29. Anderson
29
ANDERSON
I throw the door open. “What the fuck are you two doing?”
It’s nice to see them both so startled for once. They both act like captains of their own industries, so it's good to see them taken off guard. Dad is the first to speak. “Anderson, a classy entrance as always. Come in, We were just discussing things.”
Otto's voice is even gruffer in person. Though that might be because I scared the shit out of him. “Anderson, good to see you.”
“Is it? Because from where I'm standing, you shouldn't be happy to see me at all. If you were happy to see me, you would have been taking my calls.”
“You understand as well as anybody that we all have meetings to attend.”
Something inside of me snaps. “And this meeting? Why wasn't I invited? Since it's about me, I mean.”
“Close the door,” my father orders.
“And why should I do that? Seems you're happy to discuss my business with anybody.”
“Now, Anderson.” The tone in his voice brokers no debate.
I slam it shut, largely because I don’t want this getting around. “Happy?”
“I've been happier. Sit.”
Otto says, “Perhaps I should leave this to the two of you. This seems to be a family discussion.”
I point directly at him. “You're not going anywhere. This is on you as much as it’s on him. I heard what the both of you were saying. You're both just as wrong.”
“About?” Dad asks.
“Every single fucking thing that came out of both of your mouths.”
Dad flicks his hand dismissively at Otto. “You can go. I'd like to handle this personally.”
I glare at Dad, but Otto leaves. Interesting that The Blade is more afraid of my father than my father is of him. I've never learned the depths of my father's foothold in the underworld of Boston, but seeing Otto Pym flee from him like that is enough to tell the story.
But right now, that means fuckall to me. “You're not pinning this on June. Period. And keep the filth in your mind off of her. If I ever hear you call her those words again, I'm going to cut you off at the knees.”
It's never very comforting when a threat like that is met with a smile. “My boy, you act as if you've heard things that you haven't been thinking.”
“Excuse me?”
“Surely you're not naive enough to honestly believe her story.”
“June is going to be my wife. I saw what I saw. I don't care what you believe. You're gonna keep that filth out of your mind when you think of June. You will never say those things about her again. And if?—"
He laughed. The bastard laughed. “June Devlin will never be my daughter-in-law.”
“What makes you think you have any control over who I choose to marry?”
“Let me tell you a few things about this girl that you love so very much that you're willing to threaten your father over her.”
It's my turn to laugh. “As if you know a fucking thing about that woman.”
“Then you should be open to hearing what I have to say. What do you have to fear? If you think that it's not true, so be it. But I will say my piece before you walk out that door again.”
“Out with it.”
Dad sat back, steepling his fingers over his lap. “June works for Andre Moeller. This you know correct?”
“Yes. What of it?”
“Are you aware that Andre intends to unseat me?”
I frown. Where is he going with this? “Unseat you from what?”
“Everything.”
“I don't understand.”
“Country clubs, charity boards, you name it. He intends to oust me from everything that belongs to me. Seats on boards of other companies and from the chair I sit as I speak.”
That makes no sense. “That's ridiculous. This is West Media. It's only West Media if a West is in the CEO seat.”
“Come now, you don't believe that. Plenty of companies are run by people whose names are not on the door.”
“But a West has always been the CEO of West Media. It goes through our family line. Everyone knows that.”
Dad takes a stiff breath and runs his fingers through his hair. The man must be shaken to show so much emotion. “Things change, Anderson. And Andre is looking to accelerate that change. With June's help.”
That earns a laugh. “What in the fuck are you talking about?”
“Your little wife-to-be has decided that she's going to help Andre unseat me from everywhere I belong. What do you have to say in her defense now?”
“You are out of your mind if you think that's true.”
He brushes a piece of invisible lint from his sleeve. “And if you didn't believe that the possibility is real, you wouldn't look so nervous right now.”
“You're mistaking my aggravation for nervousness. It's not the same thing.”
“So you say.” I can’t read the expression on his face. Contemplative. Furious. For Elliott West, they are one and the same. “The trouble, my dear boy, is that I have proof. You should know by now that I know everything that happens in my companies. That includes what happens when someone is sniffing around them and asking for documents. Such as what June was doing for the past few weeks.”
“You're out of your mind, old man.”
He smiles. “That's the sort of accusation you make when you know you've lost.” He dials up something on his laptop, then turns it around to face me. On screen, I see June. She's making copies of documentation, furtively glancing around. I can't see what it is until she closes a Manila folder over it. But there's the Branson and Associates logo. One of the companies my dad is on the board of. Then, the picture changes. She's sitting in an office with someone I don't know.
“Am I supposed to know what's happening here?”
“Oh, right. The sound.” He clicks a button, and I can hear everything.
“You're sure those are the files Andre wanted?” she asks.
The woman nods. “Everything on the board, including their nastier proclivities. You've got your work cut out for you.”
June smiles and shrugs. “Just following orders.” She gets up and leaves.
I'm not sure what to think. “Am I supposed to believe that was something nefarious?”
“That was for the Wilco Casino. I am on that board. If she was not up to something nefarious, then why is she collecting information on everything that I have my fingers in?”
I don’t want to admit that he had a point. June and my father have been adversaries since before we got together. This does not look good. “I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for this.” But even as the words come out of my mouth, I'm having a hard time believing them. I had woken up feeling like I was standing just over quicksand, and now, there's no solid ground. What in the hell is June up to?
“Lucky for us, I am not as naive as you are. I also retain spies in my enemies’ quarters. This … issue has not gone unnoticed. June is known to be associated with us, and thus, when she goes around asking questions and prying into things she ought not, it weakens us in the eyes of our enemies. Given your precarious legal situation, do you think we can afford to look weak right now?”
My stomach flips at the thought. None of this makes any sense. My voice goes hoarse. “Of course not.”
“Your woman is a traitor, and she is using you to destroy me. I don't know for how long this has been going on. Perhaps she took the job with Andre innocently enough. Though I doubt it. Considering he had kidnapped her and allegedly terrified her, I have to think that she took the job knowing that there was something else going on, A deeper game. Or perhaps during the alleged kidnapping, he turned her against us. Who can say, other than them?”
This is wrong. I know that it's wrong. There is no way that she has been playing spy since then. “She's not … that's not who she is.”
“I'm sure plenty of people would love to believe that the person that they love is being genuine with them. That's how a honey trap works.”
“No way. No fucking way.”
“Think about it, Anderson. The woman that you've had a crush on for years just happens to be at a sex auction the night that you're there? And she somehow falls head over heels in love with you in a matter of, what? Days? Weeks? Then, somehow, she gets kidnapped from one of the most secure buildings in all of Boston. But she's returned to you unharmed. You two play your little dating game. She breaks up with you. And the night that you happen to be following her, she happens to be attacked by an investment banker. As if investment bankers aren't the perfect people to have on the inside of a bank.”
I'm shaking. I'm so angry. “What are you saying?”
“Neil had access to all kinds of information. What better way to cut an asset loose than to have it taken out by your enemy? Certainly makes it easier to pin the murder on you when she tricked you into doing it.”
I slam my fist on his desk. It's either going there or his face. “I fucking saw what I fucking saw. He attacked her.”
“And if you thought you were fighting for your life, wouldn't you attack the person threatening you?”
“It wasn't like that. It was pervy and sexual and gross.”
Dad lifts his shoulder. “Perhaps those were the sex games that they played. You'll never know now. Tell me, Anderson, does she like it rough?”
She does, but that's not the point. “That's immaterial.”
He laughs. “I believe a jury will say otherwise, as will a judge. Son, face reality. She has played you from day one. I don't know how long this plan has been in action. It truly could have started at any point. Andre plays the long game. And June has been his best tool. I need you to understand that. You are in danger from this woman. This company is in danger from this woman.”
I don’t want to believe anything he says. The picture he paints is too ugly. But. I also know this kind of thing happens in corporate life. But I just can't … fuck, I can't breathe. “What are you saying?”
“I'm saying that you are never to see that woman again. Kick her out of your home today. Go no-contact because I don’t trust you to not fall for her bullshit again. Do it for yourself. For your family. For this company. Show me you're not a traitor, too.”
“I'm no fucking traitor.”
“Prove your loyalty. Be done with her. Save yourself. Before it's too late.”