her mother’s debut album—Jola Aniela, her first and middle name. At twelve years old, she had been dubbed a musical prodigy by the European press. Coincidentally, the album released on Mozart’s birthday—January twenty-seventh. Every album thereafter, save one, released on the great composer’s birthday. Her last album had been distributed on the fifth of December, which was Mozart’s death. Coincidence? She wasn’t so sure.

Thinking of Mother’s death chilled her. She always had morbid thoughts when it came to her, even though she credited her own musical talents to the woman who’d birthed her and introduced her to the wonders of classical musical geniuses such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Lintz.

The warm palm on her cheek drew her out of her musings. She kept still, holding her breath, expecting him to steal a kiss. Instead he smiled. I never noticed the freckles on your nose.

Suddenly, Wags jumped onto her lap, making Guido jerk.

Your cat doesn’t like me. He frowned at the calico.

She doesn’t like men. She rubbed Wag’s back, enjoying how the feline arched and purred.

If I said her owner is the same way, it would be mean. He reached for a glass of wine and took a sip.

A retort burned the tip of her tongue. Men like Guido made her cautious. He never had to look far for female companionship. But he had to work for her favor. Why wouldn’t he be honest and say what he wanted?

Guido, why are you here? From the way you keep checking your watch, you must be pressed for time. You mentioned a dinner, correct? She continued petting Wags who had rolled into a furry ball to doze.

He raised his glass of wine, nodding. I didn’t come on my own accord. Grete grew concerned when you called in sick, especially when you wouldn’t answer your phone. She wanted me to see you before our dinner.

Our dinner? You and Grete are— She shook her head in disbelief. If he admitted to having a dinner date with his dead employer’s wife while trying to seduce her….

He set the glass on the coffee table with a snap. No. How could you think I…? He chuckled and scratched under his chin. I’m not attracted to Grete. You misconstrued my words. It is a business dinner with a possible client. Emil and Eliska will be there.

She dug her fingers into the sides of her legs. The arrogance of this man to accuse her of not understanding what he said. Whether he did it on purpose to test her, she couldn’t say, but from the twitching of his lips, he was pleased. He probably thought her jealous of his relationship with the elegant older woman.

A dinner I wasn’t invited to. Who is this client everyone in my family, and you, are dining with? She kept her voice neutral to hide her anger.

You’ll be at dinner Sunday night—

Every Sunday night is the family dinner, a rule my father instated. You’re changing the subject. Why a business dinner on the year anniversary of Father’s death? She scooted out of her seat, laying Wags on the couch and trying her best not to turn away from the man who made her want to raise her voice, something she didn’t do very often.

Guido rose also. The client is a possible investor Emil brought in. I don’t know all the details, but I’ll find out tonight.

You’re just the messenger, then? She turned away in disgust and faced the windows presenting a nice view of Budapest’s historic Inner City.

After a few seconds, she glanced over her shoulder at Guido who typed on his cell. He had finished his wine. The empty glass sat on the table, most likely leaving behind a ring.

Who called? My stepmother to make sure you succeeded at the mission she sent you on? She made sure to roll her eyes so he’d notice.

He kept typing on his phone. Emil is wondering where I am. He doesn’t know I stopped here.

Did you mean to tell me about the dinner I wasn’t invited to, or did you slip? Her irritation vanished. She really didn’t have any real reason to be angry at him, other than for his seeing her because Grete asked. Why hadn’t Grete come herself if she was so concerned?

Guido slid his phone into the breast pocket of his jacket. I didn’t mean to.

Whose idea was it to bring the fancy wine? She picked up her glass. When was the last time you saw me drink wine? Have you ever thought to ask if I like it?

He rubbed the side of his nose and shook his head. You work for a winery.

Not by choice. She sat on the arm of the couch so not to disturb Wags.

If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.

Did you think if we shared a bottle of wine and ended up talking, it might lead to other things between us? Would you rush out then to this important business dinner I’m not welcome to attend? She swirled the dark liquid, as taught, watching the bubbles form on the surface and any residue left on the sides of the glass.

He opened his mouth and then closed it.

She sighed. Go enjoy your dinner with my family and this mysterious investor I’ll probably hear about when I visit the estate Sunday night.

I’ll be there on Sunday. His cheeks turned a slight pink, either from embarrassment or being caught doing something he shouldn’t.

Go. Enjoy yourself, and don’t worry about my rug. I’ve been meaning to buy a new one. She viewed the red stain spreading under the dishtowel. I can’t say the same for your wine. How much did it cost again?

He announced a higher price than she’d assumed. No amount of alcohol should cost that much. I guess I should count myself lucky you don’t want to wring my cat’s neck. Or mine.

Your neck is too lovely, as well as your face that should be admired by any man. He took a step toward her and then kissed her cheek. Next time, I’ll make sure to bring that ginger tea you’re addicted to.

You know of my tea addiction? She smiled enough to make him do the same in return.

There are many things I notice about you. Perhaps I can tell you how much next Friday on the Halloween charity cruise.

You’re asking me to go with you on the cruise? As your date? She swirled the wine in her glass again.

I wanted to last year, but with your father’s death…. He moved to her front door and opened it. Before your father died, he gave me his blessing to date you.

Not the type to overreact at grand gestures, she almost slipped off the couch arm in shock. That blessing was a final attempt to control her. Poor Guido had no clue about Father’s manipulation.

How wonderful of my father during his final moments to make you my knight in shining armor. She took a sip of the wine even though it tasted too tart.

Guido sent her an approving nod at her gesture as he stood halfway out the door. "We’ll talk about our costumes on Sunday, ragazza dolce." He shut the door behind him.

"Damn you,