She was in no hurry to get where she had to be. Quite frankly, she resented having to go, but she had to put an end to the harassment once and for all. She was meeting with the Hunter-Johnston Property Group. They were a developing company trying to purchase her land. For the past six months, they had been in communication with her. At first it was pleasant enough, but they soon became aggressive and demanding, threatening to make her life miserable if she didn’t sell. They even approached her ranch hands and tried to buy them off, promising them oodles of money if they would leave her high and dry. The young ones agreed and left her without notice, but a few were loyal and promised to stick by her.
She was done playing their games. She knew her land was important to them. Hunter-Johnson specialized in high end vacation properties, and were planning to build a large condominium development in Mendocino. They had already purchased four or five miles of coastline but Alice’s pretty ranch was smack dab in the middle, one and a quarter miles of pristine waterfront property with a natural grading to a black sand beach.
It was the gem in the crown, and they wanted it.
For Alice, it wasn’t about the money. The ranch had been in her family since her grandfather had purchased it sixty years ago. Her parents took over the ranch just before Alice was born, and continued to grow the business, raising sheep and horses. They taught Alice the ins and outs of ranch life from a very early age, and she loved it. After her parents died the ranch was left to her.
Although the declining economy had made it challenging the past few years, she was determined to hold on. She knew that she could turn things around. She had ideas. Giving up the ranch was not an option. She had way too much invested, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This land was bred in her bones.
* * *
The very last time she found herself in Sacramento was four years ago. She was in a good place, finally moving on from her grief over Jerry. She had worked through the fallout and all the messy emotions that torture people after relationships end badly.
Jerry had moved on, taking his new bride Lane to the other side of the country to start their life, away from the gossip and judgment that plagued them. Alice was grateful that he was gone. There was plenty of drama following their split that each of them had to process and work through. More than they bargained for.
Ultimately, Jerry made the choice to leave and it was the best decision for everyone. Alice didn’t want him in her life anymore, and she was tired of being pitied. She knew that people meant well, but in some ways it confined her to the role of ‘scorned woman,’ a victim, so to speak. She was ready to move forward and live her life.
She had grown so much from the experience and she felt stronger for it. Unfortunately, whenever someone who knew her story would see her, they would offer solemn glances or speak to her in hushed tones, digging up that emotional time capsule again, and again, forcing her to revisit the pain and humiliation.
When Jerry left it was as if all the dust settled and everyone could finally breathe again. He took their sad story with him and Alice was instantly free.
She blossomed after he left, everything seeming fresh and new. No longer forced to carry the burden of pity, she became more confident and sure of herself. Life was good again, her future brighter.
Then the accident happened.
It was February. Her parents were celebrating their twenty-sixth wedding anniversary, on Valentine’s Day, with a romantic weekend in Sacramento. They left early on a Friday morning, leaving Alice in charge of the ranch. She had been taking more of a leadership role in the day to day functions with her father’s encouragement. He took great pride in teaching her the ropes of running the family business and she was proving herself to be not only a competent manager, but also offered a fresh perspective. Her youthful enthusiasm was infectious and her Dad was excited to explore the new ideas that she presented.
She got the call from the hospital at nine on the Saturday night. Her parents had been in a car accident. They were on their way to dinner when a transport truck blew through a red light, t-boning their pick-up in the intersection. Her mother took the brunt force as it slammed into the passenger side, killing her instantly. Her father had life threatening injuries and was rushed into emergency surgery.
The trucker walked away with only minor injuries but would most certainly carry a heavy burden through the rest of his life. He reached out to Alice a few months later, his heart filled with shame and grief over what had occurred. He told her that that the heavy rain pooling under his wheels caused his truck to hydroplane. He couldn’t stop in time.
Alice was still working through her own grief but she also knew that forgiveness was the fastest path to healing, for both of them. She told him that the best way to honor her parents was for him to live his life to the fullest with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. He was a young man, with a wife and two small children. They needed him to be ok. He humbly promised her that he would be a better man and never take his life or his family for granted.
Alice’s father survived the surgery but his injuries were too severe. He passed away two days later, as though he knew that the love of his life was waiting for him on the other side.
Alice was with him when he died. It seemed so surreal. He woke up briefly, his eyes resting on his daughter. He watched her for a few minutes, and if he had any fear or confusion, Alice didn’t detect it. He looked at peace. Because he was on a ventilator, he couldn’t speak to her but he gently squeezed her hand. That reassuring gesture told her everything she needed to know. He loved her. He knew she would be ok. He had faith in her. She kissed his hand and smiled at him. A few minutes later he closed his eyes and crossed over to meet his wife.
* * *
Now here she was, back in Sacramento, haunted by those two life altering experiences. The memories were overwhelming and she felt herself struggling for composure, but she knew she had to stay in control. She wasn’t just fighting for herself. People depended on her and she meant to go to battle for all of them.
She stepped off the elevator and made her way through the glass doors, walking over to the pretty receptionist sitting at her desk. She read the young woman’s name tag and then met her eyes.
“I’m here to speak with Mr. Johnson or Mr. Hunter, Katie,” Alice announced confidently.
Katie looked her up and down, regarding her casual appearance. Maybe she could have put on a dress but this was who she was, cowboy boots and all. Alice smirked at the girl, challenging her to object. She didn’t, offering her a shrug instead.
“May I ask what this is regarding?” she asked robotically.
Alice leaned over the desk, crossing her arms in front of her, offering her famous smile. Her charm was infectious and rarely let her down.
“Well, Katie, I’m here to discuss the offer to purchase my land. Maybe you could pick up that phone and let whomever is interested know that Alice White is here.”
Katie nodded and picked up the phone.
“I’ll let Mr. Johnson know that you are here. He is the C.F.O.,” she explained casually.
Alice smirked.
“Oh, I know who he is, Katie. I have had the misfortune of speaking with him on several occasions.”
Katie nodded, uncertain how to reply.
“They are all in a meeting at the moment, so it may be a bit of a wait,” she explained, slowly punching in an extension.
She gestured for Alice to take a seat. Alice stepped away from the desk to offer Katie some space, but refused to sit down.
She could hear Katie quietly speaking to someone on the other end. Alice looked around the office and noticed that most of the rooms had glass walls. She could clearly see a group of young professionals sitting together at a long table in what was presumably the board room.
As if on cue, several heads turned her way as Katie announced her name. The man at the head of the table stood up. He was quite tall and thin, and the frown on his face made him look grumpy. Although she had
only spoken to him on the phone, she was certain this was her adversary, Mr. Johnson, or J.J., as he came to be known.
Katie stood up to show her the way, but Alice waved her back.
“I’m pretty sure I can find my way,” she chirped. “Don’t trouble yourself.”
Alice threw her shoulders back and took a deep breath, summoning her courage. She may have been a fish out of water, but she was nobody’s bait, not even these sharks’.
She walked confidently toward the boardroom, noting that everyone was watching her. Some of the young men were poking one another and grinning. She knew that they were not taking her seriously, but she didn’t mind. She liked that people underestimated her. It gave her an advantage. She opened the door and walked in.
“Miss White.”
The tall man said her name, failing to hide his contempt. She returned his tone, her eyes meeting his.
“Mr. Johnson.”
Without offering her his hand to shake, he nodded and gestured for her to take the empty seat to the right of his chair. She looked around the table, sizing up the room. Most of the chairs were filled with cocky young men, who were looking her up and down. The few women who were in the room stared at her with mild amusement, or contempt, but she wasn’t patient enough to try and discern which. She looked back at their boss and smiled coolly.
“I think I’ll stand.”
Her response brought a few nervous chuckles from the peanut gallery but she didn’t let it shake her.
“Can I offer you some coffee?” he asked, not caring whether she wanted coffee or not.
She shook her head slowly.
“Perhaps a glass of milk?” he quipped, a weak attempt to poke fun at her, she presumed.
He grinned at his minions around the table and they laughed obediently. She grinned back at him, unwavering.
“I’m lactose intolerant,” she replied quickly. “I’m also bullshit intolerant, so perhaps you can cut the crap and we can talk about why I’m here.”
He raised his eyebrows and the room went silent. He slowly looked her up and down, but she patiently waited for his move. If he wanted a pissing contest, she would gladly give it to him. Finally, he sat down and clasped his hands on the table in front of him.
She exhaled slowly, keeping her eyes on him.
“My apologies, Miss White,” he offered flatly, “please, tell us why you are here.”
Alice crossed her arms in front of her.
“I think you’re aware of why I’m here, Mr. Johnson. You have been behaving badly and I’m here to put a stop to it,” she said with certainty.
He raised his brows.
“I see. And just how am I behaving badly?” he asked, not even trying to hide his amusement.
“You have been harassing me since January, sir. You have made several offers to purchase my property and I have declined all of them. When that didn’t work, you started sending me unkind and threatening letters, to intimidate me I assume, and now you’re trying to destroy my livelihood by buying off my staff and leaving me short handed. I’ll not be bullied,” she offered curtly.
He tilted his head, as if sizing her up. Finally he spoke, his tone nothing short of condescending.
“Miss White, this isn’t personal. I’m sure you are a very nice girl. I have nothing against you, and I’m not bullying you. What you call ‘behaving badly’ we call business. We are in business to supply the public what they demand, and they want vacation properties. That is where the money is. Horse ranching is a dying business in this state, and we both know it is just a matter of time before your ranch is nothing more than tumble weeds, broken down buildings, and crumbling fences. Why don’t you accept the offer and run. It’s a lot of money for a young girl like you. Go off and enjoy your life. Find yourself a nice man to take care of you and get married, maybe push out a few babies.”
Alice inhaled sharply, controlling her urge to punch the sexist jerk and remove the smug smile from his face, but she was better than that. She walked over to the table and sitting down beside him, she spoke directly to the man, as if no one else was in the room.
“I’ll never place my ranch in the hands of your corrupt, unethical, evil company, Mr. Johnson. Nothing you ever do or say will make me change my mind. I have plans of my own and if you think that I’ll let my ranch turn to dust, then you don’t know me very well. I don’t need a nice man to take care of me and I sure as hell don’t need your damn money. I’m here to tell you to back the fuck off, once and for all.”
She sat back in the chair, her contempt evident in her stare. He met her gaze with scorn but offered no response.
“I trust that I have made my intentions clear,” she said, looking around the room.
While most of the team had their eyes downcast, one young women met her gaze. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she detected a glimmer of support. It gave her the courage to continue.
“Just in case I haven’t been clear, if I get one more letter, one more phone call, or one more visit from you or anyone representing your company, my lawyer will be drawing up a restraining order protecting me and my people from your unethical practices,” Alice warned, rising from her chair. “You say it’s not personal, and I’m telling you it is nothing but personal. You clearly don’t get that. You are right about one thing, Mr. Johnson, I’m a nice girl, but I’m also a smart woman. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me.”
Alice held out her hand as a gesture of good faith, but he refused to shake. She didn’t care. She nodded at him and walked out of the glass room, the walls transparent and yet concealing so much. The irony was not lost on her.
She walked past Katie and flashed her a bright smile.
“You have yourself a nice day,” Alice offered kindly.
She took a deep breath and left the office of Hunter-Johnston, hoping it was the last time she would ever be forced to cross paths with them. She was anxious to get home.
Chapter 2
William
William Hunter sat back in his leather chair, a curious expression on his handsome face. He had seen the entire exchange between his team and Alice White from the comfort of his office. He watched the scene unfold, courtesy of digital cameras in the board room linked to his computer.
This feisty young woman was a pain in his ass, but he was oddly intrigued by her, and if he were being honest, he was impressed by her tenacity. She stuck out like a sore thumb in this environment, the antithesis of all the suits she stood up against in that boardroom, and yet, she held her own.
She was a spirited cowgirl in dusty boots. And the only thing standing between himself and a development worth millions and millions of dollars.
He chuckled at the ridiculousness of it all. In all his years in this business he had never come across anyone as stubborn as Alice. Most people eventually caved. Everyone had a price. But not Alice. She didn’t seem motivated by money at all.
If they wanted her to sell they had to find out what made her tick. They needed to learn more about her and what her weaknesses were. Only then would they have an advantage.
He was curious about her. Not only was she spunky, but she was sexy as fuck. She was not like the women he was usually attracted to, in fact he couldn’t recall dating a woman that wore denim since high school. The women he dated wore expensive designer clothes and Manolo Blahniks. They donned manicured nails and expensive hair extensions. He couldn’t imagine that Alice ever painted her nails.
He wondered what she was like in bed, or in a haystack. The thought made him chuckle but he couldn’t spend too much time dwelling on it. He had too much to get done before the end of the day.
* * *
William was walking through his front door when his cell phone rang. It was business, as usual, and he patiently took the call.
He was a workaholic, he knew that, but he really had nothing else in his life. He had more money than he could spend, a slick waterfront penthouse with an outstanding view, and a ridiculously expensiv
e Audi.
On paper, he had a charmed life, but the truth was, his high-rise apartment was usually empty because he was always at work, he never took time to appreciate that beautiful river view, and his fancy ride only had two seats because he didn’t have a family to tote around. He liked the fast pace of his life but it wasn’t fulfilling.
William had always known he would be wealthy. He had a plan from a very young age and he executed it to perfection. Ever since he was a kid eating canned tuna and hotdogs on Wonder Bread, dinners that he made for himself, he dreamed of the life he wanted.
They were dirt poor, mostly because his father was a lazy son-of-a-bitch who loved his booze more than he loved his boys. William’s mother had the good sense to walk out on the bastard when he and his brother were no more than five and six years old.
Unfortunately, she didn’t take them with her.
He remembered very little about her, but he never forgot the last conversation she had with him. He was holding onto her suitcase with as much strength as he could muster, crying and begging her to stay home. She promised that she would be back in a few days and told him to stop crying because he would upset his little brother. She needed him to be brave. So, he trusted her enough to loosen his grip on the handle
of her bag. She gave them each a kiss and left them behind while their good-for-nothing father, slept off a bender on the sofa.
She never came back.
When he was young he often wondered if she had died, or maybe been abducted by aliens or something. In fact, he didn’t hear from her until about twelve years later. She sent a sympathy card to him after his brother died. She told him she was sorry for his loss.
The letter held no explanation for her actions and no forwarding address.She didn’t come to the funeral. The letter was postmarked from Maine, clear across the country. That was the only clue he had as to her whereabouts.
In the months that followed, he tried to imagine her life in Maine. He wondered if she had a new family, but it hurt too much to think about her loving other children so he eventually learned to close himself off from any feelings for her. It was easier that way.
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