The Passion

Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

FELISHA

W alking through the office this morning, I feel different.

Apprehensive but still at a level I can handle.

But the overall happiness that has consumed me the last few days actually has me smiling and not wearing the bitch-with-balls scowl that everyone used to talk about behind my back. I’m sure that will return, but for this morning, I’m not that woman.

There are not too many staff in the office yet because like a normal day, I’m here just after seven am. I find it peaceful to get a handle on the day before the constant interruptions from calls and people walking into my office.

Taking a seat at my desk, I can hear Harper’s voice talking to me before she dumps her bag on her desk and walks in to see me.

“Here, drink this. I told them to make it strong. Because if your head feels like mine after yesterday, it’s going to be a long day.” She places the coffee in front of me and walks to the side to kiss me on the cheek and give me a side hug. Even she is in on this new coffee trend for me.

As she is walking back to sit down, she stops and looks at me. She turns her head to the side and pretends to study me.

“What?” I panic that I have smudged my lipstick when I kissed Flynn, or my hair is falling from its tight bun on my head.

“Why aren’t you scowling?” She is looking at me with genuine worry.

“I don’t scowl all the time.” I take a sip of my coffee and shake my head at the strength of it. “What the hell did you ask for this morning, rocket fuel?”

“Ummm, yes, you do, and don’t try and change the subject. It’s the sex, isn’t it?” She props her hands on her hips. “I knew it would be good. Damn it, you need to hook me up with his hot brother. I wouldn’t mind having my world rocked by the other Taylor brother.”

“Harper, I love you dearly, but two things. One, I am not talking to you about my sex life, and two, I’ve told you before, Forrest is off limits.” Leaning back into my chair, I take a smaller sip of the power coffee this time and feel my body zing the moment it passes my lips. Two coffees in such a short space of time is not good.

Pouting and picking up her coffee, she slumps into the chair.

“You’re no fun.” She gulps her coffee, and watching her nearly spit it back out makes me giggle. “Fuck, I didn’t mean that strong. I need to stop flirting with the barista, because this friends-with-benefits coffee arrangement’s going to kill me if he takes what I say so literally.”

“Wait, what, are you sleeping with the barista?” I’m surprised if it’s who I think she means, because he would be twenty-five if I rounded his age up.

“No, God no. I walk in and he has my cups ready to go, mouths the words ‘usual’ to me so I don’t have to line up. I flirt with him as I pick them up, even gave him a kiss on the cheek once. And then we do it all again the next day.”

I shake my head at her because I can just picture it. This poor guy has no chance, but he’s trying anyway.

“All jokes aside, though, you look happy, and not the fake kind we plaster on at every one of the kiss-someone’s-ass dinners we must go to. But genuinely happy.” Her voice is softer, and this is my friend not my assistant speaking. “He’s good for you.”

“He’s not who I ever dreamed about. He’s brash and cocky, a child on occasions, but he is also so attentive and protective of me. He cares with everything he has, with a hidden softness he doesn’t let anyone else see, and I know he loves me because I feel it every time he looks at me.” I put down the coffee in my hand because there is no way I can drink that and not be climbing the walls. “And of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy as fuck.”

Both of us burst out laughing, and that is not what a normal Monday morning in my life is ever like.

“Knew it, he’s a fucking sex god, isn’t he.” She smacks her hand on the side of the chair.

“Harper!” I roll my eyes, but on the inside, I’m doing a happy dance because she is spot on the money.

We settle into talking about a few work things that are on the agenda today when I hear my father’s huffing before he even enters my office.

There is no issue with reading his face today. He is worked up and angry.

“Out,” my father growls at Harper as he glares at me.

“She can stay, there is nothing I hide from her.” I try to keep my composure. Flynn’s words are echoing in my head. “ You hold the power.” I level him with a controlled stare. “But you might want to close the door if you want to speak to me in private.” I’m going to treat him just like any of my other staff. I don’t answer to him anymore, not here, not ever.

“Leave now!” he bellows. “I’m still the boss here.”

Giving her a little nod, she stands and mumbles on the way out but loud enough he can hear it, “Not for long.”

She doesn’t need to be on the end of my father’s wrath, that pleasure stays with me.

Casually, I clasp my hands on my desk. “What can I do for you, Father?” Not that he deserves that title, but it just slips out like second nature.

“You disgust me, and I don’t even want to look at you.” I can tell he is trying to hold it together, and I’m not used to seeing him unhinged like this.

But the startling thing is, not so long ago, those words would have cut me to the core. Yet today, they just wash over me because the feeling is mutual with my disgust for him.

“Then why are you in my office?” That just annoys him further because I’m not cowering to him.

“You think you are so smart, playing your little pathetic games. Well, they won’t get you what you want, let me assure you.” His hands are now on the front of my desk as he leans toward me.

“You’re wrong, but continue.” My voice is calmer than I expected, and I can feel my inner strength holding me firm.

“Oh, you think you know everything and are in complete control. Well, I can tell you now, you are so far from it. There is a board members and shareholders meeting in forty-five minutes’ time, at eight am, where I will be revealing my information. There is no way they will vote you in as the new CEO at your meeting later this week that you had planned, when they find out we are being attacked from the outside by a hostile takeover.”

My mouth drops open, and no words are coming out.

“That’s right, and they will find out the person trying to take over this company is the man you proclaim to be better than me, Flynn Taylor. Just like your mother, you will open your legs for anyone. He is just fucking you for power!”

The blood rushes from my head, and although I’m sitting, I feel like I’m about to pass out. This can’t be happening.

He wouldn’t do that to me.

Flynn loves me, he told me. He showed me.

Was it all just a lie to get control of my company?

My father turns and heads to the door. He stops with his hand on the knob and turns to look over his shoulder at me with nothing but pure satisfaction at the bomb he just dropped.

“You might be a conniving little bitch, but just remember, I’ve been playing these underhanded tricks a lot longer than you. I’d say that’s checkmate to me, in your little chess game.”

The rush of thoughts in my head and total disbelief of what I’ve been told has just shattered every last piece of strength and confidence I have been storing inside me.

I trusted Flynn. For the first time in my life, I let down my walls, and I trusted him.

Why wouldn’t he have told me, unless he was being deceitful, and it was all a plan?

But surely not everyone was in on this—his friends, Cherie. It’s just not possible for that many people to be so cruel.

I felt these people becoming my friends, they cared.

Wait, is this just my father trying to drive a wedge between us? It has to be a trick, trying to make me let my guard down.

“Felisha, are you listening to me?” Harper is trying to get my attention, snapping her fingers in front of me.

“It can’t be real,” I whisper with the little strength there is in my voice right now.

“What the hell can’t be real? Talk to me.” All I can see is her very concerned look staring at me, and I feel like I’m about to throw up.

“Right, I don’t give a fuck about my job. I’m going to find your father and fuck him up.” Harper’s words shake me up.

“No. Stop.” I grab her arm, stopping her from moving.

Mustering everything that is inside me, I stand and walk to the door that she just came through, closing it and then walking to the cupboard beside the window and reach in for my calming tea. Boiling the kettle, I wait before pouring a tea. Not saying a word, just concentrating on breathing in and out. I can hear Harper moving behind me and just waiting for me to say something, but I can’t yet.

I take a few moments to compose myself, construct my walls, and get ready to work through this.

“My father proclaims that we are in the midst of a hostile takeover of the company.” I bring the cup to my mouth and blow on it as I take the first sip. “And the man responsible is Flynn.” I turn toward the window because I can’t look at her, but I hear her gasp.

“What. The actual. Fuck,” she says as she steps beside me and pulls on my arm to turn me to face her. “That can’t be true. You don’t honestly believe what that weasel father of yours is saying, do you?”

The answer is I honestly don’t know.

“No, yes, I don’t know. I want to believe it’s not true, but it’s too far out of left field, surely. Why would my father make that up?” Taking another sip of my tea, it’s like I’m on autopilot.

“Call him. Let Flynn tell you it’s all a lie.” I can tell Harper is as panicked as I feel on the inside, but I won’t let it show. I’ve spent most of my life hiding my feelings, so it’s easy to slip back into the mold.

“No.” I can’t. I don’t know if I could bear to hear him tell me it’s true.

“If I am to fight my father, I need to do this on my own. I will front the meeting and listen to what the shareholders tell me. If there is enough evidence, then I will confront Flynn face to face. This is not something I will do over a phone call.”

My business brain has kicked back in, and I will not lie down and take this.

“Can you give me a few minutes to just get my head together? And I want you in that meeting too. Record everything that is said. In case I need it in court.”

“Court, why would you be going to court?” Harper asks, concerned.

“I don’t know, but I’ve been in business long enough to know when shit hits the fan, it can always get worse, and you need to be prepared. I will not leave myself vulnerable.”

I need to start thinking about myself and wipe out the thoughts of everybody else in this fucked-up situation.

“Okay.” Harper’s hand is on my arm and gives it a squeeze as she walks out of the office, softly closing the door.

I don’t have much time to think about what all this means and what I’m going to say to the board members and shareholders. My father has already painted such a bad picture of me these last few months that it will be difficult to have them believe that they need to listen to me. As far as they are concerned, I have tainted the image of the company with being all over the internet having sex like a porn queen. And now the man I was caught on tape with, who I have proclaimed to be my boyfriend—Christ, and just moved in with—is trying to stage a secret hostile takeover without my knowledge.

Yeah, there is no way I’d support someone to be the head and face of the company with that on their resume.

Why has every man in my life let me down? Is that why Flynn was so determined for me to cut off Fulton when he tried to take advantage of me? Because he was busy doing it in the background. Fulton was clearly using me to try to gain himself some more properties.

“Well, they can all get fucked,” I say out loud to myself as I face the fact that if I’m to get anywhere in this world, I’m doing it alone.

Looking at my watch, I’ve got thirty minutes to be prepared. Marching over to my computer, I take a seat and get to work.

No man will take me down. Not without a fight. They want to see what happens when you back a woman into a corner? Because I’m about to show them.

“Harper,” I yell, not bothering with the phone, knowing she will be right outside the door waiting for me.

She walks in and closes the door, looking tentative.

“Let’s bury these fuckers,” I declare.

“Yes!” She cheers and takes her spot next to me, and we get to work.

FLYNN

“I knew it from the moment I saw that asshole. I never trusted him. So, Felisha was right. Fulton is after her business and the properties that go with it, the ones she’s about to take over and inherit.” I throw the stress ball that sits on Nic’s desk across the room with anger.

I run my fingers through my hair. “He thought if he married her and got hold of the other shares then he would take control from her. Just like we are trying to use it against her father, he was going to use it against her.”

“Just take a breath. He didn’t pull it off, and you have all bar one of the shareholders signed off, and money is on bank deposits in trust, ready to change hands as the meeting happens. We just wanted to let you know what Broderick found when he traced the phones and saw that Fulton had reached out to all the shareholders, which is way too much of a coincidence.” Nic is looking at me with that calm demeanor he always takes when we talk business.

“I need to get that last shareholder signed off today, but he is playing hard to get. I don’t even think it’s about money with him. There is something else. Fuck, what if he has done some deal with Fulton?” My mind is racing, and it’s hard to think of all the possible scenarios rationally when I say his name, because all I feel is pure rage at the way he treated Felisha. Plus, the fact that he had his hands on her, I’ll never be able to swallow, but I’ll have to live with it going forward. The past is history for both of us, but it doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.

Forrest leans forward in the seat beside me. “Even if he has, it’s still the smallest shareholding, so it would be useless to Fulton, and the most he could do was be a thorn in Felisha’s side but would have absolutely no control or say in anything. Really, he would have just wasted his money,” he adds. He is the expert on the financial side, and although he’s not happy with how everything has gone down, he keeps showing up and having my back every single time.

Nic shoots me a glare. “Okay, so the plan for today is we nail down this last guy. Get him signed off, and then I think you need to tell Felisha. That poor woman has had enough things thrown at her, and I’m telling you now, although they will tell you they want you to surprise them with precious gifts, this isn’t one of them.” He is looking at me like it’s not really a request but something he is telling me to do. There is a fine line between him being my best friend and some days my stand-in father. We are the same age, but I’m happy to admit there are times I still need the advice or the nudge in the right direction in my private life.

“Agreed,” I reply as my phone starts ringing. Glancing at it, I’m ready to let it go to messages, but I’m shocked and then concerned when I see it’s Luchia Bianchi.

“Good morning, Luchia, you are up working early this morning. What can I do for you?” All the guys look at me, frowning and just as confused. Why would she be calling so early?

“Flynn, like you, I hardly sleep. There is no time when we run businesses as big as ours. The world never rests, so neither should we.” She stops for a moment’s breath. “But this call is more about what I can do for you. Ewan Kentwall has just called an emergency meeting at eight am with all the shareholders and board to discuss that he has heard on the wind that there is a hostile takeover on his company. Luckily, I am in London today.” There are no pleasantries in this call.

“Shit.” How did he find out? I’ve had them all sign NDAs before we had the discussions. Unless it’s that prick who hasn’t signed over his shares yet and has broken the NDA. I’ll sue his ass off, if I don’t punch the hell out of him first.

“Now, I know you would have ignored me and kept this all to yourself, so I suggest you get your ass to that office and hope like hell you can explain to that precious girl how you have been, how do you say here… an absolute twat!”

“Does he know it’s me?” Because knowing Fulton has been sniffing around, Ewan could think it’s him too.

“I don’t know. Be there or the deal is off with me, no matter what I have signed.”

“Understood, and thank you, Luchia.”

“If you lose this girl over this because you were stupid, I’ll kick you in the ass myself.” With that, she ends the call.

“Fuck! I have to get to Felisha’s office. Ewan has called a meeting, he found out about my takeover. I need to call her.” This is a disaster, but I need to keep a cool head. I can’t let Ewan get the upper hand because I was stupid.

I’m already dialing Felisha, holding the phone to my ear while I start giving directions. “Forrest, call the bank and have the money moved to their accounts right now. I need to own every goddamn share before I walk into that meeting. Nic, I need the paperwork from the lawyers that we drafted to sign everything over to Felisha. I need it printed and in my hands five minutes ago. Rem, I’m going to need your help getting into that office. Ewan probably has me on the banned list at the desk.” Not waiting to hear their replies, I’m moving toward my office and hear my phone ringing out in my ear. Felisha isn’t picking up.

“Felisha, call me, it’s urgent. I need to talk to you.”

I push the button to call again as I’m grabbing my jacket, keys, and wallet.

This time it goes straight to messages after the second ring.

“God damn it, Felisha, answer your fucking phone,” I scream into my phone as I kick the garbage can on the way past.

Pushing the button again, this time it doesn’t even ring. She is rejecting my calls.

This is bad, like really bad.

I told her I’d always protect her and have her back. And all I can think of right now is she’s probably feeling like I have stabbed her in the back just like the rest of them.

I’m such an idiot. I should have listened to them all and told her.

But stupidly, I had visions that I would be making this big grand gesture and be Prince Charming, swooping in to save the day, rescuing her from her evil father.

This is the real world, and that shit doesn’t float.

I’m frantically texting her in hopes at least she will read that.

Flynn: Felisha, please call me. Let me explain. I love you.

The message just sits there taunting me, showing it’s delivered but not read.

If this wasn’t such a serious time, I’d probably laugh at the look of the three guys all over six feet tall walking down the corridor toward me. Dressed in their black suits, intense looks on their faces, and looking like they are on the hunt to get someone like some mafia gang, when we couldn’t be any further from that kind of businessmen. Every one of us is tough on the outside and soft in the middle. We just don’t admit to that.

Nic hands me the envelope, and we all turn to the elevator, which thankfully opens as soon as Rem pushes the button.

Rem takes control. “My car should be out front and waiting for us. Nic, you drive, and Flynn, you just pray the traffic isn’t bad, otherwise we are getting out and running.” Rem looks at me, knowing that I understand he isn’t joking right now.

I must have called and texted Felisha’s phone a hundred times, but it’s no use. She’s not answering me.

We are five minutes out from her building and my last resort is to message Harper.

Flynn: I need to talk to her urgently

The message sits on read for a moment, and then the dots start moving on the screen.

Harper: Is it true? Did you do it?

Flynn: Yes, but I need the chance to explain.

Harper: You fucking asshole!

Flynn: You know me, you’ve trusted me to have her back every time her world has fallen apart around her.

Flynn: Trust me now!

Harper: Why should I?

Flynn: Because I did it for her.

Harper: I don’t give second chances to men, so you better not make me regret this.

Flynn: I’ve fucked up, I know that. Get me into that meeting so I can fix this.

The message is left on read and no reply, so I can only hope like hell that she is going to help me and not make this worse.

I’m already yanking my seatbelt off as we pull into the driveway to The Shard building. Rem jumps out of the car behind me, followed closely by Nic and Forrest. Christ, it looks like we are here to storm the building. Getting into the elevator and to her floor is easy. But the moment we step out into the reception area, security there looks like they are protecting the crown jewels.

My phone vibrates with a message from Harper, luckily before any of us open our mouths.

Harper: Tell reception you are Mr. Richard Head and his associates, here for the meeting in boardroom 2. I know the boys will be with you to hold your hand. DON’T FUCK THIS UP, DICKHEAD!

I almost want to burst out laughing but need to look like a businessman who has a booked appointment.

I walk up to the desk, with the guys hanging back behind me slightly.

Trying to sound calmer than I am, I clear my throat. “Good morning. I’m Richard Head here to meet with Ms. Kentwall, thank you.” Saying the name out loud, it dawns on me the name Harper has given me. She has named me Dick Head for short. Oh, well played, Harper, well played. This woman has boldness, I’ll give her that, and my kind of sense of humor. We could be dangerous friends together in the future.

I hear a few sniggers and coughs from behind me; they got the joke too.

“Yes, Mr. Head, through those doors and turn right down the corridor to boardroom two, please. Ms. Kentwall’s PA will meet you there,” the woman on the desk very politely replies, but I can tell she knows who I am. Every person who works in this office should know who we are, yet security ignores us and lets us walk straight past.

I don’t know if that’s Harper’s doing or they just don’t care. Either way, if they were on our team, they would be fired on the spot for letting us in under an alias.

This is why Ewan shouldn’t be running this company anymore. He has lost touch with reality and things that are important. Like keeping his daughter safe.

Striding down the corridor on a mission, I can’t wait to see Felisha. I need to wrap her in my arms and not let her go until she listens to everything I need to tell her.

That won’t happen, I know, she is more likely to slap me across the face the moment I walk in, and I will totally deserve it.

I push the door open, and the room is empty.

“Where are they?” I growl and turn to storm back out. This room should be full of people waiting for the meeting by now.

“You aren’t leaving this room,” Rem says, blocking my way. “Harper just messaged and told me you have to sit tight until she comes to get you. I have a feeling no one else knows we are here except her. However, she did tell me how to connect the speaker system here, to be able to hear what is happening in boardroom one.” Rem starts using a machine in the corner while Forrest locks the door so no one can get in here while we are listening in—or to keep me from getting out.

“I don’t want to fucking listen. I need to be in there to stop this in its tracks.” I’m sick of being told what to do this morning, and I’m not one to take instructions from others easily. Obviously, because if I had, I wouldn’t be in this situation.

The noise of a group of people talking amongst themselves comes through the speakers, and Rem turns it down low and manages to isolate it to just come out one speaker in front of us, cutting down the risk of people outside the room hearing it.

Forrest shoves me down into a chair, and the look on his face reminds me of our father when I was little. “You need to do as you are told for once in your life. Sit the fuck down in that chair and don’t move.” I want to stand up and tell him to back off, but I don’t.

My knee is bouncing in the seat, and I have crumpled up the envelope in my hands that contains the contract signing over everything to Felisha, several times, and it looks a mess, but it doesn’t matter.

Hearing Ewan’s voice calling everyone to order has my skin crawling, and I might not walk out the door, but I can’t sit still.

He is waffling on and trying to sound like some sweet old man, apologizing for calling them all in on such short notice.

There are muffled murmurs, and I just want to be able to see what is happening.

“As you all know, there has been some unrest in the leadership of this company, and I have done my best to carry us forward and limit the damage. However, I’m afraid this time my daughter has sadly gone too far. Trading secrets with the man she is sleeping with has allowed him to take advantage of her and attack our company, trying to take it out from under us…”

“I’ll kill that bastard!”

Storming across the room, no amount of force that Forrest has on my arm can stop me from going through the door. I don’t even have to guess where the room is because I can hear all the shocked voices talking at once.

Bursting into the room, I see Felisha trying to hold back the tears in her eyes and the look of sheer evil in her father’s.

She might not want this, but I don’t care if she never talks to me again. I will not let her be treated like this.

She is mine to protect, and that is what I will do.

“Enough!” I yell like I’m releasing a demon. “Shut your mouth, you despicable man! Time for people to know the real story, and not one of you is leaving this room until I tell you.”

Ewan stands to challenge me, but to my surprise, Felisha stands and glares at him.

“Sit… down… now!” she growls at him and then turns to me.

“Speak and then leave.” And all I see is hurt in her eyes, and my heart breaks.