Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Atlanta—Present Day
“As you can see, by manufacturing XEROS in house, we not only save a tremendous amount in expansion costs—based on the tech grant the state will award us—but also realize significant tax savings on next year’s bottom line.”
Declan kept his face neutral, aware that as many eyes were on him as on her. Cecile had informed him that he and Olivia hadn’t been as discreet as they thought. Getting caught making out against the refrigerator in the second-floor kitchen was most likely what had given them away, he thought with a smirk.
He wasn’t sorry. Declan wanted the entire world to know Olivia was his.
“In addition,” Olivia continued her presentation. “As you are all aware, this technology is poised to change the way streaming services operate. While there are a handful of other products in development, XEROS is the only one market-ready. Which means, it is a prime target for intellectual property theft.
“By keeping our designs in-house, we can virtually guarantee the intellectual property stays safeguarded.” Olivia beamed at the Armstrong engineers and technicians she’d invited to the meeting. “I know I can trust every member of this company.”
Declan steepled his fingers in front of his mouth to hide his smile. Olivia thought he didn’t know about the next step in her restructuring plan—to offer stock options to all current employees. He might have glimpsed her notes while he was waiting for her to get ready for work the other morning.
“Look, your charts and things look pretty and all,” Frank Townshend’s voice dripped with condescension. Declan stifled the urge to strangle the man with his tie.
There was no reason for Townshend to have come, but as a significant shareholder in Bloom Capital, he had the right. Declan knew it wasn’t a coincidence that Alan Carrol’s good friend had flown to Atlanta specifically for this meeting. Though he would like to know how the two men even knew it was taking place. The other few board members left operating decisions to Declan’s discretion. They were more than happy to simply collect their share of the profits he brought in.
When the man began making snide comments to Olivia, Declan immediately recognized what was happening.
“You are young for a CFO. Do you have these agreements in writing from each of the government agencies? In my experience, you can’t make decisions based on someone’s cocktail party promise.” Townshend tapped his pen on the page in front of them that detailed the grant and tax cuts.
Declan stayed silent. Olivia had this. He watched with pride as she lifted one eyebrow at the older man, her expression calm.
“I do,” she said simply.
Townshend gaped at her, and Declan couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his face.
“Well, then,” Declan said, sitting straighter in his seat. “If there are no other questions?”
He met Townshend’s eyes. The man frowned, but clearly had no further legitimate concerns. “Excellent.” Declan brought his hands together. “I’ll review it and let you know by the close of business today.”
“This is extremely unusual.” Townshend evidently felt like he needed to give it one more try. “We aren’t in the business of holding onto companies. You are essentially putting us in the electronics business.” He pivoted in his chair to face Declan, who noticed a thin sheen of sweat on the man’s brow.
Briefly, Declan wondered what Carrol had on the man, because no one had ever questioned Declan’s decisions before. Declan had been fully prepared to listen to the man’s complaints before sending him on his way, but the idiot made the mistake of smirking at Olivia before turning his gaze back to Declan.
“I understand there are certain other incentives here?—”
“Out,” Declan barked. The Armstrong staff jumped, before scrambling to their feet. He didn’t dare look at Olivia, because if she looked even the tiniest bit embarrassed, he was going to lose it.
“Declan, I don’t mean any offense. I’m sure Ms. Adler is?—”
“Declan,” Olivia said.
“Out. Now.” He didn’t look at her, but there was no mistaking the command in his voice. Declan heard her sigh, and then the door clicked shut behind her.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately,” Townshend said, his voice trembling slightly. “Alan told me you called off your engagement. He’s not an enemy you want, Declan.”
“Am I?”
The man blinked at him.
“You said he wasn’t an enemy someone would want.” Declan’s voice could have cut glass. “Are you implying I am? Because that is exactly what you are doing—making me your enemy.”
“Declan, I’ve known you a long time. This woman seems to have?—”
“This is the last warning you will ever receive from me.” Declan stared into the man’s eyes, satisfied when Townshend jerked back. “If I ever hear you refer to Ms. Adler in anything but the most glowing of terms, I will destroy you. You, your son and his ridiculous photography business, and whatever useless businesses your grandchildren grow up to create. Because god knows if they’ve inherited any of your intelligence, they will be disasters anyway.”
“Declan,” the man pleaded.
“We will repay you in full for the funds you have invested in Bloom Capital,” Declan said, rising to his feet. He lazily buttoned his suit jacket and walked away.
“You can’t threaten everyone who challenges me,” Olivia said, her lips pinched, when he entered her office, closing the door behind him.
“Yes, I can. Besides, that wasn’t about you. That was Alan Carrol thinking he could flex some imaginary muscle.” Declan shrugged. “A message needed to be sent.”
“To Alan Carrol?”
“To everyone.”
Olivia chewed her lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Without you going all cold and angry?”
He gazed back at her for a long moment until she sighed. “Is Bloom Communications really what you want, or is it you can’t stand to lose?”
Declan narrowed his eyes. “Is that what you think this is? You think I’ve done all this because I don’t like to lose?”
Olivia came to her feet and walked to where he stood rigid in front of her desk. She ran her hands over his biceps, coming to rest on his forearms. “I know it’s not all about that. But I’m worried regaining that company has become an obsession. Not the actual company, but the regaining control part of it. Of course, you want to avenge your father, regain his fortune for your family… but the actual running of the company? Is that what you want to do?”
Anger surged through him at her words.
“You said it yourself. No one ever gave you a real choice.” Olivia’s eyes pierced into him, like if she looked hard enough, she’d find the answer deep inside. “That job was forced on you, and yes, you were wildly successful, but you’d be successful at whatever you chose. Look at how fast you’ve built Bloom Capital.”
His body vibrated with tension. He couldn’t believe his ears. Bloom Communications was everything he had worked for. How could she ask him that?
“That’s an interesting question coming from someone who is fighting tooth and nail to keep a company that doesn’t even belong to her.”
“You’re angry. I understand. I’m only asking because… I don’t know…” Olivia blew out a breath. “Have you ever asked yourself if you’re happy? Truly happy?” She searched his eyes.
The muscles in his body relaxed slightly when she studied his face. “It’s my family’s legacy, Olivia. I can’t turn my back on what we built.” Olivia nodded, but he could see the shadow in her eyes, and he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips. “Trust me.”
“Always.”
His arms felt empty when she stepped away and put a few steps between them, her work mask securely in place. “Which way are you leaning on the proposal?”
Declan laughed, the rest of his tension dissolving. “And I’m obsessed?”
Her lips parted, but before she could speak, her office door swung open. Melissa burst in, her eyes wide. “Olivia, there is a crazy woman in the parking lot destroying your car.”
“What?” Olivia gasped, but Declan was already striding from the room.
“I called the police,” Melissa continued, hurrying along behind them.
Not waiting for the elevator, Declan took the stairs two at a time, ignoring Olivia’s calls for him to wait. Bursting through the door in the lobby, he could hear screaming before he spotted Fiona, swinging what looked like a golf club, repeatedly into Olivia’s BMW.
“Fucking whore!” Fiona screamed, as Declan shoved past the employees watching wide-eyed.
“Back inside,” he ordered. A few people tucked their phones behind their backs, and Declan saw Stuart and Melissa tugging at people’s sleeves to turn them back to the building. The group retreated into the lobby, where he was sure they would continue to watch the show through the windows.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Declan bellowed, striding towards Fiona.
“Declan, stay back!” Olivia yelled.
The windshield shattered under the next blow, and Fiona’s chest heaved with the exertion, her eyes finding Olivia. “You ruined everything. He is mine!” she screeched.
“Put down the golf club, Fiona.” Declan said, making sure he stayed out of her swing zone.
“No!” Fiona’s eyes were wild, and he could see the wide pupils across the short distance. “She’s a nobody. No one beats me!”
Her eyes lasered onto Olivia, and she took a few steps forward. “You think you’re hot stuff now? Let’s see how pretty you are when I’m done. My father always says you can’t rely on anyone else to get the job done.” She panted. “I gave that idiot Kyle so much coke, all he had to do…” She sucked in a breath. “Never mind… I’ll do it myself.”
Faster than Declan thought she could move, Fiona swung the golf club over her head and charged at Olivia.
Declan stepped to intercept her, grunting as the shaft of the club came down hard on his shoulder. They grappled for a moment, then Declan yanked the club from her hand, and Fiona howled like a wild animal.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, trapping her arms against her chest. Declan didn’t know if it was adrenaline or something she’d taken, but it took more effort than he expected to restrain her. Fiona kicked back at him, thrashing to free herself.
“I’ll kill her. You are mine. My father promised me I could have you.”
“You sent Kyle?” Olivia looked appalled.
“All we had to do was give him a couple of bumps and gas him up about you and Declan’s history… Rose ,” Fiona sneered.
Every muscle in Declan’s body locked. “Who told you that name?”
Fiona threw her head back, but Declan dodged so that the back of her head glanced off his cheekbone rather than squarely on his nose.
“My father will break you, asshole. He won’t let you get away with this,” she hissed. “Chris has a plan. You’ll both be sorry.”
Fiona yelped when Declan’s fingers bit into her arms. Declan’s gaze lifted to Olivia. “Did you tell Chris?”
“What?” Olivia looked from Fiona trapped against him to her ruined car and back again.
“Did you tell Chris about us? Could Jessica or Kyle have told him?” Declan persisted. “Does he know your name is Rose?”
Olivia shook her head, then stopped, paling. “Chris asked about the initials on my purse. I never told Jessica what the false name was that I gave you. Only that I gave you one.”
Declan spun Fiona to face him, gripping her biceps to hold her still. “Was it Chris? Did he tell you Olivia is Rose?”
Fiona stayed silent, but the flash of hatred in her eyes gave him his answer.
“Declan, the police.” He turned slightly as a police car came to a stop nearby. Declan abruptly opened his hands, so that Fiona stumbled back.
It didn’t take long to give the police the story, particularly as Fiona’s tantrum had drawn so many witnesses. After Olivia confirmed she wanted to press charges, Fiona shrieked as the officers placed her in handcuffs. “Do you know who I am? My father is going to have you all fired.” Her voice was thankfully muffled when they shut the door of the cruiser.
Panic and dread swirled inside him.
Chris knew who Olivia was which meant Chris knew how to destroy him.
“Declan?” Olivia’s voice came to him from a distance over the rushing in his ears. His heart seemed to beat in a two-part erratic rhythm: He knows.
Declan pulled out his phone. “Everything is fine. Let me call one of my brothers. They’ll meet us at the police station. We need to give formal statements. Can you get our coats?”
“Declan, what are you going to do?” Olivia asked, moving to stand beside him.
“Keep you safe.”
Olivia’s gaze didn’t waver as she continued to watch him for a moment, and then turned on her heel. Through the window, he saw her swarmed by the employees still lingering in the lobby.
Declan hadn’t lied. He had every intention of calling his brothers, but first, he had other phone calls to make. It only took a minute to tell Brady the situation, and to instruct him that if Declan wasn’t physically with Olivia, he wanted at least one man guarding her at all times, not just at the house.
The next call was to Alan Carrol.
“You crossed a line,” Declan said, as soon as the call connected.
“You’re done, Bloom. I know you think you’ve got some trick up your sleeve for tomorrow, but I promise you it won’t be enough?—”
“Your daughter is in jail. If you hope to see her again, I suggest you listen very carefully to what I say next.”
“What?” the man exploded.
“She destroyed Olivia Adler’s car with a golf club, struck me, and then threatened Olivia with it,” Declan said, ignoring the interruption. “Serious charges, which I fully plan on supporting Olivia in pursuing. But Fiona let an interesting little snippet loose. She admitted she gave drugs to Olivia’s ex-husband, and then encouraged him to attack her. I’m guessing, with the right prosecutor, that might be seen as accessory to attempted murder.”
He paused, happy when the line stayed silent. “I think we both know when it comes to twisting arms, I have a bit more experience. This is what will happen. Tomorrow, you will support my bid for CEO. In exchange, I will see that your daughter spends some time in a cushy drug rehab, and she gets the psychiatric care that she clearly fucking needs.” Declan felt his temper slip and held tight to his control. “Your daughter will then take an extended trip abroad. When Fiona returns… You ensure she understands that I and anyone connected with me are off-limits. If I find out she has come within a city block of Olivia, I’ll kill her.”
“Don’t you dare threaten my daughter,” Carrol seethed.
“I’m not threatening either one of you. This is an accurate representation of what will happen.”
“Fucking bastard.”
“I’m losing patience, Alan, and your daughter is probably being booked as we speak. You’ll want to get her out of general lockup as soon as possible. I don’t think she’ll fare well.” The man spit out a vicious curse. “Do we have an understanding?”
“We have an understanding.”
“Excellent.”
“You arrogant piece of shit. You think this is over? Chris Keller is out for blood, and I will be cheering him on.”
Declan had finished speaking with his brothers when Olivia emerged again, walking towards him with his overcoat thrown over her arm. She walked purposefully toward him, her heels clicking on the pavement, her head high. She flicked a glance at her ruined car.
“Taken care of?” Anger still simmered in her eyes.
“In process,” he answered. He could see by her expression she wanted to ask more questions, but instead she shrugged.
“As long as it doesn’t delay your decision.” She sniffed. “I have a business to run.”
Declan threw back his head and laughed before pulling her toward him and pressing a rough kiss to her temple.
“Should I wish you luck, or is that insulting?” Olivia asked sleepily from their rumpled bed, as Declan slipped into his suit jacket.
“Go back to sleep, Petal.”
“I’m up now.” Olivia pulled herself up higher on the pillows, the sheet covering her breasts slipping enough to give him the glimpse of one pink nipple. His feet brought him back to the side of the bed, his hand tracing over her soft skin.
“Me too.” He chuckled, mentally calculating how long he could delay his flight. His mouth sealed over hers and Olivia moaned, arching into his hand. His phone buzzed, and he bit back a growl. He nipped her bottom lip as he pulled back. “When this is over, we are going away. Just us, no phones, no computers, no family.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
Declan glanced at the phone screen and rumpled Oscar’s ears. “That’s Rhodes. He and another of Brady’s men have arrived. There will be a car out front the entire time I’m gone, and they will drive you wherever you need to go until you pick out a new car.”
When she didn’t respond, Declan looked up from the puppy to see Olivia’s lower lip trembling. Concern clutched in his chest. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I feel…”
Declan’s heart twisted. “Are you worried about Kyle… or Chris? I promise they can’t get near you.”
Olivia shook her head, her eyes suddenly glistening. “I have this terrible feeling… You keep talking about keeping me safe, but what about you?”
Declan sat back, stunned. “Chris is too much of a coward to come at me like that.”
“You aren’t invincible,” Olivia burst out. “You act like nothing can touch you and that it doesn’t even matter if it does. I know you want to keep me safe. Why can’t you understand that I’m worried about you, too?” Her breath hitched. “I just got you back, and I’m terrified you are going to be taken away from me.”
“Hey,” Declan cupped her face. “I’ll be back in two days.”
“Promise.” Her hands clutched his wrists, gaze fierce. “Promise I won’t lose you again. That you won’t disappear. You’ll stay with me.”
Declan pressed his forehead against hers. “Always.”
He hated walking away from her when she was upset, but by the end of the day, it would almost all be over. After he regained control of the company, all that would be left was retribution.
In the early morning light, Declan climbed into his car and began backing up Olivia’s steep driveway. Motion out of the corner of his eye had him glancing back through the windshield. “Damn it,” he muttered, as Oscar galloped around the frost-covered yard, the front door cracked open behind him. “This is exactly why he belongs in a crate.”
But Declan was more angry that the open door meant more than he hadn’t pulled it shut. It meant that distracted by his thoughts, he’d forgotten to reset the alarm and that was unacceptable.
Putting his car in park, Declan swung the car door open and climbed out, whistling for the puppy. White vapor poured from the exhaust as he tried to grab Oscar’s collar. But each time he got close, the dog raced the other way.
“Oscar.” His voice was sharp, all too aware that the security detail was watching him chase a puppy around the front yard. “I’m going to murder this dog.”
Declan walked to the front door, squatted down, and patted his leg. “Oscar,” he called louder, over his car’s idling engine. “Do you want a treat? Come on. It’s fecking freezing out here, you eejit,” he sing-songed.
The puppy’s ears flopped as he cocked his head, considering his options. Declan rose and took a step into the house, holding the door open. “Come on. Treats!”
With what Declan swore was a doggy grin, Oscar raced toward him, ducking between his feet, before spinning around to face Declan, eyes bright and tail wagging.
“If you think I’m giving you a treat, no?—”
The force of the explosion threw Declan forward onto the floor, shattered window glass raining down all around him.