Outmatched: A Novel

by Kristen Callihan

  Tucking my hands into my pockets, I leaned against the sun-warmed brick of my gym. “I’ve been researching too, Mr. Garret. Why don’t you come in and we can talk.”

  His surprise was evident, but he brushed it off with another oily smile. “Sounds good.” He turned to his lackey. “Wait for me here, Kevin.”

  I wasn’t going to fight Garret, but I didn’t have to like the guy, and my jaw was tight as I lead him past the studios where high school kids were doing stamina drills before stepping into the sparring ring. Carlos was shouting out encouragement—if you call “stop dragging your feet and move your lazy asses” encouragement.

  “We’re offering beginners lessons for adults on Sundays, if you’re interested,” I told Garret.

  He turned his attention away from the kids and back to me. “What makes you think I’m a novice?”

  “You’re not?” I slowed by one of the mats currently unoccupied. “Want to give it a go then?”

  Garret gave me a reluctant grin. “No thank you. I like my face as it is.”

  Laughing, I headed for the office. Parker stepped out of the elevator at the same time. I greeted her with a kiss to the cheek. “This is Parker Brown,” I said to Garret as I opened my office door.

  He held out a hand. “Kyle Garret. A pleasure.”

  Parker gave him a polite smile and shook his hand. But she refrained from returning the sentiment. I bit back a grin.

  “We’re going to have a quick meeting,” I told her. “Want to join us?”

  The corners of her eyes crinkled as she searched my face. I knew she was wondering what I was up to. “I don’t know that I’d have anything to add to the conversation.”

  “Stay anyway.” I wanted her to hear this. More importantly, I wanted her as part of my life. Taking her hand, I led us into the office.

  “You’ve bought every property on this block,” I said to Garret as soon as everyone was settled.

  “It’s public knowledge,” Garret replied with a causal shrug.

  Humming in agreement, I rested my hands on my abs. “I’m doing a match for charity in a few weeks.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “The event has secured me enough sponsors to pay off the bills and keep this place in the green.”

  Garret’s eyes narrowed. “Sure. But for how long?”

  “For as long as it takes.” I leaned forward and set my forearms on Dad’s old desk. “I’m not going to sell to you, Garret. Not ever.”

  His chin took on a mulish angle, and I held up a hand to forestall whatever he had to say.

  “I get it. My gym is an eyesore and smack in the middle of your plan. You’re trying to gentrify this community and make a buck. There isn’t anything I can do about that. Just like you can’t do anything about me being here.”

  Garret grunted. “What’s your point, Morgan?”

  “You can either be pissed about it and lurk around on sidewalks, or you can do something constructive.” I held his gaze. “You can sponsor this place.”

  At my side, Parker stirred, but she kept quiet.

  Garret, on the other hand, snorted long and loud. “You’ve got brass, I’ll give you that. Why the hell would I help you when I want you to sell?”

  “Because it will pretty this place up. You can use it as an enticement for all those young professionals you sell to. A world class boxing gym with pro instructors right in the heart of your safe but ‘urban’ community.”

  The chair beneath Garret squeaked as he leaned back and steepled his fingers. He stared at me for a moment, then a slow smile spread. “And I suppose the added benefit of you reaping in all those new memberships is, what?”

  “A symbiotic relationship in which we both win.”

  “I’d win a lot more if I owned the gym outright.”

  I simply stared, waiting him out. Parker remained silent, but I could feel her there, my loadstone.

  Finally, Garret grinned. “Definite brass.” He stood, and I did as well, accepting his outstretched hand to shake. “Send your proposal over to my office. I’ll have my lawyers look it over.”

  He nodded to Parker. “Ms. Brown.”

  As soon as he was gone, Parker turned to me. Her smile glowed. “Would it be patronizing if I told you how very proud I am of you right now?”

  For years, all I had was my own sense of pride. I never knew how good it would feel to be the recipient of it.

  I opened my arms, and she stepped into them. “Just don’t stop being proud of me, all right?”

  I could handle anything as long as she was in my corner.

  Parker

  * * *

  One of the reasons I grew to love science and engineering so much was how theories could be proven and knowledge could be gained in this tangible way, uncomplicated by emotion or contradiction.

  Life outside of science was messy and definitely contradictory. After Theo died, I wanted nothing but to avoid it.

  Yet, if we’re honest, there are contradictions in science too. Take the moon, for example. Using uranium-lead dating, geologists dated fragments of the moon and determined it was 4.51 billion years old. But if you calculate the rate at which it is moving away from the earth and then reverse it, the moon would have been sitting on top of the earth only 1.55 billion years ago. A direct contradiction to the big bang cosmology.

  So there were contradictions in life everywhere. Even in my beloved world of academia. I just hadn’t wanted to admit it. I wanted it to be safe from that. Yet, you can’t hide from life. It was messy and convoluted and emotional, and I was done cowering behind excuses.

  Which was why I cycled to work the day after I confronted Rhys about Marcy with a dreamy expression on my face but an ache of guilt in my chest.

  Since then Rhys and I did more than just have hot sex. Sometimes he made love to me. I knew it, lying beneath him as he gazed into my eyes and moved inside me. It was magical and stunning and stole my breath. So, of course, every time I thought about those moments, I couldn’t help my goofy goddamn grin.

  However, I’d also every now and then get an image of the hurt on his face when I told him we were from different worlds. My guilt was real. I shouldn’t have had an entire conversation in my head about our relationship without him out of fear, and I’d spent the last few weeks since that night trying to show him that I wasn’t afraid to throw myself into this relationship.

  As Rhys’s training intensified, there wasn’t a lot of time to revel in our newfound certainty in each other this past week, but I was there to show support—like I did when he so cleverly made his proposal to developer Kyle Garret—and to help with any last-minute details for the charity event.

  Which was now upon us.

  Tomorrow was the big fight, and I had prehistoric-sized butterflies in my belly about it.

  Rhys had been avoiding Fairchild for the last few weeks and so far, the billionaire had not made any moves toward killing my career. There had been some coverage about him in the news lately that he was under possible investigation for tax evasion. Rumor had it, there was more to it than just that. The word “fraud” was being tossed around. My hope was that Fairchild would stay too preoccupied by his troubles to bother us.

  However, I was still sick with worry about it and attempted to hide that concern from Rhys. He had enough on his plate. Somehow, he knew anyway, assuring me every now and then that me losing my job was the last thing he’d allow to happen.

  But Fairchild using Rhys and making him feel worthless was the last thing I’d allow to happen either.

  It was messy.

  Complicated.

  And waiting for that ax to fall was not fun.

  My headspace was full as I rode my bike into the underground parking beneath the office that morning. It was so full, it took me a second to feel the prickle of unease on my neck. I locked my bike to the rack and straightened, unnerved by the sensation of being watched.

  Turning, I scanned the space. My heart turned over in my chest.

/>   Franklin Fairchild.

  He stood near a black sedan, a driver visible inside the car.

  Heart pounding, I could do nothing but wait as he slowly walked toward me. Sweat gathered under my arms as I forced myself to meet his cold gaze.

  I shivered at the look in his eyes, and I knew he was here to do more threatening.

  Just like that, I went from afraid to majorly pissed off.

  I was worried about Rhys. My insides churned not only with that concern but with the fact that this man held my career in his tiny hands. I was sick and tired of being out of control of my own goddamn destiny.

  I did not need to be approached by this giant bully only to take more of his intimidation.

  The thought of what he could still do to me, Dean, and Rhys no longer frightened me. It enraged me. As Fairchild walked closer, I pulled my phone out of my purse and quickly brought up the app I wanted.

  By the time Fairchild drew to a stop, my attention was off my phone, my gaze locked to his.

  “A bit late to call for help.” Fairchild smirked.

  My spine stiffened. “And why would I need help, Mr. Fairchild?”

  His grin widened but it never reached his eyes. They remained unsettlingly emotionless. “Perhaps because you realize what a tenuous position you’re in.”

  Gut roiling, I pushed through the sensation. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Showing a little spunk might feel good but it is not advised.”

  Eyes narrowed, I curled my lip into a sneer I was kind of proud of. “Is getting your way really this important? I mean, it seems ridiculous the lengths you’re going to for one boxing match.”

  “Here’s a lesson in business, Parker: the first person you allow to get one over on you is the beginning of your downfall.”

  Oh my God. This man was a megalomaniac for sure. “You know what I think? I think you’re a spoiled misogynist who is right now ten seconds from throwing his pacifier out of his stroller because he didn’t get his way. Rhys will never cave in to your blackmail, and you know it.”

  Fairchild took a step closer. “I’d be very careful what you say to me.”

  “Oh? Why?”

  He stared like he felt sorry for me. “Rhys will fight for me, and he’ll make me a lot of money doing so.”

  “And if he won’t?” I pushed.

  “Then not only will I make sure he loses his shithole gym, I’ll blacklist his brother from every industry on the East Coast. And as for you, Rhys’s precious little girlfriend whom I’m sure he’ll bore of fucking within the month, I’ll start making my way through your family. You might not care about your career, but you do care about your family. The Browns’ finances are tied up in some investments that are in my power to shit all over. Convince Rhys to fight, Parker, or I’ll come after your family too.”

  His threats, so casual, no menace, just throwing them out there like we were discussing the weather, made me sick to my stomach. But thankfully, I remembered Rhys talking about his time in the ring. How boxing was all about learning how to anticipate your opponent’s next move. I’d been around Fairchild long enough to know the man was so sure of his own invincibility, he said whatever the hell he liked, certain there would be no consequences. And I’d just used that against him.

  I held up the phone I’d kept in my hand between us and clicked stop, save, and then emailed the recording to myself.

  “What are you doing?” His tone had changed from casual superiority to irritated and suspicious.

  I pressed play on my phone. Our conversation echoed around the underground lot.

  Color flooded his face, and his hand came up as if to snatch the phone out of my hand.

  I pulled it out of his reach, and, despite my fear, I grinned. “I’ve already emailed the recording to a safe location. It’s out of your hands.”

  “You little bitch.” He stepped toward me. “You think you—”

  “Problem here?” a voice called. I turned to see Xander getting out of his car, a white box in hand I knew was filled with doughnuts. He came to a stop beside me and Fairchild, a frown marring his brow.

  As if he’d just realized where we were, Fairchild stepped back and tugged on his lapels. “You’ll regret that,” he promised, like a cartoonish villain.

  “I don’t think so. Because if anything happens to anyone I care about, I’m going straight to the police with this recording. And in case that doesn’t scare you, I’ll take the recording to the media too. See, sometimes the world and all the powerful people in it care if someone is proven to be untrustworthy, dishonorable, a blackmailer, a misogynist, and generally a giant turd. In that scenario, life will get that little bit harder, even for a billionaire turd.

  “Then again, sometimes the world doesn’t care, or they don’t care for very long. But I’m not sure you’re willing to risk finding out how the world would treat you.” I smiled sweetly. “And, according to the Tribune, you have enough troubles to deal with, without adding a charge of blackmail into the mix.”

  His fury was palpable. “And what you’re doing isn’t blackmail?”

  “Hmm, I guess it’s all in your perspective? Somehow, I think, since it’s you, I’ll sleep just fine.”

  Casting me one last hateful look, Fairchild spun on his heel and marched toward his car.

  Xander turned into me. “Okay, what did I just miss?”

  “Me finally standing up for myself.” It had felt good. Even if my insides were rattling with nerves and I was very close to upchucking. At Xander’s frown, I blew out a shaky exhalation. “Do you think Jackson will fire me?”

  “I think Jackson is more concerned with the fact that the guy financing his company is under investigation. But, hey, way to stick up for yourself. Very impressive.”

  I had just stood up to Franklin Fairchild.

  Holy shit.

  Xander saw my expression pale and held up the white box he carried. “Doughnut?”

  I winced at the thought of food.

  “Let’s head up. We should tell Jackson and add another worry onto his shoulders.”

  For a smart girl, sometimes I was way too distracted by my personal life to put two and two together. “Oh my God, is the company in trouble? With Fairchild being investigated, I mean?”

  “Jackson asked me to bring doughnuts. He’s called a meeting first thing.” Concern washed over Xander’s expression. “I guess we’re about to find out the answer to your question.”

  As soon as Xander and I walked into the room, Jackson came out of his private office, nodded at my colleague, and announced to the staff. “Meeting room, five minutes. I want everyone there.”

  One by one, we made our way into the meeting room. It was big enough that we all got a seat at the table. There was a lot of intrigued murmuring.

  Evan slipped into the seat next to me. “You know what’s going on?” he asked quietly.

  I shook my head, probably looking like a ball of nerves because of my altercation with Fairchild. I couldn’t stop bouncing my right knee and my fingers tapped impatiently against the desk. “You?”

  “Nope. God, I hope it isn’t staff cuts. We just bought a house.”

  My stomach roiled. Staff cuts? Perhaps staff cuts were best-case scenario. If we no longer had financing, we were screwed six ways until Sunday.

  Oh hell.

  I tensed in my seat as Jackson strode into the room with Ben at his back. Ben was head of sales and marketing. He was the face of Horus Renewable Energy and privy to whatever Jackson knew.

  They stood in front of the long meeting table, and Jackson broke into a grin. “I see a lot of worried faces. Don’t be worried. I know some of you are concerned about the allegations made against Mr. Fairchild in the Tribune. Don’t be. It’s not a concern for us. On that note, I have good news, but this news means that there will be some changes within the company.”

  “Changes, as in job losses?” Evan asked.

  Jackson shook his head. “The opposite. It won’t happen
right away, but we’ll be expanding, which means more staff and a new office. And the reason is because we’re no longer heavily financed by Franklin Fairchild, which means he’s no longer on the board as CEO of the company. He’s no longer on the board, period.”

  My breath caught in my throat.

  What?

  “The board is now headed by Diana Crichton Jones of Crichton Investments and Research. She bought out Fairchild.” Jackson’s gaze zeroed in on me. “Ms. Crichton Jones was very impressed with our model, our staff, and our diversity, and she has a real passion for renewable energy.”

  Relief moved through me. The garden party—my conversation with Diana, how pleased Jackson seemed with me.

  I’d helped secure her interest in Horus.

  And she was … well, she was even more powerful than Fairchild.

  Which meant I was free of him. And it was most likely the reason he’d approached me this morning, because he knew I was about to find out he couldn’t touch my career.

  So he’d threatened my family instead.

  Festering miscreant.

  I could so live with blackmailing Colonel Dipshit.

  I slumped in my chair with absolute relief.

  “It will mean changes, and having a board means we’re not autonomous here. But they want to make this company a success and they’re as dedicated as we are to making the world green. I’ll keep you all posted with any changes that I feel you need to be informed of, but I just wanted you all to know—trust me, this is definitely the best move forward for us all.”

  “No more yacht and garden parties?” Xander dared to ask.

  There was some snickering as Jackson tried not to smirk. “Nothing mandatory anymore.” My boss looked at me again. “For any of you.”

  A grateful smile bloomed on my face. Jackson knew the hold Fairchild had on me because of Rhys. He knew Fairchild had no interest in renewable energy and that he was a dangerous, big, spoiled baby of a billionaire, and Horus and its staff needed to be free of him.

  God, I loved my boss.

  “Right, if you have any questions going forward, do not hesitate to ask. You know where I am. For now, everyone back to work. Except Parker.”