Chapter Nine #2
“What the hell are you doing?” Cole whispered to Brent.
“I’m not a hundred percent sure yet,” Brent mumbled. “But Ember needs this, so we’re about to find out.”
My heart warmed at his words. He trusted me not to ruin this job with Sensations, all because whatever I needed to say was that important to me. After what I had done in the limo, that was a lot of trust. But, he was doing so because I needed it.
Mr. Fresby’s eyes lifted from his blackberry at that moment as we maneuvered through the couches and tables.
Grey eyes held mine before glancing at Brent and Cole.
He didn’t appear surprised to have me cornering him, but then again, he wasn’t showing much else either.
I really hoped he would do as I was about to request.
“Sir, can I have a moment of your time?” I asked politely, standing directly in front of him.
He turned his blackberry off and gradually slipped it inside his suit jacket, contemplating whether he wanted to spare anymore of his precious time on me. I got it. I didn’t like it, but I understood. I waited patiently until he, finally, nodded.
“Thank you, sir. What I first want to say is that Lion Security had no indication of your and Daddy’s past dealings.
I’ve only worked for them a short amount of time and frankly, if they had known, I’m sure they would have left me back in New York.
Heck, I would have stayed in New York if I’d known the specifics of who we were going to be meetin’.
Please don’t look unkindly on their company because of what occurred between you and Daddy.
I can leave now, if that’s what it takes for you to feel more comfortable continuing your business with them,” I spoke softly and sincerely.
I didn’t want to make any trouble for Lion Security.
He stayed silent for so long that I started fidgeting and wanted to start babbling, but bit my tongue so hard it bled. I wasn’t going to make a fool out of them. Again.
When he spoke, it was clear and businesslike, but I could see that I had sparked his interest. “You know, my contacts told me your father had a prodigy he was grooming to take over at some point. Although, they were never able to ascertain who this certain individual was. I never would have thought it to be his daughter. You’re not exactly what I would have expected.
” He waited for that to sink in, his eyes steady on mine, his meaning clear.
I was never what anyone expected, so I brushed off the snub.
He cleared his throat before continuing.
“I don’t think the situation warrants you flying back to New York.
I’m not saying I trust you, but I do trust the men standing beside you.
They’re good people and I wouldn’t judge them by one bad apple within their company, just as I hope they don’t judge me too badly if they find a form of corruption inside my company that warrants elimination.
After all, that’s one of the reasons I’ve hired them. ”
I flinched. That one hurt, but after what my daddy did to him, I couldn’t even fight back. He had every right to be angry. He had been given a very bad turn not too long ago.
But, Brent and Cole had turned frigid at his words. I guess they didn’t really like him calling me a “bad apple” or “corrupted”, either. Both opened their mouths. Uh-oh.
Hands shooting out, I gripped one of each of their forearms in a death grip, hoping they wouldn’t spout anything off in my defense.
Mr. Fresby’s eyes actually cracked and I saw calculation and amusement rolling through them.
It occurred to me that he might have said that to see their reactions.
Evidently, Cole and Brent didn’t miss it, either.
The muscles under my fingers relaxed, but they sure as heck didn’t look pleased at being manipulated before cool, businesslike masks glided over their faces, modifying them instantly.
Mr. Fresby was watching them diligently and I could have sworn I saw something like approval flash through his eyes this time.
I went on, hoping now he would listen to more than what I was actually saying, “Lion Security’s appreciates that, sir.
I’m sure they would never censor you in that way, either.
And you’re absolutely spot on. They’re good men, with even better heads on their shoulders.
They can see the bigger picture.” I hesitated.
“I do have one personal favor to ask of you, though. It has absolutely nothing to do with Lion Security.”
Muscles flexed under my hands.
His tapped his chin with a finger, resting his elbow on the couch’s arm. “I can’t wait to hear what a Lerrus would ask of me.” His grin was a little frightening, even if his eyes were steady.
Speaking even quieter, I began, “Daddy doesn’t know who I work for.
I would like to keep it that way. In fact, I would prefer that he not know…
exactly where I am. If you’re going to start diggin’ on me,” I nodded to where his blackberry was hidden in his pocket, “I would ask that you do it through different channels that what you normally do.”
Silence.
The muscles under my hands tightened so brutally that I thought they might snap. I released them, my eyes never wavering from the wise, grey ones bearing into mine.
Ever so slowly, he nodded, reaching into his pocket. “You really are nothing like him, are you?”
“No,” I answered instantly, watching as he pulled his blackberry out and quickly punched something in. I couldn’t help the huge sigh of relief that escaped. “Thank you, sir.”
We turned to leave, but stopped when Mr. Fresby said quietly, “If you need any additional…help…Ms. Lerrus, you come and see me privately.”
He extended a card after writing on the back of it. I took it, nodding, even as my cheeks burned bright red, not able to voice a word.
His grin was positively evil when he murmured, “Anything at all. Don’t you forget. And your father will never know.”
We left him and his devious thoughts to where our group waited a respectful distance away.
Stash and Zane were abnormally serious and Ally was keeping Miranda occupied, chatting her up about who-knows-what.
When she saw that we were through, she cut the convo off quickly, striding with agitated, but sure steps to the group.
I’m thinking she didn’t like Miranda much.
***
Once in the penthouse – Sensations didn’t spare any expenses – we stood in the living room.
The tension was abominably high in the air and everyone was staring at me.
I was really getting tired of being in this position.
They hadn’t even unpacked. They had just dumped their stuff and walked briskly into the room, all turning to watch me. Wonderful.
I held up my hands to ward off the barrage of questions that I knew would soon be hurtled my way.
I might as well just get it out of the way, so I told them what I knew.
“I don’t know everything, only what I heard before hand and then around the office.
Mr. Fresby has evidently been trying to become a larger player in the ethanol business, which Daddy leads here in the US.
About four months ago, Daddy and Mr. Fresby were bidding against each other for a prime piece of land that was producing high yields of yellow corn.
If Mr. Fresby would have purchased the land, he would have been on the fast track to becoming serious competition for Daddy in the future. ”
I paced, wondering how much information to give up about myself and previous dealing I’d had.
I rubbed my forehead. I hated that I was even in this position.
I thought I’d gotten away from this hideous part of my life.
“Daddy asked me to handle the situation. I’ve done jobs for him in the past. Many jobs.
Find the competitions weak link. Find their flaw.
Then bring in the big gun – Daddy - to twist and tweak it so the individual wants to tell him how to beat out the company they’ve been loyal to for so long, thinking they were finally seeing the light and doing the right thing. ”
I stopped and stared out the huge panoramic windows, placing my hand on the pane of glass, wishing I could drift through it like the puffs of clouds above and fly far away.
“Momma took a turn for the worse shortly after the bidding started. Otherwise, I’m sure I would have been…
persuaded,” I laughed bitterly, “to take the case. But, as it was, I was needed at home. So Daddy took over. All I know is that while Mr. Fresby was too busy with dead ends from his own investigations team, Daddy found a woman within Mr. Fresby’s budding company that spilled the beans about another proposition that hadn’t ended well for the seller.
The information was conveniently leaked to the new seller, and bada-bing bada-boom, the sell went to Lerrus Energy.
Mr. Fresby lost millions in future profits from that loss of land. ”
“Jesus Christ,” Stash murmured, starting to pace.
“Yeah,” I whispered, putting my head on the glass. I gazed down at all of the miniature people swimming in the enormous kidney shaped pool below. There was a bar built into it. That has possibilities.
“Your fucking father,” Brent spit harshly. That was all he said. I didn’t want to turn around and see his expression as the puzzle pieces aligned.
“Your father taught you how to read and manipulate people.” Cole stated – not a question, voice deadly. “I take it he trained you with an influence of his own making?” He wanted an affirmation. He didn’t have the advantage that Brent had, knowing all the “accidental” bruises I’d had growing up.
So, I gave it, tired of lying. “Since I was knee high and in short britches.”
A string of curses ensued from Brent and Ally, a melody of unadulterated hatred and loathing.