Chapter 16 #2
I’m still standing on the same spot, dumbfounded, when Rachel comes into my office with a bottle of wine and two glasses. ‘From the Friday afternoon office stash.’
‘I thought you’d have gone home by now.’
‘I got the feeling my friend might need a shoulder and a glass of wine.’
Arthur wants me to back out. Am I risking too much for revenge? He wants me to stay away from the government. After Caspar’s reaction, I understand why. But Arthur’s reaction to Clark and Layton Oil is irrational.
‘Make it a large, please.’
‘You got it.’
* * *
I stumble through the door to my apartment. I only had half a bottle with Rachel, but my empty stomach and absolutely screwed-up state of mind have left me feeling the wine more than I ordinarily would.
So much has happened in the last week. Am I being paranoid to think it all started with this godforsaken well? Why won’t anyone fight with me?
I kick off my shoes, dump my coat and bag, and pour myself another glass of wine. I take it outside to the balcony, not feeling the cold despite my short-sleeved black dress. I’m in this fight alone. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, but something is making it hurt more than usual.
I think about Clark, being back in his arms after all this time. It seems like the only place I can block out everything else, the only place I can be myself. The only place I don’t feel like an island.
If I took his offer, we couldn’t be together.
It wouldn’t work. We couldn’t make decisions in the best interests of our companies and come home to each other.
Does it even matter? He could come to his senses and go back to Constance any time.
Even if he didn’t, there’s every chance he’d leave me – that’s Clark. It’s what he does.
But I can’t ignore the part of me that doesn’t want to take that deal and close the door on any chance we might have.
I push those thoughts aside. This well, my father – they’re bigger than Clark, me, us. I have to fight for Roger Cross, for the truth. He never did anything but compete in a market Caspar Kahn wants to himself. My father didn’t deserve to die.
The sound of my intercom cuts off my thoughts.
‘Hello?’
‘Dayna, it’s Teddy, buzz me in.’
I look at my watch. Teddy? At this time?
I roughly tie my hair in a knot and rub day-old mascara smudges from under my eyes. Then Teddy knocks on the door.
‘Hey. Is everything okay? Is Yvette okay?’
‘You look like shit,’ he tells me. ‘Are you drunk?’
I jerk my head back. ‘Wow. This day.’
He closes the door and moves to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of red, then he follows me back out to the balcony.
‘You’re clearly sour with me for some reason, too. Lay it on me, Teddy.’ I rest my forearms on the railing and look out to St Katherine Docks.
‘I’m here to ask you not to accept Clark’s deal.’
‘As who? You, or your dad?’
‘As your friend and Clark’s.’
I don’t turn to look at him, because my eyes are fogging for a second time tonight. I’m starting to lose my grip on who my friends really are.
‘I’d like you both to drop out of this tender. I’m speaking as the CFO of Layton Oil and someone who gives a crap about whether you make a loss for SP.’
‘I might not make a loss with that well.’
‘True. If anyone can turn a profit, it’ll be you.’ His voice is softer now. He comes to mirror my posture, his shoulder pressed to mine. ‘I don’t doubt how good you are, Dayna, but the timing is bad, really bad.’
I feel the dams that hold back the water in my eyes starting to rupture. I open my eyelids wide and let the wind take away my impending tears. I’m so incredibly fed up of crying. ‘Teddy, you know this isn’t about a profit for me.’
He nods. ‘I know. It’s about the Gulf, it’s about Caspar. This isn’t the right time, Dayna. You don’t win if you buy the well, and I think you know that. Caspar will win when he watches you fight to stay afloat or, more likely, crumble under SP’s losses.’
I breathe out heavily, hearing the truth in his words.
‘Clark was going to pull out,’ he continues.
‘We discussed it this weekend. He knows this isn’t the purchase to make his name.
If he won the well, there’d be a significant risk of him making a loss.
He wants something that’s his and he wants to prove he can make something of Layton Oil without Harold, but if his first big investment turns a loss, he does the exact opposite. ’
‘Then why offer the deal?’
‘Because he loves you. He’s blinded by the need to protect you.’
I gulp my wine. ‘I’ve never asked anyone to protect me.’
‘Stop being petulant, Dayna. I almost think you like to believe you’re alone. You’re not. You have me, you have my dad, and you have Clark, if you want him.’
There’s no fighting the rogue tear that rolls down my cheek.
‘Clark wants you as far away from Hassan and Caspar as he can get you. So much so, he’s willing to put an idea to the board that makes him look like an idiot.’
I laugh through a sob, and I sniff. ‘He really can be an idiot.’
Teddy laughs too, softly, but I suspect with a heavy heart. ‘He can, but he’s changing, Dayna. Hell, I’m not sure I’d want him for you, but the new version of him loves you. I think he always has.’
I rub my cheek with the back of my hand.
‘If you win with a joint bid, Caspar won’t go away. Not now. You know that, don’t you? He won’t just come for you – he’ll come for your venture, he’ll come for you and Clark, and he’ll come for SP and Layton Oil.’
‘Clark knows that, and he’s still willing to go through with it to get me the well.’ He’s willing to risk everything. For me.
‘I think he’d do anything for you.’
I drain my wine. My father or Clark? That’s the decision I’ve got to make.