Chapter 29
“ S eriously? Is this how you prepare for big meetings?” Hands on his hips, Joseph glared at Andy holding aloft a bottle of tequila.
Fiona and Tomas, Joseph and Andy stood in the parking lot outside of HFH minutes before they were due to make their presentation to the board. Fiona didn’t know about the others, but her nerves were jangling, and the calming effects of morning sex with Tomas were a distant memory.
She’d presented to organizations and spoken before audiences big and small without breaking a sweat.
This one was different. Personal. As much as she wanted the project for the community, she wanted it for Tomas.
He wasn’t smooth and polished, but his heart was in the right place.
Hopefully, the board would be able to see that.
As if sensing her unease, he stepped closer, his big hand circling her back with calming strokes.
“Only when the bishop is present.” Shooting an impish grin at Joseph, Andy produced four shot glasses, poured, and passed around the fiery liquid.
They each held up their glasses. “Working with each of you these past weeks has been a bright spot in my day. When businesses, non-profits, and faith communities work together, magic can happen. So let’s make it happen. To magic!”
“To magic!” The others joined in and tossed back the shots.
Eyes watering, Fiona coughed. Tomas took the empty shot glass from her hand and replaced it with a water bottle. She smiled at him gratefully. The warmth in his eyes, combined with the warmth of the alcohol, moved through her, and her heart rate decreased slightly. What had she done to deserve him?
Waking to find his large form beside her was quickly becoming her favorite part of the day.
The nights he didn’t sleep with her were few and far between, and when that happened, they’d talk on the phone until they were both yawning, and she’d awaken to find sweet text messages waiting for her.
When she’d signed the divorce papers a few months ago, the idea of marrying again was furthest from her mind. But Tomas was making her reconsider.
He asked her opinion. He listened to her concerns without leaping up to fix them. He suggested but didn’t demand. He was generous without expecting anything in return.
She pinched his arm. “Ow! What was that for?”
She gave him her most innocent smile. “Just checking if you’re real.”
“O-kay….” He looked at her like she’d lost her mind.
And maybe she had. A presentation to HFH’s board was not how she’d expected to introduce her future husband to her family. And while the question hadn’t been officially asked and answered, Fiona knew it would happen.
“What kind of questions are you anticipating?” Andy looked at Joseph while adjusting his clerical collar. She’d gotten so used to thinking of him as a friend and Joseph’s boyfriend that she had forgotten he was a pastor.
When Joseph failed to respond, Andy elbowed him in the ribs.
“Hmm? Sorry. Can’t tell you. I just know it will be unlike any other HFH board meeting.
” He shot them each a tight smile before turning and heading toward the building, dropping his empty plastic shot glass into a trash can beside the entry.
The worry was back in Fiona’s belly. Exchanging questioning looks with the other men, she followed her brother into the building.
A sense of unease crawled up the back of Tomas’s neck as he watched Fiona and her brother.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
Fiona clearly expected to see her parents and eight cousins, but the conference room was empty. The big table was bare, and all sixteen padded chairs were pushed in. She looked at Joseph, eyebrows raised in question. “Did the time get changed?”
A muscle ticked in Joseph’s jaw, but before he could answer, the rear door of the room opened, and their mother walked in.
“You’re here.” She nodded at her children, smiled politely at Andy, and ignored Tomas completely.
So this was how it was gonna be. He remained stoic as he moved to stand right behind Fiona, putting himself in Linh Han’s sightline.
“Yes. Where is the rest of the family?” Fiona dropped her tote bag into a chair and sorted through it, pulling out file folders for each person in attendance. “Did you tell them a later time so we can get set up?”
With a condescending smile, Linh Han moved closer, stopping behind the chair at the end of the table, and draping her hands over the padded leather top. “That won’t be necessary. The presentation has been canceled.” She turned to Andy. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“What do you mean, canceled?” Fiona straightened, clutching the folders to her chest.
“Exactly that. HFH isn’t interested in your proposal so there was no point in meeting.”
“You can’t do that. Joseph and I are board members. Decisions can’t be made without us.”
A satisfied smile formed on Linh Han’s face.
“Oh, but I can. Joseph’s idea of buying that cul-de-sac of burned-out homes is excellent.
I have a friend on the Keeney planning board, so I was able to secure the property at a great price.
That neighborhood is attractive, and HFH will have no problem finding buyers for the two luxury houses we will build. ”
“But that doesn’t help the community. Our idea was to help lower-income families get into their own homes.” Anger now radiated off Fiona. Tomas placed a big hand on her shoulder in reassurance.
Linh Han caught the gesture and looked at him for the first time, her lip curled in derision. “HFH wants to support families who will add something to Keeney, not be a burden on its resources.”
“I don’t understand how you can do that!” Fiona clutched the folders with white-knuckled hands.
Joseph spoke for the first time. “She bought their shares.”
Fiona gasped.
Linh Han smiled. “That’s right. The cousins were happy to sell their shares to me.
I now have a controlling interest, so luxury homes it will be.
Pastor Andy, when they’ve been sold, I will make a sizable donation to the church.
You can use it to do a feeding program or maybe education.
Something for the unfortunate in the community. ”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, my dear. You don’t, in fact, own controlling interest.”
Heads turned at the quiet words from David Han. He stepped forward, approaching Andy first to shake his hand, then turning his attention to Tomas.
Tomas looked down at the older man. Iron gray hair brushed back, he stood erect, dressed in neatly pressed khaki pants and a button-down shirt. “Hello, sir. It’s good to see you again.”
“David. Please call me David.” His dark eyes, so much like Fiona’s, roved over Tomas’s face. “My daughter tells me that it was your idea to rebuild these houses as a community project. I’m looking forward to hearing more.”
“Yes sir, I mean David.” Tomas returned his smile, wondering why he appeared so relaxed.
David moved to stand beside Joseph, patting his arm in lieu of a handshake.
Tomas didn’t know Linh Han well enough to be able to decipher her expression. But she sure as hell didn’t look happy.
“What do you mean, David? I secured those shares yesterday.” Her manicured hands clutched the back of the chair, the knuckles whitening with her grip.
“Actually, you didn’t. Not all of them. As the CFO, your cousin Reggie called me and asked if he could receive payment sooner.
Needless to say, I was confused. When I understood what he was talking about, I raised your offer.
The money should be going into his account…
.” David looked at his wristwatch. “My mistake. The transfer occurred thirty minutes ago.”
Her eyes shooting daggers at her husband, Linh Han hissed.
“That’s not enough, though. I have fifty-five percent of the company.
HFH will not fund housing for dirty Mexicans.
” She focused on Tomas, speaking to him directly for the first time ever.
“You people make me sick. Sneaking into the country illegally, breeding like rabbits, always wanting a handout. Your mother has the ear of my pastor. Your father is stealing my son from the business. And my daughter is allowing you, a convict, to sleep in her bed, put your dirty hands all over her!”
“Enough!” Five voices roared in unison.
Chest heaving, Linh Han clamped her mouth shut. Her eyes darted back and forth across the angry faces ranged in front of her. “I own fifty-five percent of the company. Your proposal will not go ahead.”
David turned to face the others and bowed slightly.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. My wife’s words and actions are unforgivable.
” He moved to stand between Joseph and Fiona and put his arms around them.
“After my conversation with Reggie, I conferred with Joseph. Between the two of us, we called the other cousins. They each agreed to the amounts we offered for their shares. So, no, my dear, you do not own fifty-five percent of the company.” He squeezed his children. “We own eighty-five percent.”
Linh Han screamed.
Fiona gasped.
Tomas snorted.
Andy high-fived Joseph. “Well played,” he said.
Linh Han attempted a rally. “You can’t afford that. You don’t have the money.”
“Yes, mother, he does.” Joseph crossed his arms and looked smug. “Every year, instead of buying a new car, Dad’s been investing. His portfolio is doing quite well.”
Linh Han gaped at her husband. “How much…how much did you pay them.”
David clasped his hands in front of him and rocked up on the balls of his feet.
“When I explained what was being proposed, they each agreed to sell me their shares for one dollar more than what you offered. Except for Reggie, he insisted on two. He always drove a hard bargain.” He rubbed his hands briskly and beamed around the room.
“Shall we take a vote? All in favor of endorsing the proposal?”
Joseph, Fiona, and David shot their hands in the air.