The Proposition

by J. A. JACKSON

  A thin smug smile showed on Adam’s face as his eyes beamed staring back at Janeshia.

  “So, does this board have mutual agreement that we will ask Janeshia James to step down as director of this board?” Nate asked.

  Confusion, anguish and tears clouded her eyes. Janeshia stared up at the ceiling trying to figure out what she must do. At the moment all she could think of was looking at the door and praying for a miracle.

  All at once Kate Martin’s voice sliced the air. “Hang on a minute. Adam those scratches…”

  “Yes? Adam asked.

  “Did the hospital run any test. You know like check for DNA? And the woman in the photograph she looks like Janeshia, but there is something strange. Do you have any clearer photos or a report from the hospital?”

  Ulysses chuckled softly. “Go head Adam please answer?”

  Adam was furious. His hand clenched in a fist. He saw Ulysses staring. He released his grip. “I don’t have to provide this board with a doctor’s report. You have my word.”

  “That’s because you don’t have a doctor’s report or any other report that you didn’t make up yourself,” Janeshia said staring back at Adam unbelieving. “You’re a filthy stinking villainous, lying bastard!”

  Adam raised a brow. His face frowned into an extorted expression of revenge. “Yes, but you’re the nasty little pregnant tramp, that’s going to jail for stealing this organizations money. I hope that bastard brat of yours will be taken from you the minute it’s born,” Adam laughed through clenched teeth. “Who’s the villain now bitch?”

  “Oh my God Adam why are you doing this to me?” Janeshia’s voice shook.

  “Don’t you know? Because you’re a thief and a whore!” Adam murmured.

  Horrified Janeshia choked back on a sob and buried her face in her hands.

  “Recess!” Ulysses yelled. “Half hour, we all need a damn bathroom break.”

  The room quickly emptied.

  Cautiously Claire Marie walked over and touched Janeshia on the shoulder.

  Janeshia looked back at her with tears streaming down her face.

  “Stay strong and calm yourself,” Claire Marie said squeezing her shoulder. “We’re going to get through this, I promised an oath to take care of you many years ago and I won’t undo that oath now.”

  Chapter 43

  Walker to the rescue!

  An hour later, the conference room seemed interminable as Janeshia sat and stared back at the room full of people.

  The atmosphere of the room was intense as the group whispered around her.

  She didn’t know how much more her stomach could take or her nerves.

  She looked up and watched as Adam St. Charles whispered something to Nate Trent. It was obvious the two of them felt her defeat was at hand.

  Adam stared back at her and made a hand gesture, thumbs down. She quickly averted her eyes.

  Slowly the door of the conference room opened.

  The atmosphere in the room changed noticeably as Walker Perrault strutted in. Immediately his vivid green eyes sought out hers.

  Janeshia rose quickly and burst out. “Oh my God Walker I’m so glad you’re here. Adam is telling lies about me,” tears ran down her face. She looked as helpless as a small child. “I swear I haven’t done any of the things he’s accusing me of.”

  Walker quickly closed the distance between them. All at once his hand reached up and wiped the tears off her cheek. “Don’t worry,” he whispered low, too low for anyone else to hear.

  The moment wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.

  Claire Marie removed her glasses. “Walker, it’s about time you got here.”

  Janeshia looked around. Everyone was talking excitedly to each other. She looked back at Adam and saw the alarm in his face.

  The conference room door opened again, and three ladies walked in slowly, Rose Olsen, Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau, and Alice Couvertier-Trudeau. The three ladies quickly found seats for themselves.

  “Walker said it was okay if we attended,” Mrs. Olsen spoke up for the group.

  Nate Trent swallowed hard. “Walker, and ladies. You’re just in time. We were just finishing up here. This board has come to a decision.”

  “A very hasty decision no doubt,” Walker said opening his brief case. “I have a true investigator report that I would like to present into evidence,” he said passing the report around. “Please read it everyone, before you succumb to Adam St. Charles’ greatest show on earth. A drama of deceit that contained the biggest fraud, theft and falsifying of business records this foundation has ever seen.”

  Adam St. Charles swallowed hard. His face broke out in a sweat. “You can’t prove a thing!”

  Walker shut his brief case. “Oh yes I can Adam. In fact, I have a witness.”

  Adam’s thin smile disappeared. He looked deeply troubled. “Witness?”

  Claire Marie’s voice was frosty. “You heard my son. We have a witness. And who knows Adam, we may have more.”

  Walker’s voice was cool. “Ulysses, you are the chairman of this board. Would you be so kind as to call our first witness? I believe he is standing outside the conference room door.”

  Ulysses cleared his throat. “David Creek you are closest to the door. Would you be so kind as to open it for our first witness?”

  The atmosphere in the room was noticeably changed.

  David Creek was a quiet man. As usual he was wearing his signature tattered white jacket. Anyone looking at him thought the old white-haired man with round rimmed glasses, was poor. This was far from the truth. David Creek was one of the richest men in the valley.

  David rose and stiffly walked to the door and opened it.

  Janeshia leaned up in her seat trying to get a look at who was coming through the door.

  In walked a man wearing dark glasses. His looks were foreign.

  Janeshia had never seen him before.

  Marie Claire reached for the carafe of water in front of her and quickly poured herself a glass. “This guy looks like he’s got a good story to tell.”

  Adam’s steel confidence slowly faded.

  Ulysses steel voice called out. “Sir, would you be kind and remove your sunglasses and then state your name for the record.”

  The man removed his shades. A slight accent escaped from the lips of the mysterious man’s mouth. “I am Mr. Manitou Alexandre Grand.”

  “Mr. Grand what brought you here today?”

  He grunted. “I guess you can say I was personally invited here today by Walker Perrault.”

  Janeshia felt her breath squeeze out of her lungs at the sound of Walker’s name.

  Ulysses cleared his throat. “So, Walker Perrault asked you to be here today?”

  Mr. Grand shook his head. “I wouldn’t say asked. It was more like they persuaded me. In fact, I was escorted here today by an attorney named Larissa London, who indicated to me that she works for this foundation. As well as a private investigator friend of hers, a Mr. Arthur Daily,” he swallowed hard.

  “Persuaded you, you say. How?”

  “Let’s just say I made a sizeable donation to the foundation,” Mr. Grand drily said.

  “Why would you do that?” Ulysses asked.

  Mr. Grand cleared his throat. “To avoid my having to let us say, spend my time where I wouldn’t be happy. If you know what I mean.”

  Ulysses chuckled. “Do you know Adam St. Charles?” he tersely asked waiving his hand in Adam’s direction.

  There was awkward silence.

  Adam frowned.

  The man sneered. “I am acquainted with him, yes.”

  “And are you acquainted with any information about Adam St. Charles?”

  Mr. Grand cleared his throat. “I am aware that Adam falsely obtained Janeshia signature, for the sole purpose of setting up some off-shore accounts to launder monies, as well as to steal monies from the foundation for his own personal gain.”

  “Just a moment, you can’t believe a word of what this
man says,” Adam furiously interrupted. “This man is a liar. This is a conspiracy! A conspiracy!”

  “Adam, I told you that your cover was flimsy,” Mr. Grand protested.

  Walker’s eyes captured Janeshia attention. His eyes softened as they reassured her. His lips moved. She could have sworn he mouthed the words, “See I told you there was no need to worry.”

  Janeshia smiled back at Walker. In the distance she could hear Adam’s ravings. She shook out her thoughts and returned to the present.

  Ulysses was annoyed. It was obvious because his eyes had narrowed into slits. “Be quiet Adam, I have the floor and as long as I do, it would be best that I hear very little out of you.”

  Janeshia settled back into her chair. This was getting very interesting. She looked up and caught Marie Claire smiling at her.

  For the next five minutes Mr. Manitou Alexandre Grand gave his account of how he was just a victim of Adam St. Charles’ shrewd cold-hearted scheming antics. “Adam even concocted the tale about sexual harassment. He knew it would be the nail in the coffin for Janeshia with the board of directors. His motive was he hoped to be appointed as the next board of director’s member. And he knew all of you would agree to appoint him if he agreed not to pursue legal actions against the foundation.”

  With a terse expression Ulysses asked, “And why should we believe you Mr. Grand?”

  “I don’t lie!” Mr. Grand said sullenly.

  Nate Trent rose. “Ulysses we can take this man’s word for anything without proof.”

  “What did Adam offer you Nate?” Ulysses asked.

  “What?” Startled Nate Trent slowly sat back down in his seat.

  “Oh, you don’t have to answer now Nate, I’m sure it will come out,” Ulysses hesitated. “But then again, I may already know the answer.”

  Nate Trent swallowed hard.

  Ulysses turned his attention back to Mr. Grand. “Mr. Grand did you provide any records of this information?”

  He nodded. “I cooperated fully with that private investigator, Arthur Daily, and that attorney,” Mr. Grand said. “I gave them the information they wanted. All the records. I even gave them the laptop Adam used when he was with me.”

  “And why did you do that?”

  “For immunity,” Mr. Grand said. “I won’t face jail time, since I gave back the money.” He turned and looked at Adam. “Sorry Adam, I had to throw you under the bus. There’s no honor among thieves.”

  Uncomfortably Adam shifted in his seat. “What?”

  His statement was met with a hushed silence.

  Ulysses chuckled softly and looked back at the witness. “Thank you, Mr. Grand. I believe I’m finished with you for now,” he turned and looked at Walker. Just last week they had met in private to discuss this same issue. He thought back. Now he knew with certainty that Adam St. Charles was a monstrous man capable of fiendish deed, just as Walker had said. But Adam was also a major risk, which needed to be taken care of. He could see it all now clearly. Now he knew it was time to wrap things up. He cleared his throat and came back to the present.

  “Adam, your allegations are totally untrue. And you’ve wasted a lot of this board’s precious time. I will exercise my executive power and conclude your allegations are fraudulent lies. All accusations against Ms. James are hereby unfounded and she will retain her rights as director of this foundation with the board’s upmost apologies.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” Adam screamed.

  “He means you need to get out,” Kate Martin said.

  “No, I need him here. Adam you will stay where you are,” Claire Marie said. “At least until we call our next witness.”

  David Creek quietly rose, quickly walked to the door and opened it.

  Ramsey Montgomery slowly walked in.

  Hostility showed on Adam’s expression. “You?”

  Ramsey wasn’t alone. He carried a young child. The child.

  The room was electric with excited talking.

  “Silence!” Ulysses cleared his throat. “As the Board has heard the pervious witness, this whole scheme was fabricated by Adam St. Charles for the sole purpose of his selfish cold-hearted desire,” he firmly said. “Therefore, we have exonerated our director and I move to close this matter now.”

  Kate Martin curiously asked. “What about the next witness?”

  Ulysses shrugged. His voice was firm. “The next witness has to do with a private family matter; all board members are asked to vacate the premises immediately.”

  He turned his head and pointed. “Nate Trent, if that is lost on you, it means you are to leave and vacate the building immediately. If I so much as hear you stop to take a drink at the water fountain, I’ll personally call you in for review. Now leave!” Ulysses commanded sharply.

  “Claire Marie, I won’t leave if you need me to stay,” the soft diminutive voice of David Creek sliced the air.

  “Thank you, David, for your concern, but I will be fine,” she said softly. “Oh, and David I expect to see you at Lamina Symons house for cards on Saturday.”

  David smiled and opened the door. “You do know old Lamina Symons cheats are cards don’t you Claire Marie,” he waived. “But don’t worry I’ll be there.”

  The Conference room looked empty with the few people that remained.

  The small group stared between themselves.

  Finally, Claire Marie Perrault broke the ice and got up from her seat and walked over to where Ramsey stood. “So young man, you are Ramsey Montgomery?” She asked with a wry smile. “You remember me?”

  “Yes,” Ramsey nodded with a smile. “And this precious little girl is Coco.”

  The child in Ramsey’s arms beamed when he said her name.

  “The child’s name is Coco,” Claire Marie murmured.

  “Yes,” Ramsey smiled.

  “Coco please say hello to Mrs. Claire Marie Perrault.”

  Coco shyly waived.

  Ramsey hesitated and put Coco down. “Coco go and look out that window over there,” he said pointing across the room. “I bet the view is really pretty from there.”

  He watched as Coco smiled and ran over to look of out the window.

  Claire Marie closed the distance between them.

  “Ramsey do you recall when I asked you to indulge an old woman and give her a hug?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Can I ask again, for another hug?”

  Ramsey turned holding up his arms.

  Claire Marie walked into his embrace.

  Ramsey hugged Claire Marie tight with a wide smile. “This time I say thank you for indulging me. I have wanted to hug you from the first moment I knew.”

  “Why are you smiling at her? And why are you letting her hug you?” Adam snarled “She never gave a damn about you?”

  “Shut up Adam!” Ramsey flashed him an annoyed look. “You’re in so much trouble right now. And I don’t want you to upset Coco,” he said through clenched teeth.

  Janeshia stared between Adam and Ramsey. “You know Adam, Ramsey?”

  Ramsey flashed a brief smile. “Sorry to say it, I do. I guess you haven’t figured it out yet Janeshia, like Mrs. Perrault did. Adam is my brother.”

  Clair Marie fumbled to straighten her glasses. “Janeshia, I never understood why you couldn’t see that my Walker and Ramsey Montgomery looked so much alike, they could almost be twins,” she nodded. “They are almost the same height. And they have the same strong jaw, build and coloring. They just have different colored eyes.”

  “Walker’s eyes are green,” Janeshia said astounded.

  Claire Marie continued. “My Walker has my family’s famous green eye color. That’s the Edmond’s green, you know,” she paused, turned and studied Ramsey. “Ramsey you have my late husband’s Edward Perrault’s strangely mysterious grayish brown colored eyes. Some folks call that color mystic hazel,” she nodded. “Your eyes can change colors easily based upon your mood.”

  Defiant Adam smirked. “We’re both the sons
of the late Mr. Edward Perrault.

  Claire Marie quietly studied Adam and then turned her head.

  “Unlike my brother,” Adam continued, “I have always wanted my share of the Perrault family’s fortune,” he chuckled. “So, mommy dearest, how about giving me my inheritance now, so that I won’t have to take you to court.”

  An anxious expression bordering on belligerent resentment flashed in Claire Marie’s eyes. “I beg your pardon Adam; but I am not your mother.”

  Ramsey chuckled softly. “Wrong as usual Adam, I am the son of Claire Marie Perrault and Edward Perrault. It appears mother lied to you. Just as she lied about the deceitful way she became pregnant with me, he shrugged.

  “Ramsey you are a liar!”

  “No Adam, I’ve seen the genetic testing results.”

  Annoyed Adam interrupted. “You’re the one that stupid Ramsey. How can you say you’re the son of both? Mother only took Edward’s sperm, she told us.”

  “No mother stole both the Perrault family’s sperm and eggs. But apparently, she was only able to use it one time. And that was for me.”

  Hostility fled from Adam’s expression. “What?”

  “Yep little brother, it looks like you may want to ask Mother who your real father is. But you’ll have to wait until she gets back from her cruise.”

  Ramsey shifted his gaze and stared back at Claire Marie. “Well, I guess you figured it out that my brother thought he was entitled to a share of the Perrault family’s fortune. Adam always did want to get things the easy way.”

  Janeshia was confused. “Wait a minute. Adam, don’t you have a sister? You applied for a scholarship for your sister.”

  Ramsey looked confused. “Sorry Janeshia, I know I put you through a bunch of crap behind my dating you for selfish reasons. But it looks like my brother has been unloading a trunk load of lies on you as well,” he shrugged. “We have no sister.”

  “Selfish reasons, what are you saying?” she asked.