Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“ W hat’s up with her?” Philip asked as Kelly almost bowled him over.
“Pissed she’s been put on a budget.”
Knowing Kelly, Philip thought her frostier-than-usual demeanor made sense. “Why not just ask Daddy Warbucks?”
“He cut her off.”
Philip didn’t care enough to ask why and changed the subject. “I don’t understand why getting you these numbers was so urgent that I had to drop everything and come up here.”
“I told you why. This sponsorship is the answer to our little problem.”
“I’m still not sure what ‘problem’ you’re referring to.” Philip didn’t like the look in Carrington’s eyes when they gleamed like that. It usually spelled trouble.
“Lila James.”
Philip hadn’t heard that name in a while. “Lila?” There was a short time when she had been quite the obsession for Carrington. “I thought...how does she fit into becoming a sponsor for Lockwood Racing?”
Carrington handed Philip the magazine. “Colby James is her cousin.”
Philip stared at it, then chose his words carefully. “When was the last time you talked to Lila?”
Even that simple question irritated Carrington. Unlike when he spoke to Kelly, Carrington didn’t mask the simmering anger now written all over his face. He rose from his desk. “Haven’t seen that bitch since she left like a thief in the night.”
Philip sighed. “You need to let it and her go.”
“Fuck that! Who the hell does she think she is? Did Lila think she could just spend my money and then leave? Hell, no. She does not get to dictate when the relationship is over. It’s not over until I say it’s done.”
Philip was calm but matter-of-fact. “It’s been over a year. Whatever situationship you had, it looks over to me. What would your wife think about you chasing behind your mistress?”
“For the record, my relationship with Lila is none of Kelly’s business. Lila and I wouldn’t have been separated for so long if she hadn’t gone into hiding, and we simply talked.”
“Do you know how crazy that sounds?” Carrington’s narcissism was on full display, and it irked the hell out of Philip. “Kelly is your wife and the mother to your sons.” Marriage seemed to be an inconvenient truth that Carrington ignored quite frequently.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. Kelly knows the deal.”
“Are you sure? If I recall, she didn’t seem to know the deal when she showed up to the apartment you shared with Lila tearing shit up.”
Carrington smiled at the memory. “As I said, Kelly is well aware of my needs but seeing her spazz out like that was interesting.”
“Maybe she was threatened by your heightened interest in Lila. Even I have never seen you behave like that over other women. Wives have a sixth sense when it comes to these things.”
Lila wasn’t like other women, but that wasn’t anything Carrington was willing to admit. He continued to ignore the psychobabble coming out of Philip’s mouth. Instead, he allowed his mind to wander back to the last time her body had been writhing underneath his.
Carrington had that faraway look in his eyes that came whenever Lila was on his mind. Philip snapped his fingers in Carrington’s face to wake him up from his trance. “C’mon, man. Are you even listening? Get it together.”
Carrington’s response came out chilled. “I hear you droning on and on about women and their sixth sense. How would your wife know anything about that? You’ve never cheated on her in your life.”
“Why would I? I love my wife.”
Carrington’s eyes almost rolled out of his head. “Men are not monogamous beings. You being the lone exception.”
“That’s bullshit. Like anything else, it’s about discipline and commitment. I love my wife, and I’m careful with her heart.”
“Of course, you are because you’re a pussy. The bottom line is I have unfinished business with Lila. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll get to handle two problems at once.”
Philip’s curiosity was genuine as he asked, “Two problems? Second time you’ve mentioned that. I’m the CFO, and I’m not aware of any problems that would require Lila James’s involvement. What pray tell are they?”
“After the past year, our company could use some good PR. I want to Sponsor Colby James and Lockwood Racing.”
“ Sheeet !” Philip ran a hand through his hair. “You think that will make all the gossip about your lawsuits disappear?”
“Hear me out. Sponsoring Colby James would give us just that. It would show I support women.”
“And where does Lila fit into all of this?”
Carrington shrugged. “She might need to convince me I’m doing the right thing.” His smile was pure evil. “The way I understand it, Lockwood is broke. They need cash fast. If I get to exact my revenge at the same time, then that’s a bonus.”
Philip shook his head. “This is a bad idea, and you need to get over your bruised ego before it causes more damage than it already has.”
“Bruised ego? My ego is just fine.”
“Then leave Lila alone.” Philip punctuated each word.
Carrington pushed his chair back forcefully against the wall. “I don’t lose.”
“If this is just a game, then you should definitely let it go.”
“Did you not hear me?”
“I heard you. I just can’t believe you’re still letting your dick rule your head. If you can’t leave well enough alone after all this time, maybe Lila meant more to you than you’re willing to admit, and that’s an even bigger problem.”
Philip’s words hit too close to home. Carrington grunted. “Your degree is in finance, not psychology. If I wanted a therapy session, I’d go to a professional.”
“You’ve always been your own worst enemy, and I’m trying to help save our company and you from yourself.”
Carrington waved him off.
Not dissuaded, Philip continued. “It’s never a good idea to mix business and pleasure. You, of all people, should know that.” Philip alluded to the hush money Kelly’s father had paid law enforcement to bury the incident and make it go away. “For the moment, we’ve quieted down the rumblings of our board, but in today’s world, NDAs don’t always guarantee silence. Don’t poke the bear.”
“So, I’m just supposed to act like Lila didn’t leave a mountain of destruction behind?!”
“If I recall, that was your wife,” Philip reminded him. “ She destroyed that apartment. Not Lila. If the cops hadn’t shown up, Kelly might have killed her. How much did it cost you to make those charges go away?”
“Lila held her own and a pretty penny.” There was a hint of a smile on Carrington’s face as he recalled the incident. “Anyway...Kelly had no business at the apartment, and Lila left before I could explain.”
“Explain what? You were married. Are married. Not separated. Not divorced. Married .” Carrington was always a spoiled little shit, even when they were kids. It wasn’t enough that he had everything; he still wanted what everyone else had. And if someone told him no, he would run to his mommy and daddy, and they would fix it. Uncle Edward couldn’t protect him anymore, God rest his soul, and Carrington’s excess had almost ruined the company his father spent a lifetime building.
“She left me!”
Philip felt Carrington was on the borderline of a temper tantrum but couldn’t catch the words before they left his mouth. “How on earth can you be mad at Lila for leaving? How do you blame her for that?”
“Damn!” Carrington snarled. “Why are you on her side? You must want to fuck her.”
Carrington’s words felt like a slap in the face. It took all Philip’s willpower not to throat punch Carrington. “How about I’m just a decent guy?! The bottom line is you were the one that lied to Lila. She had no idea you were married and had children until Kelly arrived at the apartment.”
“Yeah. You definitely want her for yourself.” Carrington plastered a smug, all-knowing smile on his face.
“No. I’m trying to keep us all employed and out of bankruptcy. I know you hate to hear this, but you need Kelly. Her family’s money and influence have kept the lights on around here. Those folks outside in those cubicles are working hard, and they needed the infusion of capital we were given from him. How would Kelly’s old man react if he found out about this?”
“You act like Kelly’s dad doesn’t understand having a mistress or two. Russ won’t give a shit as long as I don’t publicly embarrass Kelly.”
“So, you don’t think getting mixed up with Lila’s family won’t do that? I mean, her cousin, Colby, is about as high-profile as it gets right now. It’s not worth it. Move on before you’re plastered all over TNZ and the board removes you as CEO.”
Carrington ignored him. “That’s where you’re wrong. This is a great business decision. Lockwood Racing is bleeding cash. They need money, and as I said, we could use some good publicity.”
Philip shoved a hand through his hair, frustrated. “What is your plan because I can’t see how it works out in our best interest? Let’s say we invest in Lockwood Racing, and then what?”
“That’s the question you should have led with instead of coming at me like you were Captain Save-A-Whore.”
Lila wasn’t a whore. Philip knew that. She was just ambitious and got mixed up with the wrong man.
“Lockwood needs money, and we have it.”
“Barely. And?”
“And that’s it. I have a guy meeting with Brian Lockwood at this very moment. He’s representing Glenmore.”
“That’s one of the smaller businesses we acquired some time ago in our Hughes portfolio.”
“Yes, and one Lila won’t be able to connect to us and steer her new boy toy away from.”
“How do you know they’re dating?”
“Brian Lockwood has been all over the blogs. They’ve been photographed together. It’s obvious they are sleeping together.”
“So?”
“So. He’s a prick.”
“You don’t even know that man.”
“Don’t need to. Unfortunately, he’ll be collateral damage.”
“So, that’s your plan? Sponsor Lockwood and exact revenge on Lila? I still don’t see the point.”
“You will, and the return will be worth ten times more than any investment.” Carrington smiled mischievously. “Don’t mind me if I get to have a little fun in the process.”
Carrington was disgusting, and Philip had a bad feeling about this. But it was clear Carrington’s mind was made up. Philip’s job was now to figure out how best to protect the company if, or more accurately, when, the shit hit the fan.