32. Valerie
I’ve been calling AJ all afternoon, but he hasn’t answered. He is obviously busy. He mentioned this morning that he was training with Levi this afternoon, so maybe they went and did something together. I smile at that thought. It is so sweet that he has taken Levi under his wing. It’s yet another thing that shows me exactly what kind of man AJ is.
“What’s bothering you?” George asks me from across the meeting table as I place my cell down again for the hundredth time. We are at Van Cleef Corp. It is the first time I have left my apartment all week, preferring to work from home and be with AJ all night. Our nights have been a mixture of fun, deep discussion, business talk, and surprisingly tender touches. He is far from the man I first met. And I am falling for him. Hard.
“Nothing. Just trying to get a hold of AJ,” I murmur as I pull together all the paperwork in front of me. We have built our reports, presentations, and are packaging everything, ready to send to each board member. I am still positive that I have six on my side, so I just need one other. Given that the other six are as dirty as my father, it is the anonymous board member my mother placed who is my only hope. At this stage, we are still in the dark to who it is.
“So this AJ. He is the one with the Harley, right? He seems to be sticking around. Usually, your friends last a few dates, and then they disappear,” George asks, a small smile on his face.
“He’s… different,” I tell him, my smile now wide.
“What is he like?” George asks me, and I think about the question.
“He is dependable. I feel like I can tell him anything, and without saying a word, he knows it doesn’t go any further than us. He gives good advice, he is empowering, and I feel safe with him,” I tell George.
“Sounds like just the right someone you need in your life,” George offers and I nod. The two of us understand that dependability and safety are not something I have had since my mother passed.
“But he isn’t answering…” I murmur, looking at my cell again.
“Well, maybe he is busy.”
“I am sure he is, but he would usually just send me a text if he missed one of my calls. It feels odd.” I have absolutely nothing to base it on, but I am concerned. Something doesn”t feel right. As George is about to say something, the meeting room door opens so forcefully it hits the wall, and I jump with a start as my father walks in, throwing a file on the table in front of us.
“You”re done,” he barks, looking at both George and me.
“What?” I ask as George and I stand up from our chairs. My heart races and George looks cross. Anxiety crawls up my throat at the way they look at each other. There is no love lost between them; they have never gotten along. I look at my father. His hair a little disheveled, his eyes fierce. The way he sounds is so abrupt and angry. He is stern, yet also smiling like he won the jackpot, and my blood goes cold.
“You”re done.” My father looks directly at George like he wants to slice his throat. George opens the file my father slammed onto the table, his brow crumpling as he reads the contents. I watch on silently, wishing I knew what was going on.
“You son of a bitch,” George says, and I gasp, feeling dread building in my body.
“I knew she couldn’t do this on her own. I should have known you were in on it,” my father seethes as he points at George. George steps forward so his finger is pressing on his chest.
“You are going to ruin this company and you are going to ruin your daughter,” George spits out, his face transforming with anger.
“What? What happened?” I ask, looking between both of them, panic filling my bones.
“Well, my dear daughter. George, in his position of VP, is not to be advising new leadership, especially in any takeover bids of any kind. It is written in his contract in black and white.”
I am about to speak, but he continues.
“And your pile of shit boyfriend…” He points his finger at me, and I take a step back, my eyes widening. “I taught him a lesson this morning. That someone like him shouldn”t even think about fraternizing with my daughter. Although I wouldn”t put anything beyond you. You are too stupid. Of course, you can”t run the company when you associate with those kinds of people. Did you know he has a record? I threw ten grand at him and he walked away. Clearly, he was only after your money.” My father laughs, and I feel like I might vomit.
“What? What did you do?” I ask, the panic now clear in my voice. But my father ignores me like I am some stupid little girl who doesn’t warrant further explanation.
“George, security are here to escort you out. Now that you are in breach of your contract, you are no longer employed by Van Cleef Corp. I want you to clear your desk and leave this premise immediately,” my father demands. My mind is whirling, my heart thumping. I have no idea what is going on. Did AJ leave me? Did AJ take my father’s money and leave me?
“You are a fucking lunatic!” George yells at my father before stalking past him and out the door. I sit in shock, my legs not able to hold me up any longer.
“Valerie, I have given you enough leeway. Hand your notice in to HR. You will be married to William Schmidt within the week and are not to step foot into Van Cleef Corp again,” my father says, then he turns on his heel and walks out the door. As soon as he does, I stand, rushing to grab the small bin in the corner of the room, and empty the contents of my stomach. This day is proving too much.
Catching my breath, I gather my things, running out the door to my office. I grab my laptop, and instead of typing up and submitting my resignation as he demanded, I put in a formal written complaint and add it to the board papers I am collecting for each member. I then walk out of the building with George, with the promise for us to continue working together despite my father’s demands. George has been in the business as long as my father has, and there is no way he is leaving it.
The car ride home is quick, but the entire way I try calling AJ to no avail. As I walk into my apartment building, my head is whirling, my heart broken. I have no idea what to do or where to go now.
“Welcome back, Miss Van Cleef. You have someone here who has been waiting for you,” Victor says as I step into the foyer, catching up with his words.
“Oh, who?” I ask, looking around before my eyes land on the last person I ever expected to see, sitting back in his jeans and t-shirt on the luxurious velvet sofa in the waiting area.
“Levi?” I ask, stepping forward as concern takes over. “What are you doing here?”
“Your dad dropped this.” He tosses a roll of hundred-dollar bills my way. “He threw it at AJ, actually, after he smashed his Harley to pieces. AJ didn’t touch the money.” I take a breath, relief filling me, but that’s instantly replaced with worry and despair.
“Come up. We need to talk,” I say, turning and walking to the elevator that Victor has waiting for us. I take Levi upstairs, make him a late lunch, and together we sit on the sofa as I learn all about the lengths my father will go to in order to get what he wants.
Then I formulate a plan and call in the reinforcements. I just hope it works.