Chapter 28 #3
Jeffrey throws his napkin on the table, clenching his teeth in fury. He stands up, speaking out of the side of his mouth as he glares at Missy. “If you’ll excuse us, I have some things to discuss with my daughter.”
“They’re lying!” Missy blurts out, desperate to defend herself any way she can, even if it’s by throwing a smoke screen to put the focus somewhere other than her misdeeds. “Kaede and Courtney! They’re not even engaged. I asked Morgan, and he said Courtney is single.”
“Because we hadn’t told our families yet,” Courtney says, her tone sharp as a sword. “We were waiting until after their anniversary and the expansion announcement so we didn’t steal their thunder. Thanks for ruining that.”
It’s our only lie, but it rolls off her tongue so easily and coldly. Ice Queen is in effect and freezes Missy’s childishness in its tracks.
Ross and I exchange glances. We didn’t think Jeffrey was in on this, but we couldn’t be sure. It was just too . . . amateurish. Not his style at all.
But a spoiled little princess who probably bought her college degrees while doing fuck-all through her classes and figured she could get by on her family name, looks, and connections? This is exactly the sort of shit someone like that would try and pull.
And I believe that he’s as blindsided by Missy’s actions as we are. That doesn’t change what we have to do now, though.
Ross holds up a hand. “Actually, Jeffrey . . . one more thing.”
Ross is polite and Jeffrey tries to wave him off.
But I’m not an Andrews and haven’t had the same amount of spit-n-polish social training Ross has had from birth.
I’m a rough kid who plays posh when it serves me, but I can flip out of that role at will.
So now, I slam my hand on the table, growling, “Sit. Down. Jeff.”
He looks at me in shock. I doubt anyone’s dared to order him to do anything in a long time, if ever. But I’m allowing for no give here. We’re finishing this tonight. Now.
The deadly intent in my tone pulls him out of his little self-absorbed universe and shrinks him down to human size.
I don’t think he’s a bad man, maybe a father who’s made some mistakes in how he’s raised at least one of his daughters.
But that’s not my problem to fix. One Life and this contract are, and it’s my turn to do what I do best.
Solve problems by any means necessary.
Ross nods, giving me the floor. Both Jeffrey and Ross are accustomed to being the big dog in any room, but a smart man knows that the most dangerous man is the one with everything to lose. And that’s me. I have Courtney by my side for real, but I will protect this gym with everything I have.
And right about now, it’s time for me to unleash hell.
“Let me explain how this is going to work. You have invested time, energy, and effort in this relationship, especially in regard to the site in Charlotte. In fact, I spent yesterday going through it all, line by line, totaling everything from your spending on materials for Saturday’s events to the consulting that’s already been done.
That sum total will be reimbursed to Sanders Investments by the end of business Friday. ”
It’s a lot of money, more than I have, and it puts Ross pretty deep into his own personal funds. But we have to do it this way.
“Pursuant to Paragraph Twelve of our agreement, due to corporate misconduct by one of the parties, we are hereby terminating our partnership with you. If you disagree, we will bring the matter to court, where we will insist on damages. We’ll definitely win, and that doesn’t even account for the public and professional blowback you’ll get when word gets out.
” I glance at Missy harshly, and Jeffrey knows that anything she has touched in the past, present, or future will be poisonous fruit for his company.
“Additionally, neither you, nor any of your subsidiaries, will be allowed to be a stakeholder in One Life at any time in the future, and if you or any of your subsidiaries” —I look directly at Missy, staring her down— “attempt to utilize knowledge gained under the contract or during this contract period by becoming a competitor in any market, we will pursue legal action to the fullest extent of the law.”
Jeffrey knows he’s been backed into a corner. He doesn’t like it, not at all, but in the end, he nods. “Agreed.”
I let up, toning my voice down just a little.
“I want you to know, Jeffrey, that I think you really do believe in family. And this family, we won’t stop.
Ross and I will go on to build the national brand we’ve dreamed of.
You will go on, doing what you do best .
. . investing. And we’ll part on good terms.”
I’m adding that last bit based on the revelations here at dinner tonight. Because I swear, Jeffrey Sanders looks like he’s aged ten years over a single plate of half-eaten lasagna.
Missy, however, still isn’t done. “No! It’s mine! Don’t let them have it!”
“Be quiet, Melissa.” He’s so angry he doesn’t even look at her. Instead, he keeps his eyes on Ross and me. “I get my full investment back, contract is null and void, and no legal proceedings,” he summarizes. “Or publicity.”
We both nod. It’s a pretty standard give, and we’ll whip up an NDA on this to include with the contract dissolution agreement.
Jeffrey is silent for a moment. I can see the figures and math working their way through his head.
He’s smart and knows we’re letting him off the hook relatively lightly, but I can appreciate his analyzing all the angles.
I certainly did when Ross and I talked this through.
Finally, Jeffrey nods. “Agreed. If you’ll have your lawyer draft it up, I’ll sign and send it back by courier by close of business Friday.”
“Nooooo!” Missy whines loudly.
“If you’ll excuse us. Truly, Violet, my compliments to your Nana’s recipe and your lasagna. Regretfully, though, I don’t have the appetite for tiramisu.” Still a man of manners and class to the bitter end. To Missy, his voice goes hard. “Let’s go, Melissa.”
He virtually drags Missy out, her eyes glaring at Ross, Courtney, and even Violet before they settle on me.
Why me? “You ruined everything! You were supposed to be mine. This was all supposed to be mine!” she screams through blubbering, snotty tears.
Her face is streaked with rivers through her makeup, mascara trails beneath her eyes as she acts like she’s the one who’s been wronged, when all of this is her doing, her misdeeds.
“And obviously, you’re invited to no longer be a member at One Life.
” It gives me such ridiculous relief and joy to be done with her.
I hate that she blew up this opportunity with Jeffrey, but knowing that I will never have to fight her off again or be careful about how I phrase things so she doesn’t affect our investment is a sparkling, shining silver lining to this whole mess.
She huffs and wails once more as Jeffrey pushes her out the door.
Silence reigns for a long minute after Jeffrey closes the door behind him but is finally broken when Ross says quietly, “I think I know who Disney can cast in the next MCU movie as the villain. That was an epic meltdown.”
“A Missy Hissy Fit,” I declare, having decided on that somewhere during her rant.
Violet laughs, and then we all laugh at the outrageousness of Missy’s antics.
A little of it is probably the burn-off of the adrenalin from the business side too, but whatever it is, it feels good to finally let go and just be the four of us.
Friends and family, always. “When our toddler is throwing a tantrum and I’m tempted to give in to make it stop, remind me of this moment.
That is what happens when kids aren’t told no. ”
“I’d say ‘Poor Jeffrey’ and almost feel sorry for him, but I’m pretty sure that’s his handiwork, intentional or not,” I admit, leaning back.
“He probably spoiled his girls because he could, but also because they did lose their mom, and I imagine, as a parent, you want to somehow make that better. I’m glad my mom didn’t go that route.
I’m enough of a bastard as it is,” I joke.
“Can you imagine if she’d spoiled me too? ”
“Didn’t I see some kind of granola bar things from her on your counter a couple of weeks ago?” Courtney asks pointedly.
My mouth drops open. “You cannot make a correlation between Mom’s jungle bars and Jeffrey never telling Missy no. My mom just shows her love in food, and I show it by eating it all and telling her how delicious it is. And they’re oatmeal, not granola!”
“Food is a love language,” Violet intones, already digging back into her lasagna as if Gymaggedon didn’t just happen around her perfectly appointed dining room table.
“You think Missy was bullshitting about AJ?” Ross asks as he picks up his fork. “Or was she reading into his ogling and training a bit too much?”
“We’re going to have to talk to him,” I admit, “maybe even let him go. If he knew what Missy was up to, we don’t need him around.”
“We’ll deal with that first thing tomorrow,” Ross says, turning his attention to his plate. “I think I’m ready for that tiramisu. Anybody else?”
He gets up, taking his plate to the kitchen along with everyone else’s. When he tries to take Violet’s, she pokes at him with her fork. “Not done,” she says around a mouthful.
“Your plate’s empty,” he argues.
Violet grabs a slice of bread and swipes it through the remaining sauce on her plate, making sure to get every drop.
She pops it in her mouth and nods. Ross makes eyes at us, begging us not to say a word, but we’re not that stupid.
You never say anything to a pregnant woman about her eating habits.
I wouldn’t have said anything even if she’d picked up the plate and started licking it clean.
Ross returns with plates of tiramisu, which is as delicious as expected since it’s also Nana’s recipe. Right up until Violet grabs the salt shaker and sprinkles it onto the dessert.
Her next bite is followed by a moan of delight. “Mmm, sweet and salty.”
I set my fork down. Done after watching that. Yuck.
Ross keeps chowing down. “Nowhere near as unappetizing as ice cream with pickles. Trust me.”
I’ll have to take his word on that.