Chapter 2
“I’m grateful you showed up, even though it took your sister to strong-arm you to present yourself.
” Geoffry Stanhope glanced over at his son and watched as he paced over to the window.
Raring to get out of here, he thought with a wry inward smile.
He had seen the bored look on his face during the interminably long meeting, the effort to contribute to the various questions, and the obvious relief when the meeting was over.
“Drink?”
“I really have to go—”
“One drink. I don’t get to see you much, even though you live on the property.” It wasn’t meant to be an accusation, but the words had guilt spilling into him. Because of it, Zane reluctantly agreed to the offer of a drink. “One.”
With a nod, Geoffry poured from the decanter into two glasses.
It was barely nine in the morning, but he decided one drink wouldn’t do them any harm.
Besides, he did not have another meeting until noon.
It was a rare occasion to have the boy in his office.
Reading him like a book, Geoffry had intercepted him just as he was headed towards the door.
And he was not above playing on his guilt for a little bit.
Zane was his only son and heir to the fortune, for Christ’s sake.
The boy needed to settle down and take his rightful place in the corporation, as well as find a woman and give them some grandchildren.
Instead, he was running around on that death trap he called a motorcycle and hanging with the wrong crowd.
“We’ve seen a considerable increase in profit due to the renovation of the airline and the pharmaceuticals.
What do you think about increasing the real estate arm?
There are some buildings in the downtown area with good bones.
Developing the area, building low income houses, renovating the park, and building a youth center is an innovative idea. ”
In spite of himself, Zane found his interest piquing and suspected that was just what his old man had intended.
Fighting down the irritation at his manipulation, Zane took a drink of the malted scotch. “It’s your company.”
Fighting the frustration, Geoffry took a seat behind his scarred desk and studied the younger man.
Neither he nor his sister looked anything like him, thank God for that.
They had both taken their staggeringly good looks and genes from their mother.
The combination of raven black hair and tawny golden eyes were breathtaking.
He had fallen in love with that same combination almost forty years ago and was still in love.
The fire of their first encounter and the years following it before they had children had burned to a mellow glow, and that was fine with him.
He wanted the same for his children, especially his son.
“It’s our company,” he corrected, keeping his tone mild. “It’s your heritage, yours and your sister’s and your children’s. You’re the one who’s been fighting to get that area noticed. I would think this would be right up your alley.”
Zane’s thick brows rose and amusement coated his tone. “I fight for the underdogs so I would be willing to take on the project? You underestimate my commitment to the less fortunate.”
Swirling the liquor around in the glass, Geoffry kept a steady gaze on his son. “What you’re saying is that you’re partially committed. It’s just a surface thing where you’re concerned, something you do just to rub our faces in it?”
Irritation shot out instantly and had Zane’s fist balling. “You’re twisting my words.”
“Am I?” Geoffry knew which buttons to push and he did so ruthlessly.
“The area is depraved and has been a haven for gang bangers, pimps, and drug runners for the past few years. The mayor approached us with the idea of cleaning the place up. The research team has done its due diligence and the numbers look good. It has possibilities. There are some very hardworking single parents living there who are sorely afraid to bring up their children in that environment and have no other choice but to stay. Isn’t that sort of thing what you’re always fighting for?
” He lifted a heavy folder and hefted it.
“All the information is in here. All I’m asking is for you to read it and let me know your thoughts. ”
Zane glanced from the folder to his father’s face, his body tightening in resentment. The old man was crafty and knew which buttons to push.
“Did Zoe put you up to this?”
“Your sister has nothing to do with it.” He put the folder down and picked up his glass, sipped.
“I’ve been trying to get you interested in the firm, to no avail.
You’re a damn good lawyer, one of the best I’ve ever seen.
You have an eye for details and can ferret out the lies and get to the heart of the matter.
I’m a father who just wants to see his son achieve something in life and not end up regretting time wasted. ”
Instead of being annoyed, Zane felt his amusement growing. “You want to mold me into your own image. I don’t walk meekly into a mold, you should realize that.”
Tamping down the frustration, Geoffry rose and walked over to the window. It was truly a lovely day, he mused. The sky was a clear kind of blue with just a few puffy white clouds skating along its surface. Summer was at an end, and fall would be here before long.
“You’re who you are, Zane.” He turned to look at his son, grateful that he had decided to wear a jacket over the t-shirt and jeans. He suspected that was Zoe’s doing and reminded himself to thank his daughter. “I’m starting to come to terms with it.”
“Are you?” Tossing back the drink, he rose and went to put the glass away. He was at the door before he turned back and walked to the desk to pick up the heavy folder. “I’m not promising anything. I’ll just look it over.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
The laughter came, full of mirth. “Pops, that’s not all you’re asking and we both know it.”
A smile ghosted Geoffry’s lips. “You know me well. Will we see you on Sunday for supper? Your mother wants to know.”
Another knife twisting his gut. His family really knew how to lay the guilt trip on him.
“We’ll see,” he growled.
Geoffry waited until he had left, closing the door behind him, before letting out a sigh of relief. He had planted the seed and just had to wait. Rubbing a hand at the back of his neck, he prayed for a miracle.
*****
“I need the report on the Michener case.” District Attorney Abigail Keane sailed into the office, the ruby red jacket billowing behind her. “I believe I asked for that particular file yesterday.”
“And I believe I told your assistant that I’m still working some kinks out.” Kara stared at the woman with lifted brows. “Are you all right?”
Blowing out a breath, Abigail closed the door behind her and slid gracefully into the chair across from the desk. She was a handsome woman with a creamy complexion highlighted by auburn hair and light green eyes. “George asked me for a divorce.”
Putting down the file she had been working on, Kara leaned forward, her face a study in sympathy. Abigail was not only her boss, but the woman was also a friend. “I’m so sorry.”
Abigail waved that away. “I knew it was coming. He’s been having affairs since the ink dried on the marriage license.
I should have listened to my dear departed mother.
He’s ten years younger and foolish. My third marriage.
What the hell is wrong with me? The only sensible thing I did was make him sign a prenup.
Now the asshole gets nothing.” She flicked a speck of lint from her tailored gray trousers. “My advice: don’t get married.”
“I—”
“And I should not be telling you that.” She sighed. “You’re young and beautiful, with that flawless complexion and a face to die for—I really hate you, by the way. And I’m sure William is a catch.” She caught the expression on the younger woman’s face. “Or is he?”
Guilt blossomed inside her chest. William had called this morning, full of apologies and remorse. He wanted them to meet over cocktails and really talk.
“What do you think of him?” she asked suddenly. “Be honest?”
“Am I anything but?” Abigail lifted slender shoulders in a shrug as she eyed her friend. “I suspect that’s a loaded question. Look, if you’re having doubts, step away. I wish I had done just that; I wouldn’t be in this mess right now. I don’t know him that well to form an honest opinion.”
“You’re hedging.”
“And you know me too well. He’s stuffy and pompous. Christ! I bet he folds his socks and steams his underwear. Sorry, I—” She grinned when Kara burst out laughing.
“I needed that.” Kara pressed a hand to her stomach and took a breath.
“So? Does he?” At Kara’s inquiring look, she repeated the question about his underwear.
“I have no idea. The furthest I’ve been inside his apartment is the living room and the kitchen.” She shrugged at the older woman’s quizzical stare. “I’ve never been inside his bedroom.”
Abigail crossed her excellent legs and settled back to make herself more comfortable. “You’re telling me that this man has never made love to you in his bedroom? On his bed?”
Kara was beginning to wish she had never said anything. Fidgeting with the pen holder, she avoided Abigail’s eyes and wondered if she could get away with a lie.
“We’re waiting for the wedding night.”
Abigail blinked, not sure she understood. “Honey, you’re telling me that you and William have never done the nasty? Not once?”
“The fact that you chose to call it ‘nasty’ tells me a lot,” Kara muttered. She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I wanted to wait and he’s been very patient.”
Abigail simply stared. “Are you sure he’s not gay?”
“No! Why would you say something like that?”
“You know how small our world is and there have been rumors.”