Many people came to the gravesite service. Mick recognized people he’d known when he was a boy but had lost contact with. Some were still friends with Mick’s mother even though she lived in Long Island now with her new husband.
The clouds decided not to block the sun during the service, but a breeze from the east came through and made the weather a little chilly. Nicole stood next to her mother, both wearing solemn expressions as they stared down at the casket. Nicole wore a lovely black dress. Nothing was fancy about it, except the fact that it fit her petite frame, and she looked amazing in it. Occasionally, she shivered. He wanted to stand beside her to keep her warm, to comfort her, and to show the town that he was in love with her, but he thought it best to stand back with the others.
The minister read the eulogy which was perfect for James. Mick thought highly of the man, and he deserved the best tribute. Nicole wiped tears from her eyes before laying a rose on her grandfather’s casket. Her mother followed. And then everyone else who had a flower, laid it on James’ casket as they silently said their good-byes.
When it was Mick’s turn, he walked up and laid his flower on the casket. Memories from long ago resurfaced and tightened his throat. I’m going to miss you, James. I’ll take good care of your granddaughter.
He turned toward Nicole and offered a comforting smile. She returned the gesture.
It was hard not to walk up to her and take her in his arms. He needed consoling, too. But this afternoon wasn’t about him. It was about her and her family. Later this evening he and Nicole could do some consoling while they were alone and in each other’s arms.
Mick walked toward the large steel gate around the cemetery and leaned against it as he watched the crowd. Suddenly, a familiar face toward the back captured his attention. Anger rolled through him as he stared at the face that had ignored him for most of his young life. The same face that the people in Maple Springs despised.
Standing by himself wearing black Wranglers, a buttoned-down collared blue shirt with a gray corduroy jacket over it, and a black felt cowboy hat, was the self-assured man who always walked around as if he owned the land. Which he could if he wanted.
Mick bunched his hands into fists. The nerve of that man coming here... and grinning like he was at a birthday party instead of a funeral. His father had to leave before Nicole saw him.
He peeked at Nicole to see if she was watching him. Thankfully, she was talking with some older ladies. Mick casually wandered toward his father. Each step made him that much more upset.
The old man saw him, and his grin widened. He nodded. “Son.”
Mick glared. “Carl, what are you doing here? You didn’t even know James.”
“I wanted to see the people I’d be hob-nobbing with once I took over the company.”
Mick stood in front of his father, hopefully blocking Nicole from seeing him. “That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it happen.”
“So you say.” He nodded toward the crowd. “I see you’re sweet on James’ granddaughter. Do you think that’ll get you her company?”
Anger climbed higher inside of Mick. “I promised James I’d help him keep the company in the family. I intend to see it through, so naturally, Nicole and I are good friends.”
Carl chuckled, showing a dimple in his left cheek. “You’re in love with her. I can tell.”
Mick stepped closer. “Why are you really here?”
“I told you.”
“Try again. I don’t believe you.”
“Son, tell your pretty friend that I’m not going to give up. I’ll push to get that company from her one way or another and the Remington empire never loses.”
“I really don’t understand any of this.” Mick folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you dead-set on getting Adkins’ Dev-Tech? There are so many more companies in the United States that are going under, so why do you want this one?”
“It’s personal.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “I understand you well enough to know that nothing is personal when it comes to Carl Remington.” Mick scratched his chin. “Let me guess... Did James have a daughter you wanted to date when you were young? Hmm... He only had one son, so that can’t be it. Or had you wanted to go out with Nicole yourself?”
Carl’s glower pierced through Mick. He’d seen the old man give this kind of look to other people before, but never his own son. But Mick was beyond feeling hurt by his father’s rejection. It was now time to put a stop to the Remington empire and give Mick’s name a better reputation.
“If you must know,” his father said slowly, “James and I have had our differences for quite a while now. I’d taken away a company from his brother when you were just a baby, and Adkins bought out the shareholders. I eventually won, but not before Adkins dragged my good name through the mud. Since then, I’ve been waiting for a way to pay him back.” He lifted his chin, arrogantly. “And I think this is the best way to get back at him.”
“Carl,” Mick snarled, “the man is dead. He doesn’t care about your lifetime squabble.”
“Not anymore, but I care.”
Chuckling out of disappointment, Mick shook his head. “For the first time in my life, I pity you. How low does one sink to pay back a dead man? Gads, you’re pathetic, and I’m relieved I’m nothing like you.”
Mick didn’t think his father’s glare could get any darker, but it did.
“This is a warning, son—”
“No.” Mick interrupted. “I’m warning you – do not try to take over this company, because you’re a sore loser, and I don’t like seeing grown men cry.”
Mick swung around and marched back toward the crowd. He would try his hardest not to let Nicole know about this conversation or that his father was in town. She didn’t need the stress. But Mick was relieved for telling his father off.
Was he walking taller now? He grinned. He definitely felt his chest bursting with a little more pride now.
He should have said those words to Carl Remington a long time ago. Of course, now that he’d made the threat, he’d better follow through on it. He just hoped Nicole would let him.
MICK HELD NICOLE’S hand as they sat across from James Adkins’ lawyer. The middle-aged man wore the same suit as Mick. Armani was the best. But what worried Mick wasn’t the man’s fancy clothes or that the man colored his hair black to hide the gray, it was that the lawyer had a hard time meeting Mick’s gaze. The man’s attention was even skittish around Nicole.
“Thanks for coming so soon after the funeral,” the man said.
“Mr. Kennedy,” Nicole said sweetly, “I’m just glad you were able to see us so quickly. I’m anxious to take over as president. There’s so much that needs to be done, and there’s no time like the present.”
Mr. Kennedy smiled at Nicole, but then his focus dropped to the papers in his hands. “Miss Adkins, your grandfather’s will was amended just the other day. He’d called me in for an emergency meeting. He was very adamant about fixing something in the will.”
Nicole’s forehead creased, and unease settled over Mick. Why did he have the feeling that she wasn’t going to like what her grandfather fixed?
“Now you have me curious, Mr. Kennedy.” She released her hold of Mick’s hand and leaned forward, resting her arms on the dark oak wood desk.
“Then let me begin reading the will.”
Mr. Kennedy cleared his throat. “I, James W. Atkins, of 1679 Champion Drive in Maple Springs, Colorado, being of sound mind, declare this as my last Will and Testament. I revoke all prior wills and codicils.”
Nicole fidgeted in her seat, linking her fingers together in her lap. It made Mick a little nervous just watching her.
“To my granddaughter, Nicole Lynnette Adkins, I leave both of my estates, here in Maple Springs, and my summer estate in San Diego, California, and all of my money.” The lawyer paused for a moment, and then continued, “As for my company, Adkins Dev-Tech... I leave that to... Mick Remington—”
Nicole su
cked in her breath and her back stiffened. “What?”
Mick sprang off the chair and stood. “What?” His voice was louder than Nicole’s as shock waves rolled through him. The lawyer must be mistaken.
Mr. Kennedy raised his hand. “Let me finish, please.” He cleared his throat, keeping his focus on the will and testament. “I leave the company to Mick Remington on the condition that he works alongside my granddaughter, Nicole Adkins, making decisions together as they make the company better.”
“Why... why...” Nicole shook her head and looked at Mick. “Why did he leave it to you?”
Mick groaned and rubbed his forehead. Why had James done this? Now Mick had to tell Nicole something he’d hoped to keep secret. Nicole would kill Mick – or hate him.
Sighing, he raised his gaze to hers. She pierced him with an accusing glare that nearly ripped his heart from his chest.
“I honestly don’t know why James left me the business. I’m assuming it’s because when I had talked to him last, we chatted about taking the company in a different direction to try and drum up more revenue.”
“And... when did you have this meeting with my grandfather?” she asked with stiff lips.
“The day I came into town. That’s the reason I came here, remember? Because I knew my father was going to sink his claws—”
“I don’t believe this!” Nicole snapped. Tears filled her eyes, but her face was red with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d already met with him?”
Mick wanted to take her in his arms and hold her... and make everything better. But this wasn’t the right time for that. The shock of James’ will was too great for both of them to handle alone, so he needed to ease her pain and worry in some way.
“Nicole, you didn’t trust me when we first met. Remember? If I’d told you that day... who knows what you would have done.”
She wiped the tears out of her eyes, swung toward the lawyer, and stood. “Fine. Whatever. Give him the company.” She maneuvered around her chair as she limped toward the door.
Mick’s heart was breaking, and if he didn’t do something now, he’d lose her. “What if I don’t want the company?” Mick asked.
Nicole stopped at the door, looking over her shoulder at him. Her watery eyes were wide with surprise.
“Uh, well... if you don’t want it...” the lawyer muttered, “the company will go to Nicole.”
Mick shook his head, still holding Nicole’s gaze. “I don’t want it. It’s yours.”
More tears filled her eyes as he patiently waited for her response. But he couldn’t see gratitude as being the emotion that held her stare. That wasn’t a good sign.
She expelled a shaky breath. “No. Grandfather wanted you to have it. He didn’t think I could handle the company, which is why he gave it to you.”
Her voice broke and she rushed out of the room. Mick followed, but she glared at him from the office’s main door.
“Please, Mick. Leave me alone now. You got what you wanted. Leave me in peace.”
As he watched her leave the building, his heart finished shattering. There had to be a way to get her back, but right now, he was hurting too much to think clearly.
SEVENTEEN
It had been three days. Three very long and miserable days since her grandfather’s funeral. But now Nicole needed to go back to work to her job as the HR Manager. As far as she knew, that was still her job.
The sting of rejection from her grandfather continued to sting her pride. All these years she believed the company would be hers. Her grandfather had verbally promised it to her. And then... this! It hurt that he didn’t trust her to keep the company from being taken over by the Remington empire. And yet, what did he do? He gave it to Mick Remington.
Mick had tried to see her and had even called her several times, but she refused his visits and didn’t answer his calls. But now she had to put on her big-girl panties and face him – as her boss. Her stomach clenched from the thought.
It was hard to admit that he was the best man for the job, but maybe her grandfather knew what he was doing by giving Mick the company. Still, it hurt.
She tried not to blame Mick. He was just as surprised as she was during the reading of the will, yet, he’d lied to her by not telling her he had already visited with her grandfather. Did Mick really love her? Or was he only after the company?
She drove to work earlier than usual, mainly so that she wouldn’t have to see everyone’s pitying gaze when they looked at her.
Her insurance company let her lease a car until the money came in to buy a new one. Carefully, she steered it around the bend where the black truck had run her off the road. Her heartbeat quickened and her limbs shook from the memory. Thankfully, the truck wasn’t on the road this time.
There were only a few cars in the parking lot, and Mick’s wasn’t one of them. She hurried inside the building and up to her room, dodging anyone who looked her way. Today she wore a dark blue pantsuit with a white blouse, her long hair tied in a ponytail, and wearing very little make-up, because she didn’t want to do anything to draw attention to herself. Especially, from Mick. She still wasn’t ready to talk to him.
She locked herself in her office and sat behind her desk. Tears stung her eyes, and she tried to blink them away, but self-loathing was hard to swallow. Why hadn’t her grandfather figured she would feel this way when he handed over the company to... a billionaire, for goodness sake. What a slap in the face.
Stop crying! She rose and went to the window. She started to close the blinds until she noticed Mick’s car in the parking lot along with a strawberry-blonde headed woman with her arms wrapped around Mick’s shoulders. The two were pressed so closely together, Nicole didn’t know where one ended and the other body began.
Growling, Nicole finished closing the blinds. She didn’t need to see anymore. Apparently, Mick hadn’t broken up with his girlfriend, yet. Nicole shouldn’t care, but she did. It wasn’t every day she told a man she was in love with him. Naturally, there would be some kind of pain with his rejection.
And yet, he told her he loved her. Those were words that she’d never had a guy tell her. Were they just words, or did he really mean them?
She hit her fist against the wall. Why was he playing with her heart? None of this made sense. Why would a billionaire love someone like her? And... why on earth would a billionaire want her grandfather’s measly company? It was hard not to doubt everything Mick had ever told her.
Nicole shook off the confusion and pain as much as she could and logged into her computer to check her emails. There were so many! But as she scrolled through them, it softened her heart to know that there were many people who cared about her accident and gave sympathy for her grandfather’s passing. Several were from Mick, but she deleted those without reading them.
An hour passed by, and nobody came to her door. She’d sent her secretary a message to let her know that she didn’t want to be disturbed. So far, her day was looking better. But her gut still twisted, wondering when Mick would try to see her.
She moved away from her desk and to her window to peek through the blinds. The parking lot was filled, which she suspected since it was time to work. The American flag was at half-mast, which made tears come to her eyes. The people in this company loved her grandfather. He really was a good man – even though she was still upset at him.
The knock at the door made her jump. Her heartbeat quickened. Where was her secretary? Nicole kept silent, but since her lights were on, people would know she was here.
“Nicole, open the door, or I’ll break it down. And don’t think I won’t.”
She scowled at Mick’s determined voice. How dare he command her... Then again, he was now the president – her boss. He could do whatever he wanted.
Grumbling under her breath, she marched to the door and yanked it open. She tried to hold onto her injured feelings, and especially the ones she had right now due to his attitude, but when she looked into his eyes, the silent pleading in
those beautiful gray-blue eyes began to melt her heart.
Stop it, Nicole!
His countenance softened, and a small smile touched his chiseled face. “Hi. How are you?”
She shrugged and rolled her eyes. He should already know how she was without telling him.
“I have a proposition for you.” He motioned into her room. “Can I come in so we can discuss it?”
She hesitated, not wanting to be alone with him again, but this time she didn’t have a choice. Nodding, she stepped away from the door to let him in. Once inside, she closed the door and walked to her desk.
“Nicole, I’ve missed you—”
“Let’s just get right to the point,” she interrupted. “What kind of proposition do you have for me?” She sat on her chair, facing him.
He sat on the chair across from her. “I think I know why your grandfather gave me the company.”
She clenched her teeth. What part of get to the point didn’t he understand? “Mr. Remington, I don’t care—”
“He wanted to make sure there was no way my father could get his hands on Adkins Dev-Tech,” Mick continued as if she wasn’t trying to stop him from talking about that. “You see, my father has no idea that I’m the new president. But because I am, I can pay off the loans that your grandfather fell behind on. There is no reason now that this company would be in danger of a takeover.”
She wanted to slap his arrogant face. He was a billionaire, but he’d never rubbed it in her face until now. “What is this proposal you have for me? If you’re now playing the part of a super-hero, then what could I possibly do?”
Sighing, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “I don’t want to be president. I want you to have that position. So, I will give you one week, starting today, to do those things we agreed on with the shareholders, to bring more revenue into the company. I promise not to pay one penny to the loans. Show me you are the woman I know you can be. Show me – and your grandfather in Heaven – that you are the rightful president.”
The Billionaire's Pursuit: Billionaire's Clean Romance (The Tycoons Book 1) Page 11