Chapter 20 Daphne
DAPHNE
By the time my mum finished telling me what she knew about Steve Dorian, I was as baffled as I was angry.
Another Cullen House board member had recommended the man to fill a vacant seat, and within six months, some of the members who’d been with my father for years had resigned. Not long after, Dorian had called for my father to step down as chairman. Either that or relinquish his role as CEO.
“Why did Dad go along with it?” I asked.
“He was made to believe it was for the good of the company. That is the role of a board, Daphne. Your father always listened to recommendations, based on his belief they all shared the same goals.”
“It didn’t occur to him something was up when his formerly trusted advisors started resigning?”
“In hindsight, maybe it should’ve, but it didn’t. We can’t go back and change it, Daphne,” she snapped.
“Sorry, Mum. I’m just trying to understand.”
“Before his stroke, I believe he may have uncovered something about Dorian that would’ve given him reason to have him removed from the board.”
“What?”
She sighed. “If I knew, I would say so.”
“Sorry,” I repeated, this time under my breath.
Admittedly, I’d wondered why everyone went along with this guy. Was he paying them off? Or was there something more to it?
“I need to get to the bottom of this.”
“What do you have in mind?” my mum asked.
“Mrs. Stanhope.”
My mother’s eyes lit up for the first time since I arrived in Perth. “Good thinking.”
The woman had been my father’s long-term secretary and would know more about the former and current board members than anyone other than him.
“Oh, Daphne, I’m so happy you’re home. It will mean the world to your father,” she said when she answered my call.
“I’m sure you’ve been very worried about him.”
“Your sweet mum has given me updates, but you’re right to say I worry.”
“We, meaning my mother and I, were wondering if you’d like to meet us for lunch tomorrow. Maybe somewhere near the hospital? That way, we can tell you more about what’s happening in person.”
“Oh, I’d love that, dear.”
“Also, would you mind bringing a list of the current board members with you? I’d like to contact each one personally.”
“You’re so much like your dad. He would want to do the same thing.”
“Thank you so much.”
“It’s my pleasure, dear. I’ll also bring the dossiers I was preparing for Mr. Cullen about the current board members.” She cleared her throat. “That Dorian fellow, in particular.”
“You’re a wonder, Mrs. Stanhope. Thank you again.”
“I’d have to be to keep up with your father, Daphne. Mr. Dorian and some of the other men on the board thought they could pull one over on him, but they were wrong.”
“See you tomorrow, then,” I said after she suggested a place to meet.
My mum was still standing in the doorway when I rang off.
“Mrs. Stanhope is right about one thing. Actually, more than one. First, you’re just like him, and second, he would be very proud of you.”
“I guess you overheard.”
“Of course I did, sweetheart. The woman is eighty if she’s a day and speaks at the same volume she wishes others would so she can hear them. The other thing she was right about was that, while Dorian thought he was getting away with something, your father would have stopped him.”
“It’s now my gauntlet to carry, and I won’t let you down. You and Dad have worked too long and too hard to build Cullen House to let someone steal it out from under you.”
She came over and sat next to me on the bed. “Daphne, I appreciate how much you’re taking on, and even though your father can’t say it yet, he will too.”
“What else would I do? I’m your daughter.”
She hugged me. “Some might not be so willing to set aside their own lives—their hopes and dreams—to help their family.”
I nodded. That’s exactly what I was doing. Setting my own life aside. Not just that, but I was turning my back on love too. But wouldn’t they have done the same for me? Hadn’t they given up a lot to raise me and make sure I was able to attend university? Live halfway around the world?
And what of Cru? He was doing the same thing in essence.
He was the only one of the Avila siblings willing to take on their family’s winery.
More, their heritage. I was happy to hear Bit was helping, but how long would that last?
Cru would never be able to do what Brix did.
He’d never be able to tell his brothers and sister that he was moving out of California and someone else would need to run the family business.
Not only couldn’t he, but he wouldn’t want to. Los Caballeros was his life.
The more I realized what was at stake here in Perth, the more I accepted that the fate of Cullen House lay solely in my hands. It was my heritage, and I had to be the one to save it.
When we arrived at the hospital a few hours later, my father’s doctors were waiting for us.
“We believe he’s ready to be gradually taken out of the coma,” the lead physician told us.
“What’s involved?” I asked.
He explained sedatives were keeping my father in a state of unconsciousness and, when the dosages were lessened, he’d become more and more alert. “The first thing that will happen is he’ll open his eyes. From there, we’ll see how he responds to speech.”
I’d brought both my laptop and a book with me to the hospital but found I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than waiting for my dad to come to. My mum was the same way.
Thinking about him opening his eyes and the first thing he saw being the two of us staring at him, made me laugh.
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. At first, my mum glared at me, but when I explained why I was chuckling, she got the giggles too.
So instead of two people staring at him, my dad opened his eyes to his wife and daughter laughing uncontrollably.
“Noah!” My mother gasped. She stood and stroked his brow. “I love you so much,” she said before bending down to brush his lips with hers. My dad blinked a few times but didn’t say anything.
I stood on his opposite side and, like my mum, told him how much I loved him, then kissed his cheek.
“Daphne,” my mother whispered. “Let the nurses know he’s awake.”
“I’ll be right back, Dad,” I said, kissing his cheek a second time.
I rushed from the room, and before I reached the desk, my mobile rang with a call from Cru.
“My dad is awake!” I exclaimed. “Just now. I need to tell the nurses.”
“Daphne, I’m so happy to hear this news! Call me when you can.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Do what you need to do. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, Cru. I love you.” I cringed when I hit the button to end the call before he could say it back, but I knew he’d understand.
My mum and I were asked to leave my father’s room periodically throughout the rest of the day and evening, but we refused to go home. If there was a chance he’d speak, neither of us could stand the idea of missing it.
Instead of meeting Mrs. Stanhope somewhere outside the hospital, she agreed to come to the cafeteria when we told her why we didn’t want to leave.
After we chatted for a few minutes and ate a light lunch, my mum excused herself. That was when my dad’s secretary pulled out an expandable document holder that appeared full.
“If there’s anything else you need, dear, just let me know and I’ll keep digging.”
“My mother said that, before his stroke, she believed he may have uncovered something about Steve Dorian that would’ve given him reason to remove him as chairman.”
“I’m sorry, Daphne. If he did, he didn’t say anything to me.”
I patted the envelope and thanked her. “As soon as my dad is ready for visitors, I’ll put your name first on the list.”
Later in the evening, my mum and I decided to return to the house to rest. As we were leaving my father’s room, we were met by his neurological team.
Based on various tests they’d run, they determined my father had lost his ability to speak and walk, but functionality in his hands and arms seemed strong.
They assured us, though, that he could recover fully. It would just take work.
I glanced over at my dad and saw he was trying to say something. I leaned in closer. “What is it?”
The only sound he could make was that of a W. However, I knew what he meant. He was willing to do whatever was necessary, put in all the work he had to, in order to recover.
In the weeks that followed, while my father struggled with rehab, Martin and Hewitt—who’d arrived a few days ago—and I were equally challenged by the Cullen House board of directors.
We’d met with each individually, at first, under the guise of introducing me as the interim member carrying my father’s proxy.
Unfortunately, after several days of trying to change the minds of some of the men who knew my father well, it was still five against five—which meant Steve Dorian would cast the last vote to break the tie and demand my father’s resignation.
It didn’t seem to matter that my dad was incapable of tendering it.
The man was also pushing for Martin and Hewitt to resign. Instead, they remained steadfast in their determination to help me regain control of the business my father and mother had built from the ground up.
I was about to get in the car to leave for the rehab center to see my dad when Martin met me in the driveway near where he and Hewitt had been staying in two of my parents’ estate’s guesthouses.
“Daph, I’m glad I caught you. We need to return to the States this morning for an emergency meeting later in the week. We’ll return as soon as we’re able. I apologize for this.”
“I understand. I’ve already taken too much of your time as it is.
I fear it’s a lost cause.” It broke my heart to admit it, but no amount of begging, pleading, or cajoling had resulted in any of the remaining members being willing to change their vote.
“At least let me give you a lift to the airport.”
“We’ll take you up on it,” he said when Hewitt joined us. “If we don’t, we might miss our flight.”