The Billionaire's Proposal (Scandal, Inc Book 4)

by James, Avery

  “Well, if you’re asking me, she did you a favor. She had you over a barrel, and you didn’t know it. Let me tell you something, I wish I had known this at your age. Marriage is a sham. Love is a sham.”

  “No wonder Mom is so fond of you.” Harry stared out the window at the road as the SUV merged onto the highway.

  “Your mother ran off with the pool boy,” Stanton said.

  “He was her therapist,” Harry said, “the one you paid for because you were too busy to have a conversation with your own wife.”

  “I stand corrected. A pool boy would have been more useful.” He chuckled to himself but stopped as he saw the disapproval on his son’s face. “Look, I know I wasn’t perfect, but I was providing for this family.”

  “You mean screwing your secretary.”

  “We wouldn’t have any of this if I hadn’t worked as hard as I have,” Stanton said. His voice was rising, and Harry could tell he’d hit a nerve.

  “And look how well that worked out.”

  Stanton was getting red. “Your mother knew what she was getting into.”

  “And I guess I know what I’m getting into, too?” Harry asked.

  “I gave you everything,” his father said. “I gave you the best education money could buy. I gave you opportunities. I gave you time. When you wanted to go bum around on my money, did I tell you to stop? Did I make you get a job? No, I let you indulge yourself, and now I can see the mistake I made.”

  “That wasn’t your mistake,” Harry said. “That wasn’t even close to the top ten for the mistakes you’ve made. You froze Mom out, and when she left, you didn’t even try to get her back. And for the past decade, you’ve treated me like it was my fault in some way. It’s not my fault you two couldn’t make things work, just like it isn’t my fault that you’re in this situation now.”

  “That’s enough,” Stanton said. “I saw an opportunity to build something with my son.”

  “Come on, you saw an opportunity to save your own ass,” Harry said. His father had had a decade to build something with him. “If you want to build something together, let’s build something together. Not like this, though. Let me come up with a few ideas. We’ll find another way to do this together.”

  “This isn’t one of your little peccadilloes. You can’t simply call the front desk and have someone fix everything. I’ve already thought through everything. This is the best way forward.”

  “For you.”

  “For everyone,” Stanton said. “I know you think I should just give you everything without asking for one bit of accountability.”

  “Accountability?” Harry asked. “You could go to jail. There’s a major scandal swirling around your company and members of your board. You were caught at the wrong time, and I’m sorry, but if you expect me to help you, you at least owe me the decency to listen to what I have to say. If you care about accountability, if you care about the employees and shareholders of your company, you should seriously consider stepping away.”

  “Maybe I misled you into thinking you’d done something to earn any of this. This is my company, and I’ll be damned if I give it away because my son doesn’t want to contribute for once in his life. I’m asking you to play a role for the next year or two until this blows over. Then you can go back to beaches and bimbos.”

  Harry would have loved to break his father’s jaw for that one. The sudden violence of his reaction surprised him. He could have simply asked what had become of his father’s mistress. He wondered if she had sold her story or if she was under lock and key somewhere, but he knew better than to ask.

  “I’m not going to marry Katrina,” Harry said.

  “You’re going to do exactly as I tell you to do,” Stanton said. “If you do so, I’ll remove all the strings on your trust fund and you can spend the rest of your days hopping from beach to beach. As soon as everything returns to normal, I’ll retake control of the company, and you’ll be released.”

  “You’re not listening to me,” Harry said. “I don’t give a damn about any of that.”

  “I’m done talking about it,” Stanton said. “Tomorrow morning, you will go to Haven Communications. You will sit down and listen. You will do as you are told. In return, you will get everything you want. Tomorrow morning, Haven, do you understand?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Harry said. That was the truth. He’d camp out there all night if it meant seeing Maggie even a minute sooner. As for doing what he was told? He knew what he wanted, and he wasn’t going to get it by doing what he was told. As they sped toward the city, Harry let himself relax a bit. He didn’t know how he was going to make things right with Maggie, but he knew he was headed in the right direction.

  ***

  Harry’s first impression of Amy Haven was that her posture was almost impossibly straight. His second was that she did not look pleased as she strode across her office to shake his hand. “It’s a relief to finally meet you, Gavin,” she said as she firmly shook his hand. He stifled a laugh as he thought about how diplomatically Amy had just told him he’d been a pain in the ass for running off to Cuba unannounced.

  “Call me Harry,” he said. “I just want you to know from the start that I’m dedicated to making this work. I even decided to dress the part.” Harry wasn’t fond of suits. Even four-thousand-dollar Italian wool was less comfortable than anything he’d worn in the past week. The stitching on his shirt bothered his neck, and his shoes, though sized perfectly, felt too new and stiff. He wondered if Amy could sense his discomfort.

  “You clean up well, Harry,” she said as she motioned to a chair. “I was afraid we’d have to set you up with a barber and a tailor.”

  “Just a wife,” Harry said.

  “Funny,” Amy said. “I’m sure you’re up to speed on everything.”

  “As much as I’ll ever be, I’m sure. Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it. Smile, nod, turn slightly at an angle so the lighting gets my good side.”

  “This isn’t just a game,” Amy said. “You’re about to take on a world of responsibility. Whether your father is guiding you or not, you’re going to be responsible for thousands of employees. I want to take this opportunity to remind you of that.”

  “Trust me when I say that I am keenly aware of the responsibilities I bear,” Harry said.

  “That alone won’t get you where you need to be,” Amy said.

  “What will?” Harry asked. “Obedience?” Amy was a power player. That much was obvious just by looking at her, but he didn’t know what to expect of her. By pushing her boundaries just the right amount, he’d see what she really wanted from him.

  “Judgment,” Amy said. “You’ve read the situation. The rest is your call. I can’t make you do anything, but I can make your life easier. I can also assure you that I’m good, and my team is good.”

  “I thought you were the best,” Harry said.

  “I am. But I also know the value of humility. Something tells me that you could learn a thing or two about it, too,” Amy said.

  “I usually go for brash and cocky,” Harry said with a shrug. Amy cracked a smile despite herself.

  “I can see why Maggie put up with you. You’ll need to be more serious if you expect the board of a corporation to do the same,” Amy said.

  “I will. Of course, I have conditions,” Harry said.

  “You can take that up with your father,” Amy said. “I have nothing to do with whatever deal the two of you make.”

  “This has nothing to do with him,” Harry said. “It has to do with you and your team. I don’t think any of my requests will be unreasonable.”

  “This is not a negotiation,” Amy said.

  “Everything is a negotiation,” Harry said.

  “That’s my line,” Amy said.

  “It’s a good line,” Harry replied. “I’ll play along with whatever plan you want, but I want Maggie to be my primary contact.”

  “Why?” Amy asked.

  “Because I tru
st her,” Harry said. “Amy, I know your reputation, but I don’t know you. I do know her. I know that she’ll look out for me.” I also know what her skin tastes like after making love and the way her eyes light up when she’s truly excited about something. I know how it feels to sink into her. I know how her laugh can fill a room and that she’s not afraid of anything. I know she likes motorcycles more than she’d admit, and I know that she’s probably the only person in the entire world who can make me truly happy, he thought. Maybe it was for the best that he left that part out. He knew he’d be lying if he said his reasons were strictly professional. “I trust her,” he said. “That’s what matters.”

  “I know I don’t have to warn you about crossing the line,” Amy said. “Our job is to marry you off to Katrina Nussbaum.”

  “Let’s be honest. Your job is to help my father keep control of his company. I just happen to be a means to that end.”

  “Then we understand each other,” Amy said.

  “That we do,” Harry replied.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, why aren’t you jumping for joy right now? You’re set to take control of a Fortune 500 company. You’re about to get engaged to one of the most beautiful women in the world, and you’ll be able to do whatever you want when this is over.”

  “I don’t love her,” he said. “What is so wrong about not wanting to marry someone I don’t love? And what’s wrong with wanting to have control of my own life?”

  “Nothing,” Amy said. “It’s just an opportunity.”

  “Forgive me if I see it as something else,” Harry replied. “Do we have a deal?”

  “Something tells me that you’re much better at this than you like to admit,” Amy said.

  “Is that a yes?” Harry asked.

  “It is,” Amy said. “Please don’t make me regret it. I want to make myself clear. Maggie is off limits. She is my employee, and you, by way of your father, are my client. I am allowing you to work with her because my trust in her is complete. I also care deeply about her. She’s like a younger sister to me, and I am a very protective older sister. Don’t give me reason to doubt my decision.”

  “Trust me,” Harry said, “the last thing I want to do is swim in those waters.” Harry didn’t want to hurt Maggie again. He didn’t want to raise his hopes of being with her either. He just wanted to make things right. “I have one more condition,” Harry said. He wondered if Amy would go along with the next part. Maybe he was about to overplay his hand, but it was a risk he was willing to take. “It has to do with Maggie,” he said, “and it is not negotiable.” Consider this the start of my amends.

  Chapter 21

  On her way into the office, Maggie tried to think of the reasons why Amy, in the middle of the scandal of the decade, had rearranged her entire morning just to welcome her back to the office. Well, she knew it wasn’t a welcome back. She’d spent half the night trying to think of what Amy might have found out. She wondered if Amy had found out about her and Harry or if she had learned somehow about the bribe. Maybe she had a completely unrelated reason for bringing her into the office early.

  By the time she reached Amy’s office, Maggie’s head was spinning. Amy was standing at her window, looking out at the street below.

  “Welcome back. I heard about what happened in Cuba,” Amy said before turning around. Maggie tried to control her reaction. That was one of the rules Amy had taught her. Don’t give anything away.

  “What happening would that be?” she asked.

  “The money,” Amy said.

  Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. This one she could handle. “I took care of it,” she said. “I brought Abby into the loop as soon as I found out.”

  “Did you let her know about the bribe?” Amy asked.

  How does she always know everything? Maggie wondered. “I was protecting the client. I made sure that no bribe was made.”

  “And how did you do that?”

  “I offered a contract contingent upon certain conditions,” Maggie said.

  “All of which were legal?” Amy asked.

  “To the best of my knowledge,” Maggie replied. She watched as Amy sized her up.

  “It was a risk,” Amy said.

  “It seemed like the best option at the time.”

  “It was a smart improvisation,” Amy said. “You minimized exposure for the client—well, for the client’s wayward son. And you won his trust.”

  “The client or his son?” Maggie asked.

  “Gavin Howard,” Amy said. “Harry. He spoke quite highly of you.”

  “You spoke with him?”

  “Yes,” Amy said. “He seemed quite taken with you. Is there anything else I should know?”

  You’ve probably already formed a fairly clear picture in your mind, Maggie thought. “No,” she said. “I’m just eager to get back to something a little more serious.”

  “Well, that’s why you’re here. Your next assignment is critically important to this company and to the scandal that’s been raging for the past week. You’ve shown verve and wits, and I think this will suit you perfectly. It can make a lot of people’s problems go away. I just need to know you’re up to it.”

  “I’ll do anything,” Maggie said. The more time she spent working, and the less time she spent thinking about Harry, the better.

  “I need you to work with Harry,” Amy said.

  “What?” Maggie exclaimed. She composed herself quickly and tried not to let her emotions show through. Frustration, disappointment, heartbreak—she wasn’t sure what to call the dull ache she felt whenever she thought about Harry, but she wanted to get as far from that feeling, and him, as possible. “I’m sorry,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’d be glad to continue working with him.”

  “I need to know that you’re up to it. I need you to make sure he sticks to the plan. You will be with him for his every waking hour. If he gets up at six, you will be in the lobby of his hotel waiting at five thirty. You will be his chaperone, his shadow. I’ve authorized Abby to help you as necessary, but he will be your responsibility. I’m counting on you. We’re all counting on you.”

  “Of course,” Maggie said. She’d hoped that coming back to D.C. would give her some space from Harry, and now she was going to be with him even more than ever. She welcomed this as an opportunity to test her acting skills. If she could be professional and dispassionate when shadowing Harry, she could handle anything this job had to offer. Maggie straightened her posture a bit and locked her eyes on Amy. “I won’t let you down.”

  “Whatever happened in Cuba,” Amy said. “I’m not talking about the work. Whatever else happened between the two of you, is it over? This isn’t a trick question.”

  “Yes,” Maggie said. “How did you know?”

  “Normally, I wouldn’t ask this kind of thing, but these are exceptional circumstances. I have the rest of the office doing damage control. We’re spread impossibly thin, and you’re the best person for the job.”

  “If the client has feelings for me, I’m the worst person for the job. What don’t I know?” Maggie asked.

  “He said he’ll only go along with the plan if you’re involved,” Amy said. “I don’t have the time or the resources available to see if he’s bluffing. He has to be engaged two weeks from now when the board meets.”

  “Why would he say that?” Maggie asked.

  “He said he trusts you to have his best interests at heart. He also told me I don’t pay you enough.”

  “I never discussed that with him,” Maggie said.

  “He said whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. That was his other condition,” Amy said.

  “I’m still not sure I follow,” Maggie said.

  “He wanted me to give you a raise,” Amy said. She laughed. “I have to give him credit. I wasn’t expecting that at all. He caught me off guard.”

  “Gavin Howard called you and asked you to give me a raise?” Maggie asked.

  Amy shook her head. “No, he stood where you’re
standing and told me that I’d be a fool not to give you one,” she said.

  “He’s in D.C.?” Maggie asked.

  “He’s in the conference room,” Amy replied. “He’s with Abby, waiting for you. Welcome back. Now, let’s get to work. We’ve got an heir to marry off, a scandal to put to bed, and, well, that’s just the start of it.”

  Maggie nodded. She hadn’t heard a word since Amy had told her Harry was in the conference room. He trusts me, she thought. Isn’t that wonderful? Trust. Wasn’t that a kick in the face? Maggie felt like Harry was taunting her. She had barely processed the rest of what Amy had said.

  “Gavin Harris could be the solution to all our problems, and you’re the one who’s going to make sure he does as he’s told. We’ll discuss that raise after this is over.”

  “It really isn’t necessary,” Maggie said. “I just came on full-time, and I don’t want anyone to think that I’m getting unfair treatment.”

  “Another lesson,” Amy said. “Always stop at yes.”

  “Yes,” Maggie said.

  Amy smiled. “You’re a quick learner, Maggie. You’re going to do great things. Now go finish what you started.”

  As she let herself out of Amy’s office, Maggie wondered what exactly she had started. She’d shown up with the hope of putting as much distance as possible between herself and Harry. Now it was her job to be with him as much as possible. She steeled herself as she stepped across the hall to the conference room. No matter what Harry said or did, she’d remain professional. She do her job and move on. She wouldn’t open herself up to him again. She wouldn’t let him play that game.

  One look at his face told her that staying strictly professional wasn’t possible. He was talking to Abby, and he still hadn’t seen through the conference room glass. She felt a surge of anger and frustration as she watched the way he smiled. She pushed the feelings aside as well as she could. Just don’t think of him as Harry, she told herself. He’s not your Harry. He’s Gavin Harris. He is your client, and he is a liar, and a jerk, and you deserve better. Harry’s gone. The girl you were on the island? She’s gone, too. Be professional. Leave the personal out of this. She didn’t know if that was possible, but she was going to try.