Chapter 21 YellaWood 500 #2
“Greg,” she softly said, holding back the tears.
“You deserve some happiness in your life. Erica used to bring that happiness to you, but she broke you that last time she left. These two women are competing for you because you are worthy of them. Stop feeling sorry for yourself because you are your own worst enemy. Now, if you are done with your pity party, get back in the game. We’re in the fourth quarter and the ball is in our possession.
Noboko is waiting to hear back on your proposal to expand the Kurile Islands project. ”
“He’s getting twenty-thousand barrels a day on three wells, and he still needs more money?” Greg paused. “I just don’t get it. Something doesn’t add up there,” he replied.
“Now, that’s more like it. So, how do you solve the equation?”
“Get Molly and David. We need to pour over those financial statements again. WE had to have missed something.”
“Alright,” she said with a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks Janet. I needed the pep-talk.”
Janet disappeared and returned shortly with Molly and David in tow.
She looked at Greg as she walked into the office.
“Before we start the analysis, I want both of you to straighten this man out, because I can’t have him losing his confidence again.
Pimico can’t have that happen when we’re on the cusp. ”
“Greg?” David said with a firm tone. “Are you having problems?”
“I just needed a pep-talk from Janet,” he started to justify and saw David’s hand come up in the stop motion and Molly shot him a look like daggers thrown from her eyes.
“Greg Garrelson,” Molly started in. “You don’t need any more pep talks. You either need to decide your playing this game or bench yourself. We’re not waiting any longer for you to make up your mind. You’re not going to be coddled any longer.”
“Well,” he stuttered out. “I’m still torn between Carry and Veronica,,,”
“And doubting himself over Michael Stamson and his arrogance!” Janet proclaimed so loudly that Greg just stopped talking.
“Enough of that asshole!” David said. “Greg,” he softened as he moved over to him. “Devon Michaels, my own father, said he was proud of the man you grew into. If he said you are good enough, that’s the end of the story.”
“And if WE have told you that you are good enough, then you need to just accept that. You are the heart and soul of Pimico. The way you feel affects everyone here, whether or not you realize it. We all are better off because of you and who you are. We all need you to step back into who you were before the poisoning,” Molly concluded in an encouraging voice.
“Has everyone noticed,,” he stopped as he saw their heads shaking in unison. “Am I that far off my game?”
“Greg. We are back in the state championship, but our teammate Noboko must be in trouble. We’re down by two with five seconds left. I need you to step up and drain that deep three pointer. ALL of us do.” Greg smiled softly. “Now, how do we help him?”
“He’s asking for more funds even though he’s turning out twenty-thousand barrels a day on three wells. Something isn’t right. We have to dig through these financials and find where the money is going. He should be able to bring three or four new wells based on what he’s bringing in.”
“Alright team. We’ve got the play. Now, let’s get started!” David directed.
“Carry, do you have a moment?” Veronica asked, standing beside her and the girls on the private jet.
“Of course, V,” Carry said, getting up from her seat and following Veronica forward. “What can I help with?”
“Have a seat,” she said as she motioned to a luxurious lounge seat opposite of her seat. “James,” she said with a glance. “Privacy please,” she whispered.
“Just let me know when you are done,” he said, laying down the magazine and moving toward the back of the plane where he joined Billy.
“Is there something wrong?” Carry asked nervously.
“Were returning to Kansas City, and Greg. I know that you love him. Maybe even as much as I do. Honestly, it’s really hard to not be jealous of you, especially with all that time you spent living in his house,” she began.
“Veronica,” Carry started and saw her hand come up to stop her.
“We’re not here to fight over him, and I’m not blaming you for wanting him. He’s a wonderful man,” Veronica said smiling.
Carry’s face contorted. “Then why are we here?” she asked in confusion.
“Because Greg’s eventually going to have to choose either you or me. That’s just simple math. Two women and one man doesn’t work out,” she said.
“Unless you’re Jacob,” she said slowly.
“He had two wives who also gave him two wives and they were very highly competitive with each other.” Veronica corrected. “But you and I love the same man because I believe we both see the same qualities in him.”
“Warm, kind, tender, thoughtful, caring and he’s got the biggest heart of any man I’ve ever met. He’s always put others before himself. I think that’s why we’re in the predicament we’re in now.”
“How do you mean?” Veronica said, slightly stunned.
“Well, I don’t know if he’s told you everything, but he was planning to ask me to marry him, but I didn’t want to risk my job at Pimico.”
“He told me,” she assured him. “That’s no longer the case.”
“True,” she admitted. “If he hadn’t needed your help to save Pimico last year, he might have had time to end things with you,” she slowly let out. “He was trying not to hurt you, and his recovery from the drive-by hit him harder than he ever wanted to admit.”
“So, you are saying that I only had a shot because he needed my help?” Veronica protested quietly.
“No, V.” She let out a breath in frustration. “He was almost ready to tell you he was choosing me when circumstances brought him back into your domain. THIS domain.” She dropped her head. “And if I’m honest, that’s what I feared the most.”
“Because you weren’t sure he was totally yours?” she summarized.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I’d been turning him down because of the job,” she said then looked Veronica directly in the eyes. “Or at least that’s what I convinced myself I was doing. The truth is that I was afraid I’d make a mistake and he’d leave me for you.”
“Thank you for being honest with me Carry. Now,” she paused and took Carry’s hands in hers as she leaned forward.
“Let me be completely honest with you. I’ve always known how much of a threat you are to my having a full relationship with Greg.
I could see it in his eyes.” She looked deep into Carry’s eyes. “I just need one thing from you.”
“I’m not going to stop trying to win him back,” she fired back defensively.
“No, Carry,” she somberly admitted but held her gaze. “I’m only asking that you be as willing to give him up as I am if he should choose me over you.”
“You’re not threatening me?” she asked, falling back into the chair in stunned silence. “I was worried you were going to fire me.”
“No, Carry. You,” she paused, “ARE,” she emphasized, “the face of Veronique. And that’s exactly what I want you to be.
You have all the potential to run that business successfully, and I count on you every day.
I just need to know that should Greg choose me over you, that you would willingly walk away. ”
“You’re asking me to walk away from a man like Greg?” she blubbered out.
“If he chooses me,” she paused for moment. “Then yes,” she said. “And if he chooses you, I’ll walk away.”
“You’d regret that,” Carry protested.
“To a degree,” she admitted. “But I know that I’d never be happy with Greg if you were the ghost in my relationship with him, and I wouldn’t want to take that kind of happiness from Greg if he chose you over me,” she said as Carry sat back up and looked directly at Veronica.
“I’d walk away and take the pain knowing that in doing so, the man that I love found happiness,” she dropped her head, “even if it was with you.” Then she looked up with fire in her eyes.
“That’s something I would never do for Erica! ”
“I don’t blame you there, because neither would I,” Carry sadly admitted. “She blew her chances with him, and I may have blown mine.” She looked at Veronica for a moment, empathy filling her as she realized how magnanimous Veronica was being. “You’d really walk away?”
“If it meant his happiness,” she said looking up with tears welling in her eyes. “Yes. I’d walk away.”
“Then I’ll agree to the same standard,” Carry said, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to be the cause of Greg being unhappy.”
“Then it’s settled.” Veronica grabbed Carry’s hands again. “You and I agree that we’re putting his happiness before our own.”
“Agreed,” Carry said resolutely. “For Greg.”
At the same time, back in the cabin, Wendy moved over beside Cassie. She whispered in her ears. “At least I get to see daddy again.”
“It will be good to be back home. We’ve still got to report in to the Matriarch.”
“Daddy’s already done that. He’s been watching us since San Diego.”
“Really?” Cassie said. “Do you mean that mom doesn’t trust us to bring Carry fully into the family?”
“Actually, she’s let daddy come watch over us because the reports have been so positive. Daddy was so proud of me that he found me in D.C.”
“Your dad, ‘The Enforcer,’ found you in D.C., Wendy?” Cassie said with fake shock in her voice, trying to convince Wendy that she didn’t know.
“Yeah, but Greg’s guys kept him from being more open. He wanted to meet you and Carry, but Keith and his cronies made that impossible.”
“That is making it difficult,” she agreed. “Have you heard anything new from home?”
“Daddy said that your mom was working on another plan to gain the control she needs.”
“Control? Control of what?”
“Are you totally clueless Cassie?”
“Apparently. I’ve been so wrapped up in convincing Carry.”
“Yeah, I noticed. So did Katie. You have been playing the cousin game so well that Carry’s almost ready to come in.”
“So, what am I clueless about?”
“We’re going to take over the Melosa Cartel, and work with the allies that she’s been building in the far east to control not just drugs, but oil.”