Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
K acey
“Be careful of the beast,” Sheila said after I dropped my purse under my desk. She had her head stuck in my office and a worried look on her face.
“Why is that?”
“Because Mr. Winfield is loaded for bear. He hasn’t been the same since you left for New York. I have a feeling you’ve already become invaluable to him.”
So he was playing it like he hadn’t met me in New York. It was possibly a reckless choice. If Mr. Kane said anything to Drake, then the cat was out of the bag. I’d need to dig even deeper if I didn’t want my actions to blow up in my face.
Then again, knowing Sebastian a little bit better now that I’d spent some quality time with him, I’d say he’d turned this entire situation into a game. That made me nervous as to what he could be facing in the future. I’d had a very bad feeling about what was going wrong with the company since the meeting with Mr. Kane. He’d been more than cordial, but I’d detected total reservation in the man.
As if someone had talked him out of brand loyalty.
Would Sebastian’s partner do that? He couldn’t be working alone. Not in this kind of industry. It wasn’t like picking up and renting a warehouse, throwing together a couple of huge airplanes. Maybe the man was cocky enough he’d left a trail.
“What is Mr. Winfield doing exactly?” I did want to be prepared in case something had occurred after he’d left late Thursday. Ah, the beauty of having a private side. He’d fucked me hard against my apartment room wall after sneaking into it, lying in wait until I’d returned from work.
Then he’d shared a half bottle of cheap red wine before catching a flight somewhere around ten-thirty that night. There’d been no phone calls, no loving texts, but we’d emailed back and forth. Today was planning day.
“He barked at everyone who dared say hello to him. Can’t you tame that man?”
I shored my shoulders, uncertain what I was going to walk into. “I can try, but he is hardheaded.”
She rolled her eyes.
I decided to do a little fishing. “How has Mr. Caffrey been?”
“Okay, I guess. He’s been in his office a lot with the door closed. But you know what’s funny? For almost three full days last week neither he nor Drake were in the office. That’s very unusual. Don’t tell anyone, but we threw a party in accounting.”
I burst out laughing. “Good for you and I won’t tell a soul.” Where the hell had Drake gone in Sebastian’s absence? I glanced out the window that gave me a full view of the hallway. Perhaps it was time for me to do an entirely different kind of investigation.
“Please don’t tell me you’re interested in that man?” Sheila pointed her finger at me.
“Who, me? I’ve sworn off men.” At least I had a chance to cross my fingers before issuing another lie. I was racking them up like softball points. “Is he that bad?”
“It’s funny. As irritating as Mr. Winfield can be, he’s not a womanizer looking to infect any female creature coming in contact with him. He’s not like that. But Mr. Caffrey? Girl, I wouldn’t touch that man with a disinfected ten-foot pole.”
“I had no idea.” Bullshit.
“Well, he’s tamed it down, but that man is a true snake in the grass.” Sheila looked over her shoulder before stepping further inside. “I have it with evidence backing it that his lunch breaks are taken at the corporate hotel suite the company keeps. You never see him out and I’ve seen the bills.”
“Interesting. Those I haven’t seen.” I folded my arms, my curiosity flying high.
“I’ll get you a copy, but don’t tell anyone you have them. I’m sworn to secrecy.”
She smiled, then added, “I like having you here. At least Miss stick-stuck-up-her-butt Bennett knew a good thing when she found it.”
“I’m glad to be here as well.” Maybe more than I thought possible. I’d been impressed with how Sebastian had allowed me to handle most of the meeting with Mr. Kane. Truth be told, I’d been terrified off my ass, flying by the seat of my pants. He’d given me compliments and I’d felt like a little girl being praised by her daddy.
Oh, that was bad. So bad.
Sheila grinned before walking out and I had a feeling this week was going to become very interesting. I grabbed my iPad, moving toward the executive corridor when I noticed Drake’s door was open. I couldn’t help myself. I stopped just short, immediately hearing his voice.
“I’m not certain what you’re getting at, Mr. Kane. Yes, I understand. I think maybe we should?—”
Shit. The man was cut off mid-sentence. I was angry, more so than I’d been in a long time. Mr. Kane had gone behind our backs.
“Fine, Francis. We’ll talk about this later.” Drake obviously tossed the phone onto his desk, huffing immediately afterwards. I backed up then moved forward again, casually glancing into his office the moment I walked by.
Drake had always been friendly given he’d constantly undressed me within his eyes, but this time they were full of venom.
I could swear he knew exactly what was going on.
I knocked on Sebastian’s door, but since he was already expecting me, I opened the door almost immediately.
“You’re back,” he stated as he lifted a single eyebrow. I wasn’t certain if there was relief or desire on his face.
“I heard you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” I closed the door behind me.
“Is that any way to talk to your boss?”
“Maybe you need to be reminded that being nice is far easier than being a grouch.”
By the look he gave me, I was certain he was going to retreat to the jerk I’d known prior to spending time with him. He snorted and sat back in his seat, folding his arms behind his head and closing his eyes. “Yes, I’m a real jerk. Isn’t that what everyone around here expects?”
“Yes, because that’s exactly the kind of man you’ve been for years as far as I can tell.”
“Be very careful, Ms. Taylor. You’re treading on thin ice.”
“Why, yes, sir, Mr. Winfield.”
He chuckled. “You were missed.”
It seemed tough for him to admit. “What’s going on? It seems as if everyone is on the edge.”
“With good reason if they checked the papers. The stock continues to drop and various business experts who are determined to weigh in on the near catastrophe can’t figure out why.” His laugh turned bitter. “Who the hell can.”
“You know how people are. They jump ship if they think it’s sinking.”
“A vote of confidence.” He sat quietly for a full minute before his expression changed. “The more I thought about your idea the more I liked it, but I might expand it from there.”
“Really? How so?” He was trying to look at the bright side? I was in shock.
“I don’t want to say anything yet. You know, I might be considered a ruthless asshole when it comes to how I handle business.”
“That’s because from all appearances you have been.”
“A necessary evil. However, I’ve always done the right thing. Having integrity was the one aspect my dad drilled into his two sons above all others. He was a merciless dickhead, but he never screwed over his employees or his clients. That’s how he was so successful for so many years. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have certain methods of gaining control over the business and other aspects of my life when I find it necessary.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning there are certain people who owe me more than one favor, acquaintances who are in the position to provide their expertise should I find it appropriate.”
I sat down in the chair opposite him. “You mean if you play dirty.”
“Exactly.”
“Has Mr. Kane called yet?” It was bright and early Monday morning. My meager things were currently on their way to St. Louis and should arrive in three days. I’d managed to smirk the entire time I’d finished out my old job, even getting a nice bonus from my boss while his son had been standing just behind him.
And knew with certainty Nathan had seen my passionate kiss shared with a man so hot he cracked the sidewalk. I bit back a sigh yet found myself squirming in the chair while Sebastian looked cool as usual.
Actually, that wasn’t the truth. He seemed more relaxed. He wasn’t even wearing a tie. And of all things, the man was smiling.
“He emailed and mentioned he would call later this morning.”
“Maybe that’s because he was busy talking with your partner.” I thought for certain he’d fly off the handle, but his smile only grew bigger.
“I may or may not have instigated a different game of chess while you were shirking your duties in New York.”
He’d also managed to snag a sense of humor, albeit a dark one. I had to think about what he was telling me. “You asked Mr. Kane to call him. Didn’t you?” There was way too much excitement in my voice.
“I did. He was quite impressed with you and was only too happy to do so.”
“You’re really not going to tell me what you have in mind?”
He leaned forward and I’d be damned if he hadn’t replaced his once grouchy face with a mischievous one. The man had two distinct sides. “We’re spending today together. I hope you have no plans for tonight because I’m ordering in. After that, I may have a proposition for you.”
“A proposition?”
“Yes, ma’am. I didn’t get where I was in business without knowing a good thing when I saw it. As of right now, I own you.”
“You mean all my time at the office?”
His smile was deeply devious. “No, I mean all of you.”
Sebastian
What I’d told Kacey had been the truth, only I’d soft-sold the kind of man lurking underneath. I could be very conniving when and if I wanted to be. And right now, that’s what the situation called for. There was far too much at stake. My reputation. My wealth. Hell, even my entire family legacy.
Kacey had managed to inspire me, which was no small feat. I’d taken a couple of days to think things over, weighing the odds of starting almost from scratch. What I had in mind would either fail rapidly or be a complete success. There would be no middle ground.
“What are you up to, brother?” Steven asked as I pulled in through the gates in the country club our father frequented.
“What makes you think I’m up to anything?” I said as I threw him a quick look. I’d insisted he come with me. After thinking about the man he’d become, I was ready to give him a push. Maybe the real truth was that I needed him on my side. He was one of the few people I could trust.
“Because I know you. You asked if I had anything going on this afternoon and then proceeded not to tell me why. Then we end up at the country club of all places. We hate the club and always have. Is this an ambush?”
“Of sorts and yes, I loathe this place, but this is where he wanted to meet. Did you know our father has a serious gambling issue?”
He huffed. “Are you kidding me? Our father, the most disciplined man on earth?”
“The one and only.” I pulled the car in a close parking spot, turning off the engine. “What would you say if I asked you to go into business with me? Do not say no right away, and I’m not talking about the current situation.”
“Wait. Hold on. The last time I checked, you were already in business with Drake. Did I ever tell you I thought he was a snake?”
“He is a snake.”
“What happened?”
I heard the concern in my brother’s voice. Finally. “Let’s just say he’s trying to shove me out of the company I started. So far, he’s been fairly successful because I wasn’t paying close enough attention.” That much I was now certain of.
“Well, shit. What are you going to do about it?”
“Beat him at his own game then expand. What else?”
“O-kay. How? I thought the entire industry is suffering.”
“It is,” I assured him. “That’s why I want to go in a different direction.”
He sat back hard against the seat, staring out the front windshield at the massive building in front of us. “Meaning?”
“A full luxury hospitality business including hotels. The Winfield brand.”
“We had that. Neither one of us wanted it.”
“Because we were idiots.”
He guffawed. “You’re admitting that?”
“Not that you wanted a part of the business either, but it’s time for you to shit-can your playboy lifestyle so we can make a go of this.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Well, think hard, brother. This shit is going down in a few days, a week tops.”
“Wow. Does this change in attitude have anything to do with a gorgeous blonde who currently works for you? I say currently since you tend to run off anyone who works closely by your side.”
“I’m not running this one off. She’s too valuable.”
“Well, shit. You like this girl. Really like her. I knew it. I could tell the other night.”
“Let’s not jump to any conclusions, but yes, I do like and admire her.”
“I assume you have plans?”
“Yes, but they involve our father.”
“So that’s why we are here.” He seemed incredulous.
I grinned and opened my door. “Just go with it for now and I’ll explain more later. You are one of the few people I can trust.”
“Does that extend to Kacey?”
“It does. Now, come on. Time to get serious about business.”
I’d called ahead so our father had suggested the club. Perhaps he had an inkling of what I wanted to discuss. He wouldn’t want our mother hearing about his foibles. We were known in the club, both carrying a lifetime membership thanks to our father.
At a hundred-thousand-dollar entrance fee for each, dear ole Dad had believed membership was the perfect high school graduation gift. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d set foot in the place. How many birthday parties had been at this very location? Too many.
The concierge recognized us immediately, leading us through the dining room to our father’s favorite table. Fortunately, it was private, the other tables several feet away. This wasn’t about embarrassing him, but to garner his assistance.
I’d played with the numbers for days, handling market analysis while learning everything I could about possible competitors. It had been a fascinating and informative weekend. A long time coming. I’d made the mistake of resting on my laurels.
That’s how Drake had gotten his hooks into the operation.
Father stood as soon as he noticed we were walking in. He already had his signature martini in front of him, an afternoon indulgence only for when he was away from our mother.
“Pops,” I said as I immediately reached for the back of the chair where I’d be sitting.
“Boys. A pleasant surprise. How long has it been since we’ve enjoyed a long lunch?” He had a genuine smile on his face.
“We’ve both been busy, Dad,” Steven said as he thumped down in a chair.
Pops gave my brother the same sour look as usual. I was surprised he wasn’t giving him the talk about wasting his life.
“Yes, well, you can never be too busy to spend time with family,” Pops muttered and threw his linen napkin into his lap.
A waiter appeared seconds later taking our order. I’d allow myself one drink this afternoon. There was far too much business to handle if I had any hopes of pulling this off successfully.
“How’s business?” Pops asked while reaching for his drink.
“Down. Noticeably so. Changes need to be made and quickly.” I had no intention of tiptoeing around any of the issues.
“That’s a shame, son.”
“Dad, cut the crap. You all but told me I’d fail. However, I’m not going to let it go down without a fight. Steven is going to help me.”
“You are?” Pops was shocked.
I expected my brother to blow it off like he’d done for years. But to his credit, he looked the man right in the eye. “I am. We’re going to work together.”
The drinks arrived and I was surprised our father was beaming. “To my talented two sons. Working together, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.” He lifted his glass and while we shared a moment of celebration, I made certain it was short lived.
“I hope that’s the truth, Dad. But we can’t do it without your help.” My honesty surprised even me. I could tell by my dad’s eyes that he was shocked.
“Meaning?”
“You still own shares within your old company. Yes?”
“The great World Hospitality Corporation? Yes, more than anyone believes.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Can you get more?”
He narrowed his eyes and I could also tell my brother was boring holes in me with his. “Yes, I can. I still have my sources.”
“Like you do with a group of investors?”
“What are you getting at?”
“You were furious when neither one of us wanted anything to do with the Winfield brand. However, they’ve kept our name on the hotels. Although my guess is that they are close to rebranding. Yes?” I asked. I’d used a couple of sources of my own, learning about the plans. It fit perfectly into what I intended on doing.
“Yes, you are correct. I stay current on what’s going on with them.”
I glanced at my brother. “Is that because of your gambling problem?”
He acted as if he was going to deny any involvement, but I threw out my hand.
“Don’t, Dad. I know all about it since Ashley was more than happy to throw it in my face. She’s trying to use the scandalous information against me and you as well.”
For the first time in as long as I could remember, the man appeared a shell of himself, his face paling. He looked around the restaurant before leaning forward. “I got in a little over my head. Yes. But I’m done with that now.”
“Yes, you are,” I told him. “But you’ll need to keep your job with the company to pay off the current debt.”
“I have investments that I didn’t want to touch. Charles has no clue about them and that’s the way I want it.”
“Charles as in Ashley’s father, the man who used to be your best friend. Correct?”
He snorted. “Don’t be snide, Sebastian. It doesn’t look good on you.”
“No, I think it does. The man you allowed to convince you to enter into a sick arrangement so the two kids would be married. Did you always have plans on bringing him into the company?”
“He knows people, so we’d talked about it. When he learned neither of you wanted anything to do with Winfield Properties, he gladly stepped up to the plate, making me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Uh-huh. Well, you didn’t refuse it.” I was suddenly allowing my anger to get the better of me.
Steven’s harsh look reminded me of that. He turned his head, studying me briefly. “Sebastian and I want to buy back the firm at pennies on the dollar.”
Pops almost choked on his drink. “Tell me how in God’s name you think you can do that. Charles is a tough businessman.”
“Who is apparently working with my partner, Drake Caffrey, in trying to put me out of business. Didn’t you once tell me all is fair in love and war? Well, this is war.”
He was more than surprised at what I’d told him. “What are you thinking about?”
Now I was the one who glanced from one side of the room to the other. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to get wind of what was on the table.
“We’re expanding, Pops. And we’re rebranding.” As I explained what I had in mind, I could see a light flicker in my father’s eyes I hadn’t seen in years.
Yes, we’d disappointed him by going our separate ways, determined to make names for ourselves. It was funny how everything came around in a full circle.
After the news settled in, my father said something very unexpected.
“I’m proud of you, both of you. Together we’ll make a lot of money.”
I locked eyes with Steven. This was either going to be the best decision I’d made or the worst.
Either way, it felt good to consider family first.
And I had one saucy blonde to thank for my rebirth.